March 2009

First Word

Health Club Operators Must Face the Economy Head On

Fear is spreading across the country these days. A late February poll from CNN and Opinion Research showed that 73 percent of Americans surveyed are fearful...

Club Industry Says Goodbye to Michael Scott Scudder

The staff of this publication has had the pleasure of working with Michael Scott Scudder for many years. In this issue, we are running Michael's last column with us ...

Top News

Online Tools Are Essential for Health Club Lead Generation

The Internet and e-mail marketing are becoming essential tools for a club's lead generation efforts....

Feature

National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association 2009 Show Preview

The roots of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) go back 60 years, when a group of 22 African-American men and women from...

Trend Watch

Fitness Club Operators Think Twice about Fitness Equipment Purchases

The economy has left club operators with some tough decisions about whether to buy, lease or do without new strength equipment....

Schools Get Involved in Fight Against Childhood Obesity

The United States faces an uphill climb in the battle against childhood obesity, but some states are taking action....

25th Anniversary

People of Influence in the Health Club Industry

To some people, this industry consists of clubs, programming and equipment, but the reality is that this industry's greatest element is the people who...

Fitness Business News

NIRSA Outstanding Sports Facilities Awards Announced

Corvallis, OR The National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) announced the six recipients of its 2009 Outstanding Sports Facilities (OSF)...

LA Weight Loss Must Pay Up After Shutting Down Centers

Albany, NY LA Weight Loss Centers Inc. must pay up in at least one state after closing its clubs around the country starting late last year, filing for...

Operators Face Hurdles in Pool Act Compliance

Washington, DC Pool operators who have not yet complied with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act say that differences in state and federal...

Titan Fitness Enters Nevada in Next Phase of Growth

McLean, VA Titan Fitness' recent purchase of two clubs in Nevada is just one more step in the club company's plan to grow from 16 Gold's Gym locations...

Life Time Fitness CEO Remains Confident After Earnings Call and Cites Strong January for Company

Chanhassen, MN Life Time Fitness CEO Bahram Akradi expressed optimism about his company's club model during last month's conference call with analysts...

Health Club Industry Performance Shows Mixed Results in 2009

Even though a recent annual performance index report showed that 14 of the leading for-profit health club companies in the United States...

24 Hour Fitness Faces Discrimination Claims and Class-Action Lawsuit

24 Hour Fitness, San Ramon, CA, is the target of discrimination claims as well as a lawsuit involving the rebranding of some of its clubs....

Fitness Industry News Briefs March 2009

Army Fitness About 200 Army soldiers and their families participated in the 12th annual Aerobathon held in January at the Newman Fitness Center at Fort...

Inside Manufacturers

Fitness Equipment Manufacturers Experience Fourth Quarter Sales Decreases

The economy has taken a bite out of sales for some of the larger equipment manufacturers in the fitness industry....

Fiserv Changes CheckFree's Name

CheckFree has a new name and a new look. The company is now known as Fiserv, which acquired CheckFree in 2007 for $4.4 billion. Fiserv...

TRX Suspension Training Featured on Reality TV Show

NBC's The Biggest Loser Couples featured Fitness Anywhere's TRX Suspension Training equipment. ...

Body Masters Nears Foreclosure

Body Masters, a strength equipment manufacturer for 30 years, is in the process of foreclosure. Knight Companies, an oil field rental company...

Hammer Strength Offers Spring Clinics

Hammer Strength extended its series of Hammer Strength Clinics for spring 2009. ...

On the Mark

Fitness Industry Veterans Offer Survival Advice

Mark Mastrov gets advice from health club operators about how to survive a recession....

Focus on Clubs

Proven Health Club Business Ideas Are Worthless Until Implemented

Club owners are searching for new ideas and more knowledge to help them survive and thrive in today's economy. ...

Focus on Design

Fitness Facility Renovations Can Make A Big Splash for Little Cost

In today's challenging economy, health clubs need to show that they have added value. ...

From the Lip

It's Time for a Break in the Fitness Club Industry

While writing this column, I wondered whether I should call it break time or brake time. Certainly, circumstances in both our national business climate...

Pro Shop

Pro Shop

Biometric System FSS Inc. has a biometric system to replace carrying an ID card when members swim, work out or jog. Biometric fingerprint ID technology...

Sponsored Content

Cardio and Strength Trends
Sponsored by Life Fitness

Core Strength Conditioning
Sponsored by The AB Coaster Company

Group Exercise
Sponsored by LesMills

Technology Resource Center
Sponsored by ABC Financial

Videos

1st Annual Fitness Industry Summit 2011: Introduction

Jay Del Vecchio, World Instructor Training Schools President and CEO

GRAVITY on Total Gym profits everyone

Harness the popularity of Total Gym through world-class GRAVITY Training solutions.

Elevation Series iPod Compatibility

Watch the newest informative video from Life Fitness.



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In This Issue: February 2012 View All Past Issues

Cover Story

The Salvation Army’s Kroc Centers Continue Expansion Across Nation

The Salvation Army’s Kroc Centers are growing in numbers and in the feelings they create in the fitness industry.



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