Posted by on Apr 20, 2017 in Support & Programming | 0 comments

Attention California My Gyms: New Car Seat Laws

Car Seat News to Share with Your My Gym Families! Because we are a company that cares about raising safe and happy children, we always want to stay in the know and be a voice of wisdom for parents, especially when it comes to changes that may affect our clients and their children’s wellbeing. We believe this post will be something parents want to hear about (awesome that it’s coming from you!) and are likely to share with their friends on Facebook. Recently, California updated its car seat laws, and there are some changes that will directly affect most of our youngest members. We suggest that all gyms in the California area take a moment to familiarize yourselves with this new update and then inform your clients via Facebook. This attached poster (linked below) details the additions to the current California Child Car Seat Laws and how they affect children under 2 years of age specifically. Also, below you will find a sample post you can customize for your...

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Posted by on Apr 14, 2017 in My Gym Foundation | 0 comments

Now Trey can build upper-body strength at home

Five-year-old Trey was born a preemie at 34 weeks and, eight days after birth, suffered a stroke causing hemorrhaging on the brain and the resulting brain damage. While Trey cannot sit, stand, or walk on his own, he uses a gait trainer 1 to 2 hours every day to work on building up strength. Trey’s mother requested a Tumble Form Biform Wedge from MGCA, which helps Trey build strength in his upper body. Now he can stretch his tight arms and learn to bear weight on his hands. We hope that in the future Trey will gain the strength to learn to crawl, and this Biform Wedge is helping him toward that goal on a daily basis. — 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 Huntington, My Gym Katy, My Gym Stony Brook, My Gym Westfield *Our mission is...

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Posted by on Apr 7, 2017 in Support & Programming | 0 comments

Web-Based Curriculum, Building Blocks, and Mobile Survey

We ask that you please take the time to fill out our survey on the Building Blocks Program, Web-Based Curriculum, and Mobile. Please discuss items with your staff where needed so that we get the most accurate answers. We will be using this information in preparation for our upcoming seminars as well as to create the best operating systems possible. Please click here to take our survey. Thank you for your time and...

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Posted by on Apr 3, 2017 in Strategic Partners & Sponsors | 0 comments

SPONSORS/STRATEGIC PARTNERS – GAZILLION BUBBLES AND AZUL HOTELS BY KARISMA

Posters and Free Products By now, each gym in the U.S. should have received the Tornado bubble machine, a case of bubbles for gym use, and 100 samples to hand out to customers.  Separately, you should have received a Gazillion Bubbles poster and hanging hardware. If you are missing any of these, please contact us at strategicpartners@mygym.com. Canadian gyms: Your posters should arrive any day if they have not already, and your product shipments will be on the way next week. Gazillion Bubble Storm Franchisee Contest Extra! Extra! Not only will 3 lucky gyms be randomly selected to win a $50 gift certificate to ShopMyGym.com; Gazillion has sweetened the deal!  They are adding a case of 4 x 2L bottles of bubbles for each of the 3 winners as part of the prize. We love seeing all the creativity and fun in the photos you are posting on Instagram.  In addition to your using the #GazillionBubbleStorm hashtag, Gazillion would like you to add #GazillionMagic and @OfficialGazillion to the Instagram...

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Posted by on Mar 30, 2017 in Marketing | 0 comments

My Gym Marketing Booth Is Available

Promote My Gym in style with this marketing booth designed to increase leads at community and My Gym events. Large, visually impactful, pre-designed units take the guesswork out of your marketing setup and allow you to focus on your business. Look great while promoting My Gym! Order a complete booth or individual components Use indoors or outside Take to fairs, expos, and other events All items branded for My Gym Carrying bags included Lifetime Guarantee on the frames Receive your booth in 10 business days! Shipping fees included in prices (for continental United States) Complete specifications and prices available here Marketing Booth includes: Canopy – 10’ by 10’ Table Cover Teardrop Flag – 11’ tall Backdrop for Canopy* – 9.5’ wide by 7’ tall 2 Retractable Banners* – each 35” wide by 82” tall * Note: Order either the Backdrop OR the 2 Retractable Banners. You do not need both items. The Banners can be used with or without the canopy, whereas the Backdrop can be used only with...

