Club Insider

The Club Insider Archives: November 2017

Celebrating 25 Years of TRUST!
By: Norm Cates

Norm CatesNorm CatesThis author has reached the age of 71, and it's my great joy and pleasure to have my son, Justin, as a partner in our health and fitness club industry trade publication that we call Club Insider. This Special 25th Anniversary Cover Story is about Club Insider and the celebration of our 25th anniversary of publishing. The story of Club Insider is an amazing one, we believe, because it involves all of you who're reading this. YOU, our readers, are the REASON Club Insider exists, and we hope you will NEVER forget that. This cover story includes the who, what, when, where, why and how that our industry came to need a publication that is "irreverent, outspoken and 'Tells-it-like-it is,'" a publication called Club Insider. Read More

A Man of Many Hats
Through CourtSouth, IHRSA and Club Insider, Norm Cates Has Devoted a Lifetime to the Club Industry

By: Anthony Dominic

Anthony DominicAnthony DominicOriginally published by Club Industry on its website (www.clubindustry.com), September 13, 2017. (Courtesy of Club Industry/Penton Media, Inc. and Penton Business Media, Inc. Not to be reproduced without written permission.)

If one is to tell the story of how Norm Cates helped revolutionize the health club industry, there is only one logical starting point: the 1973 oil embargo. It was a cooler-than-usual October in North Central Georgia, and Cates was beside himself. A world away, the Yom Kippur War was raging, and OPEC was playing gasoline hardball with the United States. Per-barrel oil prices doubled, tripled and eventually quadrupled. Shockwaves fired off in every direction, even rattling the U.S. airline industry. Read More

Exercise is Medicine!
By: Mike Alpert

Mike AlpertMike AlpertPresident John F. Kennedy famously said, "Those who look only at the past or present are certain to miss the future." The future is indeed here! The compelling importance continues to grow as to the role of active and healthy lifestyles in the prevention, treatment and management of chronic conditions that are often the result of sedentary behaviors. The science of exercise has long demonstrated the benefits of physical activity for health, cognitive function, productivity in the workplace and much more. The medical benefits of adequate activity can allow people to shape their own health destiny, and for those with chronic conditions, it can help manage, reduce or even resolve those challenges. Exercise is clearly a preventive medicine, holding the key to health, quality of life and work productivity. The current transition of medicine in recognizing the importance of exercise and lifestyle for chronic conditions and injuries is as important as other phases of major change in healthcare. Read More

The Fitness Industry Undergoes Seismic Shifts... Again
By: Daron Allen

Daron AllenDaron AllenTimes, they are a changin'. With the maturity of the high-volume, low-price (HV/LP) model and the explosion of boutique fitness, established clubs are seeing same-store sales become flat. Clubs are starting to see the volume of consumers who flock to the low-price membership options begin to decrease, creating significant concern around this business model. After running the HV/LP model, clubs are left asking themselves, "Where have all my best customers gone?" Read More

Eight Ideas for Getting More Active Monthly Gym Members
By: Jim Thomas

Jim ThomasJim ThomasInterested in getting more members at your gym or fitness center? Here are a few tips for increasing your sales, members and revenue... Read More

Eight Steps to Designing Your Niche Program
Part II

By: Casey Conrad

Casey ConradCasey ConradIn last month's article on designing a niche program for your facility, we focused on the first four steps. These included deciding on a niche category, determining the length of the program, establishing measurement guidelines, and outlining the exercise component. In this article, we will address the final four components: creating educational elements, marketing, conversion strategies and improvement strategies. Read More

Jeff Stokes, Vice President of HYPOXI North America, Weighs In
By: Norm Cates

Norm CatesNorm CatesClub Insider (C.I.) - Jeff, let's get right to the question at hand. Our industry is a very competitive industry, and because of that, every move a club owner/operator makes must be smart and well-considered. So, let's analyze, item by item, exactly WHY our readers should purchase HYPOXI Machines and install them in their clubs. Certainly, we can focus on what a great machine HYPOXI is, but for purposes of this conversation, let's focus on what HYPOXI can DO for their club(s) FINANCIALLY. So, Jeff, please fill us in with one consideration at a time on the positive financial aspects of integrating Hypoxi into a club business. Read More

