This Month in Club Insider: March 2025
The Inaugural HFA Show and Hall of Fame Class
The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) has closed out The HFA Show 2025, its renamed and reimagined global conference and trade show, welcoming nearly 10,000 attendees, 363 exhibitors, 50 sponsors and 215 speakers from around the world for three days at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.
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Lloyd "Red" Lerille Passes Away
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesThe one and only, LLOYD "RED" LERILLE, passed away on March 14th in his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. The amazing man, who was a past "Mr. America" contest winner many years ago, was a multi-talented individual... In addition to winning Mr. America, and 63 years ago, opening "REDS," a nearly 200,000 square-foot mega fitness club, Red was also the owner and pilot of several antique airplanes.
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"Insider Speaks"
One Club Owner's Opinion - HFA's Surveys Need More Scrutiny To Be of Value
By: Steve Vucovich
Steve VucovichHFA's study suggesting that a tax subsidized 10% reduction in membership price could have meaningful health and economic impacts is bogus. And, there are two other surveys not worth the reading effort. As a club owner/operator for 39 years, I would like to share some common sense as well as some basic math regarding a survey touting a 14% increase in membership joins with a 10% reduction in dues subsidized with tax dollars. The common sense questions are...
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Recap of HFA 2025 (formerly IHRSA)
By: Frank Guengerich
Frank GuengerichThe best part of every Health & Fitness Association Show (formerly IHRSA) I've attended, and this is my 34th, is getting reacquainted and spending time with friends and colleagues. For example, it was so good to catch up with one of the best fitness professionals in the biz, Carolyn Erickson (See Photo). I met with so many colleagues in such a short period of time that it's hard to mention them all but just to name a few that I was able to spend some time with were...
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Attended the Health and Fitness Association Trade Show?
Here Are Five Things You Must Do When You Return to Your Gym
By: Jim Thomas
Jim ThomasThe Health and Fitness Association (HFA) Trade Show is one of the most valuable events for independent gym owners, boutique studio operators and gym entrepreneurs. Attending this event is an opportunity to discover the latest industry trends, connect with suppliers and learn from top experts in fitness business management. But, the real work begins once you return to your gym. Many gym owners make the mistake of getting caught up in the excitement of the trade show, collecting brochures, exchanging business cards and then going back to their gym without implementing anything they learned. If you want to get the most out of your experience, here are the five critical actions you must take when you return to your gym.
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Fitness Forward
Wellness, Recovery and Tech Innovations Lead the Charge at HFA 2025
By: Nancy Trent
Nancy TrentThe HFA Show 2025, formerly known as IHRSA, felt like coming home... an exhilarating gathering where industry leaders and newcomers alike created a vibrant, club-like atmosphere that showcased the future of fitness. The event highlighted the latest trends and innovations, reinforcing that fitness is here to stay, even in the age of GLP-1 weight loss drugs.
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Lessons Learned from Listening to Members
By: Herb Lipsman
Herb LipsmanAs a veteran club operator with more than 40 years of experience, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of listening to members and responding to their needs. This column encapsulates key lessons I have learned by simply observing and listening to members...
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Group Fitness Instructors
Bartenders, Baristas or Bespoke?
By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
Jeffrey PinkertonYou wake up early. You get a jumpstart on the morning commute. You go out of your way, but the small detour will be worth it, you know it. You pull into Starbucks and find a sign taped to the drive-through screen: "Unfortunately, there will be no 6 AM lattes available this morning. We apologize for the inconvenience. Emily's daughter is not feeling well. We hope to have them back on the menu tomorrow morning. But, please come back at 9 AM as Jacob will be here ready to serve up some amazing drinks! Thank you for your understanding." Ummm. What?! You can't cancel customers' lattes! Yet, this is how your customers feel when you cancel a group fitness workout.
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Crunch Fitness Announces Major Franchise Expansion into India
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Crunch Fitness, a globally-recognized high-value, multi-amenity gym franchise, announces the signing of a Master Franchise Agreement for India, a development which will bring a minimum of 75 Crunch Fitness brick-and-mortar gyms to the country in the coming years.
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After 40 Years of Wellness, Technogym Launches Healthness
CESENA, ITALY - Forty years ago, in an industry characterized first by bodybuilding, then by fitness, Technogym launched a new concept: Wellness, which, capitalizing on the experience of fitness, generated a social opportunity, involving all stakeholders (governments, companies and citizens) in building a healthier and more active society.
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A Cambridge, Maryland Gym is Available for FREE to a Qualified Operator
Following the upgrading of a 10,000 square-foot facility to the tune of $200,000, the Owner is willing to turn it over to an experienced operator. It has operated for the last four months with no manager, and for the last two years, with virtually no manager. It has 518 members with an EFT of $24,000 per month.
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Norm's Notes for March 2025
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 375th monthly edition of this 32+ year running club business publication I refer to as: A Labor of Love! I'm very thankful that you've tuned in again for this iteration of Norm's Notes, as I proceed on my keyboard with my longtime habit of "Telling-It-Like-It-Is!" I'm really happy that you're reading this edition, and I want to THANK YOU ALL for sticking with us every month! As usual, we have a bunch of health and fitness club business news, so please read on!
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