We post a notification when a gym is closing so you are all aware of any closures within our franchise body. We need to inform you that Sterling, VA closed for business on Feb 8, 2017. We also need to let you know that Owings Mills, MD has closed its doors as of March 1,...
Read MorePlease note that the Oball Rattles in your gyms may be subject to a product recall by the manufacturer. This recall does not pertain to the Oball Classic, which is the Oball product that is primarily used in the gyms. Read and follow the instructions below to comply with the safety requests of the Oball Rattles recall. If you have any questions, please email aherrera@mygym.com for further assistance. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Dear Kids II Inc Consumer – The Kids II Inc Company is writing to inform you that, in coordination with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), we are launching a voluntary recall of a limited number of Oball Rattles. DESCRIPTION: The recalled Oball Rattles shipped beginning on January of 2016, with one chamber containing all orange beads and the following “T” date codes: T3065, T0486, T1456, T2316 and T2856. The date codes can be located on the inside of the ball and on the back of the hang tag. HAZARD: Small parts can release from the chamber....
Read MoreJust a reminder that you can still find the MGCA Shamrock cutouts and flyer in: Operations Manual > My Gym Challenged America or by clicking here: Flyer, Cutouts. Feel free to use these as a simple and fun way to raise money for children in need! And don’t forget to reach out to Aleah with any of your MGCA questions:...
Read MoreBig thanks to everyone who attended last week’s webinar co-hosted by CareerPlug! As promised, you can find the uploaded webinar in the “Webinars and Tutorials” subsection of MGM. CareerPlug will subsequently be hosting a series of “micro” webinars designed to train on the platform, starting Wednesday, March 1st, and running through Wednesday, March 22nd. Each webinar will serve as a hands-on tutorial and, as such, will be limited to a small number of franchisees. Please see the bottom of this update for the full schedule of micro training webinars. You can sign up for a CareerPlug training session via this link. You need to sign up for only one. As previously stated, every franchisee has immediate access to a free basic CareerPlug account that posts jobs to MyGym.com and helps manage applicants. You also have the option to upgrade to a Pro Plan (which we highly recommend). This will give you the ability to make unlimited job board postings to Indeed.com, plus the ability to seamlessly cross-post to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn,...
Read MoreWe have an exciting new member appreciation event to help franchisees retain and build business in summer! This Summer Kick Off Family Fun Night is your chance to show appreciation to families maintaining their enrollment through summer plus invite returning members and recent guests in to sign up for the new season! As previously referenced in the New My Gym Marketing Plan and in the summer campaign materials, the Summer Kick Off Family Fun Night should be held on a Friday evening in early June after schools are out in your area. This worksheet (download here) has all of the information 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 Family Fun Night. For most gyms, it will not interfere with your regularly scheduled activities. If it does, however, you can hold it another day/time. Summer can be a very fun season at My Gym,...
Read MoreIt has come to our attention that the below recall is now in effect. Please see below for all the details you will need to comply with the safety requests of this recall. If you have any questions, please email ehowes@mygym.com for further assistance. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Dear Little Tikes Consumer – The Little Tikes Company is writing to inform you that, in coordination with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), we are launching a Corrective Action Plan involving a Recall of Older Product regarding the Little Tikes 2 in 1 Snug ‘n Secure Pink Swing sold during the period of May 2010 through May 2014. Our records indicate that your purchase of the Pink 2 in 1 Snug ‘n Secure Swing occurred during this time period. #615573 LITTLE TIKES 2-IN-1 SNUG ‘N SECURE SWING (PINK) If the molded INNER arrow of the date code stamp on your product is pointing to “10,”“11,” or “12,” your product is included in this recall. If the molded inner arrow of...
Read MoreAttention owners! Is your Director an amazing leader? A take-charge go-getter? A knowledgeable, well-rounded master of the gym? If so, you may want to consider nominating him or her for My Gym’s prestigious Director of the Year award! This award is for the director who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in operating, caring, and living as though he or she were the owner of your My Gym. If you would like to nominate your director for Director of the Year, the following criteria must be met: He/she has held the position of Director for at least 9 months of gym operation. Your director is a My Gym expert in all areas (teaching, running day-to-day operations, connecting with staff and families). He/she has been able to train and retain staff by teaching them to be My Gym experts. The gym is in compliance with all mandates and policies to date. Please click here to submit your Director of the Year nomination. All nominations are due by...
