Work Out (December 09) by Script Media

December 2009

The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine

Ashley wins fight to stop rival club

Gym owners fears over VAT moves By Mary Ferguson GYM owners claim a further rise in VAT will cause more damage to their businesses which are already suffering from competition with council-run leisure centres exempt from the tax. Workout has spoken to a number of operators who fear the government could use more increases in VAT to heal holes in the economy caused by the recession. Steve Hammond, owner of Sundance Health and Fitness in Bristol, is worried that if this happens, independent clubs will suffer. He said: “We are not talking about a percentage of turnover being taken from us, but percentage straight from the bottom line profit. “I feel that whichever party gets into power will see raising VAT as an easy way of balancing the economic deficit caused by the recession so this is the time to make our voices heard and convince government to make some exceptions. The effect of such an increase on the already struggling independent gym sector is likely to be disastrous.” Other operators have been voicing frustrations with council-run facilities. John Burns, who has owned Burns

Fitness in Swansea for 28 years, said: “If VAT increases then the advantage that council-run centres have on us will increase even further, because it won’t affect them. I’ve heard it could go up to as much as 20 per cent, which worries me. I spoke to a former employee at my local council-run centre and he said new staff are told that I am their ’biggest enemy’ and their ‘biggest competition’ – which is proof that they are competing against me.” Paul Evans, owner of First Class Gym in Bridgend, is in talks with his local council about how they can work alongside each other, claiming he will ‘never win the battle’. And Paul Taylor, owner of PT Fitness in Mold, contacted Workout with concerns that a gym opened for council workers at the local town hall would take his business. He added: “I’ve already lost some members who work for the council, as they can use those facilities for free. It makes my blood boil that my business rates are being used to fund a gym that is effectively in direct competition with me. Government say they are supporting small businesses, but I really can’t see how they are.”

No 195 £3

American bodybuilder Chris Cormier visited a handful of independent gyms during a whistle-stop UK tour to mark his return to the international stage. An IFBB Pro, he visited Ironworks Gym and Temple Gym in Birmingham, Ripped Gym in Harlow and Monster Gym in Cheshunt, where he enjoyed workouts, signed autographs and chatted to members about training techniques. Chris, who is sponsored by QNT, told Workout he will be back in the country soon.

GYM owner Ashley Roberts is breathing a sigh of relief after plans to open a rival club were quashed. Ashley, who operates Optimum Gym in Ruislip, said he was shocked and angry when a planning application was submitted to turn an empty shop just yards away into a Gymophobics club. So he put together a petition containing 190 signatures from members, friends and family and said he was ‘over the moon’ when the plans were refused by Hillingdon Council. He told Workout: “By the time I’d found out about the application, I only had five days to get the petition together but I even had people I didn’t know coming into the gym wanting to sign it. “I was worried because I’ve worked hard to get the gym up to the standard it is and didn’t want anything to threaten that. I know my members are very loyal, but there was a possibility that people would walk past Gymophobics and be signed up there before even finding out about me – especially because they would have had a more prominent position on the high street.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

Gym owner dies in training accident By Mary Ferguson AN independent gym owner was killed when a training session at another club went tragically wrong. Tony Leigh, 47, who operated Flex Appeal in Kent for ten years, was lifting weights at Essex-based Muscle Mania when it is reported that a bar slipped and hit him in the face. He was in intensive care for six days, but died with his wife and business partner Angie Leigh at his side. She said: “Tony was my absolute soulmate – there are no words to describe my loss. I would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support.” Friends have also been paying tribute to Tony, who also leaves two sons. Rob Davies worked with him when they were bodyguards in the Middle East together. He told Workout: “I’d known him for nine years and he was a really genuine friend, a family man, and all-round good guy. What happened is a big

Angie and Tony in happier times tragedy.” Steve Winter, owner of Ministry of Muscle, knew Tony from the bodybuilding circuit. He said: “I’ve trained for 25 years and I’ve seen people tear their quads off and break their legs, but never die from a head injury.”

Frosted glass order proves a pane for pole fitness studio owner THE owner of a Newport fitness studio ordered to remove her frosted glass windows has claimed men gawping at women working out will cause her to lose customers. Charlene Elliott is worried that because her pole fitness studio, Vanity Pole, faces a main road, cars and passers-by will be distracted by the sight of her female members working on the poles. The frosted glass currently allows them to exercise in privacy, but the council has told her she must replace them with see-through panels, to keep in with the ’look’ of the street. Charlene told Workout: “They told me the front of the studio just doesn’t fit in with the other buildings but if I get rid of it, I will lose a lot of my customers – they have already told me they will leave. “When the girls are waiting outside for their classes they already get beeps and whistles so imagine how bad it would be if people could actually see in.” Charlene is currently organising a

If you’ve got a story for Workout or you want to comment on some of the issues featured in the magazine then please call Mary Ferguson on 01226 734712 or email: mf@whpl.net

Workout spoke to Dave Patterson, owner of Muscle Mania, who said Tony had been using a Smith machine when the accident occurred. Essex County Council confirmed an inquest would be held into his death.

Steroid trial date is set MONSTER Gym owner Steve Collins pleaded not guilty to supplying steroids during his latest appearance in court. He denied 21 charges of possessing Class C drugs with into to supply, one charge of possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply and possessing criminal property, during the hearing at St Alban’s crown court. The charges relate to a police raid on the gym in November last year. His trial, which is expected to last seven days, was fixed for May 10 next year.

Gym goes under petition to protest against the order and is considering approaching her local MP and getting a solicitor involved. A spokesman for Newport City Council said: “We appreciate a certain degree of privacy is needed for a dance studio, but given the location window graphics should be avoided and consideration given to other more appropriate measures for screening and advertising.”

THE Huddersfield branch of Gymophobics has gone into administration after its owners experienced ‘severe difficulties’ in maintaining membership sales. Other Gymophobics branches have not been affected and a letter has been sent to members of the Huddersfield gym advising them that they are entitled to transfer part of their membership to another branch or to neighbouring gym Energie Fitness. Administrator David Broadbent said: “All seven employees had unfortunately been made redundant prior to our appointment. The business has ceased to trade.”

Advertising

Editorial

Production

Sales and marketing

Group Editor: Andrew Harrod Tel: 01226 734639 Fax: 01226 734705 Email: ah@whpl.net Reporters: Mary Ferguson Tel: 01226 734712 Email: mf@whpl.net Louise Cordell Tel: 01226 734694 Email: lcordell@whpl.net

Group Deputy Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734458 Email: jhalkerston@whpl.net

director: Tony Barry Sales manager: Lucy Hill Tel: 01226 734615 Sales executives: Daniel Lloyd Tel: 01226 734699 Danielle Hornby Tel: 01226 734707

Wharncliffe Publishing Ltd. 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS.

www.workout-uk.co.uk

UK FITNESS SCENE

£1.65m revamp underway A £1.65m redevelopment of Hartsdown Leisure Centre in Margate is now underway following a two-year planning period. Work will see the conversion of the eight court sports hall transformed into a four court sports hall, two exercise studios and a soft play area and a large gym. The overhaul of the centre, which is managed by Thanet Leisureforce, is fully funded and project managed by Alliance Leisure.

Sponsored spinning A SPONSORED spinning event will be held at Edinburgh Leisure’s Ratho Centre on February 5 in aid of Help For Heroes. The money raised from the Scotland Spinning Nation Ride will be added to that generated by a similar event held recently in London.

Global role for Gregg FITNESS industry veteran Gregg Hammann has been appointed global chief executive officer of Power Plate International. Gregg, who spent four years at the helm of Nautilus, has more than 20 years in executive management positions.

Offer members what they want and make more money By Dave Wright Creative Fitness Marketing THERE has been a ridiculous debate going on within the industry about whether you should contract a member to a membership or not? Here are both sides to the argument. No contracts: This argument largely hinges on the proviso that people are scared to sign up to a service that they don’t know if they will continue to use. As it’s a service and not a product, they would be committed to paying for a service that they might not want. Clubs who take this route often want to let their service speak for itself and use this ‘spin’ to combat clubs wanting to sign people up for longer period of time. Many clubs feel that by not offering shackles they attract more members as it lowers the element of risk for the member to take that first step to fitness. They try and take the high road in letting the consumer make that choice to their health and as to how long they wish to commit to and feel that they would get the type of members that would not commit to a contract. Obviously there is some validation in that point. On the other hand, the financial

New gym built by Leisure Lines LEISURE Lines has completed installation of a new purpose-built performance gym for French rugby club RC Toulon. Equipped with six performance rack and platform combinations, single stations including the RX100 Functional Neck Trainer and Startrac CV, Leisure Lines has worked with architects and club management to design the facility. Rob Coleman, managing director of Leisure Lines, said: “RC Toulon have this year recruited a number of high profile players like Jonny Wilkinson

and Rory Lamont along with conditioning staff including Steve Walsh from Sale Sharks and Rugby Manager Tom Whitford. “Toulon wanted to develop a performance gym and legacy the club would be proud of creating a culture of sustainable success amongst staff and players. We have worked with Steve Walsh at Sale Sharks, NEC Harlequins and Leeds Rhino’s and new the sort of facility he would be looking for.” Enquiries: 01455 890100 Website: www.leisurelinesgb.co.uk

Dave Wright argument of having members commit to a particular monthly payment for a period of time is often used by clubs so that they can predict their cash flows. They know that on a month to month membership, members generally only stay seven months, so if they have them commit for a 12 month period, members stay longer and you get more money from them in the way of secondary sales and referrals. The other argument of contracts is that members are making a commitment to their goals and you are committing to help them along the

way. The hardest decision for any member is to join in the first place, and once that is over with, you can concentrate on what they want to achieve in their membership. By having commitment both financially and chronologically you are not leaving the member to make that choice every single month when their membership is up for renewal. Going back to the analogy of the other industries that do well, one can look at the mobile phone industry. When you have the likes of O2, Orange and T-mobile offering roughly 37 different choices for a mobile phone contract they are trying to offer particular tariffs that will suit particular people’s lifestyles. The same goes for gym memberships. Whether you agree or disagree with contracts, by offering choices to your clientele, you are opening up your market with different price points given their particular situation at that particular moment in time. So just as one fitness programme might not suit everyone, the same applies for membership contracts. Put simply, if you offer members what they want, then there is no doubt you’ll make more money out of it.

