Archive for September, 2009
Thursday, September 24th, 2009
Here at illuminate gym we are always looking for the all the best things in the fitness indsutry and fitness franchise world. We’ve taken a lot of time over the past few months to see what franchisees are saying about fitness franchises they have or are currently a part of. Some of the results are extremely staggering and at illuminate gym our goal is to figure out why franchises are getting a bad reputation of not providing a business that is built for success. At illuminate gym we think we have figured out the issue.
After reading many blogs from unhappy franchisees the main issue we see with most fitness franchises is their inability to continue to focus on the number one issue in creating a successful fitness franchise which is the word “FITNESS”. Now it’s true in past blogs I have said that it’s important to provide a strong business in the rear of your franchisees to ensure the best chance of success. However, fitness franchises are not even doing a great job of that becuase they are not focused on their franchisees’ busnisses at all. Not Fitness… Not getting new business… Not even improving the model. Instead fitness franchises are more concerned with selling franchises which is completely understandable because afterall they are franchises. However, like any business if the product you are providing is not good then you will be very hard pressed to continue to grow your business. Many people buying into fitness franchises are finding this to be true as they are forced to shut their doors with little help from their fitness franchisors because they are busy selling their model to other people. Here at illuminate gym we are focused on continuing to evolve our franchise model and also to continue to focus on our main goal which is helping people and fighting obesity in America. We know if we continue to focus on our clients that our franchisees and illuminate gym as a whole will be successful. Thanks for reading and we hope you have a healthy day! Also if you’re looking into buying into a fitness franchise model be sure that the franchise is willing to support you in any way they can. This is your life and a new career path so don’t just become another number on a franchisor’s list. Also please keep in mind that starting a business is always a risk and there is no such thing as a ’sure thing’ in any business including a fitness business.
Tags: Curves, fit, Fitness, fitness franchise, fitness industry, franchise, franchisee, franchisor, gym franchise, illuminate gym, personal trainer, personal trainers, personal training
Posted in Franchise updates | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
The future of the fitness business will depend on the back end of a business or franchise. It’s not enough to have great fitness professionals or great methods to getting people more fit. At illuminate gym I have a great deal of respect for all of our personal trainers on staff but we have to find ways to get people excited about making their way into a gym or fitness facility because it can be a very nerve racking experience. People are scared to show their vulnerability and flaws when they walk into a gym or to meet a personal trainer. It’s so much more easy for a person to grab burger and fries and assimilate to the other 60% of Americans who are obese. At illuminate gym we are committed to getting personal trainers in front of clients because we know once they open the door to illuminate gym we have them and their focus on becoming more fit. The challenge on the back end of any fitness business is getting people to feel comfortable before they take the step to open that front door.
It’s easier at bigger gyms like 24 Hour Fitness because they can live off of everyone knowing about them and also there is no accountability. You can just put your headphones on and ignore everyone, including yourself, in the building or you don’t have to show up at all. However, at illuminate gym the fitness experience we provide is focused on the client and their needs. Though it seems like a great idea it can be a nerve racking experience for many people to have the spot light on them. At illuminate gym when our clients begin to see the results of ‘High Oxygen Training’ they understand the importance of being the center of attention. Fitness needs to be tailor made for every single person. That’s why at illuminate gym we run a boot camp but we don’t believe it is the best way for a person to obtain their goals. Thanks for reading and have a healthy day…
Tags: 24 hour fitness, boot camp, clients, fit, Fitness, fitness facility, fitness franchise, gym, healthy, illuminate gym, personal trainers, personal training, workout
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Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
Earlier this month we had a vendor who does a lot of clothing for illuminate gym and our franchise development company who came up with an idea to do custom I-Pods with our logos on them. The I-Pod looked sharp with our gym logo on it but as I looked at it I wondered if it was a good thing to give our clients the I-Pod after reading about all the runners who have been killed in the last year due to their lack of concentration and ability to hear as they run down streets with rushing cars by them. The question is do I as a franchisor and franchisee put my clients in danger… Well I guess some of our clients run on the treadmill which doesn’t put them at risk but at the end of the day the bad press I have been reading about I-Pods and fitness made me shy away so we ordered a batch of hoodies instead. I know really high tech right??? It’s better than a client of illuminate gym or any of our personal trainers getting hurt because they were blasting a Kanye West album as they ran down a busy street in Denver or any other city for that matter.
