Club Solutions Magazine

A hot topic in the fitness industry is how can traditional health clubs bring the boutique experience into their own four walls? With boutique concepts like Pilates, recovery and strength training shaping consumer expectations, operators are looking for ways to integrate these high-value experiences while maintaining accessibility and affordability. Taylor Gabhart, the editor of Club Solutions Mag...

In today’s fast-paced fitness industry, providing quality education and training for club operators and staff is crucial to long-term success. Ralph Rajs, the vice president of education for Club Solutions Institute, sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Chonko to discuss the launch of the Club Solutions Institute, a new online education platform designed to bridge the knowledg...

Ensuring your club is prepared to face a range of emergencies and situations is crucial in providing an environment where members can feel truly safe. That’s where Focus Health, a national leader in providing emergency preparedness products and solutions, can step in. In this edition of the Club Solutions Magazine Podcast, Bryan Wiedenheft, the CEO and co-founder of Focus Health sat down with Tayl...

In today’s online-crazed culture, promoting your club and getting your name in front of as many potential members as possible is essential to the livelihood of your business. Allison Rand, the vice president of marketing at YouFit Gyms, sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Chonko to discuss the recent limitations on TikTok, the possibility of AI cannibalizing search optimizati...

For the last few years, pickleball has been the fastest growing sport in the U.S., and there are no signs of it slowing down. The activity not only serves as an easy point of entry for those wanting a fun way to exercise and compete with friends, but also as a possible avenue for club operators to grow their businesses. Eric O’Connor, the vice president of franchise development at PickleRage, sat...

One common issue for club leaders is they sometimes struggle to identify the correct problems to solve in the industry. Luckily, one resource helping to solve this is Fitness Revolution, a business coaching firm providing business coaching programs and curriculum for club owners. Taylor Gabhart, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with Justin Hanover, the president of Fitness...

2024 was another year of advancement and success for the fitness industry. While there were still some growing pains in the continued rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, many clubs saw a surge in sales and member interest in new programs. Scott Gillespie, the founder and owner of Saco Sport & Fitness, sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Chonko to recap the biggest business ch...

Jon Brady, the president of Midtown Athletic Clubs, has been working tirelessly to further enhance the culture of his team at his club. As a result, he’s seen very positive results in his efforts. In this edition of the Club Solutions Magazine Podcast, Brady sat down with Ralph Rajs, the practitioner of The Table Group, to discuss how Midtown Athletic Clubs has thrived post-pandemic and how they’v...

From assisting personal training to easy membership check ins, having reliable software is essential for thriving in the fitness industry. One such provider of dependable club management software is ClubReady. Taylor Gabhart, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with Charlie Lindsey and Jeremy Blowers, the CEO and COO of Max Fitness. As ClubReady customers, Lindsey and Blowers...

For a long time now, hiring and staffing has been a large issue facing the fitness industry. However, this ongoing problem isn’t due to a lack of qualified available candidates. Taylor Gabhart, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with fibr’s William Coker, the co-founder and president of the company. Coker details for listeners why hiring is currently difficult for the industr...

Will Bartholomew, the CEO of D1 Training, first founded the company in 2001 in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. While starting a business in the fitness industry is never easy, D1 Training now boasts over 100 locations across the U.S., with even more growth on the horizon. Bartholomew sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Chonko to discuss leadership learning lessons, the...

Group training of all sizes has seen several advancements over time. TRIBE Team Training is one organization that’s embraced these evolutions and is providing modern, holistic Group X offerings for club owners and operators. Taylor Gabhart, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with TRIBE Team Training’s Sue Richard, the co-founder and international coaching director, and Jeffre...

Crunch Fitness first began as one small gym in a basement studio in New York City’s Greenwich Village in 1989. Now, there are over 500 Crunch locations, and the company is now heading into its newest iteration: Crunch 3.0. which will feature a completely modernized version of the gym. Tony Scrimale, the CEO of Crunch Fitness CR Fitness Holdings, sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host R...

Fitness instructors are an essential aspect of the club industry. As such, it’s imperative for trainers to be fully certified so they have the trust of current and potential members. Taylor Brown, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with Carter Collins, the owner and operator of International Fitness Trainers Association (IFTA). They discuss how Collins went from nursing schoo...

Club leaders are figureheads for all staff and members. This means values such as inclusive leadership are important to have and put into practice to ensure everyone who steps into your club feels comfortable and appreciated. Michaela Brown, a general manager at VIDA Fitness and Aura Spa and chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Board for Urban Adventures Companies, sat down with Club Solutions Mag...

There possibly isn’t a hotter topic in the world of health and fitness right now than GLP-1s, or weight loss drugs such as Ozempic. These drugs are one of the more fascinating opportunities the industry has right now, and there are many different opinions on the subject. Eric Durak, the president and founder of Medhealthfit, recently sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Zaboni...

While personal training remains a core focus for many facilities, TrainPMT in Southlake, Texas, is pioneering a unique approach by integrating advanced assessments, movement screenings, and personalized outcome-based methodologies. In this episode of the Club Solutions Magazine Podcast, host Rachel Chonko chats with Jarrett Phillips, the founder of TrainPMT, about how his facility leverages techno...

While improving the physical fitness of members is still a top focus for clubs, the industry is seeing a shift toward more approaches utilizing both fitness and wellness. Karah Ehrhardt, the head of wellness at Active Wellness, and Mark Koester, the head of fitness at Active Wellness, recently sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Zabonick-Chonko to discuss the future of fitnes...

Managing and growing a successful personal training business in today’s economy is no easy task. However, FlexWerk is providing fitness professionals with everything they need to succeed like premium private spaces, equipment and the tools necessary to excel in the industry. Taylor Brown, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with Steve Pirt, the founder and CEO of FlexWerk. The...

With election season ramping up, how do clubs break through the noise and identify a clear message that aligns with their brand and their target consumer? How will you know if that message is getting through and hitting your desired mark? Chad Waetzig, the chief marketing officer of Crunch Fitness, recently sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Zabonick-Chonko to discuss how to...

Thanks to continued advancements in technology, consumers are embracing virtual fitness offerings more than ever. The company Fitness On Demand has embraced this shift and is delivering premium digital fitness classes and content to club members or residents anytime, anywhere. Taylor Brown, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with Andy Peat, the CEO of Fitness On Demand. They...

It can be lonely at the top as a leader of your club. However, it’s imperative your organization has successful governance from the top-down to provide an ideal environment for members. Without strong leadership, your team will be running at high risk of falling apart. Amber Martinez, the operating partner of JEM Brands, which owns and operates several Crunch locations across the U.S., recently sa...

The ebbs and flows of the fitness industry remain ever changing. Nevertheless, clubs are still rebounding strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent inflation spike. Chris Craytor, the CEO of ACAC Fitness & Wellness, CEO of Welld Health and Chair of the IHRSA Board of Directors, recently sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Zabonick-Chonko to discuss industry trends, i...

In the climate of today’s economy, hiring can be a difficult process for small businesses commonly found in the fitness industry. However, the company Wizehire has all the resources on hand to help ensure your organization effectively employs the best possible candidates for open positions. Taylor Brown, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with Sid Upadhyay, the co-founder and...

The connection between fitness and technology continues to grow as advancements enable clubs to better connect with members. One such company that’s atop of this growing trend is Freemotion Fitness. Taylor Brown, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with Mark Watterson, the CEO of iFIT Commercial. They discuss Watterson’s role in his company, what led him to Freemotion and iFIT...