UK FITNESS SCENE

Internet helps gym change its reputation By Mary Ferguson

LA Fitness brought in the British synchronised swimming team to perform as part of a campaign to market a £30m refurbishment across its London clubs. The swimmers, supplied by Aquabatix, performed in the street in Marylebone before moving on to two of the chain’s clubs in the capital.

A FORWARD-THINKING gym is shaking off its ‘hardcore’ reputation by using social networking sites to spread the word about its mixed clientele. The Training Exchange in Stoke was taken over by Suzanne Longstaff two years ago and she is working hard to show people it’s a club for everyone, not just serious weight trainers. She said: “When I had my website built last November the guy who did it introduced me to Twitter and after talking to members, I decided to create a group on Facebook too. “The members actually end up doing a lot of your advertising for you. For example the other day a girl had updated her online status saying she had been to one of our spinning classes, and one of her friends had asked her about it underneath. She then replied with all our membership rates and contact details – it was great.” Suzanne also uses the sites to let members know what she is up to herself and whilst visiting Leisure Industry Week in September to look for new

equipment, she posted up photos of herself on various stands. “It was a great way of showing them I am out there trying to make the club better. I also use Facebook and Twitter to single out members who need a bit of encouragement, for example if someone has been away from the gym for a while, I will post something that says how nice it is to see them back.” Suzanne takes a lot of photos of The Training Exchange, posting them either to its own homepage or to social networking sites. She deliberately snaps a cross section of members so prospective clients can see it is a gym for everyone – regardless of race, age or fitness levels. And some of them are blown up onto A-boards and placed outside the building, to encourage people through the door. Suzanne added: “I quite often have people join simply from looking at the website without having a show-round, because they feel like they know it enough from the photos. The club is well-known as a bodybuilders’ gym so it’s all helping to change people’s perceptions.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

New 24-hour gym claims Scottish first A NEW 24-hour gym is to open in Edinburgh, claiming to be the first round-the-clock club in Scotland. Pure Gym is scheduled to open at the new Quartermile development in mid December, charging £12.99 a month. Peter Roberts, chief executive of Pure Gym, said: “Similar gym concepts have been hugely popular overseas in countries such as Germany and the States and we believe Pure Gym will be very popular throughout Scotland.” In addition to Edinburgh, Pure Gym is also opening in Wolverhampton, Leeds and Manchester and there are plans to expand throughout the UK, including Scotland. The company is aiming to operate 20 gyms across the UK by 2012.

Active Andy is a familiar sight around Guildford

Andy proves New products handy for introduced to Escape range membership By Mary Ferguson A LIFESIZE plastic model being driven around town is generating new business for an independent gym in Surrey. ‘Active Andy’, a mannequin dressed as Superman, is chauffeured around Guildford in a branded trailer by staff at ActivZone, spreading the word about the club for the last six months. Owner Sonja Batha said Andy has proved a ‘very useful’ marketing tool, and the whole set-up – including the mannequin, costume, trailer and branding – cost around £800. She said: “I was thinking about different ways to advertise the gym so came up with the idea, bought Andy from Ebay and roped some friends in to help. He goes out at least once a month and I used to drive him myself until I got my Mazda MX5 – then it became impractical.” ActivZone is the only gym in Guildford that uses such a marketing device and since Sonja took over the business two years ago, membership has increased from just over 500 to

almost 900. “Active Andy is an example of how sociable and friendly our gym is, and that’s how I’ve attracted new users. “A lot of it is down to the staff and I hire them because of their personalities. They need to be able to socialise and interact with everyone that comes through the door, from 16-year -olds to 70-year-olds.” ActivZone is based within a college but Sonja claims that because of its welcoming atmosphere, older exercisers are happy to work out alongside teenagers. The ‘meet the team’ section of the gym’s website lists instructors’ hobbies and personality traits as well as their qualifications, and Active Andy has his own section online, after becoming a bit of a celebrity in the town. Although Sonja is pleased with the extra business Andy has generated, she is currently working on new marketing methods, adding: “I do have some other ideas up my sleeve but I’m going to keep them secret for now.”

ESCAPE Fitness has introduced two new products to its range, polyurethane dumbbells and Reebok rep sets. Unlike some lower grade rubber dumbbells, the polyurethane ones are virtually odourless making them particularly good for smaller facilities. The industry leading Reebok rep sets have also been upgraded to make them the best yet, available in a wider range of colours with colour coded centres to make them more easily identifiable. They have been made slimmer for a better grip and now have a two tone finish to make weight classification quicker and simpler.

£12.2m plan A 200-station gym and eight-lane swimming pool is being built at the University of Leeds. The £12.2m swimming pool and fitness complex will be one of the largest of any UK university and is expected to be open to visitors by summer 2010.

Mystery shopper company in expansion LEISURE-NET Solutions is taking its mystery shop and call services into the spa and therapy industry. Consumer research into the public’s attitude and perception

towards spas has already been carried out as part of this move and the results will be released in April 2010. A call-focus survey for spas is now being launched, to assess

the way that spas answer telephone and email enquiries. The survey will include calls and emails to more than 100 sites across health club, hotel and stand alone spas.

If you’ve got a story for WorkOut or you’d like to share your views on an industry issue please call reporter Mary Ferguson on 01226 734712 or email: mf@whpl.net You can write to us at Workout newsroom, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S74 9PE or fax: 01226 734705

UK FITNESS SCENE

Not-for-profit gym members get a real say By Mary Ferguson

Gym owner Rob Blakeman is celebrating the success of two of his clients who lost 11 stones in time for Christmas. Sisters Amanda and Elaine Jenkins worked with Rob at his studio in Birmingham and he is now using their achievements to promote his business. He said: “I always publicise successfully with the media because, with my background as a writer I know what kind of angle they're looking for. Amanda even made it all the way to the Daily Mirror.” Pictured above: Amanda and Elaine before their weight loss and, left, the sisters after shedding 11 stones.

A MEMBER-OWNED gym in Bristol is holding its own in difficult trading conditions – despite competition from lower-priced models nearby. Welsh Back Squash and Health club started life as a squash club in 1985 but six years ago was handed over to the members and became a not-forprofit gym, run by a committee. Chris Nicholls was appointed general manager in 2007, following three years working on the gym floor. He said: “Being city-centre based we get a lot of corporate memberships and many people come for the squash which means most of our members are men. But we also have student accommodation nearby so get some business from that and have older users too – the eldest is 73 and sits on the committee.” Chris said the money they make from memberships covers their outgoings and although the recession has seen a slow-down in sign-ups, the number of people leaving remains low. He admits that at £44 for a peak membership they charge slightly more than other gyms in the area – but claims they can’t be beaten when it comes to atmosphere. “In recent years there’s been a Fitness First and a budget club open up nearby and although we initially lost a few members, they all ended up coming back. “We really focus on service because we know we don’t have the best equipment and because we are mem-

Health club giant David Lloyd has completed a major investment programme involving the refurbishment of 14 sites across the country. Working with Life Fitness, new equipment has been installed and interior layouts changed, to create dedicated areas for

ber-owned, our unique selling point is that members get a real say in how things are run.” Chris said being committee-run is a huge part of the club’s identity and fears that if it was bought out, things would never be the same. He added: “There definitely wouldn’t be so much consultation and I do really enjoy working with a committee. Especially because they all have their own careers outside the gym, so everyone brings different skills and experience to the table.”

Committee makes decisions THERE are currently seven members on the committee and anyone can put themselves forward during the annual general meeting. The only rule is that no one member can serve for more than five consecutive years. Chris attends a monthly meeting with the committee, where he feeds back what is happening around the gym and decisions can be made about issues like financing and purchasing. He said: “It can slow down decision making processes when everyone has to agree and we only meet once a month but if something is urgent, it will often be debated by email.” There are 22 staff and 12,000 members at the club, which originally consisted of nine squash courts over two floors. Five are left, with the other four converted into fitness suites.

group and personal training. Paul Batty, head of procurement for David Lloyd said: ‘We continue with our strategic investment into our gym areas. This has included significant investment in our gym equipment, equipment innovation and club refurbishment.”

Health club to help launch Krankcycle A LONDON health club has been chosen to host the launch of the new Krankcycle. The equipment, the latest innovation from Spinning creator Johnny G,

will be showcased at I.N.C Space in December. The Krankcycle is being distributed in the UK by Matrix Fitness Systems.

