Wait Training

“Lord, give me patience and give it to me now”.  Does this sound familiar?  It seems to be the prayer of Christians in today’s fast paced society in this age of instance gratification.  My prayer requests were once frequently similar to this; I gave God my laundry list, and then politely suggested fast time frames and methods in which they should be answered.  I often found myself frustrated that my prayers were not answered immediately until it dawned on me that they were, but the answer was usually “Wait”. 

God’s timetable is much different than our own.  We live in the present moment while God is outside of time.  He can see the past, present and future with equal clarity and he knows the ramifications of answering prayers before the appropriate time.  Looking back, I am very thankful for some prayers that were not answered according to my timetable.

Just as muscle strength and endurance is gained by consistent weight training over a long time period; we gain spiritual strength and endurance by waiting on the Lord and remaining consistently “in him”.  There are those that take shortcuts to physical development and athletic accomplishments by artificial means; but let’s be real- those big muscles on the bodybuilders are not real; nor are the home runs, bike races won etc. that are produced by steroids or other artificial means.  Certainly a lot of hard work and training went into producing any world class accomplishment, but if shortcuts were taken, it’s not real.

We can pray earnestly but if we fail to wait on God, are we not trying to take shortcuts ourselves?  God calls us to “Be still and know that I am God”.  Pray- and then wait…… and trust. 

Another Former Curves Owner's Success Story

Just received an email from Gail, a former Curves owner who stuck it out and reached the end of her franchise agreement and closed her club last year.  She loved her members but hated dealing with the Curves corporate office with their tight restrictions and high fees.  She was literally paying money from her own pocket for the last year or so to stay open.  She recently opened her new, independent club with PACE equipment.

"My former members were begging me to re-open but there is no way I would ever get involved with another franchise.  We received our new equipment and I did a sneak preview for all my former members- they love the quality of PACE equipment!  And to be able to adjust it is awesome!  Many of my former members dropped out because they hit that plateau you talk about with Curves equipment.  I signed up 80 former members the first weekend- and I haven't even opened for business yet! 

Rande, thank you so much for all your help! Your customer service is awesome and you came through with everything you promised!
I only wish I found you 10 years ago before I got involved with Curves!"

Snap Fitness selects PACE for Women's Rooms

Snap Fitness held its 3rd annual convention last week in Las Vegas and our PACE program was on display as a preferred vendor.  In his opening statements, Snap Fitness CEO Peter Taunton shared his vision of the addition of women's only rooms with PACE equipment as one of the keys to the future success of Snap Fitness.  He cited the 100% success of the first 6 Snap Fitness clubs to feature PACE in separate women's rooms with one club signing up over 270 new women's members!  (That's enough members to support a small stand-alone women's club!)  These members will not have to say "Now What?" as many Curves members do when they hit a plateau because of nonadjustable equipment.  Once they see fast results with PACE and overcome their intimidation, they can easily be transitioned into the general population of the club.

Hundreds of Snap Fitness club owners from all over the world stopped by our PACE booth and had very positive things to say about our equipment and program.  Watch for the PACE program in a Snap Fitness 24/7 Club near you soon!

Adding PACE to an Existing Health Club

Why add a PACE circuit training program to an existing club? According to IHRSA (International Health & Racquet Sports Association), less than 20% of the US popular are members of a coed health club. Intimidation and no time are the top two reasons cited by nonmembers; especially for seniors, the overweight and those with busy lifestyles.

These factors contributed to the vast spread of women’s only clubs across the country in the last 10 years. However, Curves for Women, the largest chain of franchise women’s clubs had an inherent flaw in its program- built in obsolescence with their nonadjustable equipment resulting in members eventually hitting a plateau, getting bored and saying “now what?” This is one of the factors that contributed to thousands of Curves clubs closing in the last few years leaving hundreds of thousands of former and potential new members with nowhere to go.

