You’ve worked hard to build a friendly community environment inside your club, but what about the local community that your club services? If the task of community outreach seems daunting, and you are you asking yourself, “Where do I even start?” The answer is … here! We know running a successful gym can be all-consuming….
There’s an almost limitless number of things standing in the way of effective workplace communication. We all know people who type away on their phones during meetings, or those whose attention spans are so short they never quite read to the end of an email. And there’s more than modern-day distractions to contend with in…
Personal training is typically the top profit center among most health clubs. According to IHRSA’s Profiles of Success, leading club companies report that a median of 8.4% of total revenue is derived from personal training. And, based on data from leading clubs, only membership sales account for a greater share of total revenue than personal…
We go through a lot of trouble to protect our property. Home security systems are big business. You may even have one yourself. Research firm MarketsandMarkets estimates that Americans spent over $34 billion on safeguarding their property in 2017. That staggering statistic makes more sense when you consider the range of home security products and…
It’s 6 a.m. on a typical Monday morning at your club. One dedicated member is heading to his favorite group cycling class, which he signed up for by using your club’s branded app. Another has just pushed the Start button on a treadmill. A third is working up a sweat on your plate-loaded strength circuit….
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…