This Month in Club Insider: March 2024
IHRSA Modernization Continues with New Name
LOS ANGELES, CA - Marking the next chapter of member service and engagement for an innovative and consumer-focused industry, IHRSA President & CEO, Liz Clark, unveiled a new name for the organization: Health & Fitness Association, which she described as a, "global community of industry leaders supporting an association committed to advocacy, education and research."
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IHRSA 2024 Hits a High Note with Association's New Name and Increased Attendance Numbers
BOSTON, MA - The 2024 IHRSA Convention & Trade Show wrapped with buzz about the organization's new name launch and targeted mission to be the global community for health and fitness leaders focused on advocacy, education and research. The association's new name is the Health & Fitness Association.
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IHRSA 2024: A Global Showcase of Health and Fitness Innovation
By: Nancy Trent
Nancy TrentFrom March 6 - 8, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA - now the Health & Fitness Association) once again brought together a vibrant community of health and fitness professionals, marking a significant milestone in promoting physical activity and enhancing overall wellbeing. As the global hub for the fitness industry, IHRSA's annual trade show continues to evolve, reflecting an increasingly diverse dynamic and profitable landscape of fitness innovations and opportunities for gyms, as well as fitness equipment retailers.
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Putting Safety First in the Club Business
By: Herb Lipsman
Herb LipsmanThe Deepwater Horizon (2010) explosion and subsequent loss of life and environmental catastrophe caused an entire industry to make drastic changes in how they conducted business. It moved safety and risk management to the top of company priorities across the globe. This had an impact on my mindset for how I viewed safety protocols in the clubs I managed. Safety had always been a priority for me, but observing how so many companies put safety-first in all company communications, led me to make similar changes in my own management approach.
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Top Ten Mistakes for New Health Club Design and Renovations
By: Bruce Carter
Bruce CarterInterior design plays a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere and functionality of health clubs. From fostering motivation to enhancing relaxation, the design of these spaces can significantly impact the overall experience of members. However, in the process of designing or renovating health clubs, certain mistakes can detract from the intended ambiance and functionality. Here are the top ten interior mistakes to avoid when undertaking health club design and renovations.
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Building an Effective Annual Sales and Marketing Plan
By: Frank Guengerich
Frank GuengerichThere are several ways to approach the development of an Annual Sales and Marketing Plan. The question is, what way is the most impactful, effective and yields the best return on investment? Having spent over 30 years of selling memberships in most states in U.S. and most major U.S. cities, this is what I've learned works best...
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Lights, Camera, Action!
Turn Your Gym into the Summer Blockbuster of Fitness
By: Jim Thomas
Jim ThomasGym owners, are you ready to trade in your tired routines for a box office smash? Forget the same old flyers and forgettable slogans. It's time to unleash the inner-Hollywood and promote your gym like a summer blockbuster! Why? Because in the fitness industry, attention is currency, and engagement is your ticket to success.
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IHRSA 2024 Proves Better than a Zoom Call
By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
Jeffrey PinkertonCross country flights, days away from home, time zone changes, countless hours of planning and preparation, booths shipped and exhibit halls configured, all to get together in-person in Los Angeles at IHRSA 2024. Wouldn't it have been simpler to just schedule a handful of Zoom meetings? Pre-record the keynote speakers so participants could watch on their own schedule? And, maybe even set up a virtual exhibit hall complete with on-demand videos from vendors? Of course, it would have been simpler, but it would not have been at all the same. Don't let the tech titans fool you. It's better when we're together.
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Gold's Gym Inducts Pete Grymkowski, Ed Connors and Tim Kimber into its Hall of Fame
VENICE BEACH, CA - Gold's Gym, the iconic fitness brand known for its legacy in strength and performance training, inducts Pete Grymkowski, Ed Connors and Tim Kimber into the Gold's Gym Hall of Fame. These three individuals have been instrumental in shaping the history and growth of Gold's Gym during the 1980s and 1990s, leading the brand to unprecedented success and establishing its global presence.
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Norm's Notes for March 2024
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 363rd monthly edition of this 31+ 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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