Tags: Denver, Fitness, fitness franchise, franchise, franchisee, franchisor, I-Pods, illuminate gym
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Monday, September 21st, 2009
For More Information:
David Sedbrook
1-877-427-2615
Franchise@illuminategym.com
illuminate gym helps people take their first steps
DENVER—September 21, 2009—illuminate gym in Cherry Creek, Colorado was reminded why their business can be so much more than a money making venture. At illuminate gym our franchisees have the capability to change people’s lives.
Last week a client working with a personal trainer made gains that were far greater than any ascetic goal or basic fitness goals. illuminate gym had a client who made his way into illuminate gym with a cane dragging his foot behind him months ago in search of a change in his life. The gentleman had been assaulted during a robbery at his house and had been struck from behind by a hammer which caused stroke like symptoms leaving him paralyzed on the left side of his body. The gentleman fell into a deep depression because of his injuries and didn’t leave his house for years. Then one day he made his way into illuminate gym. He was greeted with a smile and he knew right away that illuminate gym was the place for him. “It was a divine intervention to find illuminate…I just saw the name “illuminate” and I knew it was just what I needed,” the un-named client said.
The client has been working with his personal trainer Jamie Juergens for the past 7 months and has made incredible gains on the most basic of motor skills. “It was fairly easy for us to get into ‘High Oxygen Training’ because he had no structural issues on his joints,” Jamie said because all of the client’s injuries were neurological.
Today we are happy to announce that this client has gotten rid of his cane and his walking on his own without support. Though we are proud to take the praises we also acknowledge the will of the client to push forward through the hardest of times to regain his ability to walk and really his ability to live again. “This client has been such an inspiration to us all here at illuminate gym,” CPT Jamie Juergens said.
“This is an incredible story about the desire of the client to heal himself and the staff at illuminate gym’s ability to show him the way. This is another example of how illuminate gym is really so much more than a business. Our passion for helping people displays how success can be so much more than making money. illuminate gym is an avenue for our franchisees and personal trainers to show people a better life. It’s a place to become illuminated,” CEO and founder David Sedbrook said.
On a side note the client wished to be anonymous because of his traumatic experience and an ongoing investigation into the violent crime committed against him. At illuminate gym we respect all of our client’s anonymity but we thought this client’s story should be told and he agreed as long as we respected his privacy. If you would like to read more about illuminate gym please go to www.illuminategym.com.
Tags: business, Cherry Creek, franchise, franchise@illuminategym.com, gym, personal trainer, personal trainers, personal training
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Monday, September 21st, 2009
Earlier this weekend I went to visit a perspective franchisee to ease his mind about buying into the illuminate gym model. He was concerned about the real estate he was being shown by the real estate agent our department had set him up with. So I made it a point to travel to the area he is looking to business in and check out the property before he made a decision on our FDD. He was shocked when I arrived because no other franchisor had offered to meet him at his house to help him with his decision. At illuminate gym we are not just interested in helping people with personal training (High Oxygen Training) because we are also interested in helping our franchisees to build successful businesses. At the end of the day I think the perspective franchisee and myself were able to come up with some viable real estate options that will help him achieve success.
At illuminate gym we are so committed to helping our franchisees find success that we are willing to go above and beyond what our competitors are willing to do. We feel in the long run our approach to clients, personal training and our franchisees will separate our business from all other fitness franchises. Thanks for reading.
Tags: FDD, fitness franchise, franchise, franchisee, franchisor, gym, illuminate gym, personal training, real estate
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Friday, September 18th, 2009
Since the inception of illuminate gym we have been committed to ‘Change’ long before the presidential race of 2008 and we were even telling people ‘Yes We Can’ before the phrase was coined by Barack Obama. Things are changing in America and old ideals and visions are being held onto by a nation that’s afraid to change. However, when it comes to fitness we can’t be so naive because lifestyles have changed. We’re sitting in front of computers and televisions more than ever. The foods available to us our more fatty and full of sugars yet we are unable to find time to burn the excess calories off that we are eating. Something needs to ‘Change’ in America and it needs to change now.
