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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Sep 6, 2017 in General |
We regret to announce that our amazing Office Manager, Kirstine Kalaw, has relocated out of California and is no longer at the corporate office. Fortunately, we have found a great replacement! Please welcome Katrina Kambur to our staff. We are pleased to report that the transition has been seamless. Katrina, a Los Angeles native, is a recent graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Communication Studies. Katrina’s positive, upbeat, and outgoing personality is a perfect fit for My Gym. Before coming to MGE, Katrina worked for a nonprofit called The E.P.I.C. Project, which stands for Empowering People In Chairs. She is hugely passionate about helping people and encouraging others to be the best version of themselves. Katrina is excited to bring the same passion and work ethic to her new role with My Gym and MGCA. Please join us in welcoming Katrina to our team. Katrina can be reached at 800-469-4967 x100 or by email at...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Sep 6, 2017 in My Gym Foundation |
Hurricane Harvey has taken its toll on our country, not to mention our My Gym Family, as several of our gyms, their clients, and staffs have been severely affected. Many organizations and individuals around the country are stepping up, and we need to as well. MGE is working closely with the gyms in and around Houston to help in any way we can. Jamie’s son, Carter, and his friend, Moshe, are working with My Gym and Challenged America as part of a fundraising project to raise money inside and outside of My Gym to be donated to the Justin J. Watt Foundation (http://jjwfoundation.org/) to help the children of Texas who so desperately need assistance. There are many charities out there helping in this endeavor; our research shows that the JJW Foundation is a great organization to get behind. Collection boxes are being sent out to all gyms today so we can all do our share. We ask that you please put out the donation boxes for one week and...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Sep 1, 2017 in Marketing |
The Halloween materials can be used in addition to the Fall Campaign. Digital artwork, print materials, and global emails are provided. My Gym-branded and Halloween-themed merchandise will soon be available to order on ShopMyGym. We will notify gyms through an update when items are available. Halloween Event Directives Plan your Halloween events now and start promoting them early October. Download the directives here, or visit: Marketing Manual / Additional Marketing Materials / Special Events / 02 – Special and Seasonal Events / Halloween...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 31, 2017 in Marketing, Support & Programming |
As stated in the MGE Updates titled “Soliciting by Yelp” on 2/1/2017 and 3/20/2017, we do not currently have a partnership with Yelp. Nonetheless, their sales team seems to be at it again. If you receive a call or email from a “My Gym/Yelp account rep,” please ignore it. We continue to advise against advertising with Yelp for various reasons: It is an unproven platform. It is easy for My Gym to be found organically (for free without paying) on Yelp through various web search sites. We are focusing our efforts on other areas of digital advertising (social media, Google AdWords, and Facebook/Instagram advertising). We do strongly advise that all My Gyms: Claim your Yelp page and create a business profile. Populate your Yelp page with the logo, fun photos, and a description of the business. Keep your information up to date (hours, contact info, etc.). Respond to all reviews: It is important to engage with our audience; a response to all reviews, whether positive or negative, is essential....