UK FITNESS SCENE

Former heroin addict Craig inspires clients with his story up Physical.Results, training his clients at the same gym.

By Mary Ferguson A FORMER heroin addict who gave up drugs and alcohol to become a personal trainer has revealed how his past inspires his clients to achieve their goals. Craig Doel, an alcoholic by the age of 15, discovered weight lifting whilst receiving treatment for his addictions and is now helping others change their lives through exercise. He told Workout: “As a teenager I was heavily into drink and drugs and that carried on until I went into a recovery centre at 24. “They let me out three times a week to go to a gym and that’s when I fell in love with weights. “It helped so much with getting clean because when I had a bad day, I would turn to a workout instead of drugs and began researching exercise techniques. It really kept me going when I came out of the centre.” Craig, now 29, managed to get

“I don’t keep my past a secret from my clients, in fact I think that by telling them, it inspires them as it shows that if I can do it, everyone can. “And a lot of the guys at the gym come from a rehab centre too, so I like to think they look up to me, as someone who has turned their life around through fitness.” Eddie Scannell, owner of Body Tone, added: “Craig has done so well, and I’ve seen a huge change in him since he first started training with me.

Craig Doel some voluntary work at Body Tone Health and Fitness, based in Weston-Super-Mare, where he trained. Last year he completed his Level Three instructors course and set

“He doesn’t hide anything from the members here and he’s even encouraged some of the lads in rehab to go down the instructor route like him. “I’m now encouraging him to enter some bodybuilding competitions next year and I’m really looking forward to helping.”

Spice girl Mel B will be the face of International Fitness Week 2010, launched by Fitness First to get the whole world moving. Mel also fronted the 2009 national campaign, and following its success, organisers are taking it global next year. Taking place from February 1-7, the event will see Fitness First clubs opening their doors to everyone who downloads a free pass and activities and promotions will run throughout the world. Mel said: “I am so excited to be on board for a second year and to see the campaign spread across the world. I want to encourage everyone to find what works for them and make being active part of their lifestyle.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

A Jane Fonda Tribute class in action at Frame

Retro classes prove a big hit By Mary Ferguson A LONDON gym is digging out its leg warmers and leotards and enjoying massive demand for eighties’ style studio classes. Frame dance and fitness studio, based in Shoreditch, has given its group exercise timetable a retro makeover and added workout sessions inspired by the decade’s exercise icon Jane Fonda. Classes include ‘Jane Fonda Tribute’ which incorporate CV and toning in the style of her famous fitness video –

but without the bouncing elements that have since been proved to be bad for the body. In the ‘Eighties Aerobics’ classes, participants learn choreography to music from the era, including Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and the Fame theme tune. The instructors all wear clothing either from or inspired by the decade and people attending are encouraged to as well, adding to the atmosphere and authenticity. In another nod to the eighties, Frame also offers rebounding classes, where people work out on individual

mini trampolines. And two-hour workshops that include Dirty Dancing style movements are also proving very popular. Joan Murphy, who opened the gym eight months ago with business partner Pip Black, said: “The classes have been well-attended from the start and they really suit our member demographic, which tends to be women in their twenties and thirties. Basically, the sessions are just really good fun.” Joan claims their timetable is unique – with nothing similar in the

area – and she credits their original thinking and the eighties media revival for the popularity of their classes. She added: “Another big reason people keep coming back is because our instructors are so fantastic. There’s nothing stopping other gyms being more imaginative when it comes to group fitness, but ultimately I think it comes down to the personality of the club. Traditional classes like legs, bums and tums will always have their place, but our aim is to offer something completely different.” Manchester gym The Y Club is celebrating after winning an ‘employer of the year’ award during a glittering ceremony in the city. The club was given the accolade at the Trafford College Business Training Awards, in recognition of the number of staff that participate in training. Pictured, from left: Graham Hobbs (Chief Executive Manchester YMCA), Dennis Shannon (Y Club Manager) and Donna Nicholson (Trafford College).

UK FITNESS SCENE

PT Mike bidding to Ideas to improve break 20 world records your club in 2010 A PERSONAL trainer aiming to be the ‘fittest man on the planet’ is attempting to break 20 world records in 12 months. Mike Buss, a former army physical training instructor, began his challenge in October when he ran on a treadmill for 48 hours while carrying a 40lb pack. And further events over the next year include: Furthest distance running on a treadmill in seven days Fastest 10km time carrying an eight stone rucksack Most basketball lay-ups scored in 24 hours The challenges will end with Mike aiming to run for six days non-stop, carrying a 60lb rucksack – and without any sleep. He is aiming to raise £100,000 for Help The Heroes by Christmas next year and told Workout he isn’t scared of any of the upcoming events. He added: “I think the hardest will be the six-day run. “Everyone, including sports scientists are telling me it’s impossible but I don’t think that it is. “I’ve already done four days straight on a spinning bike and I think as long as my body stays active, my mind will too, and that will keep me awake.”

By Matthew Januszek

Mike completing one of his challenges

WITH Christmas fast approaching, now is a good opportunity to review 2009 and start looking ahead to 2010. The last 12 months have been a difficult and unpredictable time for many operators, but the good news is that the health club sector should remain optimistic in spite of the current economic climate. At Escape, we recognise the importance of enhancing the members’ experience and have developed a number ways to improve your club in 2010, which don’t require a huge financial commitment. Environment The exercise environment is a key factor in the retention battle. The setting where someone works out – its look and feel – can affect a participant’s desire to be there and their enjoyment. How the space is organised is also an important consideration. Creating ‘zones’ for functional fitness or boxing training is an effective way to structure a gym and develop an exercise pathway. Equipment It’s not necessarily the amount of equipment a club has, but the selection of products available. The aim is to provide a variety of equipment that will meet the needs of exercisers with different abilities and goals, as well as offer progression and the opportunity to increase the difficulty level as required. The addition of a unique piece of equipment, such as a Reaction Trainer or sprint track, offers even greater diversity and gives the club another distinct selling point. Evolution The fitness industry has always been fast moving and continually evolving. Introducing a new class or training option on a regular basis gives the impression that a club is growing and developing. TRX training, and increasingly TRX training in a group, is a new way of working out which is suitable for exercisers of all ages and fitness levels and offers enormous exercise variety. Education Training is a great way to keep instructors fresh and motivated, as well as ensuring that they are up to date with the latest trends and techniques. This not only enhances the

Matthew Januszek quality of the service offered because members benefit from improved programming and ultimately better results, it can also help staff retention rates. Engage Encouraging staff to engage with members and developing opportunities for members to interact with other members creates a sense of belonging and makes people feel that they are genuinely part of a club. This can help promote exercise adherence, and will also reduce attrition. Enjoyment During the development of the new Professional range, Reebok surveyed 5,000 women to identify what motivates them to exercise. The overwhelming response was a desire to have fun and be able to enjoy working out. Group activities such as Spinning and small group training often meet this need as the support and encouragement received in this type of session is very motivating and the social interaction helps make the time go quicker. With a little creative thinking and some carefully placed investment, it’s possible to make subtle changes to a facility which will, in turn, make a significant difference to the offering, service delivery quality and members’ perceptions. And remember, particularly during a recession, it’s not always about thinking bigger, but thinking smarter. Matthew Januszek is customer solutions director at Escape Fitness

Amazon helps clubs stand out from the crowd CLUBS all over Europe are always looking for new ways of standing out from the crowed to draw in new members, first impressions count and Amazon Leisure (UK) Ltd has created the solution. Clubs spend thousands redecorating, with new flooring and wall covers. Then they stick to the same generic colour machines as their competitors. This can completely spoil the ambiance of the gym, or worst still your clients may not be able to differentiate between your club and competitors. At Amazon Leisure (UK) Ltd we have been able to bespoke cardiovascular and strength equipment in most colours of the spectrum to match the gym owners’ colour schemes to help create a brand image

for your gym. This is also cost effective and great value for money as all the machines are refurbished. For example this enables fully commercial bespoke treadmills to be available from £1,600 + VAT for a Life Fitness 9500 Next Gen model in a flat colour. Call Chris at Amazon Leisure (UK) Ltd on 01953 499211 to take your club to the next level

UK FITNESS SCENE

Ian launches new paid-for service By Mary Ferguson A GYM owner who has dished out free personal training for the last ten years has launched a new paidfor service for members. Ian Simpson has given away oneon-one sessions with instructors at Northumberland-based No Limits since 1999, but is now offering onehour slots with himself for £10 a time. The sessions will include dietary analysis and advice and will focus on lifestyle changes as well as physical exercise. Ian told Workout: “The free sessions are for half an hour and just focus on showing people how to

use the machines or weights properly, whereas the bookings with me are much more in-depth. That’s why I’ve called the service ‘No Limits Elite’, as it’s for those who want something more superior.” The sessions will be available to pay-and-go users for £15 and Ian admits he could probably get away with charging more: “A service like this would cost at least £20 an hour in other places but at the end of the day Alnwick is a small market town and I’d rather have 10 or 15 using the service for that price than five or six paying a lot more. It’s going well so far and if it does start taking off, I can always pass some on to

my better instructors.” Ian said because he’s been offering the free sessions for so long he can’t take them away, so his own bookings need to offer a superior service to justify the payment. He added: “The free sessions serve their purpose though. They are there to be taken advantage of – and people do. I don’t like having my instructors sitting around so it means they are up there on the gym floor helping people, and it’s often more of a hand-holding service than anything else. “It’s also a great retention tool, because people have to book the sessions – meaning they are more

The ninth annual IHRSA European Congress took place in Dublin, including sessions by industry experts, keynote speakers, a gala dinner, supplier showcase, and tours of some of the city’s finest clubs. The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association partenered with ILAM, the industry body for sports, fitness, aquatic facilities, outdoor sector, spas and wellness for the event.

