Gym Marketing and Sales

Health Club Marketing Powerhouses

Health Club Marketing and Advertising
Powerhouses Join Forces

Profit Partners LLC of Fair Haven NJ and Susan K. Bailey of Ontario Canada have joined forces to create more effective marketing and advertising for health club owners in the U.S. and Canada. Profit Partners LLC has been creating marketing systems for the health club industry exclusively since 2003. The award-winning firm of Susan K. Bailey has been creating advertisements and lead generators for the health club industry since 1983. Together, these two firms bring decades of experience to deliver the most effective marketing and advertising solutions to health club, fitness center and gym owners.

FAIR HAVEN, NJ -- Profit Partners LLC of Fair Haven NJ and Susan K. Bailey of Ontario Canada have joined forces to create more effective marketing and advertising for health club owners in the U.S. and Canada. Profit Partners LLC has been creating marketing systems for the health club industry exclusively since 2003. The award-winning firm of Susan K. Bailey has been creating advertisements and lead generators for the health club industry since 1983. Together, these two firms bring decades of experience to deliver the most effective marketing and advertising solutions to health club, fitness center and gym owners.

43.8 million Americans have spent $15.9 billion dollars on memberships to health, sports and racquet clubs last year. This industry has grown every year, yet many of the owners of these clubs are reporting flat or declining revenue. The reason is simple; more competition. Although a record number of people are buying memberships, the number of choices has also increased. This has brought with it a new challenge for the owners; get more members than the competition.

The Price of the Membership is Not the Problem
In the last twelve months, Profit Partners has surveyed over 2,400 people who have joined health clubs, gyms, athletic and fitness centers. This survey confirmed the fact that price is not the #1 reason people pick one club over another. Yet when you look at health a club ad, that's all they talk about. "People, who are trying to look better and feel better, want convenience, no hassles and variety. If you provide that at a reasonable cost, you will win the market share" said Bob Sisk co-founder of Profit Partners LLC. Profit Partners creates the messaging and systems for clubs from their website, phone scripts and drop in scripts. They create all of the facets of a club's strategic marketing. The focus is on what makes that club unique and different from the rest. "Susan K. Bailey provides the highest quality look needed to create the all important first impression. They continue to exceed the expectations of their clients. Profit Partners are very excited about the finished products." said Allan Boushie Co-Founder of Profit Partners LLC.

The Playing Field Has Been Leveled
Profit Partners has made it possible for small and mid-sized club owners to receive the same high quality marketing and advertising solutions as the $100 million national chains. "In a sense, we have leveled the playing field." Sisk said. Smaller health clubs can now achieve the same impact in the market place as the mega centers. Too many hard working entrepreneurs watched their revenues disappear when a national chain moved into town. With a proven marketing and advertising system a health club will achieve growth in a competitive environment.

Sue Kell, President of Susan K. Bailey, says "People are powered by emotion more than reason. We are 80 percent emotional and 20 percent rational. If we can't get emotional about fitness, why will our customers? The message that we at SKB constantly retain in the back of our creative minds is that being fit simply makes life better. Our focus is clear: to be passionate about our client's club and create compelling advertising that convinces individuals to become members and get more out of life. While reason makes all advertising the same, emotion creates differences no one dreamed of."

Health Club owners don't have the time to learn how to become marketing experts. Thanks to the joint efforts of Profit Partners LLC and Susan K. Bailey Advertising, they don't have to.

Overhaul Your Marketing!

Health Club Marketing Needs An Overhaul

All too often in the health club industry owners look for the quick fix. True, a $99 membership for a year will get a lot of people to sign up. But as any owner who has done this will attest, there is more headache than happiness in this venture.

Fair Haven, NJ -- All too often in the health club industry owners look for the quick fix. True, a $99 membership for a year will get a lot of people to sign up. But as any owner who has done this will attest, there is more headache than happiness in this venture.

Owners always ask for the magic marketing pill and as you know, there is no "magic pill". However, there is a system, and in order for the system to take flight, owners will need to make changes in the way they do business. This can all be done without compromising prices or making ridiculous offers to potential clients.

Tear It Down and Build It Up
Successful business owners understand that their business is in a continual state of growth and evolution, shedding old ideas and habits and developing new ones. These new ones take time to develop and more importantly, the old habits take time to break. But through practice and repetition, the old habits become weak and the new habits take form.