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 31, 2017 in Marketing |
We have not advised using mass mailers for some time but have kept a vendor in place for any gyms who were interested. We want to inform you that we have now removed our former vendor, Epsilon (mass mailers), from MGM. Any marketing files that reflect mass mailers or Epsilon are currently being updated to reflect these changes. We advise against using mass mailers for many reasons, two of which are lack of measurement and cost. There is no accurate way to measure if mail was delivered or opened, or if it inspired action. The average success rate for direct mailers is between one and two percent. To recover the costs and give yourself a chance for profit, you would need to distribute thousands of mailers. On top of that, mass mailers consistently show a lower ROI (in comparison to emails, social media, etc.). This is just not cost-effective for the small business...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 30, 2017 in General |
Per our update on August 24th, MGE will be texting short video recaps to highlight important My Gym news from the previous week. Text updates will begin on September 11th. Please “opt in” by texting the keyword MGE to the number 555888. Opting in will automatically enter you into a raffle for a chance to win $100 SHOP MY GYM BUCKS! The winner will be announced on September 7th. But that’s not all! Every video recap will contain a secret password. When it is revealed, text the password to 555888. Each password is your raffle ticket for our monthly drawings! Prizes may include gift cards to Amazon, promotional products, conference discounts, and more. Don’t wait! Opt in today! NOTE: Unfortunately, due to system limitations, texting is available only to US mobile phones. International/Canada gyms – please check the MGE Facebook Community on Mondays for the video recaps. Passwords can be emailed to mperez@mygym.com as your entry. (Email entries valid for International/Canada locations...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 30, 2017 in Support & Programming |
Just added to the My Gym Print System! Deal of the Day Cards! These are a simple yet effective little tool to make closing the sale on the day of someone’s trial class just a little easier. Sometimes it can be a challenge to communicate with clarity all the fantastic discounts we offer to a parent in the limited time we have during our busy classes. Having something tangible to give a guest that requires minimal time to read can be very effective, and it offers our more timid sales people a great and easy excuse to approach a guest a couple of extra times during a trial. *The Deal of the Day cards can be edited to change the discount and pricing info to fit any promotion you choose to highlight. Suggested uses: Method 1 (recommended): Print a copy or two of the Deal of the Day cards and laminate them! Keep them up in your front desk. When guest(s) comes in for their trial, during “Step 3”...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 29, 2017 in Support & Programming |
Looking for a way to keep all your plates spinning without dropping a single one? Have you been working on mastering the art of juggling and delegating for years? Are you still searching for something to make it just a little bit easier? We all have different ways of getting work done. We understand the importance of an effective system to help managers hit their deadlines, delegate tasks to employees, and keep staff accountable. Fortunately, there are literally hundreds of online programs that do just that, but it can be challenging and time-consuming to rifle through all the options of task management software out there. The great news… we did it for you! Check out our latest and greatest recommendations for Task Management in the Administration folder of the Operations Manual or by clicking HERE. Happy...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 28, 2017 in Strategic Partners & Sponsors, Support & Programming |
Per our update of June 15th 2017, the BOSU Sport Balance Trainers are now available for ordering by all franchisees. The BOSU Sport Balance Trainer is a balance ball used in health, fitness, sports conditioning, and rehabilitation facilities to strengthen muscles while improving balance and coordination and combining physical and mental focus. When tested in 25 gyms, the kids and the teachers fell in love with them, so the programming team wanted to make them available to everyone. Beginning this fall, you will find the BOSU Sport Balance Trainers within the curriculum in relays, games, adventures, and skill stations for all age groups. Each gym will need a minimum of three units. The retail price is $99.95; however, through our strategic partnership, franchisees can buy them for just $40 per unit plus shipping. Shipping for three units is estimated to range from $50 (East Coast) to $80 (West Coast) in the United States, and $120 for Canada. Your total estimated expenditure for three units, including shipping, is $170 for East...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 28, 2017 in General |
