Club Insider

The Club Insider Archives: November 2022

Martin Johns and The Raintree/ALIVE Team Live and Operate Via an "Intentional Culture"
By: Norm Cates

Norm CatesNorm CatesMartin Johns and his partner, Dave Veldman, built The Raintree Athletic Club and ALIVE by Raintree, two clubs in Fort Collins, Colorado that are not just remarkable in terms of their offerings and operations, but amazingly, these two clubs are located across the street from each other! This amazing story about these two clubs will very likely capture your attention right from the start, and my bet is you won't put it down until you've finished reading ALL of it! Let me add... I wouldn't at all be surprised were you to find yourself going back and reading it a second time, maybe even third, because this story is that interesting! Read More

Exercise IS Medicine
By: Mike Alpert

Mike AlpertMike AlpertThe November Edition of Club Insider comes as we approach Thanksgiving and the beginning of the Holiday Season. With that comes lots of delicious food and parties and time to let ourselves go a little bit with our food and drink intake. And, that's okay, but what seems to be happening is a disturbing trend of letting ourselves go all year round. Read More

How to Stop Selling Yourself Short in Your Fitness Business
By: Donna Krech

Donna KrechDonna KrechOver the years, I've spoken with thousands of fitness professionals. What I've found is that one of the biggest reasons professionals in the industry get stuck and struggle to gain traction is because they are selling themselves short. Admittedly, when I first got into the fitness industry 40 years ago, I was just trying to put food on the table for my family. It was March of 1982 when I started working as a Weight Loss Counselor. But, even with my limited knowledge at the time, I remember thinking that people were being set up to fail. Read More

How to Keep Members Engaged All Year
By: Ellen de Werd

Ellen de WerdEllen de WerdAccording to IHRSA data, pre-pandemic, the national average for member retention hovered around 70%. That means almost 30% slip through the cracks. They didn't want to. They didn't intend to. So, why did they? On the day of their enrollment, they had high hopes of successfully achieving goals in our facilities. We, as owners, operators and managers shared their desire. What went wrong? A small portion of attrition can be attributed to things like people moving and falling ill. Most, however, quit for failure to form a habit. They stopped coming. They became discouraged. They felt like they were throwing money away. They quit. Had they been engaged, this classic story ends very differently. The member wins. The club wins. Read More

Franchising
Plan Your Pre-Nup!

By: Sara Kooperman, JD

Sara Kooperman, JDSara Kooperman, JDFitness chain Fit Body Boot Camp Inc., a provider of indoor boot camp classes, is suing one of its former franchise owners, Miranda Lynn Downey. Downey was accused of "blatantly and egregiously" violating her franchise agreements by stealing customers, operating a competing business (calling it "Fit Nation") and failing to pay franchise fees. The lawsuit is Fit Body Boot Camp Inc. v. Downey, Case Number 2:22-cv-02402, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. And, it raises serious questions about how to approach a franchise agreement, especially during financially trying times we find ourselves. Read More

Fit, But Broken.
Are You Muscle and Movement Strong?

By: Cathy Spencer Browning

Cathy Spencer BrowningCathy Spencer BrowningTen years ago, I thought my career in the fitness industry was over. Debilitating injuries had sent me straight to the proverbial bench, then straight to... first, a couple of misdiagnoses, then some "pushing through the pain" and then... straight to the operating room for two surgeries on each hip, a total of four operations in 12 months. It was a harrowing time. As we all know, hindsight is 20-20. I can see clearly how I ended up where I ended up. Read More

IHRSA Board Approves Sweeping Changes
BOSTON, MA - In a recent meeting, the IHRSA Board of Directors approved several new proposals that will change the organizational structure. First and foremost, the group, led by Board Chair, Chris Craytor, voted to add three new seats to the Board. The new seats will represent one member each from the National Health & Fitness Alliance Advisory Council, the Global Health & Fitness Alliance (GHFA) Advisory Council and the Industry Partner Advisory Council (IPAC). The representatives from these three groups will serve two-year terms but will not hold officer positions. Read More

Thomas Myslinski, Sr., Former Star Athlete Passes Away
(A 60-Year Friend of Norm Cates)

Thomas Myslinski, Sr., passed away on September 27, 2022, at Erie County Medical Center, in Buffalo, New York after valiantly dueling with cancer for almost seven years. He was 77. Born in Rome, New York, Tom was the son of Joseph Paul and Regina Gromelski Myslinski. He shared his childhood with his sister, Susan, both sets of grandparents (Myslinskis and Gromelskis), and many, many aunts, uncles and cousins in their predominately Polish neighborhood just south of the Polish Home. Christmas and Easter were highlights for them all as they celebrated the birth and death of our Lord. Read More

North Castle Partners Extends CR Fitness Partnership with First Continuation Fund, Led by TPG
GREENWICH, CT - North Castle Partners, a leading private equity firm that has focused on consumer businesses that promote Healthy, Active and Sustainable Living for more than 20 years, announces the closing of a single-asset continuation fund transaction dedicated to CR Fitness, a leading Crunch Fitness franchisee. This transaction continues North Castle's ownership of the company and reaffirms its commitment to supporting CR Fitness' long-term growth strategy. The new continuation fund acquired CR Fitness from North Castle Partners VII, LP ("NCP VII") and other existing investors. Read More

Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs' Entrepreneur Operating Systems and Culture Index Tool Keep the Franchise Network Aligned
MANHATTAN, IL - Company culture and a great fit among people is a critical aspect of Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs' franchise model, and the brand has never been shy about that. With 18 units and continued growth in the works, Fitness Premier has implemented Entrepreneur Operating Systems (EOS) and a new culture index hiring tool to enhance the company's growth on all levels. Read More

Norm's Notes for November 2022
By: Norm Cates

Norm CatesNorm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in! To start off this month's Norm's Notes, I want to mention that JUSTIN CATES, my Son and Partner in Club Insider, and I, are both very proud to be able to say to you all that this is our 347th monthly edition! Moreover, with great pride in our minds and hearts, as we proudly deliver this special November 2022 Edition of Club Insider to all of you, our highly esteemed readers, we're simultaneously celebrating in our minds and hearts the amazing fact that this edition completes our 29th year of publishing! With next month's December 2022 Edition, we'll begin our 30th year of publishing Club Insider! Read More

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