Some wise fitness professionals are using our non-intimidating PACE circuit as a
means of attracting this deconditioned and intimidated market and transitioning them into the general population. Here are a few:

Fit n Fast Australia (http://www.fitnfast.com.au/). Founder Tony DeLeede is a long-time customer, first featuring PACE in his Australian Body Works chain in Atlanta back in the 1980’s. Tony and his team now use PACE as their “Quickie”
busy lifestyle circuit workout as well as a non-intimidating introductory workout into their clubs.

Gold Star Fitness (http://www.goldstarfitness.com). A 5 club chain in Tennessee, uses PACE as a part of a women’s weight loss program which has become both a stand-alone profit center as well as a “feeder” member program into their full service clubs.

Snap Fitness (http://www.snapfitness.com). One of the nation’s largest 24/7 chains, recently completed a test of a separate women’s only room featuring a PACE circuit in their club in Springtown, TX. Watch for more Snap Fitness clubs with PACE coming soon! UPDATE!!! Just returned from conducting a PACE Training Workshop with the staff of Snap Fitness in New Caney, TX. Had a great time and they learned a lot about what PACE will do for their members and club.

PACE: The Ideal Circuit for 24/7 Clubs

24 hour access clubs are opening all over the world like wildfire with franchises like Snap Fitness and Anytime Fitness leading the trend. Many independent clubs are following suit to be able to expand their membership base without a great deal of additional costs (the utilities cost may go up a bit, but there are no additional personnel or rent costs).

What seems to be a roadblock for many club owners considering a 24/7 format is the potential liability of someone hurting themselves without supervision. We suggest adding a PACE circuit training program- Since there is no fixed load or eccentric resistance "negative", it is virtually impossible to hurt yourself with PACE hydraulic equipment. Instead, PACE features double concentric "positive" resistance which works opposing muscle groups for an intense, full body workout. And since PACE's work/rest circuit format combines strength and cardio workouts into a time efficient 30 minute program, it can fit into the busiest of lifestyles.

A 24/7 PACE program will not only increase your potential membership base and profits, it will also help set your club apart for the competition. Curves clubs have been forbidden from offering 24 hour access. Although some Curves clubs have gone ahead and implemented a 24/7 format, they are in violation of their franchise agreements and have been told the cease and desist.

For more information, email pacefitness@att.net or call 888-604.2244.

Snap Fitness adds PACE Equipment

We are proud to announce that Snap Fitness (www.snapfitness.com) is adding PACE equipment to their larger clubs. Here is what Peter Taunton, the CEO of Snap Fitness has to say about PACE:

"We at Snap Fitness are proud to be the first national 24 hour access fitness company to feature hydraulic circuit training equipment in our clubs. We researched equipment suppliers thoroughly and decided to go with PACE, the best hydraulic equipment in the industry. We will be featuring the PACE circuit in women's only areas of our larger clubs to provide a superior alternative to the women's franchise clubs out there. Our members will not hit plateaus with PACE as they do with their current non-adjustable women's club equipment- also, once they feel comfortable, they have access to the rest of the club and a wide variety of equipment."

Want to get a huge edge over Curves? Consider a 24 hour access club with PACE equipment.

PACE Fitness Announces New Website

We at PACE Fitness are happy to announce our new updated website at www.pacecircuittraining.com. With the growing number of sales in to senior fitness facilities, 24 hour access clubs, weight loss centers as well as rehab centers and sports conditioning facilities; we wanted our website to more closely reflect the wide range of fitness levels and applications our PACE circuit training program can accommodate.
We still enjoy a nice business selling in to towns where a Curves for Women club has just closed, but it seems our customer base is expanding as more and more 24 hour access clubs, senior fitness centers and weight loss/exercise studios are spreading across the country.
Please check out our new website to see if PACE circuit training can work for your facility.

Why is the Curves Franchise in Such Bad Shape?