The question that’s on our nation’s mind is health care and the rising costs that will undoubtedly price most Americans out of the market for the most basic of health coverages. Most health related problems are today coming from our horrible eating habits and sedentary habits. At illuminate gym our personal trainers and franchisees are committed to creating a place of ‘Change’ for many people’s lifestyles. Unlike a lot of other fitness facilities out there we are committed to so much more than just taking a monthly charge off of your credit card every month. In fact, we are interested in only getting paid after you have recieved a great service and advice for your personal life that will undoubtedly create change in your life. Now there is no doubt that are clients must also be committed to changing their habits before our franchise concept will work for them. However, the personal touch we give to people’s fitness journey is what separates us from a lot of our competitors. We are committed to changing the fitness experience in America and we look forward to illuminating as many communities as we can as our franchise grows. Thanks for reading about the illuminate gym franchise and our vision of fitness. Have a healthy day!
Tags: Barack Obama, Change, fitness franchise, franchise, franchisee, gym franchise, health care, Yes We Can
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Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
The other day illuminate gym committed itself to advertise at www.fitnessfranchiseinfo.com and after speaking with one of the owners of the fitness franchise advertising site I was given a great insight to my business. The owner said as a sales pitch that he and I were both committed to fighting obesity in America and even beyond… And though it may sound like nothing more than a way to group illuminate gym and www.fitnessfranchiseinfo.comtogether he was right. Every day when the doors of illuminate gym opens they all look across the hall at pizza shops or down the street from pancake houses and of course fast food restaurants litter the streets all around every illuminate gym. It’s sad to watch as our nation grows more and more unhealthy with our sedentary lifestyles and horrible diets.
At illuminate gym we will continue the fight for space in this country to provide people with a place to go where health and fitness are the number one priority rather than money. Success will follow all of our franchisees as they provide great service that changes the lives of their clientele. illuminate gym is about so much more than just personal training or ‘High Oxygen Training’ because it’s about a new lifestyle that will help people live better lives. The other day I was sitting outside of an illuminate gym in Denver and I watched a woman walk into a pizza shop who could barely make her way up the three steps in front of the door as she dragged oxygen behind her. The woman probably weighed 300 lbs and as she made her way to the front counter I wondered if she knew she was adding to her demise?? I wondered did she care any more or had she reserved herself to the fact that obesity was going to kill her?? The question is as a people have we reserved ourselves to the fact that obesity will kill the majority of us?? Or are we ready to make a change in the American lifestyle. We’re hard working people… It’s time we work hard on the most important gift we have… Our health and the life in front of us.
At illuminate gym we will continue to fight obesity. It’s an uphill battle but we’re up for the challenge. Have a healthy day!
Tags: fitness franchise, fitness industry, franchisee, gym, gym franchise, health, illuminate gym, Nutrition, obesity, www.fitnessfranchiseinfo.com
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Monday, September 14th, 2009
Another fitness franchise closed down today in Denver, Colorado. I saw it being built out about 6 months ago and I recognized the name of the very well-known franchise. In some areas of the country this fitness franchise does very well but in Denver they should have thought otherwise. The facility opened a few miles from illuminate gym but right down the street from us was a GIANT who was ready for this weaker franchise. Within 6 months 24 Hour Fitness had shattered the dreams of these poor entrepreneurs who I’m sure think it’s something they personally did that made their business fail. However, I know they did nothing wrong accept open a a fitness franchise who sells memberships to the same customer base who shops at 24 hour fitness. So as a consumer let me ask you this…. You walk into this franchise and they have decent weight room, some cardiovascular machines, and a decent locker room. They offer you the same prices you can get down the street at 24 Hour Fitness. So you decide to drive down the street to the 24 Hour Fitness and you find their prices are the exact same and in many cases they are even better than the prices you found right up the street. However, they have a bigger gym floor, more cardiovascular equipment, a better locker room, a swimming pool, a basketball court, a steam room, a sauna, a hot tub, a supplement shop, among other amenities (but you get the picture). I think it’s pretty obvious that one of these facilities is going out of business and it’s not 24 Hour Fitness. Unfortunately, for the entrepreneur who bought into the unnamed franchise model they didn’t consider that this business was undoubtedly going to fail next to a 24 Hour Fitness.
