Shawn Perine, the editor-in-chief of Muscle & Fitness magazine, died December 11 from complications due to lung cancer. While also overseeing other titles as Vice President, Fitness Group at American Media, Inc., Perine was a leading voice in the fitness industry, and was himself dedicated to bodybuilding and healthy living. A vegetarian who had never smoked in his…
Are you absolutely positive your membership contracts are in shape? If not, it may be time for a review. Every year, health clubs, whether large or small, are the target of costly and time-consuming litigation. Much of it is filed on behalf of members alleging harm from illegal business practices, such as violation of the…
For the most part, health club members are considerate individuals who demonstrate proper etiquette while working out. There are, however, an unfortunate few who make using the club uncomfortable, or even unsafe, for themselves or others. In some instances, their bad behavior warrants terminating their membership. While taking such a step might seem drastic, the…
The locker room is a central feature in most health clubs, offering club members a convenient place to shower, dress, and store belongings during a workout. But locker rooms are also host to some of the most sensitive legal issues facing clubs, namely personal privacy and security. Antidiscrimination Protection For club operators, there are significant…
Harassment, in any form, and for any reason—whether predicated on age, gender, race, religion, or other factors—is a minefield issue that no business wants to cross. In the case of health clubs, the problem might arise in relationships between management and staff, managers and subordinates, or staff/trainers and club members. Any one of the combinations…
As the last beach days of summer are winding down, it’s time to begin preparing for everything that comes along with the start of fall. For many parents, that means it’s time to make sure that their children are ready to go back to school for another successful year. One of the best ways to…
The fitness industry has produced—and benefited from—many strong, pioneering women. These women have started and grown their businesses, mentored the next generation of women leaders, taken leadership roles in the industry, and embraced innovation and change as the industry grew. Here are four of our favorite trailblazing women in the fitness industry. Julie Main’s family…
Matrix Fitness, founded in 2001, has quickly become the premiere brand of Johnson Health Tech (JHT), its corporate parent. In 2016, JHT revenues were approximately $625 million. Matrix now offers some 500 commercial products, and accounts for 67% of JHT’s total. A fair share of the credit goes to Mark Zabel, JHT’s global chief marketing…
Looking to recruit new members to your health club? Here are a half-dozen sales tips from a recent IHRSA webinar called “Mastering the Sales Process.” Share them with your sales staff, courtesy of Jeff Houghtaling, membership director for VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa. 1. Learn the prospect’s name. This isn’t as obvious as it seems. If…
It’s easy to blame member attrition on outside sources—maybe a boutique studio just opened up nearby, or perhaps your most popular group exercise instructor left. But, while those are legitimate obstacles, there are several factors causing members to leave your club that are well within your control. In this article, we dig into five reasons…
Health promotion provides a great opportunity to do several things at once: Step 1: Planning and Assessment The first step to starting a health promotion program should be a self-assessment of your club and community. Ask yourself what your club can feasibly do given your size, location, staffing, and membership, and what your community—both members…
The decision to spend money, or “reinvest,” in updated facilities or new exercise equipment is never an easy one. Typically, membership prospects expect it, members request it, staff push for it, and investors/owners often resist it. Further, when is the right time to make such reinvestments? Perhaps most importantly, will the improvements generate more revenue…