This was the topic of a recent Wall Street Journal Online article (see http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303365804576432062058517684.html?mod=googlenews_wsj). Curves CEO Gary Heavin blames it on the franchisees, "Unfortunately, not every independent business owner is willing to do the hard work that owning a business requires,". He also say that Curves "attracted a lot of the wrong people—investors who wanted to make a buck or get rich quick." (How dare those greedy club owners want to make money!)

Quite frankly, if I were a Curves franchisee, I would be very insulted. Instead of admitting that they over-saturated territories, charged exorbitantly high fees, forced inferior, non-adjustable equipment on franchisees and gave very little support, they put the blame on the club owners. Yeah, right; it's the fault of the club owners that they went from over 10,000 clubs to less than 4,000 in a few years.

He now says that he is going to "re-invent" Curves with a new weight loss program. Read: He is going to shove more products down the throat of the franchisees.

The failure of Curves comes as no surprise to fitness industry experts; this was predicted years ago when they first appeared on the scene with non-adjustable equipment and a one-size-fits-all program.

If you have ever known anyone who has worked for or worked out at Curves, the most common thing you hear members say is that they hit a plateau. Anyone in the fitness industry will tell you that progressive resistance and variety are the keys to long-term results and member retention. Here is a quote from a former Curves club owner who closed her club and lost everything, “Members hit a plateau, stopped getting results, got bored and dropped out- membership fell off dramatically”.

To see what other former (and existing) Curves owners have to say about the corporate office, visit http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/curves-robert-lays-story/

Still Thinking of a Curves Franchise?

I just saw this post on UnHappyFranchisee.com from a Curves owner:

Author: n
Comment:
Ive managed and owned a Curves for 13 years I love my job but Curves over sold territory (5 clubs in a 25 mile radius) around me taking my membership from 800 to 300 in two years.one club opened 2 miles from me on my border her territory town was ten miles away. Shes closer to my town border than her own.They never enforced dues transfers, now the very contracts I sold my members saying their dues will never go up as long as they are a Curves member..is now up to the transferred to clubs to honor or not... I get no protection no non compete from Curves.. Now with the economy cannibalizing my membership, I will not be renewing my agreement. Love the concept of Curves (by the way I was at the training when Gary swore he would never increase the cost of a Curves franchise...) Tired of being lied to, and not supported by corporate

No comments necessary....

"I wish I had Known" - another Curves owner

I heard this again today for perhaps the thousandth time- from another Curves owner who wished she had done more investigating before getting involved with a Curves franchise. She is soon going to be closing her club, but wanted to look into opening a non-franchise club to be able to continue to service her members. When she found out she could buy a PACE circuit for over $10,000.00 less than the Curves’ start-up package- for superior equipment and no franchise fees, she was obviously very happy. But she was also very frustrated with the time, money and hard work wasted on Curves with absolutely no support from the corporate office.

I told her perhaps the best way to look at it was a learning experience; she now knows what does not work and what not to do. She can now expand upon her hard work over the years and reap the profits of truly owning her own business. I also encouraged her to look at the positive things she accomplished; she helped many people make some positive changes in their lives. She perhaps did not have the best product to offer or tools to work with, but she can now expand on what she started.

I have helped hundreds of former Curves club owners, employees or members successfully open their own non-franchise club; if you know of a Curves owner of a club that has recently closed, or soon to be closed, please pass along my contact information.

Large Club Owners- Consider a Sattelite Studio

It is no secret that women-only circuit training clubs saturated the country a few years ago. The Curves for Women franchise at one time boasted over 10,000 locations. Although thousands of Curves clubs have closed in the last few years (for a number of reasons; over-saturation of markets, unqualified owners, lack of support, high franchise fees, inferior equipment, tight franchise restrictions, etc.), they still are a significant factor in the fitness industry across the country. There is no doubt that they are still a thorn in the side of larger coed facilities by taking away thousands of potential members. With their message of “no intimidation” and the time efficiency of a 30 minute workout, these clubs appeal to the needs of today’s deconditioned, busy Baby Boomers.