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Posted by on Mar 29, 2017 in My Gym Foundation | 0 comments

My Gym Gives Back: Rowland Heights

Nicholas is a sweet 5-year-old diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He receives countless hours of different therapies and has come a long way. As Nicholas grows, however, new challenges arise. Nicholas doesn’t know how to cope well when his 9-month-old brother cries and screams, and Nicholas becomes aggressive and frustrated by the sound. This situation has created so much stress and heartbreak in his family, as they have to keep their sons in separate areas of the house to minimize aggression. Through Occupational Therapy, his family discovered Therapeutic Listening, which is intended to help with sensory processing dysfunctions, and they knew they needed to start the process at home to see long-term improvement, bringing Nicholas a sense of calm. Cherrymaine and the members of My Gym Rowland Heights were deeply moved by Nicholas’ story, and wanted to help. In January, they came together to raise enough money to purchase a special pair of headphones and music player for Nicholas to use at home. Now he has a special way to calm...

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Posted by on Mar 28, 2017 in Support & Programming | 0 comments

Egg Hunt Directives

Spring is here! Many gyms will soon be running Egg Hunts, Bunny Hops, or other spring-themed activities, so we have updated directives to be used for these events. Whether as revenue generators or enrollment boosters, parties like these can be great to build community awareness and, of course, fun for all involved! The directives can be found on the Operations Manual by searching “egg hunt” or “bunny hop.” You may also download the files below. Egg Hunt or Bunny Hop Directives-Enrollment Booster-E03232017 Egg Hunt or Bunny Hop Directives-Revenue Generator-E03232017 If you have never planned an event like this or need some assistance, please contact the MGE Support Team. Happy...

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Posted by on Mar 20, 2017 in Support & Programming | 0 comments

Just Say “NO” to Nuts!

We all know that safety is of paramount importance in the gym.  While we applaud every My Gymer’s efforts to make each and every class, party, and camp a fun, memorable, and safe experience, we implore you to consider safety off the floor too; specifically as it pertains to allergies and the children who suffer from them. Peanut and tree nut allergies, which tend to develop in childhood, are usually lifelong. In the U.S., approximately three million people report allergies to peanuts and tree nuts. Studies show the number of children living with peanut allergy appears to have tripled between 1997 and 2008, though no one is exactly sure as to why. It is our responsibility to ensure that each child who walks into My Gym is walking into a safe environment.  As such, we must insist that you ban nuts of any kind – peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, filberts, etc. – along with any products that may contain nuts, including almond milk, from entering the gym. ...

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Posted by on Mar 17, 2017 in My Gym Foundation | 0 comments

MGCA Easter Opportunity

Easter is less than a month away, and it provides a great opportunity to fundraise for MGCA and contribute to the 100% Campaign. Here are a few ideas to consider: Guess how many Easter candies are in the jar! Hold an Easter party raffle. Don’t charge for admission to your Easter parties? Consider adding on a $5-$10 donation to MGCA for admission this year. Looking for more ideas? Reach out to Aleah to come up with something fun and simple:...

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Posted by on Mar 16, 2017 in Products | 0 comments

New Special Order Staff Shirts in Great Heather Colors!

You know the cotton/poly Tultex shirts we’ve been using for specialty apparel?  Yeah, the ones that My Gym staffers and members love wearing because they’re so soft, lightweight, and comfortable.  Yes, these are also the shirts known for their appealing heather colors, such as the heather red and heather charcoal we’ve used.  That’s why, in addition to great artwork, the “My Gym Rocks,” “Keep Calm,” and other specialty shirts are so popular.  In fact, we’ve made special order staff T-shirts for gyms using these Tultex shirts, and every time people from other gyms see our support team wearing those shirts, they want to know how to get them.  So, we’ve decided to put out this special order opportunity for all gyms to get staff logo tees using the Tultex shirts in all 12 colors that are available from the manufacturer. We plan to carry this shirt in some of the heather colors as stock staff tee options in the future.  However, initially they’re available only by special order so...

