The Club Insider Archives: July 2025
Cover Story Classics
Barry's: Inside the Red Room With CEO, Joey Gonzalez
By: Justin Cates
Justin CatesPublisher's Note: As June 2025 (Pride Month) came to a close, good news from a great brand run by a man who happens to be gay was announced. If you read our original cover story in July 2019, you might have missed the fact that the CEO of a major club organization was gay. Joey Gonzalez, then-CEO of Barry's, never mentioned it in our interview because it was public knowledge. His talk with Club Insider was just a normal day. It was business. The focus was on the brand. Recently, the following news came after Club Insider's June 2025 Edition deadline, otherwise we would have covered it for that edition's Club Insider Classic: celebrating Barry's, celebrating Joey and celebrating Pride in those doing great work for this industry. Okay, okay, enough with the tease... Joey Gonzalez has been named Executive Chairman of Barry's. In honor of that elevation, this month's Cover Story Classic is Barry's: Inside the Red Room With CEO, Joey Gonzalez. Folks, I invite you to read on, and I very much invite you to read my closing Note...
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The Power of Appreciation
How Gratitude Drives Membership Sales in Your Gym
By: Jim Thomas
Jim ThomasIn the world of independent gym ownership, boutique studio operation and personal training entrepreneurship, it's easy to get caught up in the numbers: the sales goals, the membership quotas, the session bookings. But, if you ask any seasoned gym leader what truly fuels consistent high performance, you'll find it's not just about strategy or systems. It's about people. And, more specifically, it's about appreciating those people. Appreciation isn't a bonus; it's a business strategy.
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Cold Plunging and Older Adults
A Caution for Strength-Focused Fitness Professionals
By: Sara Kooperman, JD
Sara Kooperman, JDCold plunging, also known as Cold Water Immersion (CWI), has become a go-to recovery method for athletes, weekend warriors and wellness seekers alike. From Instagram influencers to professional athletes, everyone seems to be singing its praises. It promises faster recovery, less inflammation, better sleep and even mental clarity. But, for fitness professionals working with clients over 50, it's important to look beyond the hype and evaluate the full picture, especially when strength gains are a primary goal.
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Sound Baths
A Harmonious Path to Profitability
By: Nancy Trent
Nancy TrentIn today's wellness-focused world, fitness clubs are constantly seeking innovative ways to elevate their offerings, attract and retain discerning clientele. One of the most exciting trends in luxury wellness is incorporating sound baths as a standalone offering or as an add-on to another service. These healing, immersive experiences, which harness the power of sound vibrations to promote relaxation, healing and rejuvenation, are not only enhancing guest experiences but also driving profitability.
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The Future of Fitness is Fun
By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
Jeffrey PinkertonThe future of fitness, cliché, I know. Every few days, another marketing email or industry newsletter shows up in my inbox promising that the riddle has been solved, the solution discovered, the code cracked. From new tech to ultra-personalized workout plans, to a new thing with a new screen that gives new insight, all promising to change your life and your business. However, as historically proven by group fitness, and more recently proven by pickleball, connectedness is not a reference to wifi or wearables, and being social has nothing to do with social media. It is about the people and the experience. It is about the fun. Dare I say, the future of fitness is... fun.
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Fitness Ventures Opens 60th Crunch Fitness Location, Marking Major Milestone in Nationwide Growth
DES MOINES, IA - Fitness Ventures LLC, one of the nation's fastest growing franchisee of Crunch Fitness and second largest franchisee, has officially opened its 60th Crunch Fitness location with a brand-new, 60,000-square-foot facility in Des Moines, Iowa. The new club is the company's second Crunch in Iowa and expands its footprint to 60 open locations across 28 states.
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The Health & Fitness Association's New Board Term Has Begun
BOSTON, MA - The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) has begun a new Board term, ushering in a fresh chapter of leadership for the global trade association. The new term marks the official start of CEO of Discover Strength, Luke Carlson's service as Chairman of the Board, along with three other recently elected officers and five new Board Members.
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Planet Fitness Awards $250,000 in Scholarships to 50 Boys & Girls Club Teens
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers with more members than any other fitness brand, announces the recipients of its annual Judgement Free Generation Scholarship, which awards teens for their continuous support of promoting inclusion, acceptance and kindness in their communities. Fifty Boys & Girls Clubs high school seniors across the U.S. were awarded $5,000 each toward furthering their education and will join the "JFG Squad," Planet Fitness' network of scholarship winners. Half of this year's Judgement Free Generation Scholarship winners represent first-generation college students.
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Norm's Notes for July 2025
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 379th monthly edition of this 30+ 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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