Some large clubs have attempted to counter these circuit training clubs by offering their own “express” type of circuits within their facilities using conventional weight stack machines borrowed from their main workout area. However, the problem of getting the intimidated person in the front door still remains. Some progressive club owners have opened their own satellite circuit training/weight loss studios to attract the out-of-shape and intimidated market and act as “feeder” clubs into the main club. With satellite clubs, when a member reaches a certain level of fitness and gets over the initial intimidation, it can be an easy upgrade into the “mother” club. One of the biggest problems that Curves clubs face is a high drop-out rate when members hit a plateau because of their non-adjustable equipment. They have nothing to offer when a members says "now what?".

Low overhead is a major key to the success of these circuit training studios. Rents and personnel costs for 1,200- 2,000 square feet facilities are obviously much less than those of 20,000+ square foot clubs. For example, if you assume the rent for a small facility to be about $2,500.00 per month and if you have four part time people working 20 hours per week each at a rate of $10.00 per hour, your overhead would be approximately $6,000.00 per month. Typically, a small women’s circuit training club will charge $39.00- $49.00 a month for memberships; the average club needs 125-150 members to break even. Much higher fees can be charged if a weight loss program is incorporated into memberships. Fees of $499.00- $599.00 are not unusual for 8-12 weeks of a weight loss program- with no exercise component.

Granted, small studios will not generate the profit dollars made by larger clubs, but percentage-wise, these small clubs can be much more profitable (and much less expensive to set up and staff). Besides enjoying new profit, the key factor to remember is that members of these small clubs can be transitioned into the main club when they are ready- a feeder system for those people who would normally not join a large club. Members of Curves have no where to go when they reach a plateau.

Not so "Secret" Millionaire

I watched the "Secret Millionaire" segment last night featuring Gary and Diane Heavin. I found the whole thing self-serving and sad; it was more a promotion of "Curves" than anything else. I would have liked to have seen them give some money back to the thousands of Curves owners who lost everything and had to close their clubs.

To see what Curves franchise owners have to say about their generous leader, check out: http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/curves-gary-heavin-secret-millionaire/

Will the Curves "Secret Millionaire" help thousands of closed club owners?

Just received this email from Unhappy Franchisee:

"Curves founder Gary Heavin and his wife Diane will soon be featured in an episode of the new “inspirational” ABC series “Secret Millionaire.”
According to the promo, the Heavins will search for "deserving people who need their help" and reward them with "tens of thousands of dollars of their own money."
Unhappy Franchisee asks: Do Curves franchisees perceive Heavin’s Secret Millionaire participation as positive brand exposure that will benefit existing clubs?
Or is it an insult to the thousands of failed or failing Curves franchise owners who are now, themselves, suffering financial hardship?

Feel watch the promo clip and share your view here: http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/curves-gary-heavin-secret-millionaire/
Gary Heavin on ABC Secret Millionaire: What do CURVES Franchisees Think?"

Good question.

Free Replacement Cue CD's for PACE circuit training customers

Do you own a PACE circuit training club? (Even if you bought used PACE equipment) Do you need new replacement cue cd's? I've recently uploaded both our 30 and 30 second cues to a file sharing site and I will be happy to send a link for a free download to anyone who needs it. Please email me at pace@cox.net for the link.

Just trying to help.....

Another Curves for Women club Bites the Dust

Another one bites the dust- another Curves for Women club has closed unexpectedly leaving members high and dry (see http://adirondackdailyenterprise.com/page/content.detail/id/523035/Two-local-businesses-shut-down.html?nav=5017)

Many former Curves owners say this is because of the high franchise fees, over-selling of territories and lack of support from the Curves corporate office (see http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/curves-robert-lays-story/). No doubt all of these factors are true, but I think it is much more than this- there is a built-in obsolescence of their program with their non-adjustable equipment. Any fitness professional will tell you that your body will adapt to doing the same workout day in and day out and you will eventually hit a plateau without the ability to increase the resistance.