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Posted by on Mar 15, 2017 in Strategic Partners & Sponsors | 0 comments

Sponsors/Strategic Partners – Gazillion Bubbles Spring Launch and “Monkey Business,” MGE Corporate E-Newsletter

Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles! A GAZILLION Bubbles! Free stuff, a contest, and more! Phase 2 of our Gazillion Bubbles partnership is starting, and we have some exciting news! Free Stuff                                                                       Each gym in the U.S. and Canada is going to receive two Tornado bubble machines, 4 x 2L bottles of Gazillion Bubbles to use in the gym, and 100 x 8 oz. samples of Gazillion Bubbles to hand out to your customers. Additionally, each gym will receive a poster to hang in the gym. Please hang up the poster right away. You can use the Tornado machine for bubbles during Separation Time and for games during classes and parties. Whenever you are using the Tornado, please refer to the activity as the “Gazillion Bubble Storm.” Of course, we want to make sure we don’t over-commercialize our programs. Just give this quick shout-out to our partner. While supplies last, you can also mention during bubble time that everyone gets a free sample of Gazillion Bubbles on their way out. Products...

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Posted by on Mar 10, 2017 in My Gym Foundation | 0 comments

A HUGE Thank You to Azul

Back in March of 2016, MGCA granted Kristen’s request for therapeutic horseback riding lessons. As a young child, Kristen would have 20 to 30 seizures a day. After delicate brain surgery, her seizures were lessened, but now she is developmentally and physically disabled because part of her brain had to be removed. Kristen’s mobility benefits from therapeutic horseback riding, and she continues to enjoy these lessons when the nearby farm is open. Our friends at Azul read about Kristen’s story through an update, and they were incredibly moved. They generously offered to send Kristen and her family to the Karisma Resort property in Mexico, and they pampered the family during their stay. They also gave Kristen the opportunity to ride a horse while she was there, and she had an amazing time! We cannot fully express our gratitude for the wonderful support Azul has shown to MGCA over the years, bringing joy not only to My Gym families but to children of all abilities! — Want to see more...

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Posted by on Mar 6, 2017 in General | 0 comments

Gym Closures

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,...

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Posted by on Mar 3, 2017 in Products, Support & Programming | 0 comments

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION – OBALL RATTLES RECALL

Please 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....

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Posted by on Mar 1, 2017 in My Gym Foundation | 0 comments

Shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day

Just 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:...

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Posted by on Feb 27, 2017 in Support & Programming | 0 comments

New HR Vendor: CareerPlug Update

Big 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,...

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Posted by on Feb 27, 2017 in Marketing | 0 comments

Kick Off Summer with a Family Fun Night!

We 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,...

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Posted by on Feb 24, 2017 in Equipment | 0 comments

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

It 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...

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Posted by on Feb 22, 2017 in Support & Programming | 0 comments

Nominations for Director of the Year!

Attention 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...

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Posted by on Feb 21, 2017 in General | 0 comments

2017 Music Licensing Update

We 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...

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Posted by on Feb 21, 2017 in Support & Programming | 0 comments

Training Seminar Registration

Update 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...

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Posted by on Feb 17, 2017 in Support & Programming | 0 comments

Recruiting via Facebook

Did 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...

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Posted by on Feb 17, 2017 in Support & Programming | 0 comments

New HR Vendor: CareerPlug

MGE 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...

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Posted by on Feb 17, 2017 in Strategic Partners & Sponsors | 0 comments

Strategic Partnerships – Azul Hotels, The Honest Company, and Gazillion Bubbles

Our 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....

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Posted by on Feb 16, 2017 in Support & Programming | 0 comments

2016 Support Survey

We 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...

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