The My Gym Merchandise Division is pleased to welcome Blanca Gonzalez to our team. Blanca has a bachelor’s degree in business administration/entrepreneurship and a minor in fashion merchandising from California State University, Fresno. She brings to us valuable business experience and a creative side as well. Blanca has a fun and friendly personality, and she’s passionate about helping our department provide the best products and the best service, making her a perfect fit. Blanca has been here since late June, fulfilling orders and providing customer service, and we look forward to using her creativity to develop and add more awesome products for our gyms. Please join us in welcoming Blanca to our team. You can reach Blanca at...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 25, 2017 in Support & Programming |
The week of August 28th, you will see the changes in the curriculum that were introduced at seminar. The number one goal for all of us is to have amazing class quality and run a program where each child has a great experience. We do want to ensure our classes have constant movement and activity and also allow time for skill building. Please review with your staff the below list of items changing within our program. We will also have new class videos available for these age groups in the Resource Center of MGM under Training Videos. Terrific Tots: Question: Retired Names are still asked as normal. Names can be skipped in large classes. Skill Stations The “On-Deck” spot (Poly Spot) is now a formal part of the program. The child who is next stands on the spot and waits. Use in all Skill Stations with 3 or more kids. An “Exit Skill” has been formally added to the program. The Exit Skill is a skill the child does after completing...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 24, 2017 in General |
As you know, MGE publishes announcements of varying topics every week that are sent via email, posted on the MGE Facebook Community, and archived in MGM. All owners must read every announcement! Many require timely action or contain information that will somehow affect the gym in the short or long term. We have taken great care to limit these announcements to only the most vital information in an effort to reach 100% readership. All that said, we acknowledge that we do live in an age where people need fast, bite-sized content (and sometimes a cute puppy photo) to stay engaged. Our answer to this is a short video, no longer than 90 seconds, that will recap the previous week’s updates. The video will be posted on the MGE Facebook Community on Monday afternoons. We will also begin sending the video via SMS text later this month. Every update is so important, so we want to make sure you get the information by any means necessary. If you have any...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 14, 2017 in Marketing |
We have an exciting new event to help franchisees build their classes for school-age children (Whiz Kids and older). The After-School Play Day is a 60 to 90-minute event designed to demonstrate our fantastic programming to generate leads and enrollments. While this event could be done at any time of the year, it is timely to do it September or early October to capture the interest of families who had to “settle into the school routine” before selecting after-school activities. This After-School Play Day could be used to highlight Ninja Training, All-Star Sports, Cardio Kids, or simply our fantastic Whiz Kids and Champions programming. This worksheet has all of the directives on the event, including: Event Details Planning Guide Sales & Promotions Social Media Strategy Programming & Activities Additional Information We hope that franchisees will appreciate the opportunity to easily plan and execute this optional After-School Play Day. For most gyms, it will not interfere with your regularly scheduled activities. If it does, however, you can hold it another...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 14, 2017 in Support & Programming |
Lisa Beasley owned a thriving My Gym for 13 years and served as highly-respected and much-appreciated President of the My Gym Franchisee Advisory Board (FAB) for nearly 4 years. An expert in many facets of operating a My Gym and the ultimate “team player,” Lisa has always had a thirst for knowledge and the passion to help others succeed. When she’s not “talking My Gym,” you can usually find her reading or planning an adventure with her husband, Mike. Lisa received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Wayne State University. She worked for a large chemical company in various engineering and leadership roles until My Gym stole her heart in 2003. She knew immediately that this was where she belonged, and the rest is history. As an operating owner, Lisa earned several Achievement Awards as well as Franchisee of the Year in both 2012 and 2013; and, in July 2016, Lisa received a Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Service to the My Gym Brand. In May...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 11, 2017 in Products |
For several years, franchisees have been promoting their gyms with My Gym-branded reusable bags. These “walking billboards” are an affordable way to keep My Gym top of mind with members and to promote your gym around town while parents use the totes to carry belongings, gifts, groceries, and more. ShopMyGym is excited to share that it now has two new designs for this tote (the prior design is no longer available). The new designs are being used for registration packs, and they’re also available individually. One style has blue gussets and handles and features Mymo jumping, while the other style has green gussets and handles and features Mymo flexing his muscles. Both styles have prominent My Gym logos. These versatile, full color, reusable tote bags are functional, fun, affordable, and eye-catching, which makes them ideal for promoting your gym. Now, since gyms love to purchase these totes in bulk and use them as marketing giveaways, we have discounted the cost to save you 15% when you order by the...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 10, 2017 in My Gym Foundation |