Here is an example of breaking habits and taking time to build up better habits. Health club owners realize their front desk sales procedure is not cutting it, so they get rid of their old system and install a new one. The change is met with resistance by the front desk staff. In fact, many owners report a drop in conversion ratios and are confused by this. What they need to remember is that they are breaking old sales habits and their people are uncomfortable. Once they get past being uncomfortable and master new skills, the closing ratios will increase to higher levels than before.

Get Back To The Basics
Tiger Woods had just won more tournaments than any golfer within a one year period, and he was doing it by large margins. Then he realized that his swing was not good for long term success and this could shorten his career. So he got a new coach and developed a new swing. For the second time in his career, Woods revamped his swing, believing he needed to take his driving and iron play to an even higher level. With his new coach, Hank Haney, particular attention was paid to distance and direction. "I really like his approach to teaching. It's certainly different than I've ever had before," Woods says. "When it's all said and done, you're back to the same fundamentals," Haney says. "It just changes the order you work on them."

The new swing was very conventional, but Tiger could not control it. He found fewer fairways and even fewer greens than he had since he was just a kid. But he kept at it despite the critics and a long slump. He lost his number one world ranking, he continued to lose and his accuracy was not looking much better. Then at the end of the 2004 season, there were glimpses of the old Tiger. He was hitting it long and he was lowering his scores. Now he has regained his number one world ranking and recently won The Masters.

Do you see what happened here? He knew what he was doing would make him better, but the period of time where he was breaking his old habits and perfecting new ones overlapped. It was a step back for him. But as soon as the new habits became dominant, his success came back and better than before.

Business mentor Brian Tracey's book, "Million Dollar Habits" talks about taking a loss in order to make a big leap in your business and it is a good read for anyone looking to break through to the next level. Another good read that explains this business practice is "Re-imagine" by Tom Peters. His theory is this, "When it comes to getting past a barrier or a plateau that seems impossible.. Control, Alt, Delete." What he is saying is, with new knowledge and more experience, why improve on what you are doing? Just start over and do it right. Too many people try to build off of what they have, when what they need to do is apply all of their new knowledge and new habits.. Control, Alt, Delete. Start over.

These examples relate directly to health club marketing success. The good news - marketing is scientific, not creative. Successful owners know the secret: test, track, tweak, then succeed. If you really want a system that can make a gym better, secure more members and retain more clients, then you need to break old habits and practice new ones.

Most marketing and advertising companies focus on one aspect of your gym. One will do your post cards, another websites, the next might help with closing techniques and still another will write newspaper ads. Each one of these companies is working with their own system and using the angle of their own message. Successful owners in the top 10% of the health and fitness field understand the need for a team to be working together and knowing what the message is. Done properly, the down time becomes less and the focus on new habits becomes greater. Using a company that works with your sales team, front desk, website marketing, advertising, internal marketing and community programs is an advantage to any owner who really is hands on with his club.

Just remember, in order to move forward in a big way in any aspect of life or business, you need to break old habits. "Give it time" says Brian Long, President of Profit Partners LLC. "Too often we see owners quit on their plan a few months into it. Change is uncomfortable, but worth it." This involves taking a step back, regrouping and forming a stronger base of new habits. That takes guts. Most people remain stuck because they're afraid to take a step backward. It is the only way to go from good to great.

Small Business of the Year

Drew LeBlanc's Elite Fitness Named Shreveport's
Small Business of the Year for 2008

Drew LeBlanc's Elite Fitness was named Shreveport's Small Business of the Year for 2008 by the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. In a luncheon ceremony hosted by The Chamber on June 18, 2008 at the Summer Grove Event Center, the award was accepted by Founder and Owner, Drew LeBlanc.

(Shreveport, Louisiana) - Drew LeBlanc's Elite FItness has been recognized as Shreveport's best health club and fitness facility for years by local fitness enthusiasts. On June 18, 2008 all of Shreveport was made aware of this fact by the Great Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. Drew LeBlanc, Owner of Elite Fitness, was on hand at a ceremonial luncheon hosted by the Chamber of Commerce to accept this prestigious award - Small Business of the Year for 2008.

Just 10 short months ago, Elite Fitness took over the old Pier One building on Mansfield and transformed it into the area's most modern health and fitness facility. They had 340 members when they opened their doors; today, they boast over 1,300 and are growing to an expected capacity of 2,300 within the year. Unlike most gyms and health clubs, Elite's success is based on loyalty.