Read MoreWe want to reach out to you and provide an update on the status of our 2017 music licensing. We are currently in the process of negotiating with the licensing companies to get the lowest price possible. As you know, last year we were able to get away with BMI and ASCAP only (not SESAC). This year we are trying for the same, but not yet sure where we will land. We will be in touch soon with more information and a price for the year. In the meantime, until you hear from us, if they contact you directly and you plan on being part of the corporate program, just inform them that the franchisor is working out a master deal with that company. If you have any questions, please contact Aaron Vidal (Avidal@mygym.com) at the corporate...
Read MoreUpdate 3/15: We are finishing the planning stages of the Training Seminar. If you have not done so yet, please register for your training seminar by April 15th. If you plan to attend the Northeast seminar, we need you to register as soon as possible, but no later than April 1st. +++ It’s time to register for Training Seminar. The Training Seminar is a very fun and motivational event held in your area. Your staff will gain a lot of information and go back to the gym with so many new ideas. The cost of the seminar will be $35 per person. Please complete the form at the bottom of this update to register for the Training Seminar. Hotels and Accommodations Hotels for each region are listed below. Some franchisees suggested it would be great if we could all stay at the same hotel. To reserve rooms, contact the hotel directly or use the provided link (where applicable) and request the My Gym group rate. You will need to...
Read MoreDid you know that more than 90% of employers use social media to recruit and screen potential job applicants? It’s true! According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 93% of social-media savvy employers say they use LinkedIn or Facebook for recruiting purposes. While LinkedIn has a long-standing reputation as a professional networking site where people can search for jobs, Facebook is more typically used to screen potential applicants, as opposed to actively recruit. But, starting this month, that’s all changing! As you may have heard, Facebook is officially throwing its hat into the recruiting ring; small and large businesses alike can post job ads (and boost them!) directly on their respective business pages. See https://www.facebook.com/jobs for more information. It’s important to note that, while we’re excited about this new Facebook tool, we want to encourage franchisees to continue to post jobs via other avenues – most notably with CareerPlug, as we discussed in an earlier update. Facebook is just another – but important – tool in our...
Read MoreMGE is excited to announce a new partnership with CareerPlug! CareerPlug is a recruiting system that has a long track record of working with franchises to provide a higher quantity and better quality pool of job applicants; and, after evaluating the results in an official trial last fall, we’re excited to extend this resource to all of our North American gyms. As part of the partnership, every franchisee has immediate access to a free basic account that posts jobs to MyGym.com and helps manage applicants. You also have the option to upgrade to a Pro Plan, which drives the greatest applicant flow and includes unlimited job board postings to Indeed.com, plus the ability to seamlessly cross-post to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, GlassDoor, and more. Also included in the Pro Plan is the ability to pre-screen, conduct personality assessments, record interviews, and onboard new hires paperlessly! MGE has negotiated the cost of the CareerPlug Pro Plan down to $400 per location annually, though you may elect to use the basic service for...
Read MoreOur partnership with Azul Hotels by Karisma is going strong in 2017. In case you missed it, the complete update titled “Azul and My Gym 2017” was posted on Feb. 2. If you need replacement flyers, window stickers, or posters, please email us exactly what you need replaced at strategicpartners@mygym.com. Please send all replacement requests in by Feb. 23. We will have them shipped out to you right away. We are hoping to extend our partnership with The Honest Company into 2017 and beyond. If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes to respond to this short survey. Even if you did not order any product from The Honest Company, your input is very valuable. Click here to take the survey. Please respond by February 23. If you have already responded, thank you! Your input is extremely valuable and greatly appreciated. Get ready for Phase 2 of our Gazillion Bubbles partnership launching in March with plenty of surprises in store for all of our gyms in the U.S. and Canada....
Read MoreWe hope your year is off to a great start! We would appreciate it very much if you could please take 5 minutes out of your busy day to complete a survey on your satisfaction with our support structures and Support Team here at MGE. We strive to provide all franchisees with the best support possible, and your feedback is instrumental in our reaching that goal. We are dedicated to each franchisee’s ongoing happiness and viability and, as such, are dedicated to our own continual evolvement, both as individuals and as a division. No bit of feedback is too big or too small – all will be used constructively. Thank you! Please click here to complete the 2016 Support...
