December 1, 2011
First Word
Take the Best of the Fitness Industry from 2011 into 2012
During the past year, certain events have occurred in the fitness industry that give me hope that we will see more growth next year. The dark cloud that has hung over the industry for the past two or three years seems to be lifting. ...
Feature
Rewind: Top Fitness Industry Stories of 2011
Clubs and club operators came and went in 2011, but the one constant that remained was change....
Industry Observer
LA Fitness Continues to Make Case as Industry Leader with Acquisition of Bally Clubs
The recent LA Fitness-Bally deal likely will cause a shift in next year’s rankings on the Top 100 Clubs list. LA Fitness will have more than 500 clubs in operation by the end of this year. 24 Hour Fitness reported 420 clubs at the end of 2010....
Life Time Fitness Expands as Lifestyle Exits Markets
As Life Time Fitness grows its portfolio nationally, Lifestyle Family Fitness is drastically cutting back its operations, focusing its efforts instead in its home state of Florida....
Maryland Athletic Club and Wellness Center Celebrates 15th Anniversary
For 15 years, wellness has been the basis of the business model for the Maryland Athletic Club and Wellness Center (MAC), which celebrated its anniversary last month. ...
Snap Fitness Reaches Out to New Market of 4 Million Potential Members with Travel Center Partnership
Snap Fitness is trying a new approach to bring the 4 million Americans who make their living as professional truck drivers into their doors. ...
Supplier Side
Change in Patent Law Could Affect Fitness Equipment Innovations
Fitness equipment manufacturers are preparing for a change in the U.S. patent law that could affect future innovators and the speed of new patent approvals....
Fitness Equipment Manufacturers Take Patent Protection Seriously
As the fitness industry prepares for the Smith-Leahy America Invests Act (AIA) to go into effect in 2013, changing the U.S. patent system from a first-to-invent to a first-to-file system, just how big of a problem is patent infringement in the industry?...
Youth Performance Training Offers Revenue Possibilities for Health Club Operators
Even though the high obesity numbers in children would indicate a revenue opportunity in serving this market, some club operators are experiencing revenue growth by catering to a different segment of America’s youth. ...
Fitness Accessories Use Boosted by Programming Trends
Small fitness equipment and accessories will play a key role in programming trends in 2012....
Retention Edge
Introductory Sessions Improve Health Club Member Retention
Most health clubs’ strategies for integrating new members into the facility and its programs fall short because they do not educate new members on what it takes to achieve success. ...
Smart Design
A Well-Designed Indoor Walking Track Can Attract New Members to Your Fitness Facility
Some runners and walkers can only be lured inside a fitness facility by a well-designed indoor track. ...
Sales Strategies
Proper Sales Training for Health Club Service Staff Requires Five Elements
You must train your service staff because without training, each encounter between a service provider and a prospect is a shot in the dark. ...