Five Steps to Boost Non-Dues Revenue in 2018
Part I

By: Karen Woodard-Chavez

Karen Woodard-ChavezKaren Woodard-ChavezLet's close out the 4th quarter with this 2-part article that will enhance something we all know is the foundation of our business: Clubs that have a higher % of Non-Dues Revenue (NDR) enjoy a higher level of member retention. We know that members who engage in NDR services: 1. Use the club more often; 2. Get better results; 3. Continue to spend more in the club; and 4. Remain as members longer than those who don't engage in NDR services. However, what we know and what we do aren't always the same thing. Read More

Gearing Up for Government Hoops Such As ALE
By: Melissa Knowles

Melissa KnowlesMelissa KnowlesAs you gear up for year-end and all the important reporting requirement hoops through which you'll need to jump, now is the perfect time to start getting prepared for compliance in 2018! Time spent preparing now will make year-end 2018 a breeze. In the meantime, we still have 2017 to consider. First up, the Affordable Care Act. One of the biggest reporting and compliance demands comes courtesy of the ACA. As we head into Year Two of the full reporting requirements, one of the first items you'll need to determine is if your business qualifies as an Applicable Large Employer (ALE). Read More

Legal Ramifications When a Member or Guest Suffers From an Eating Disorder
By: Paul R. Bedard, Esquire

Paul R. Bedard, EsquirePaul R. Bedard, EsquireEating disorders are life-threatening for many, and these dangerous health conditions are far more complex than most people realize. In a briefing paper published by IHRSA entitled, Eating Disorders, Dr. Ron Thompson of the Bloomington Center for Counseling and Human Development described eating disorders as, "not simply disorders of eating; they are mental disorders that manifest themselves in a variety of eating and weight-related symptoms. They are potentially life-threatening disorders with multiple determinants and serve multiple functions and purposes for the affected individual." The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. Read More

Zeamo Inc. Announces Appointment of Rick Caro to Advisory Board; Expands Global Fitness Initiative
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Zeamo Inc., a global digital fitness platform, announced the appointment of Rick Caro to their Advisory Board and the continued growth of its global strategic expansion plan. Mr. Caro, a 44-year veteran of the health club industry, was a Co-Founder, Past President and Director of IHRSA (International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association), the leading trade association for the health club industry with over 10,000 member clubs in more than 80 countries around the world. A long-time industry thought leader and voted Person of the Year, Distinguished Service Award Recipient and Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient by two separate organizations, Rick is a distinguished writer, expert and lecturer in the fitness field. Read More

Genesis Health Clubs' Acquires Miramont Lifestyle Fitness
FORT COLLINS, CO - Miramont Lifestyle Fitness announces the sale of all four health clubs, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, to Genesis Health Clubs based in Wichita, Kansas. This includes the three main full-service health clubs under the Miramont Lifestyle Fitness name: Miramont North, Miramont South and Miramont Central, with amenities such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts and a climbing gym, as well as REVE fitness, a boutique studio currently operated by Miramont Lifestyle Fitness. Read More

Planet Fitness Announces Leadership Appointments
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: PLNT), one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S., announced the appointments of Craig Miller as Chief Digital & Information Officer and Rob Sopkin as Chief Development Officer. Mr. Miller will be responsible for driving the vision and leadership of the company's technology innovation, as well as managing its digital information systems, while Mr. Sopkin will lead the company's strategic and aggressive system-wide expansion efforts. Read More

Norm's Notes for November 2017
By: Norm Cates

Norm CatesNorm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Publisher and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with the first edition of our 25th Year of Publishing... Edition #287! Be sure to check out this month's special cover story that begins on Page #3. Read More

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