Read MoreGet ready for not one, not two, but FOUR new themes! We’re excited to announce that birthday themed programming and products are now available for the preschool TV favorites “Peppa Pig,” “Sofia the First,” and “Bubble Guppies.” And, for those who just can’t stop playing Pokémon, we’ve got you covered. We’re also releasing a fantastic and fun “Pokémon” birthday theme for older children. You can easily customize the programming for all themes to fit the wants and needs of your families; so, for example, if you have an eight-year-old who wants a Peppa party or you have a two-year-old who wants a Bubble Guppies party, simply refer to the specific younger and older suggestions in the programming. Merchandise for all four new themes can be found on ShopMyGym.com. Like the other theme packs, these packs include all the necessary party goods conveniently ready to go in one box, including plates, napkins, centerpieces, balloons, and a party favor cup. The Bubble Guppies theme pack features fun designs and characters from...
Read MoreAs a driven, determined little three-year-old, Braeden has a natural will to succeed and reach new goals in his life. However, having cerebral palsy and infantile spasms as well as being non-verbal and legally blind, Brady faces difficult challenges on a daily basis. Thanks to your incredible support of the 100% Program in 2016, MGCA was able to purchase a Tumble Form Wedge to help Braeden strive to do his best. The wedge helps build core strength, encourages reaching and bearing weight with his arms to roll over, and allows his self-esteem to grow day after day. — Want to see more stories of children YOU’VE helped? Like our Facebook Page for new updates: www.facebook.com/mygymchallengedamerica — Gyms that are more than halfway to their 100% Goal for 2017:* My Gym Glen Rock, My Gym Katy, My Gym Westfield *Our mission is to have every My Gym contribute $1,000 to our MGCA Kids in 2017. My Gym Heroes 2017: My Gym Alexandria, My Gym Atwater, My Gym Bakersfield, My Gym...
Read MoreSummer marketing materials are ready! During May, June, and July, all gyms should implement the Summer Marketing Campaign. In addition to the general summer campaign materials, there are also specific Summer Camp materials now ready! Please note that the month of May had the supplemental Sports & Fitness campaign in previous years. This will no longer be a designated supplemental campaign, however, materials are still available if you wish to run a Sports & Fitness themed event or promotion. To help you execute the themed campaign(s) in your own gym(s), the following are ready for you to access: Marketing Materials Package (Operations Manual > Operations > Marketing Manual > 2017 Marketing > 04-May-July Marketing Materials Package.zip) The May 2017 Marketing Materials package is available as a zip file on the Operations Manual. Just download one file and you’ll have a completely organized package that includes digital artwork, social media promotional copy and profile pictures, article template, planning checklist, and more – all of your summer marketing! Web Splash Page...
Read MoreFor a limited time only, save up to 25% on My Gym birthday party favors. Our gyms continue to have great success with the My Gym Party Favor Pack. As many of you know, this pack is a huge convenience and a great value for parents, plus it’s a simple way for gyms to earn extra income from their parties while providing a great service for their members. This party favor bag is filled with fun products, including several My Gym branded items and toys. With a suggested retail price of $3.50+, gyms can earn a nice profit selling these for their parties. Plus, you’ll get great marketing exposure because every guest will take home a bag filled with My Gym branded products. Here’s the new pricing and discount: Buy 1 to 3 cases & Save 10% (60 packs per case) Regular price: $126/case ($2.10/pack) Sale price: $113.40/case ($1.89/pack) Savings: $12.60/case ($0.21/pack) = 10% Buy 4 or more cases & Save 25% (60 packs per case) Regular price: $126/case...
Read MoreOwners, please be reminded of the importance to periodically review your lease. It’s imperative that you know exactly where you are in relation to its expiration. Most leases are 5 years in duration but could range from 1-10 years. Leases typically require 120 to 180 days’ written notice to execute an option to extend, if one exists. If you have completed your initial term and are nearing the end of your options, it is time to either renegotiate the lease or start looking for a new space. This process should start well before the 120-180 day notice period previously mentioned. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Tom at...