Find Out What Your Customer Wants. Then Give it to Them!

"People thought my wife Lauren and I were crazy when we began researching larger commercial real estate in Southern Hills" says Drew LeBlanc. "We didn't think it was crazy at all, the people in Southern Hills have been loyal to us. We felt we owed it to Shreveport to stay right here." Elite Fitness built upon the charm of the older structure and added all the modern amenities of a first-class fitness facility and wellness center including a sauna in the locker rooms, bistro tables in the juice bar area, which touts Drew's Brews, a tanning bed, even available child care.

A Hired Gun Gets Elite Fitness to the Next Level

"We would never have been able to do this on our own. We've needed the help, support and assistance of our great staff and outside experts", states Mr. LeBlanc. "When we relocated 10 months ago, we hired the health club marketing experts at Profit Partners LLC. They've given us the systems and resources we've needed to grow our membership base, improve member retention and assist in growing other products and services."

"It's a real pleasure working with Drew and Lauren LeBlanc", says Allan Boushie, Co-Founder of Profit Partners LLC. "The LeBlanc's are truly dedicated to customer service. He and Lauren were putting in more than 80 hours a week, working with members, introducing equipment and workout plans. They came to us to help them save time and help them grow. They are very deserving of the Shreveport Small Business of the Year Award for 2008."

In addition to being awarded the Small Business of the Year for 2008, Drew LeBlanc has also been nominated for the Louisiana State Businessperson of the Year Award for 2008. The winner of this prestigious designation will be announced later this year at the Governor's Mansion.

New Marketing for Better Results

Health Club Marketing and Advertising Technology

Doing business today requires health clubs to embrace technology. The internet has helped thousands of clubs nationwide, increase productivity and the bottom line. Now it is possible for small and mid-sized club owners to receive the same high quality marketing and advertising solutions as the $100 million national chains.

Fair Haven NJ -- All too often in this industry you see gym owners looking for the quick fix. Many times this is caused by the fact that running a health club requires owner to wear many hats. This usually leads to last minute marketing. Owners are hit with deadlines from their ad representative. When they can't create the right ad, they revert to the file of 'old ads' which most of the time failed to work the last time they ran them. Why in the world repeat something that didn't work the last time? It's because they feel something is better than nothing. Finally, there is an easy solution.

Technology Provides the Answer
Profit Partners LLC has been delivering health club and gym marketing and advertising solutions exclusively to the Health and Fitness Industry exclusively since 2003. They have not always relied on technology to deliver their services. Prior to 2003, their consulting clients were all local to the New York metropolitan area. Delivering an intangible like marketing and sales training was a long tedious process. Because of the time and travel involved, they were charging over $30,000 to implement their program into a health club. "The ROI on our service was much more than the retainer fees", according to Bob Sisk, Co-Founder of Profit Partners LLC. "We needed to streamline our delivery to allow more small and mid-sized clubs to afford this much needed service. In 2005, we were able to use technology to deliver our service more efficiently and effectively. The benefit to health club owners was a substantial price reduction as well as achieving the results for our health clubs faster". Profit Partners was able to streamline many parts of their system, allowing them to spend their time working with owners on their unique selling points. Training on the components went from twice a month to weekly, but now it was delivered via conference calls and web delivery.

The Foundation MarketingTM on DVD
Doing business in the year 2010 requires health clubs to embrace technology. The internet has helped thousands of clubs nationwide, increase productivity and the bottom line. The fitness industry has made tremendous strides over the last few years. Profit Partners has made it possible for small and mid-sized club owners to receive the same high quality marketing and advertising solutions as the $100 million national chains. "In a sense, we have leveled the playing field." Sisk said. Smaller health clubs can now achieve the same impact in the market-place as the mega centers. Too many hard working entrepreneurs watched their revenues disappear when a national chain moved into town. With a proven marketing and advertising system a health club will achieve growth in three areas - new membership sales, membership retention and ancillary sales.

Until now, Health Club owners didn't have the time to learn how to compete in the gym marketing arena. Thanks to consulting coupled with DVD training and a years worth of marketing on stored on CD-roms, owners can now get back to competing on service and results. Everyone wins. Especially the members.