Club Insider

The Club Insider Archives: October 2015

Wareing's Gym...
The Oldest Health Club in America

By: Norm Cates

Norm CatesNorm CatesDuring all of my travels across America, visiting literally thousands of clubs, I've never come across a situation like this one, in which the late John Wareing, Founder of Wareing's Gym, has been memorialized with a beautiful monument that was created and installed by members of his Virginia Beach, Virginia community in memory of Wareing. Read More

Align Technology Solutions With Your Clubs' Strengths and Avoid Technology Missteps
By: Daron Allen

Daron AllenDaron AllenTechnology is everywhere. It is advancing at an incredibly rapid pace... and it is only getting faster! There is a very interesting paradox about technology. Great technology is dramatically enhancing the world we live in and the health clubs we run. Poor technology, or the wrong technology choice, also has the ability to disrupt our lives and create detrimental "noise" in our clubs. Read More

Digital Marketing
Affordable, Effective, Necessary

By: Deneen Laprade

Deneen LapradeDeneen LapradeDigital Marketing is all the rage. But, what IS it, really? Do you know what to do, when to do it, how and where? And, even more important than the answers to those questions, is the answer to this one: How do you improve your business with it? Read More

Want to Grow Your Gym? Here's How.
By: Jim Thomas

Jim ThomasJim ThomasIt's the most commonly asked question that I get; "How can I grow my gym?" So, whether you're just getting started or you've been around for a while, your gym must grow (there's no other option that will work). There are three things we consider when getting a new gym started or helping to get an established gym back on track. Read More

The Top 10 Keys For A Successful Club Design
By: Bruce Carter

Bruce CarterBruce CarterSuccessful club design is the creative process of combining layout, facilities, mechanicals, materials, finishes, lighting and colors. There are key things you should and should not do to better insure success with design, whether it is a new design or renovation. What is described here can be looked at as a checklist to keep things on track for an optimal end result... Read More

A Gracious and Systematic Tool to Pursue Referrals
By: Karen Woodard-Chavez

Karen Woodard-ChavezKaren Woodard-ChavezOur industry is not very good at graciously creating referral business. Most, not all, membership sales staff are uncomfortable pursuing referrals largely due to the fact that we have not built and maintained valuable or helpful relationships with those whom we have enrolled. We ask our members for anyone who is interested in joining rather than graciously inviting our members to invite a friend to be a guest, have a terrific experience and enjoy the club, which will, in turn, make them want to join. Read More

Age Matters In Marketing
By: Nancy Trent

Nancy TrentNancy TrentThroughout the history of time, the way we market and advertise has constantly evolved. While in the past you may have seen advertising that contained very specific words crafted to spell out the message clearly with precision, today you see things more imaginative that instantly grabs your attention. This alone being proof that different generations respond favorably to different marketing techniques, no longer can you bunch up messages in an attempt to win over every generation. Each group has different needs and wants, and marketing has to be tailored to each one. Read More

Programming For The "Fun Of It!"
Develop a Budget For Small Group Training Management Success

By: Laurie Cingle

Laurie CingleLaurie CingleSuccess with Small Group Training (SGT) is based on 7 Keys: (1) Leverage Your Offerings, (2) Hire and Retain Champion SGT Trainers, (3) Define Metrics, (4) Identify a SGT Manager, (5) Create a Space, (6) Outline a Marketing Plan and (7) Develop a Budget. The focus of this article is Key #7, Develop a Budget. Read More

Motionsoft Unveils Summit Webinar Series
ROCKVILLE, MD - Motionsoft, a health and fitness member management software and billings pioneer, has unveiled a new webinar series entitled, Digital Excellence: Insights and Innovation Spanning Data, Member Dialogs, Mobile, Privacy and Security, and Partnerships in the Health and Fitness Arena, following on the heels of the successful Motionsoft Technology Summit held in Washington, D.C. in late September. Read More

What's All The Rage?
Fitness Industry Trends Around the Globe

DALLAS, TX - ClubIntel, The American Council on Exercise (ACE) and International Health, Racquet and Sportclub Association (IHRSA) released the extended version of the International Fitness Industry Trend Report, What's All the Rage? This report follows the recently released Executive Summary of the study and offers in-depth exploration and segmentation of over 90 industry trends across three broad categories: programs, services and training protocols; equipment and facilities; and technology. Read More

Johnson Health Tech Acquires Stak Fitness
COTTAGE GROVE, WI - Johnson Health Tech (JHT), one of the world's largest and fastest-growing fitness equipment manufacturers, and producer of the brands Matrix, Vision, and Horizon, announced that it has acquired STAK Fitness, Canada's premier commercial fitness equipment distributor. Read More

Crunch Franchise To Open 100th Location In Mason, OH
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Crunch Franchise, a renowned gym chain best known for making serious workouts fun through innovative group fitness programming and cutting-edge training offerings, is proud to announce the opening of its 100th Franchise location in Mason, OH. Read More

Club Industry 2015 Slideshow
Check out photos from Club Industry 2015! Read More

Norm's Notes for October 2015
By: Norm Cates

Norm CatesNorm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Publisher and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in! Next month, we'll be celebrating the beginning of our 23rd year of Club Insider publishing, and we owe it all to YOU that we've made it this far! Thank YOU for reading Club Insider! Note please today that this edition is arriving a little bit later than normal, and that's because of the Club Industry Show where we had a booth and we met a bunch of old friends and a lot of great new folks for the first time. Our terrific Cover Story this month is about Wareing's Gym in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the OLDEST health club in America that we know of. The story features an in-depth interview with MIKE, TONY and JAKE WAREING, the gym owners and operators. It's very interesting and chocked full of multiple nuggets for you to take and improve your own club! Four generations of dedicated club success! Enjoy! Read More

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