As you may have seen, many gyms have asked to sponsor specific children for their fundraisers in the last year. This not only puts a face to the impact but inspires members to make larger donations to reach their goal to help each child in need. Earlier this year, My Gym Kendall helped little Luke… Luke is a sweet, fun, and loving 3-year-old who enjoys being in the company of others, especially his family and familiar friends. He loves reading board books and hiking in a stroller, and the smile on his face after an accomplishment is priceless! Luke was born by emergency C-section at 34 weeks, spent 63 days in the NICU, and had 3 surgeries. He has since been diagnosed with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, has difficulty with motor skills and oral communication, and needs assistance to sit, stand, or walk. My Gym Kendall was so inspired by Luke’s story that they raised enough money to purchase an Upsee for him. Now he can walk around with...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Aug 7, 2017 in Marketing |
Fall marketing materials are ready! Now that all gyms are running the Back to School Marketing Campaign, it’s time to start planning for fall. During October, all gyms should implement the Fall Marketing Campaign, Fit & Fun This FALL! Utilize the online and print materials to plan now for a successful fall season. Depending on the timing of your Back to School Open House, you may wish to start the Fall Campaign before October. Please note that the supplemental Halloween campaign materials will be available early September. This will be a fresh new design! NEW for this year, we introduce the After-School Play Day This is an exciting new event to help franchisees build their classes for school-age children while highlighting Ninja Training, All-Star Sports, Cardio Kids, or simply our fantastic Whiz Kids and Champions programming. This event can be done during the Back to School or the Fall Campaign. It is your choice. If you are looking to build up your Whiz Kids and older enrollment, we highly...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Jul 28, 2017 in General |
Dear My Gym Family Members, I can’t tell you how proud I am to learn that My Gym has been named #82 among the top 200 franchises in the world by Entrepreneur Magazine (our highest ranking ever). I want to offer my sincere congratulations to every member of the My Gym team: every owner, director, teacher, business associate and volunteer as well as our incredible MGE team members. We couldn’t have achieved such acknowledgement without the contributions each one of you has made. Special congrats go out to James Liu and all of those involved in his well over 200 facilities in the Far East. I do not underestimate the honor of being recognized by this most reputable publication, or the hard work each of you has put into making My Gym such a respected and successful organization. It is a wonderful tribute to our commitment to always put children first, caring for them as if they were our own family. At the end of the day, this prestigious...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Jul 27, 2017 in Support & Programming |
Over the last several years, we’ve made many upgrades to our program and curriculum; and one of those initiatives was in 2012 when we launched the Building Blocks program. We had high hopes for the program and spent several years refining, improving, and coaching owners and directors on how to best run the program. Unfortunately, although loved by many, we have seen a continual decline in execution of the Building Blocks program. This is no one’s fault – there is simply a lot to do to run a great My Gym, and sometimes Building Blocks didn’t make the top of the list. MGE is very proud of how we’ve evolved. It’s in that spirit of evolution and progress that at this time we feel it best to officially retire the Building Blocks program. This decision was not made lightly; rather, it was the result of many internal meetings, discussions with our FAB and Programming Team, and conversations with over 50 franchisees. This is not a failure. It’s healthy to...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Jul 26, 2017 in Support & Programming |
Ally Grist had distinguished herself as a talented and successful personal trainer in Ohio before moving to California in 2011. As luck would have it (ours and hers), she found My Gym and immediately fell in love! She proved herself to be a gifted and knowledgeable teacher/trainer with an engaging personality and winning sense of humor during her 2-year stint at the Pasadena Formal Training Center where she loved meeting and training so many “amazing new My Gym owners.” In 2013, Ally moved to Colorado Springs to purchase the My Gym there. Adored by the community during the 3 years she owned and operated the gym, Ally more than doubled the enrollment. In 2016, when her Navy Doctor husband was relocated, Ally had to sell her gym and move to North Carolina. Now the devoted mom of a Little Bundle and a Waddler, Ally had to do something about the My Gym-sized hole in her heart since selling her gym. The MGE Support Division is delighted to have her...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Jul 26, 2017 in Support & Programming |
