Club Insider

The Club Insider Archives: December 2011

2011 In Review
By: Justin Cates

Justin CatesJustin CatesWell, it's that time again! This month, we will review everything covered in Club Insider during 2011. As always, we have worked very hard to produce a set of valuable cover stories, featuring amazing and successful individuals within the industry whose stories can help others in the industry. Our growing team of Contributing Authors presented many great articles on a variety of topics, any one of which can help your club business thrive and grow. Read More

A Memorial Tribute to Robert "Dr. Bob" Delmonteque
1919 - 2011

By: Norm Cates

Norm CatesNorm CatesRobert "Dr. Bob" Delmonteque will always be remembered by people in the health and fitness club industry as a man that totally embodied, and spent his life teaching, all that health and fitness is about. Read More

Augie's Quest
A Progress Report

By: John McCarthy

John McCarthyJohn McCarthyIt has now been almost eight years since Augie Nieto, the founder of Life Fitness (the world's largest fitness equipment company), was struck down with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Not long after receiving his diagnosis, Augie decided to spend the rest of his life raising money to fund research aimed at finding the cure of ALS. Read More

Success Often Requires Doing Things Differently
By: Karen Woodard-Chavez

Karen Woodard-ChavezKaren Woodard-ChavezHappy New Year! It certainly will be for many clubs, not just because of the windfall peak of the season that most clubs experience but because many clubs have strategically set themselves up for an enhanced level of success and return based on work they did in 2011. Read More

Six Steps to Growing A Money Tree
By: Donna Krech

Donna KrechDonna KrechYou might think, "Come on Donna, money doesn't grow on trees!" Well, our team feels differently. When we're setting our goals for the New Year, I teach them exactly how to grow their money trees from their purpose trees. If you own or work in a club, you can grow one too! Read More

Learn How To "Get Out Of The Box, Set It On Fire and Roast Potatoes On It"
Double Digit Club Growth - Part II

By: Will Phillips

Will PhillipsWill PhillipsPart I of Learn How To Get Out Of The Box, Set It On Fire and Roast Potatoes On It: Double Digit Club Growth appeared in the November, 2011 edition of Club Insider. This is Part II of a process to guide club owners and their teams in finding effective, new ways to grow sales, penetrate markets and retain members. They are ways that you and the club industry have not considered before. Read More

Programming Tip of the Month
Congratulations!!!

By: Sandy Coffman

Sandy CoffmanSandy CoffmanFirst of all, let me say CONGRATULATIONS! to all of you for having a successful 2011. Now is the perfect time to prepare for a fun, productive and profitable 2012 by CONGRATULATING your existing members on their choice for a happier, healthier lifestyle by joining your club. Too many clubs neglect this all important program. Read More

LA Fitness Acquires 171 Bally Total Fitness Clubs
IRVINE, CA/CHICAGO, IL - Fitness International, LLC, an affiliate of LA Fitness International, LLC, announced that it has agreed to acquire assets relating to 171 Bally Total Fitness clubs. The transaction closed on November 30, 2011. Read More

LifeTime Fitness Acquires 9 Lifestyle Family Fitness Clubs
LifeTime Fitness, the Chanhassen, Minnesota-based upscale club company acquired nine Lifestyle Family Fitness Centers in Ohio, North Carolina and Indiana. Lifetime Family Fitness, a St. Petersburg, Florida-based, 55-club chain, has closed an acquisition agreement in which LifeTime Fitness acquired nine Lifestyle Family Fitness Centers and nine other Lifestyle Fitness Centers in the same markets will close. Read More

Ted Forstmann of Fortsmann/Little, Owners of 24 Hour Fitness, Passes Away at Age 71
Niall Ferguson delivered the following remarks at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York in honor of financier Ted Forstmann, who died on November 2nd. Read More

Norm's Notes for December 2011
By: Norm Cates

Norm CatesNorm CatesHelloooooooooo Everybody! Wahoo! Another year bites the dust! This is your Club Insider Publisher and Tribal Leader checking in with our 2011 In Review Special Edition! This is the first edition of our 19th year of publication, so first, I send my most sincere thanks to all of you for each and every time you've picked up your edition of Club Insider and enjoyed the read! Read More

Back to 2011


LA Fitness