Read MoreMGE is always looking for ways to expand our My Gym brand and grow our franchisees’ revenues. For some time now, MGE has been in discussions with Zumbini exploring the possibility of a partnership to offer Zumbini classes in My Gyms. We are aware that Zumbini has recently been contacting My Gyms directly with the intention of discussing the addition of their Zumbini class/program into your facilities. Here are some facts and information for you to process and decide if Zumbini might be right for your My Gym. Zumbini was originally created and developed by Zumba. Zumbini later branched off of Zumba and is now its own entity, although they still maintain a great relationship with Zumba and carry the marketing and branding power of Zumba. Zumbini states that they are “a music, dance, and educational” program for children 0-4 years. The class contains a mix of all of those ages (like a sibling class). MGE has been in talks with Zumbini for approximately 6 months now, but we...
Read MoreWe are pleased to announce that our strategic/cross marketing partnership with Azul Hotels by Karisma continues to roll on. Our My Gym brand and program at the Azul resorts in Mexico, Jamaica, and now the Dominican Republic are flourishing, as thousands upon thousands of families experience My Gym each year at their properties. Additionally, the promotional and preferred partner program will continue in our gyms, which includes the customer vacation discount, quarterly consumer and franchisee contest, and the My Gym owner/employee discount. If you still have existing Azul flyers, please continue to use them, as the MG16 code will remain active. If you need replacement flyers, window stickers, or posters, please email us exactly what you need replaced at strategicpartners@mygym.com. We will have them shipped out to you right away. All newly opened gyms in 2016 and 2017 will get shipments within 2-3 weeks of all materials. Here again are all the details: My Gym Customer Discount My Gym members may now book a vacation with Azul Hotels by...
Read MoreWe will be rolling out new Class Card functionality in MGM early next week. This feature will allow gyms to sell class cards in any amount, denomination, and time frame. At this time, class cards are sold only at the gym level so that you retain full control over which classes accept drop-ins. How to Sell and Book Class Cards (beginning week of 2/6) Step 1: In the family account, go to the Class Cards tab and click Purchase Class Card. Step 2: Purchase the class card for your desired amount and time frame. The card will be valid only for classes that fall within the start and end dates. Unused classes will expire at the end of the time frame. (Note: A report of purchased, used, and expiring class cards is available in Reports > Class Cards.) Step 3: Click Schedule Classes to utilize a credit. A Class Card icon will appear in the Actions section of each child on the main family account screen. The scheduler will...
Read MoreWe recently learned that Yelp sales representatives have been contacting My Gyms across the country. They’ve stated that they are dedicated My Gym representatives and the purpose of their call is to discuss advertising on Yelp. Please be advised that MGE does not have a partnership or arrangement with Yelp for their advertising platform. We were in discussions to develop a program, but we will not be moving forward with Yelp advertising for 2017. At this time, we do not advise that franchisees advertise 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 web searches. We are focusing our efforts on other areas of digital advertising (social media, digital/retargeted ads, Google AdWords, etc.) With that said, 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...
Read MoreThe MGE Sponsor/Strategic Partner Division is firing on all cylinders in the New Year, and we could not be more excited! Currently, we are hard at work gearing up for our 2017 partnership with Azul and preparing for Phase 2 of our Gazillion Bubbles partnership, which will launch in March. Watch for the updates on both programs coming soon. We are also in negotiations with several other great companies for programs this year. We are casting a wider net than ever to secure relationships with brands that make sense for My Gym in categories such as athletic apparel, healthy foods & snacks, beverages, cleaning, and diapers, among others. NOTE: If you have a close contact with any company you believe would be a good partner for My Gym, we want to know! Please email us at strategicpartners@mygym.com. We will compensate very well for any leads that result in business! Why are these strategic partnerships so important? As per our update last fall, we continue to maintain that any partnership we...
Read MoreWe are really excited about our partnership with The Honest Company and are hoping to extend it into 2017 and beyond. We are getting ready to head into renegotiations and would really appreciate your input on this partnership. Your opinions about our sponsors and partners are extremely important to us. Please take a few minutes to respond to this short survey. Even if you did not order any product from The Honest Company, your input is very valuable. Click here to take the survey. Please respond by Monday, February 6, 2017. If you have any questions about this or any other partnerships, please feel free to reach out to...
Read MoreOur cutout fundraiser is back! Similar to the very first Shamrock Fundraiser, we have created hearts for you to cut out and hang on the wall. Everyone who makes a donation to MGCA of $2 or more can put his or her name on a heart and watch the “Wall of Love” grow! Please click here for the cutouts and flyer. They can also be found in the Operations Manual in the My Gym Challenged America folder. Questions? Contact Aleah at...
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