We just spent a wonderful weekend with an amazing group of smart, energetic, and extremely fun My Gymers in the West. There were 200 people in attendance, and your passion and dedication helped create an awesome event with great memories! Thank you to My Gym Pasadena for helping us host this event. West Award Winners We would like to recognize the award winners from the West Training Seminar. Keep up the fantastic work! Franchisee of the Year Award The owners who best exemplify the ideals for which My Gym stands by achieving excellence in the areas of business operations, leadership, customer service, program quality, and enrollment Ryan and Pamela Theilacker – My Gym Huntington Beach, CA Rebekah Cracraft – My Gym High Desert, CA *** Canadian Franchisee of the Year Award The owner who best exemplifies the ideals for which My Gym stands by achieving excellence in the areas of business operations, leadership, customer service, program quality, and enrollment Tanya Ardron – My Gyms Maple Ridge &...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Jul 21, 2017 in Marketing, Products |
Looking for a way to get out the word about your Back to School Open House? We have the answer! The Back to School season is the perfect time for gyms to drive enrollment up! This year, we’re going for some POP WITH SOME PROPS! Heyoooo! These great visual props will help you and your team drive the message home. First items are NEW silicone wristbands (kids and adult sizes) imprinted with “Back to School My Gym Rules!” Next we have some sweet terrycloth sweatbands for the teachers to wear. WHY??? Because they’re cool!!! PLUS, it will get parents and kids to ask “Ummm, what’s with the sweatbands?” The wristbands (child and adult sizes) and the sweatbands are available to order NOW! Ideas for silicone wristbands: Give your camp kids wristbands after their final camp sessions. Many of your camp children may not be enrolled in classes. The wristbands will serve as a reminder of the great time they had at camp and hopefully give them incentive to ask...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Jul 20, 2017 in Marketing |
Our newest campaign is hot off the press! We are very excited to bring #MomentsThatMatter to our social media marketing efforts as a company and brand, just in time for it to take hold before the back to school season starts. We will be rolling out this campaign over the next week. It will live on social media and in your gyms as an evergreen campaign for parents to use when they share content (video or photos) of their children having the time of their lives at My Gym. We also encourage you to use this campaign hashtag as indicated below and in your own creative/unique way to help spread the virality of the movement. The steps involved in launching this campaign are listed below. We feel these steps are simple and have great value in your online marketing efforts. Please, if you have any questions or need any assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to support@mygym.com at any time. Next Steps: Today: Please take a few moments to...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Jul 18, 2017 in Support & Programming |
The Liability Waivers included in the VIMA and Birthday Party Waiver are being updated. The verbiage has been simplified, and now there is also a social media notice without an opt-out option. This is, of course, by design. If you have a customer who wants to opt out, allow the client to do so and make a note on the account in MGM. You should also keep a running list of these clients and take great care to NOT share their images on your social channels. On Tuesday, July 25th, the previously used waivers will be updated to the text below. If you have customized your liability waivers in MGM and wish to save your modified versions, please copy and save the text outside of MGM immediately. To view your current waivers, take these steps. While logged in as the Administrator in MGM, go to Admin > Gym > Settings > Legal. Birthday Party Waiver and Social Media Notice Liability Waiver: In case of an emergency when I cannot...
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Posted by My Gym Administrator on Jul 18, 2017 in Marketing |
My Gym PR Directives are now available to help franchisees promote big events or announcements without the help of a PR firm or publicist. This document will guide you through the steps of developing your Press Release, researching media outlets in your area, and then contacting the various outlets with the goal of securing media coverage. The process of obtaining media coverage requires time and detail. We have found that the media outlets are more receptive to a local business owner with a meaningful story and an accurate approach than they are to a PR firm. Previously-used SSA is no longer an MGE vendor available to franchisees. Anyone needing guidance with press strategies are encouraged to reference the PR Directives and contact the Support Division if further assistance is needed. Click here to download the directives. This document can also be found on the Operations Manual here: Marketing Manual / Additional Marketing Materials / Special Events / 01 – Open House and Enrollment...
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