No Limits gym likely to show up, and in turn, see results.”

£250k investment in fitness facility STEVENAGE Borough Council is investing £250,000 to improve the fitness facility at Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre. ‘Fitness @ The Leisure Centre’ is expanding to help provide for the large number of GP referrals they receive and as part of the developments, 47 new pieces of Matrix equipment have been installed. The gym will be refurbished with a modern open plan design with a new mezzanine floor, a new entrance and changing area, new flooring and lighting and a new cycle studio. The new entrance will allow easy access for wheelchair users.

UK FITNESS SCENE

With the party season in swing, many operators will be throwing Christmas bashes for their members. But how can you make social events work for you all year round? Mary Ferguson found out.

How a chat with friends can be a powerful retention tool EVERY Thursday night, members at Powerhouse Fitness Centre gather in the gym’s cafe for a healthy curry, a drink and a chat with friends. And for owner Duncan Teasdale, it’s a powerful retention tool that also makes him a bit of money. He said: “Getting the members together every week encourages social interaction, especially as many gym goers come on their own and are often quite lonely. “I cook the curry myself and the £3.50 I charge covers costs, but then they always buy a drink too so it acts as a useful income stream.” Duncan also offers a takeaway service for those who finish their workout then take a meal home for partners too – meaning he sells twice as many. The curry nights have been operating for the last two months, following the popularity of Duncan’s chilli nights, which he offered totally free. “It only cost £20 to make a big pot of chilli to give out with crusty bread and again, it got everyone together. I’m lucky that I’ve got the space to do it but every Thursday night I get at least 20 people eating curry with me, and spending their money at the bar. It definitely keeps the cash flowing.” And it doesn’t matter if you are restricted for space, because according to marketing expert Dave Wright, holding social events away from the club can help when it comes to generating new business. He said: “You want to make sure that they are fun and that you allow one member to bring no more than one friend or partner. “If you take the strict line policy of only one non-member, then you create the element of exclusivity but also you make sure that they

bring their closest friend who is more likely going to be the person that joins. “Obviously when the potential new members meet you and your staff then they get to experience the ethos and feel of the club before setting foot inside your doors.” The Fitness Bank in Leicester puts on regular trips and social events for members and co-owner Karen Graves always invites member to bring partners and friends.

Activities away from the gym include theatre trips, days out to theme parks and an annual summer barbecue and Christmas party, which is held in the group exercise studio. To get around licensing restrictions, Karen sells tickets for the event, which enables them to buy alcohol to give away for free. She added: “We always make sure we do something once a month, even if it’s just a night out or a

meal. “It’s great for word of mouth marketing as people will go to work and tell their friends what they did with the gym at the weekend, and it helps members get to know each other. And for those that can’t make it, we put photos up around the club so they still feel they are part of a community.” Do you organise any unusual social events for members? Let us know by emailing mf@whpl.net or calling 01226 734712.

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

Steve Winter set up Ministry of Muscle three years ago and riding on the crest of its success, is now aiming to change the world of strength training. Mary Ferguson reports.

Club is busy making money and champions STEVE and partner Gina Iaquaniello are pretty pleased with their business. And attracting some of the biggest names in bodybuilding, power lifting and strongman, the club is making money as well as champions. Steve used to work as a prison officer and Gina was in the police, but both always had a keen interest in the industry. Steve said: “I competed for nearly 20 years but I had to retire through injury, so joined the prison service but didn’t enjoy it. Gina felt the same way about her job and people still knew me in the strength world, so we decided to set up our own gym. “Everyone used to call me Steve from The Ministry because I worked on the doors of The Ministry Of Sound for ten years, so that’s how we chose the name.” Steve said that from the very beginning, his aim was to produce champions and he measures the gym’s success on its fame. He used to train at Ryan’s Gym in Sydenham – a well known club in the eighties – and was given so many

opportunities by owner Ben Ryan, that he set out to do the same for people at The Ministry Of Muscle. Financially, Steve said the business is ‘unbelievable’ and with 600 members, is enjoying proving people wrong. “When we first set up, our bank manager was a bit sceptical but a year later he came down to the gym, shook our hands and told us we had a fantastic business.” The club is based in a warehouse on an industrial estate in Kent, spread over two levels and includes a boxing and mixed martial arts area. Weights go up to 138kg and at 3500 sq. ft, Steve claims it’s not so big that it loses its atmosphere and even though it gets busy, the mood improves with every person that walks through the door. And word about the gym is spreading, with members of the public keen to say they have trained at the same place as the world’s strongest men. When the gym launched a Facebook site, within two months, 2,000 people from all over the globe became ‘fans’

One of the members hitting hard of the page. There is a big demand for Ministry Of Muscle T-shirts and merchandise and the gym has linked up with Dale Hooker from creative company Creative ECCO to launch Ministry Of Muscle Media. Dale films all the clips for the gym’s website and Facebook page and Steve has now set up a series on the gym’s website, which is watched by people all over the world. He is passionate about changing the public perception of ‘strong men’,

claiming they are often misunderstood. “People walk through the door and stand like rabbits caught in headlights, but I say give us half an hour, and we will make you feel comfortable. And we always do. And that’s why we produced the TV show, to show that bodybuilders are nice, normal people. “They may look like huge monsters or scream like banshees but they are human beings with enormous hearts and a brilliant sense of humour.”

‘Everyone used to call me Steve from The Ministry because I worked on the doors of The Ministry Of Sound for ten years, so that’s how we chose the name’

Steve Winter (centre) with members Paul Carter, left, and Jay Hughes, right.

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

Different sports working together STEVE and Gina are passionate about linking the sports of power lifting, body building and strongman together, and the three are intertwined using illustrations on the gym’s logo. Gina said: “The sports can all learn from each other and we encourage them to work together. For example, gone are the days of the lifters dehydrating eight kilos to make body weights for competitions. “They are educated and advised on their diet and nutrition and now come in bang on target, not experiencing the detrimental effects on performance that dehydrating has. “This shows how knowledge of dieting for bodybuilders can be utilised

for power lifters and how if the three sports stood together and used their strengths and knowledge we would make a formidable team to beat across all sports.” None of the competitors who train at the Ministry are sponsored and some do two jobs to fund competitions and training. Many of the members are trained by James Llewellin, who is based at the gym and enjoys huge success himself on the stage. And at this year’s Strongest Man Final heats, a quarter of the finalists from all over England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales were from the Ministry of Muscle.

Fitness professionals don’t get recognition they deserve claims GMTV guru FITNESS professionals battling to keep the nation active don’t get the recognition they deserve, an expert has claimed.

recognition we should, and we don't get paid great amounts, yet we play a key role in keeping people active.

Pete Cohen, resident life coach and weight loss guru on GMTV, said while instructors are at the heart of creating fitness essential to Government aims to halt the obesity crisis, there needed to be more opportunities to create a sense of community, recognition and value for fitness leaders themselves.

“Other professionals, like doctors and lawyers, provide a service too and ours is so valuable for people’s health, but somehow we always end up on the bottom of the pile.”

He said: “As teachers, leaders and inspirers we don't always get the

Pete made the comments after agreeing to deliver the opening address at the FitPro Spring Convention next year and said he is excited about the prospect of returning to his roots in addressing

the fitness community. He added: “Instructors are so focused on hard science and research. “I'm looking forward to bringing a new perspective that they may not have considered, about our behavioural motivators, and the factors that stand in the way of us all making a real change in our lives." Pete will be kicking off a weekend of more than 200 sessions and workshops at Loughborough University on April 9-11.

Pete Cohen

UK FITNESS SCENE

Gym split in two to achieve huge overhaul By Mary Ferguson

Pete Todd

A WEST Yorkshire health club is hoping to finish 2009 with a bang after completing a huge overhaul of its fitness facilities. Pete Todd, manager of Pontefract Squash and Leisure, coordinated and helped fund a £250,000 upgrade of its gym, which took two months to complete. Top-of-the-range Life Fitness equipment was shipped over from America, 31 LED lights fitted, new flooring put down and therapy rooms constructed. A shop selling workout wear and supplements has also been attached to the gym floor. Pete said: “We are a single site so we couldn’t just shut down completely, so we have been working through the nights and out of hours to get everything done. All my staff pitched in and we got a lot of the members involved too, especially those with trades like painting and decorating.” To keep the facilities open during the work, Pete and the team split the gym in half and renovated it a bit at a time, but when dust and noise got too bad, as a temporary measure some of the equipment had to be moved to an empty squash court. Pete’s brother Michael Todd used to own the club but three years ago its

Pete with some of his fitness team status changed and it is now a member-owned facility with a directorship. The refurbishment is part of a wider initiative to bring the fitness area in line with the squash facilities – which are known as some of the best in the country. Pete said: “We started life as a squash club in 1977 but over time it’s evolved and the fitness suite is now the engine room of the finance, which is why it needs to be top notch.” Because of its status within the squash world, the club has managed

to secure funding to renovate the courts, but finance for the gym improvements has been provided by Pete and other private investors. They are hoping that that the improved facilities will attract a new influx of members, which will then help raise capital to improve the club even more. He added:“I don’t believe there is a gym with better equipment than ours anywhere in the country now – it really is the best of the best and I’m very proud of what we have achieved.”