At illuminate gym we are so confident our franchise model will succeed that we opened our facility down the street from a 24 Hour Fitness because we know our service is completely differnt than theres. We can co-exist with the GIANT and we even share a lot of business with them. To all of those people interested in opening a fitness facility make sure no 24 Hour Fitnesses are close to you… and pray they never move in next to you. Unless you are an illuminate gym because we can be successful with or without 24 Hour Fitness next to us.
Tags: 24 hour fitness, fitness franchise, franchise, franchisee, gym, gym franchise, illuminate gym, personal training franchise
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Monday, September 14th, 2009
For More Information:
Jamie Juergens
1-877-427-2615
Franchise@illuminategym.com
www.illuminategym.com
illuminate gym’s workouts can mean so much more
DENVER—September 13, 2009—Early this week illuminate gym was recognized in the Denver area for their work with clients suffering from Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is an unexplained syndrome that causes pain in the soft tissues of those who have been diagnosed with the illness. Many doctors believe that Fibromyalgia is merely a psychiatric issue and has little to do with the physical body.
David Sedbrook was first introduced to Fibromyalgia while working as a personal trainer in a medical facility in Denver years before. After his experience with people with Fibromyalgia David Sedbrook developed a workout regimen within the guidelines of ‘High Oxygen Training’ for those people with the syndrome and found he was very successful. David Sedbrook has since passed his knowledge of his “Zero Gravity” workouts to the personal trainers and future franchisees of illuminate gym.
Earlier this week a local Orthopedic Surgeon recognized illuminate gym and their personal trainers for helping multiple Fibromyalgia patients with their pain and daily activities. The doctor was very appreciative for the hard work of the personal trainers at illuminate gym and she was shocked at the gains illuminate gym was making with people with Fibromyalgia. “It’s really rewarding for illuminate gym to be recognized by the medical community and I think our work with Fibromyalgia shows that working out can be more than just preventative medicine,” CEO and founder of illuminate gym said.
illuminate gym’s work with Fibromyalgia further shows their commitment to helping their community while building a successful business. “We’ve always believed in taking care of our clients and letting the notoriety and success follow… which it always has. This is not a normal business because illuminate gym is about so much more than just making money,” CEO and founder David Sedbrook said. illuminate gym will continue to work with people with Fibromyalgia to help them alleviate some of their pain and help them to continue being mobile in their day to day lives. If you or someone you know is suffering from Fibromyalgia and are interested in learning more about illuminate gym’s ‘0 Gravity’ workouts made specifically for people suffering from Fibromyalgia please contact illuminate gym on the contact page at www.illuminategym.com. Thanks and have a healthy day.
Tags: Fibromyalgia, illuminate gym, pain, perosnal training, personal trainers, personal training gyms, prenative medicine, workout
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Saturday, September 5th, 2009
A gym used to just be a gym and a cup of coffee used to just be a cup of coffee. A decade ago people loved their coffee just as much as they do today. However, a small Seattle based coffee company came along and revolutionized the ‘cup of coffee’ by creating a ‘coffee culture’ making the warm brewed beans so much more than a cup of ‘joe’. Today Starbucks can be found around the world and in most American cities. People who don’t understand the craze are really unsure why people are willing to pay that much for that small cup of energy. However, those who get their Starbucks fix on a daily basis understand that Starbucks is making a community out of their cups of coffee from the decour in each and every shop and the cup they take with themselves.
At illuminate gym we are trying to change the ‘gym culture’ in America because the feel of gyms have gotten stale and uninviting to the average person. At illuminate gym our plans are to grow our business to a level where we alter the whole perception of the word ‘gym’ just as Starbucks has altered the perception of a cup of coffee. The only real difference is by changing the perception of the word ‘gym’ with a national business you could also begin to change the health of America while a cup of coffee’s taste and side effects really do nothing but change a moment in time for their customers. illuminate gym, the franchise, is looking to make a far deeper impact than even Starbucks. Thanks for reading and if you are interested in hearing more about illuminate gym and our franchise opportunities please give us a call at 1-877-427-2615.
Tags: Add new tag, Fitness, fitness experience, fitness franchise, franchise opportunities, franchise opportunity, gym, gym culture, gym franchise, Starbucks
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