24 Hour Fitness A Profile of the Successful Fitness Chain
There are many different fitness clubs that a person can go to in order to get in shape. Some of these clubs are single-unit clubs or small chains, while others are veritable giants of the industry. One of the chains that would likely fit into the giant category is 24 Hour Fitness. 24 Hour Fitness is a large health club that started as a single health club and has grown into one of the worlds largest privately-held and operated fitness chains in the world.
24 Hour Fitness began in 1983 as a single club. It has grown to a company with over 16,000 employees that has a presence in four countries. 24 Hour Fitness is headquartered in San Ramon, California and currently has around 3 million members. Over the next five years, 24 Hour Fitness plans to expand to have over 1000 locations worldwide.
One reason this club has been so successful is that they offer their customers the ability to use their facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This convenience factor has been a big drive to help them expand their customer base. Due to this fact, many other chains are now expanding their hours of operation to try to meet this convenience factor for their customers.
Through the years, 24 Hour Fitness has gained public fame for accomplishments that are outside of the fitness chain norm. In 2004, 24 Hour Fitness became the sponsor for the U.S. Olympic team and also in 2004 they worked with NBC to develop a television show called The Biggest Loser. This show revolved around helping people to use exercise and diet to lose substantial amounts of weight. Contestants competed in teams to lose the most weight overall.
Controversies
24 Hour Fitness has not been lacking in their share of troubles alongside their success. During February of 2005, a lawsuit was filed against them that alleged they were conducting illegal business activities. The specific illegalities cited were that the health club continued to charge members after their contracts expired or were cancelled and that they did not use proper font formatting for their contracts.
Near the end of 2006, 24 Hour Fitness settled the class-action lawsuit. They granted all complainants their choice of either around in cash each or a free 30 day pass to the club.
Currently, 24 Hour Fitness is defending itself against a lawsuit that was filed in 2006. This lawsuit alleges that they continued to take money out of customers checking accounts and credit cards after the contract expired and the company was notified that the customer wanted to cancel.
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