Pete has his wish-list gym TO absorb some of the cost of the improvements, membership has been raised by £3 to £25-a-month but Pete is confident of a flood of new business. He said: “It’s early days yet but without a doubt, I’m sure we will get an increase of new members. But we can’t sit on our laurels just because we have great facilities now – we need to offer the service to match.” Pete, a former physical training instructor in the prison service, has built himself an office overlooking the free weights area, so he can keep an

eye on things. A self-confessed perfectionist, he is determined to keep the new equipment in top condition and believes members notice even the tiniest things – like an empty cup left on a mat, or a slight scratch on the wall. Next on his list of plans for the club is renovating more squash courts and overhauling the reception, coffee lounge and bar area. He added: “We have to take things stage by stage but I have my wish-list gym now and it’s very satisfying to see what we have delivered.”

Christmas came early to a South Yorkshire fitness facility when Barnsley Premier Leisure hosted the first ever Santa Run. Participants gathered at the Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre to run one mile around the athletics track dressed as St. Nicholas, raising money for a local charity.

WORKOUT PEOPLE

Bodybuilder Marina Cornwall is proving that at five feet tall, the best things come in small packages. Workout spoke to the 55 year old about being on stage, missing out on Gladiators – and her fifteen minutes of fame on the This Morning sofa.

Marina’s no lightweight ... WEIGHING in for competitions at just under seven stone, personal trainer Marina has always been the lightest in her class. But it hasn’t been a barrier to success – with titles under her pint-size belt including being placed fifth in the Pro WNBF World Natural Bodybuilding Championships. Marina, who works at Fitness First in Southampton, used to compete in UltraFit competitions and came very close to qualifying as one of the Gladiators for the first TV series in the nineties. She said: “I made it to the final 200 and I remember being really scared when I turned up for the time trials, as the girls were just massive compared to me. I wanted to run away. “But I made it through them, the monkey bars and the rope climb. Although these girls were big they were not so fast on their feet or as agile. But when it came to the pugel sticks I didn't make it through – I was told I wasn't aggressive enough." While training for the auditions Marina found a gym that had all the equipment she needed, so travelled

20 miles each day to work out. It was there that someone suggested she try bodybuilding and although her initial reaction was that she was too tiny – and came last in her first competition – she soon caught the bug, turning professional in 2005. And last month Marina tasted fame on national TV when she was asked to appear on ITV’s This Morning show. “I’d been featured in a national newspaper talking about how I used exercise to get through my marriage break-up and some researchers from the show got in touch. “It was a good experience, although they made me do some

silly poses to some terrible background music. The gym streamed the programme from every TV and I had 153 texts when I came off air.” Since the show, Marina has received emails from people all over the country, particularly middleaged women, who have been inspired by her story. But although she is pleased to be helping people, she still struggles with confidence issues herself, adding: “I initially got into bodybuilding to boost my self-esteem but I still find it very uncomfortable on stage, with so many people scrutinising my body. I love what I do though and have no plans to retire any time soon.”

How mini Marina can be at a disadvantage MARINA admits that at five feet, her height can put her at a disadvantage on the bodybuilding stage. Even in the lightweight classes, the women are often two or three stones heavier and when it comes

to nutrition, it’s a balancing act between stripping body fat without dropping weight. She said: “The girls are always so much bigger than me and I’m sure if there was a middleweight category I’d be in a

Christmas offer from Jordan THE dumbbell is probably the most popular item in any fitness facility and Jordan have always prided themselves with their range of dumbbells from traditional multi-disc to comtemporary one piece designs. The Jordan rubber solid end dumbbells are popular with fitness club managers and members alike as they are both durable and stylish. Jordan have installed these dumbbells in many facilities including elite performance centres, HMP sites, Premier League football clubs and F1 teams to name but a few. Jordan solid end rubber dumbbells are available in sets ranging from 1kg to 10kg (1kg increments) to 2.5-50kg (2.5kg increments). Sets can be viewed on their web-site

www.jordanfitness.co.uk. Jordan are currently offering these dumbbells with racking at the special price of £3065.20 x vat for 2.5kg-50kg (20 pairs) set including 2 x 10 pair dumbbell racks (not including delivery). This offer is only available for a limited time and applies to any orders placed by 18th December 2009. Enquiries: 01945 880257

proper lightweight category. “The problem is that, often because of a lack of competitors, we are often just split down the middle.” Marina is sponsored by CNP Professional and when a competi-

tion is coming up she starts dieting about 12 weeks before. Her regime consists of 6-7 meals per day consisting of lean chicken and turkey, tuna, brown rice, fish and green vegetables, plus two protein shakes per day.

Sports centres celebrate their success at ceremony STAFF from sports centres across Kirklees celebrated their success during a sparkling awards ceremony in Yorkshire. Kirklees Active Leisure (KAL), the charitable trust which runs 11 of the council’s sports centres and swimming pools in West Yorkshire, held its annual celebration event with more than 250 guests made up of staff, trustees and sponsors. The winners included: Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre in Cleckheaton – Centre of the Year Holmfirth Pool – Most Improved

Centre of the Year Batley Sports and Tennis Centre – Most Improved Facility on Efficiency Four individual awards were won by staff based in Huddersfield and Dewsbury and the accolades were handed out by KAL’s chief executive Alasdair Brown. He said: “We are very proud of our dedicated staff and the KAL Celebration Event is our way of recognising their many achievements. It also provides a good opportunity for staff from across KAL to come together and enjoy themselves.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

As outdoor fitness groups pop up in parks nationwide, some gym owners feel they pose a threat to their memberships. In a special feature, Mary Ferguson met Leeds-based Creating Chaos, to find out how their business works – and whether operators should be worried.

Outdoor group ‘not anti-gym’ IN open spaces across the city, exercise enthusiasts sweat their way through heavy group workouts, regardless of the weather. Phill Wright and fiancee Jenny Gwinne, founders of Creating Chaos,pictured right, claim many have forfeited their gym memberships to attend the classes, preferring the social benefits and fresh air. The pair set up the company a year ago, after Phill became disollusioned with working as a trainer in large, chain-run health clubs. He said: “I started to become less passionate about what gyms represented from a health and fitness perspective. I thought the ones I visited were anti-social and seemed to lack one-on-one care, which is typical of the corporate gyms I saw. “My position isn’t anti-gyms, but we want to promote a community. What we don’t want to do though is create a divide between us and gyms.” Jenny and Phill take many corporate clients, but the majority of their business comes from individuals who pay to train in a group of up to 40. When someone signs up for a class, they are assessed and assigned a programme – Go, Grow, or Glow – which take into account their goals. ‘Go’ stands for people who want to achieve weight loss, ‘Grow’ is for peo-

ple who want to tone or build muscle, and ‘Glow’ is assigned to those who want to exercise for general fitness and wellbeing. Phill and Jenny are in the process of having the programmes trademarked. Exercise sessions cost £10 each, or £40 a month on direct debit, which allows people to attend up to three a week. And many of the people who attend regularly have made good friends during the sessions, which helps encourage them to come back. Phill said: “It’s got to be really extreme weather to call a session off. And people actually enjoy getting up and exercising in the dark because it gives them an excuse to wear what they like to keep warm, no matter how silly it would look in daylight. “Like gyms, business actually drops off a bit over the summer, because

Freedom Climber creating a revolution FREEDOM Climber goes from strength to strength since the successful launch of their revolutionary climbing trainer system at LIW. The new wall mounted revolving climbing disc proved to be one of the revelations of the show. It offers all the functional training benefits of real continuous climbing and will fit in any fitness area. ActivZone club owner Sonia Botha choose the Freedom Climber to attract new members to her dual usage facility at Guildford college. She said: “The Freedom Climber creates a real feature in our strength area and is proving to be very popular with our members, who find it a great total body workout and a real challenge. “We have signed up members

because of the climber. It gives us a real wow factor when showing prospective members around the club.” The Gadget Show on Channel 5 has just featured the Freedom Climber in one of their challenges. Presenter Suzi Perry used the climber to race a pro climber up a 25 metre rock face. Enquiries: 01483 559785 Website: www.revolutionaryproducts.co.uk

people have other commitments like holidays or childcare, and also because many of them just don’t like exercising in the heat.” Each session is taken by two instructors who take it in turns to lead the class and roam around to help people. And well as utilising the natural environment, they also use kettlebells, power bags and free weights. And Phill believes the biggest selling point for the sessions is the social aspect – giving them the edge over gyms. He added: “I do think some people like to combine both indoor and outdoor exercise so our classes and gym membership can go hand in hand. And I would like to link up with clubs in the future, as I think we could combine our services.” Creating Chaos are an awarding body for Skills Active so are able to qualify kettlebell instructors. And to prove they want to work alongside gyms – not take business from them – they are offering a free one-day course to an independent operator. To be in with a chance, email the answer to the following question to info@creatingchaos.co.uk by December 21. The winner will be chosen at random – please include a name and telephone number. Question: From which country do kettlebells originate?