So, those who are thinking of purchasing a Curves franchise, please do yourself a favor and do your homework. Talk to existing club owners to find out if they are happy with the support they are getting. Find out about our superior adjustable PACE equipment that is less expensive than Curves and our turn-key marketing/training program without any franchise fees. Visit our website www.pacegroupexercise.com or call toll free 888.604.2244 for more details.

YouTube Video- New Profits for your Club

Check out this video of Christina Lucy, our PACE Fitness & Nutrition Master Trainer talking about our new PACE Weight Loss Program and how it can add profit to your club as well as help your members achieve faster results: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkII2gdP0HE

Another PACE Club Opens Where a Curves for Women has Closed

As previously mentioned, a large part of our business in the last year or so has come from people who want to open their own non-franchise club in towns where a Curves for Women has recently closed. Many of these people have been members of the Curves that closed leaving them without a local club to workout. All of them have been pleasantly surprised with the superior quality of our PACE equipment.

Here is a news article on one of our latest customers to do this: http://www.journalstandard.com/entertainment/x1254713099/Working-Out-Frenchy-s-Fitness-Center-in-Durand-is-getting-people-healthier.

Some of these customers are offering a combination of women only hours during the day, then coed hours in the evening. They are very happy to be free to format their clubs anyway they like without being locked into a long-term franchise with restrictions and high fees.

Want information on how you can open your own fitness center? Call toll free 888.604.2244.

Could your club use an extra $50K in profits in 2011?

We are so convinced that our new PACE Weight Loss Program (www.pacefitnessandnutrition.com) will be a success in your club that we are willing to guarantee it! Call or email for details: 888-604-2244 or pace@cox.net. Check out this video of Connie Habal, a club owner who averaged over $8,000.00 per month in profits with this program: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYG1qUG5y2c

Announcing our New PACE Nutrition Program!

I am very proud to announce the launch of our new PACE Nutrition Program. The following is a press release announcing this new product line:

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA December 23, 2010 -- PACE Fitness has been marketing its hydraulic circuit training equipment to women's fitness centers and coed health clubs for over 20 years. PACE has now joined with the Medical/Weight Management Industry's leader in the development of weight management products to offer an extensive line of meal replacements and protein supplements which have been scientifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of the Low Calorie dieter just in time for New Year's Resolution memberships.

PACE President Rande LaDue states, "We have always suggested our health club customers offer some type of nutrition program to their members, but up until this point, we have never offered anything. We are happy to introduce our comprehensive program to help facilitate faster results for members and increased profits for the clubs. Exercise alone is only half of the wellness equation; now our health customers can offer a complete package."

"January is typically the busiest month of the year for health clubs; however, it is even busier for weight loss centers because of the intimidation factor. Overweight people typically are too intimidated to join conventional health clubs. Our non-intimidating hydraulic equipment has helped many clubs overcome this hurdle; however, without a nutrition program, clubs are not offering what these people want and need as well as missing out on a great deal of profit."

"Simplicity has always been a key factor to the success of our hydraulic circuit program. The same holds true with our new nutrition program. Our turn-key start up package for clubs includes staff training, marketing and program manuals as well as a start up supply of products for immediate sales."

PACE Nutrition products will be available direct to the consumer through its website pacefitnessandnutrition.com for those areas without a PACE club nearby.

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Has Curves Become "The Trailer Park of Gyms?"

Well-known and respected webmaster, Unhappy Franchisee, has just posted a new site: http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/has-curves-become-the-%E2%80%9Ctrailer-park-of-gyms%E2%80%9D/

I love this! After hearing horror stories from Curves for Women franchise owners for over 10 years, it's about time the public knows the truth about the corporate office. I am however, disappointed to see that nothing was mentioned of their inferior, non-adjustable equipment. Those of us in the fitness industry knew the bottom would eventually fall out of their membership base as members would hit a plateau, get bored and drop out. It was only a matter of time. It now appears that their time is up as the greed from the corporate office, lack of franchisee support, over-saturation of the markets and inferior equipment have come together in a perfect storm.