A new Curves franchisee association organized at the most recent Curves annual meeting. The group will represent all 10,000 Curves franchisees. The association held its first annual meeting in late October during the Curves International annual convention in Las Vegas. At the convention the association’s executive board members elected officers for the organization, and the executive board and officers were presented to the franchisees.

For those who enjoyed our previous posts on Curves, here is a good background puff article, describing their interesting no frills approach. A Curves franchise owner: “We have found a niche — where women who would not necessarily go to a regular gym, feel comfortable here,” Moore says. “Nobody has to dress up — as you see sometimes in the regular gyms — to appeal to men, and they don’t have to here. It’s a very comfortable easy, friendly, supportive atmosphere.” Description of operations: A Curves club is basically a large room — usually located in a shopping center — filled with about ten pieces of weightlifting equipment. A recorded voice and a pulsing disco music lead patrons through their workout. Thirty seconds working with the equipment at each station alternates with 30 seconds of running in place. The women keep going for 30 minutes and most come to Curves about three times a week…The monthly membership fee is as basic as the workout, between $40 and $50, quite a bargain compared to most health clubs.

A look at a Curves franchise numbers does paint a rosey picture, but is it rosey enough?

If you thought Curves and Lady’s Fitness were as niche as the workout industry was going to get, think again. Stroller Strides At 8:45 a.m., the moms begin to arrive at the Thomas Jefferson Center. Jackets, gloves and hats are shed, children are strapped into strollers, and at 9 a.m., they’re off for a power walk around the gym. They start with a 5-minute warm-up. During their 45-minute routine, the students will go through three body-toning exercises as well as stretches, lunges and an accelerated power-stride pushing their strollers. A 10-minute abs, stretch and cool down finishes the class. Blended into the exercise routines are nursery rhymes, the chicken dance and singing of childhood favorites such as “Farmer in the Dell,” “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes.” As mothers breeze by drinking from their water bottles, the babies in the strollers have started enjoying their bottles of breast milk and water, too. One woman breaks from the crowd, rushes to the bleachers, and digs through a diaper bag to retrieve a small package of crackers for her teething baby. Physical fitness aside, one of the fun parts of Stroller Strides is the social aspect of it, Ashley said. “While you’re at home caring for your children, you can feel a little isolated,” she said. As a result of that, Ashley has incorporated Luna Moms Club to seamlessly following the fitness class. The club includes a built-in play group that meets on Wednesdays at 10 a.m., monthly community projects and Mommy Time, which offers discussions about books, music, craft projects and an occasional night out for dinner or a movie.

Maybe it’s a guy thing, but I wouldn’t want to stare at someone for 30 minutes while working out.  (Curves) (Ladies Workout Express)            

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It is stunning how similar franchises look. When copycats come around, the industry begins to commoditize and pricing pressure hurts everybody.

A Curves franchise appears to be a truly lifestyle business that will require a lot of time and marketing. The franchise may be personally rewarding, but not as financially rewarding as one would expect.