What the independent operators think ... Duncan Teasdale, Powerhouse Fitness Centre, Hampshire “I don’t see outdoor fitness as a threat at all. Gyms have changed over the years and ours especially is very sociable. If an outdoor exercise group set up near me, I wouldn’t be worried at all. My members like the comfort of being able to work out in the warm – you wouldn’t get them running around in all kinds of weather outside.” Suzanne Longstaff, The Training Exchange, Stoke “I’m actually considering taking my members outside myself, mainly because my studio is quite small. I don’t know of any outdoor fitness companies operating near me at the moment but I think the two could easily go hand in hand.” Robin O’Neill, Gym Central, Somerset “I don’t feel threatened by these kind of sessions in any way. When it’s cold and foggy I know my members would prefer to be in the warm in the gym, and I think it’s the kind of thing that appeals mostly to super-fit people. “It’s a niche market and to be honest I think these kind of outdoor exercise sessions will prosper then die. I’m confident my members prefer their comforts too much.”

Sponsored by:

COMBAT SPORTS Former professional boxer Dave Maj is studio coordinator at The Harbour Club in Liverpool. Here, he tells Workout how he makes his boxing for fitness classes work.

How showman Dave spurs on his boxing for fitness classes BECAUSE I’m a former pro, people in my classes get more than just the textbook punches. When they are working on the pads I will jump around and taunt them into working harder, by joking about them being up against me, a former professional, and that spurs them on. We put on three classes a week, one in the evening and two over lunchtimes and all of them are filled to capacity. I get an equal split of men to women but all sorts of different ages and abilities – it’s great to see semipro rugby players punching next to a middle-aged woman. And they all gel

together so it’s a very sociable class, and I encourage little competitions between them. The classes have been going since I started seven years ago, but have grown from one per week to three as they have increased in popularity. The Tuesday night class is generally known as the harder of the three because it goes on for 15 minutes longer and I know that people don’t have to go back to work afterwards. But the lunchtimes sessions are great for people with stressful jobs as they can punch out their aggression and go back to the office feeling relaxed.

That’s a big reason people come, and the great thing about boxing is that whatever your goals – weight loss, toning or fitness – you get it all from the classes. And the stations are all so varied that you can work as hard as you like on different ones. You just don’t get a choice when you face me on the pads. To take a successful boxing class you have to have a personality and be a showman. It’s basically a performance and if you get it right, you make everyone feel comfortable and motivated – especially when they are down to those last 15 seconds of punches.

Dave Maj Lorenzo Clark, director of operations at EIS-S, Rob McCracken, Steve Brailey, chief executive of SIV

Rob in new BABA role

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Craig Kelly has been working with Martin McKenzie, director of boxing training company Fight Fit, to keep him in shape for the BBC1 programme. The Coronation Street actor and his professional partner Flavia Cacace have been training with him to build their confidence and strength for the live shows. Craig said: “Martin has shown me great techniques to get even more focused and motivated and the training with him has given me a great boost of confidence.” Above: Martin (centre) with Craig and Flavia, and pictured left: Craig and Flavia dancing in the ring

FORMER British champion boxer Rob McCracken has been appointed performance director at the British Amateur Boxing Association (BABA). He will oversee the GB Olympic programme and team, which is based at English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. Current professional boxers under Rob's guidance, including World Super Middleweight champion Carl Froch, will visit the facility so the GB squad can see how a world cham-

pion trains and prepares. Rob said: “My job is to create the best possible environment for the boxers to maximise their talent and deliver success. The set-up and facilities for the World Class Programme are second to none and it is my aim to take what I know as a talented bunch of boxers, and mould them into medal winners.” Rob began working with the GB boxing team as a coaching consultant in February 2009.

29 COMBAT SPORTS

Jean-Jacque ‘JJ’ Burnel

New base for Stranglers bassist By Mary Ferguson A FORMER rock star has chosen an independent gym in London as a base for his Great Britain Shidokan squad. Jean-Jacque ‘JJ’ Burnel, a bassist with The Stranglers, is a sixth Dan Black Belt in the sport, and has selected Fitrooms in Fulham – run by Mario Pederzolli – to become a permanent home for the national squad that he coaches. Martial arts training will also be available to gym members, who will be able to purchase ‘fight camp’ passes that will give them unlimited access to classes including Shidokan, Thai boxing, karate, judo and Krav Maga. Shidokan is sometimes described as the triathlon of martial arts as its tournaments involve knockdown (bare knuckle), Thai kickboxing and grappling. Tournaments are normally held in a boxing ring. Kirsty Henderson, JJ’s student and the only UK female Black Belt in the sport, runs Five Rings Training and will be delivering the classes at Fitrooms alongside JJ.

She told Workout: “It’s taken us three years to find a suitable home for the team and Fitrooms is just perfect in terms of location, facilities, and especially the atmosphere. We get on really well with Mario and his wife and there is a real family feel to the place.” JJ is head coach for the British Shidokan squad and will be working alongside Kirsty and a group of other black-belt instructors to train members in the sport. There are also plans to set up an under 18’s squad, and children’s classes will also be available. Kirsty added: “We really want to get more people involved in the sport and encourage them to mix up their workout routine by taking a class. “Shidokan has so many benefits and most of my students come to me because they are bored of their fitness routines and want to learn a new set of skills. As a sport, it’s not that well known in the UK, but we are hoping to build a really strong base from our new home in Fulham.” A launch party for the new services is being held at Fitrooms – see next issue for a full report and photos.

Fight Fit proves: Boxing for fitness has only just begun FIGHT Fit has, over the last 12 months, created national excitement in the fitness industry by signing up the highest number of trainers to attend its two-day boxing instruction course. So what is it about Fight Fit that attracts people from all walks of life? Martin McKenzie, founder of Fight Fit said: “I believe Fight Fit stands out from the rest because we have something to offer for everybody. Personal trainers and fitness instructors benefit from our recognised boxing instruction courses, people who want to get fit visit our boxing classes nationwide, celebrities use the training as a form to de-stress and professional boxers love to get a new outlook on boxing by integrating the Fight Fit fitness aspects.” Stuart Mourant, one of Fight Fit’s licence holders says: “Becoming part

of Fight Fit as a trainer has been one of the best decisions in my life. I have upgraded my career, increased my income and have trained people like Lennox Lewis, Julius Francis, Craig Kelly, Flavia Cacace and Derek Williams.” Contact: Fight Fit on 02077 887825 www.fightfit.co.uk

Champion boxer David Haye used StarTrac equipment to prepare for his victorious fight against ‘beast from the East’ Nikolai Valuev. David beat the 7ft Russian, taking the World Boxing Association heavyweight title.

30 TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT As a personal trainer and natural body builder John Heaton is always on the look-out for ways to build his knowledge. In a special feature for Workout, he reports on a day spent at a strength and conditioning workshop, run by Sam Dovey of Kettlebell Trainer.

‘Weightlifting was around long before jogging ...’

Sam Dovey

I QUICKLY realised that Sam and I shared a similar view of strength, fitness and the modern health club scene. We headed into the gym at Bannatynes in Birmingham and to start with he took me through the Olympic lift progressions starting with snatch and then moving onto the clean and press. This was very tiring, even working mainly with the empty Olympic bar. Sam demonstrated and explained every exercise then watched me perform them. We then moved onto the power lifts, squat, dead lifts and bench press. I certainly picked up some tips for my own bodybuilding career. We then progressed to kettle bells. The hollow lead shot kettle bell with extra thick handle was scary, even though it was only filled to 16kg. As I had been training with kettle bells for 12 months or so, I picked this up quickly. Finally we moved onto body

weight exercises, including hand stand push-ups. I was relieved I could actually do them as I haven’t tried them for years since a wrist injury. At the end of all the practice I had to coach Sam through the snatch progression and back squat for my practical assessment. My theory assessment was to devise nutrition and strengthening programme for an MMA athlete wanting to add 7lbs muscle. I did this at home and emailed Sam a couple of days later. For anyone in the fitness industry wanting to find out more about the most effective type of training and the most time tested training in

Premier Training International has appointed Mark Botha, pictured left, as global sales and marketing director. Mark previously worked for Fitness First and Leisure Connection and will be responsible for driving forward the organisation’s business-to-business and international training division. The company has recently secured a landmark international contract to provide health and fitness instructors to the Oman.

John Heaton

the world, a one-day workshop is ideal. Weightlifting was around long before jogging was ever invented and is far more adaptable to every goal.

Trainer assessor team to be qualified LA FITNESS has appointed the IQL to train over 500 staff in the Emergency Response Qualification and a select number of staff in the NPLQ (National Pool Lifeguarding Qualification). To ensure that the ongoing training programme is sustainable, the IQL will qualify a team of Trainer Assessors (TA’s) so that they can then train lifeguards in the NPLQ in the future. The LA Fitness in Derby is to become an IQL Approved Training Centre (ATC) and this will become the venue for the majority of the training.

TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

Why we need to shake things up for 2010 By Cain Leathem, director, GB Fitness IN my role as a qualification training provider I was recently asked what I thought the new trends for courses would be next year. Therein lies the problem… ‘trends’ and ‘fads’ seem to be much of what the fitness industry have become. It is as if inventing new ways of filling a workshop or class has taken precedent over actually teaching our personal trainers how to do their day-today job and get results. I was one of the first to study with Paul Chek for my Swiss ball skills, but it forms such a small part of my arsenal yet I see the clients of other trainers who can do all the tricks on the ball yet can’t perform a basic squat or pull up. Then we have the shaky-shaky vibration training … no comment. Kettlebells certainly have their place but believe me when I say a pair of dumbbells are a far more useful tool for 99 per cent of your clients. What about the missing skills of gaining a ‘connection’ and communicating with and motivating your clients? There are many workshops and qualifications on this subject but they should centre around gaining

Cain says ‘take a risk in 2010’ rapport with your paying client and helping them achieve what they desire…not the latest ‘trick’ you have learned with a wobbling blade whilst standing on a rubber cushion. And it still shocks and saddens me how many gym instructors and personal trainers have no working

knowledge of how vital nutrition is in the success of results. We are not talking government guideline, same-for-everyone ‘diets’ here either but rather individual regimes designed post assessment and consultation. Daily demands and goals differ and

as such so should eating plans – in terms of macro-nutrient breakdown as well as food choices. Work with your clients and go back to basics – but learn to do it well. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, we need to raise the standard of what we do. Don’t just do it ... do it right.

TRAINING – ADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

Customers – do you care enough about them? By Alan Runacres, FCollP. F. Inst.LM. BSc.Hons. DipHMan. MICM Dip, Director of Training – WABBA Qualifications CHRISTMAS is nearly upon us and as the ‘big day’ starts to loom ever closer we are going to have to step up our game another notch on the ‘more hectic than ever’ meter. Often the last thing on people’s minds this time of year and even more so by mid December is bothering to ensure that all of our customers’ requirements and any complaints have been resolved to a satisfactory outcome. That’s to the customers’ expectations and not ours, there’s often a big difference. What’s Alan on about now I hear you saying – everything’s ok where I am, I’m doing a great job. Now is the time to create a customer complaints log if don’t have one in place yet, we know that most high-street corporate establishments and shopping outlets also have a series of pre-worded letters to fit most occasions when something goes wrong, and they rely on this impersonal approach to ‘successfully

deal’ with anyone who “should bring something to their attention”. But not all small outlets have this in place, and certainly in the fitness industry this is also the case. Before wording up a set of apologies (or excuses as some might argue) let’s try to get things right in the first instance wherever possible. Turning customer complaints into positives requires companies to jointly attack the access and the effectiveness problem. The goal is to identify potentially dissatisfied customers early on and aim to provide them with a better set of circumstances which tailor resolutions in a speedy and cost-effective fashion. The ultimate objective is to maximise a customer’s intent to repurchase or renew their gym membership. So with this in mind the rules are simple – identify dissatisfied customers early on and make it easier for consumers to access relevant customer services across all channels(phone, fax, email, third party). Make sure that you capture relevant data to minimise the horrendous ‘back and forth’ communication

Alan Runacres technique that so many companies use with their customers and ensure structured data is captured to allow for easy categorisation of a complaint. Always ensure that you tailor the resolution depending upon the nature of the complaint, the lifetime value of the customer, and on the best practices in the industry, following-up with the customer post-resolution to assess the effectiveness of the action you have agreed to take and catalogue any results from this, before fine-tuning and optimising your processes and procedures even further to enhance customer retention. Whenever ‘face-to-face’ with customers please remember we use body language consciously and unconsciously to signal to the outside world what we are thinking, and sometimes more importantly, what we think of ourselves. Customers are very perceptive, and they will soon pick up on whatever body language you are using – and will be able to tell if you are either

interested or bored in dealing with their problem. The universally accepted form of business greeting and departing is of course the handshake, which should be firm and direct, coupled with good eye contact and a smile that indicates that you are open, honest, friendly and approachable. Your smile is one of the most effective forms of communication you have. Across the entire fitness industry, it is amazing how many potential clients are either won or lost, just by the use of a smile from the outset, and finally be aware of personal space, always operate at arm’s length when meeting the customer to resolve issues. If you invade a customer’s personal space too often, they may take offence and use this as a reason for not accepting your remedy to their complaint. Until next time, spread the word and keep it real. Alan Runacres has over 35 years’ gym experience, been WABBA director of training for 14 years and is author of three books, and over 100 published articles.

TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

‘You can teach people skills, but not personality’ By Mary Ferguson GYMS need to think more about customer interaction skills when recruiting or training staff – or risk losing business, it has been been claimed. Ben Jones, teaching and curriculum manager for training providers Lifetime, told Workout approaching members on the gym floor has a direct impact on retention. He said: “Effective communication can make a big difference to a gym, particularly in terms of retaining members. Most instructors have a good knowledge of anatomy and physiology and can write effective fitness programmes – but not everyone has the ability to interact effectively with members.” According to Ben, operators need to be honest with themselves about the standard of service they offer. “If you asked them, most independents would say their big selling point is that they are friendly and they think that gives them the edge over bigger clubs. But there are lot of big clubs that actually do a very good job now too when it comes to communicating and customer service. And sometimes operators of a small gym think their size alone creates a friendly atmosphere, but that is not always the case.” Even though training courses now

exist to help staff interact effectively with members, Ben said personality needs to be taken into account at the interview stage. “You can Ben Jones teach people skills, but not personality. And just because someone comes across as confident, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are good communicators.” And interacting with members doesn’t just help with retention – it’s a also a good way to generate secondary spend. But, Ben warned, it has to be done in the right way: “You can’t ask staff just to march up to someone doing a bench press and give them the hard sell about personal training, but extra services like that can be promoted during conversations.” Ben added: “It’s a difficult time for a lot of gyms, especially independents, so to stand out they really need to focus on interacting with members. And operators need to do more than just pay lip service to communication on the gym floor.”

More courses from Juice JUICE Performance, the UK’s largest provider of REPs endorsed CPD has introduced four new courses to its comprehensive portfolio. These include the official Powerbag Instructor course, Weight Management Specialist, Extreme Circuits and Unconventional Training. Dr. Mark Bellamy, the Powerbag’s creator and course tutor said: “We’re really excited about the partnership with Juice. “The Powerbag is extremely versatile and a great all round training system when better understood – this course allows us to ensure attendees understand the science behind the product and effectively maximise its use.”

The Weight Management Specialist course covers a number of topics. Alan Collins, technical director at Juice said: “We’ve blended a number of concepts covering everything from scientific models through to alternative methods, so specialists will get results with every client. “All our courses are developed from the ground up with industry experts, and we ensure they are unique, practical, relevant and affordable.” Enquiries: 0117 33 555 33 Website: www.juiceperformance.co.uk

Top class training from ITS INTELLIGENT Training Systems (ITS) founder Martin Haines has worked with five Olympic champions, Formula 1 world champions and elite sports people the world over. The results of the research that he and his team have conducted on these elite performers as well as recreational sports people, is now being cascaded through his courses to enable all exercise prescribers to develop their knowledge and expertise. In addition to running these unique and highly valuable courses to help with preparation of sports people and injury prevention, Martin and his team also provide consultancy services to elite and recreational sports teams and individuals as well as

occupational health departments. The purpose is to ensure their training is in keeping with latest biomechanical developments to guarantee optimal biomechanical preparation for the performance of any task, whether it be in sport or at work. Enquiries: 07976933113 Email: rachel@intelligenttrainingsystems.com

SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION

Creatine: how it works and how to choose and use it By Andrew Hamilton CREATINE is the sports supplement that rewrote the rule book because it actually does what it says on the tin. It’s a naturally occurring molecule found in ‘muscle foods’ such as meat and fish, and which is also synthesised in the body from the amino acids arginine, glycine and methionine. The typical adult body contains around 120-140 grams of creatine, most of which is stored in the muscle tissue. Each day, around two grams of creatine is lost from the body (via the urine), which needs to be replenished either from biosynthesis or from the diet. During very intense exercise, for example when performing a set to exhaustion on the weights, or sprinting, muscular ATP (the energy source that drives muscular contraction) is broken down much more rapidly than it can be regenerated via the aerobic system. However, our muscles store a compound called creatine phosphate, which acts as a reservoir of high-

energy phosphate. When ATP runs low, this creatine phosphate donates its high-energy phosphate to help regenerate ATP very rapidly, therefore prolonging the time to exhaustion. Taking supplemental creatine has been shown to boost the regeneration of muscle ATP, helping you to sustain high-energy bursts for longer and recover more rapidly between bursts. This in turn translates into better performance during intense exercise, and because it enables greater training intensities, also helps to produce a greater training response; for example increased muscle growth after resistance training. Anybody who trains seriously and incorporates intense training into their regime can benefit from creatine.; eg sprinting, interval training, weight training/lifting and endurance athletes seeking a bit of extra ‘kick’ for the line. It can also benefit vegetarians, whose dietary intake of creatine tends to be very low.

Andrew Hamilton

How to use creatine ... Creatine should be used in three phases: 1. Loading – to progressively ‘load’ up the muscle tissues with creatine until they become saturated (ie can absorb no more). A 5-gram dose, four times a day (ie 20g per day) for 5 days will load the muscles rapidly, whereas a single 5-gram dose per day will take longer (around a month) but produce the same results; 2. Maintenance – to keep the muscles ‘topped up’ once they’re fully loaded, normally achieved by taking around 3 grams per day;

3. Washout phase – most sportsmen and women ‘cycle’ creatine use, for example 4 weeks use followed by a break. A washout phase can be tied in with training phases – ie creatine use can be stopped during ‘recovery’ weeks. Forget fancy and expensive forms of creatine such as citrate or phosphate or creatine combined with other nutrients. Virtually all of the scientific studies conducted with creatine have used creatine monohydrate, which also happens to be the cheapest form.

Check that any creatine monohydrate product conforms to purity standards and also that products are manufactured in drug-free environment so as to avoid the possibility of accidental contamination and a possible drugs test failure by your sporting clientele. Andrew Hamilton, BSc Hons, MRSC, ACSM is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the American College of Sports Medicine and a leading consultant to the fitness industry, specialising in sport and performance nutrition.

Supplements help new biking career

Mark Pearson

Picture: Mark Lovelock

BODYBUILDER turned champion quad biker Mark Pearson has revealed how using supplements for the stage has helped his new biking career. Mark, who won the 2009 Auto Cycle Union NORA MX British Masters Championship, said the strength he built up during his weight training days helps him wrestle the large bikes around the course at speed. “I have used various supplements over the years to greater and lesser degrees of success and am always fascinated by how they can

impact on performance. As a bodybuilder they are very much part of the training and conditioning process and I took that knowledge into the quad biking arena to help me there also.” Mark, who is sponsored by EXF Nutrition, began using Vitargo when he started suffering cramps in his fingers and legs, because of the hard competitions. His daily intake on competition days consists of an electrolyte drink in the morning and further drinks after each race, a protein bar and a protein shake.

36 SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION

www.workout-uk.co.uk

Tracey Bailey, owner of Acton-based personal training company Fit For Purpose, tells Workout how she uses nutrition to help her clients achieve results.

Why Tracey’s first step to helping weight loss is to keep a five-day food diary OF course, the advice on diet and supplements will vary depending on the results that are required. However there is one critical underlying theme that cannot be ignored – there is no wonder cure for weight loss or indeed for weight gain. In the majority of my clients, weight loss is the main result required and I strongly believe that for this to be achieved, then a permanent change of attitude to eating is required. Repeatedly, I advise my clients to eat a healthy balanced diet to the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO). And if they are aiming for weight loss then they need to burn more energy than they take in. The first way to tackle this is for them to complete a five-day diary of everything that they consume. Often people are not fully aware of their intake. I analyse this and compare it with the WHO guidelines on food, which are: 50-60 per cent carbohydrates – high fibre if possible 20-30 per cent fats – monounsatu-

rated where possible 10-20 per cent good quality protein This sits alongside the advice that little and often is better, control your portions and make sure you are eating enough variety to ensure good vitamin intake. Often the simple tool of a food diary throws up areas where simple tweaks can be made to produce a significantly-improved diet that can secure those results. For example, when the client believes that avoiding bread and potatoes and eating a large meat portion is good but suffers with energy levels and has trouble shifting weight despite increasing their activity levels. Or the client that avoids cheese and other dairy to avoid fats but could potentially be storing up trouble for the future with a calcium deficiency. In most cases, if a good diet is followed then supplements are not required. Muscle gain has a slightly different approach, but with the same underlying principle of instilling good healthy habits.

Working hard at a carefully-devised weights programme alongside a balanced diet will give results. With a lot of weight training, clients will require slightly more protein than someone who isn’t working out, between 1.82g maximum per kilo body weight per day for an athlete on a weight gain programme. One meal of pasta with a tuna sauce, slice of cheese and a yoghurt would give 47g of protein – 31 per cent of a 75kg athlete’s requirements at the maximum levels. This, alongside reducing excessive fats in the diet – for example by not taking all the protein from red meat – and doing cardio to burn off that covering layer is the only way. In this instance I would regularly recommend an occasional supplement, for example a protein shake is a good quality low fat protein that can easily and conveniently give the protein boost post training. Again though, they should not replace balanced healthy meals. And finally, I do not recommend complete denial. I tell people to tack-

Tracey Bailey le one change at a time and do not cut out all the treats at once, as failure will soon follow and this will only help to undermine any confidence gains. Good habits are more effectively installed in small easy steps, and more likely to be maintained over time. Tracey’s article also appears on www.bookapt.com, the website that allows personal trainers to share their knowledge and experience.

Kerry Kayes

Kerry honoured with achievement award CNP Professional founder Kerry Kayes has been recognised for his work with a prestigious award at a national bodybuilding competition. Kerry was presented with the UK Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (UKBFF) achievement award at the UKBFF British Championships finals in Nottingham. William Tierney, president of the federation, said: “This is a very spe-

cial award. It’s to honour the people who work tirelessly to promote the sport of bodybuilding and that is certainly true of Kerry. He is passionate about bodybuilding and gives his time freely to help those involved in the sport here in the UK and abroad.” Previous winners of the award, now in its third year, were Sugar Christopher in 2007 and Diane Bennett in 2008.

SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION

www.workout-uk.co.uk

EAS Nutrition has selected Sale Sharks scrum half Richard Wigglesworth as brand ambassador. Richard has been with the club for eight years and is working with EAS to develop a sports nutrition programme to meet his specific needs.

Gorgeous energy boost for ladies A NEW energy shot has been launched, aimed at the female, weight-conscious market. ‘Gorgeous’ comes in a pink bottle and contains a sugar-free mixture of vitamins and amino acids, totalling four calories. Chris Onslow, managing director of producers Target said: “The healthy energy shot market is gaining

momentum but many of the products have quite a medical or masculine image. “As Gorgeous only contains the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee, it gives the consumer an energy boost without the sugar and high concentrations of caffeine of more traditional energy drinks.”

Bodybuilding supremo Dorian Yates is set to launch a new range of supplements under his DY label. The range will be distributed in the UK by Ultra-Body and products include fat burners, protein, glutamine, creatine and protein and energy bars. Dorian said: “When I was competing I had to pay really close attention to what I was putting into my body to achieve

the best result. “I recorded every detail of my muscle-building programme, including nutrition, for nearly 20 years. “This knowledge has since been used in the development of my new line of DY products that can be used and appreciated by anyone with an interest in gaining the most out of their workouts and training regimes.”

SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION Weight loss expert Laura Lamont, founder of Glow Nutrition, tells Workout how to help clients shed the pounds – and keep them coming back to the gym.

How to keep your clients happy ... Can members achieve results by exercise alone? Diet is the most important factor when it comes to losing weight. Exercise should be used to speed up weight loss and to improve and maintain it. The client’s diet should be the first area to target and should be questioned and encouraged throughout training – this could make the difference between a happy client getting results or a frustrated client that isn’t. In order for people to lose weight they must understand the relationship between calories-in versus caloriesout. As a trainer it is always a good idea to work out the client’s calorie needs, first to lose weight with a sedentary life and no exercise, and then explain how many extra calories they can consume when incorporating your daily exercise programme. Most gyms offer inductions for new members. How important is it that staff talk to them about nutrition? Nutrition is extremely important in order for clients to comply with their programme and keep returning. If they are undernourished and deficient in vital nutrients then they will soon become exhausted and rundown. A really good indicator to a person’s nutritional health is their energy levels and skin health, so ask them about this and make your own observations. If you feel that a client has led an unhealthy lifestyle it may be a good idea to suggest that they take a multi vitamin and mineral supplement to get them started. What are the most common mistakes people make with food when they are trying to lose weight? A lot of people try to lose weight by focusing on cutting out fat and eating low fat products. This is a big mistake. Fat isn’t the main problem, it’s sugar. A common mistake people make is to use low fat products which are usually highly processed and full of sugar, this means that the overall calories are reduced but it is now a high GI product. When the diet is high GI and full of sugar the body counteracts this by storing the excess sugar as fat. These sugar highs and lows lead to cravings and dips in energy levels – both of which cause binges on junk food. Are there any supplements that gym operators should recommend for weight loss? Green tea is an excellent addition to a healthy diet. Although you are not going to lose weight by drinking green tea alone, it has been shown to speed up the metabolism and so makes the body more efficient at burning calories. Other foods which have been shown to help speed up the metabolism are water, black pepper, chillies and cayenne pepper. I think a diet pill should always be the last option and only taken under supervision of your GP if they think that it is absolutely necessary. Although a lot of them can work, this is usually at a price. Most of these work by either making you excrete all the fat that you con-

Laura Lamont sume – which can make you deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, not to mention the possibility of the embarrassment of being stuck somewhere without a toilet after eating a greasy meal. Diet pills should be discouraged and natural alternatives suggested, such as metabolism boosters or natural diet pills such as herbal blends. How useful are supplements for

helping people lose weight? Supplements can be very helpful to take along side a healthy diet and exercise programme. My favourite supplement to use when people are trying to lose weight is Chromium. This is known as ‘the glucose tolerance factor’ and helps to stabilise blood sugar levels and prevent cravings.

402

CLASSIFIED

LOCKERS

WANTED

DESIGN

FINANCE

CLOTHING & MERCHANDISE

FINANCE

TRAINING

SOUND SYSTEMS

CLASSIFIED

EQUIPMENT

staffsfitness.com Are you looking to: Open a new gym or fitness centre? Acquire finance and CAD design? Have your equipment serviced? Expand or update and existing centre? Re-upholster tired looking equipment? Train your staff You need to contact us. We are leading suppliers of service and re-manufactured fitness equipment including Precor, Cybex, Life and Technogym. Tel: 01538 387999 E-mail: sales@staffsfitness.com

NUTRITION

ID CARDS

To advertise here call 01226 734 615

CLASSIFIED

42 MANAGEMENT

MARKETING

EQUIPMENT

INSURANCE

AUDIO VISUAL

UPHOLSTERY

EQUIPMENT

FOR SALE

SECURITY

To advertise here call 01226 734 615 FLOORING