Comments on: CURVES FRANCHISE OWNERS: Share Your Story Here

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:10:27 +0000

I love to see people seeing Curves for what it is. I have seen and heard of a lot of problems with Curves and Butterfly Fitness. It’s unfortunate because I think the model is okay but the lack of support from the franchise development company has left a lot of people out of money. Now franchisees should realize that it’s a risk to open a business no matter how proven the model is. I personally believe in going with a young franchise that is motivated to support their franchisees. I personally am opening an Illuminate gym within the next year. Check out http://www.illuminategym.com and speak to their franchise team. They are quick to respond with any of your questions and concerns while Curves just doesn’t seem to care. I know because I almost baught in. I’m glad I didn’t.

By: Jean Mitchell

Jean Mitchell — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:25:33 +0000

HEY CURVES PEOPLE_WASK UP- THIS ATTORNEY IS TAKING YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY TOO- anything to show for it yet?? HE HAS!!!!

Joan Rivers Show Features Attorney Zarco

Posted Mon, 2009/07/27 – 18:38 by Don Sniegowski

Zarco and Rivers
Robert Zarco, franchisee attorney and partner of Miami-based law firm Zarco, Einhorn, Salkowski & Brito, P.A, had a visit by celebrity Joan Rivers. Ms. Rivers spotlights the life of multimillionaire Robert Zarco in the launch of her new six-episode reality show, How’d You Get So Rich.

Zarco, 51, makes the premiere episode, which airs at 10 p.m. Aug. 5 on TV Land. Rivers pays a visit to his home on Miami Beach’s North Bay Road. In the driveway: a Bentley ($247,000); Aston Martin ($186,500) and 1922 Buick ($250,000). Zarco shares the waterfront estate with wife Veronica, explaining they have a “blended” marriage with five children — his three, her two. “Like a rich Brady Bunch,” Rivers quips. He points out a $40,000 chandelier bought in Venice, and a hand-painted mural — with images of him and Veronica — on the ceiling over the main staircase that cost $50,000. Veronica shows Rivers her 200-pair collection of designer shoes — “my pride and joy,” she says. Zarco has three boats, including a four-bedroom yacht worth $3.5 million.

Zarco, whose dad juggled three jobs to make ends meet when the family emigrated from Cuba, began working at age 7, mowing lawns after school and on weekends. He helped pay for his undergraduate studies at Harvard as a Dorm Crew employee. “I cleaned toilets and cleaned sinks,” he says, donning rubber gloves to give Rivers a hands-on demonstration in one of his 15 bathrooms.

He started his law firm with “no money to my name” and made his $50 million-plus fortune by representing the “underdog,” he says.

Zarco, on a 24-day, 11-country European vacation with Veronica, tells The Herald why he agreed to do the show: “I am an example of a rags-to-riches story. I hope it will motivate others to work hard, commit themselves to whatever industry or business they choose. By always doing the right thing and not cheating or hurting others, you can become an American success.” – Miami Herald

Zarco represents franchise owner-operators in their lawsuits against their franchisors.
http://www.bluemaumau.org/joan_rivers_show_features_attorney_zarco

By: Barb

Barb — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:23:47 +0000

I agree! There is a lot of positive too. Too many people purchased early in it’s inception, with a small investment. Many made their money back in the first year or sooner. Now things have changed, more competition, and it’s harder to keep the business going. It’s a lot of work, but what business isn’t when you own? I’ve seen many successful and many non-successful clubs. Hands down, the clubs with the owner present for most part of the day are successful. Those owners who think that they can hire a manager and a few staff to handle their business and take a personal interest are fooled. I can’t say Curves is the best out there, but there is a lot of support. Whether owners want to use this support or not is up to them. There is a lot of training opportunities out there that are very poorly attended. That tells me that the owners are not interested in getting better.

By: Sean Kelly

Sean Kelly — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:28:24 +0000

New post: Happy Curves franchisee speaks out
http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/curves-happy-franchise-owner-speaks-out/

By: unhappy

unhappy — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:36:17 +0000

To all curves owners who have had problems with curves International and Gary Howie Havein please send your complaints to the BBB of your city and Waco TX. As well as the attorney general of your state and TX. And the federal trade commission. Below are web links where you can file the complaints on line.

http://www.bbb.org/

http://waco.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx?site=40&id=ab5100aa-4c5a-4314-8e1b-f5996973f10c

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/index.shtml

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/index.shtml

By: Sean Kelly

Sean Kelly — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:39:22 +0000

Curves is named AAFD’s Total Quality Franchising Franchisor of the Year.
Comments invited:
http://www.bizzia.com/franchisepick/curves-is-franchisor-of-year-say-what/

By: wise owl

wise owl — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:36:44 +0000

we owned 4 curves since 2002 and for 3 years, made more money than you could ever imagine.
Have you ever heard the expression “in life timing is everything”?
Well, you are 8 years late to the party.
As well, Howie G.Heavin is evil incarnate. Hiding behind his constant
proclamations of Christianity, he announced at our club camp in Jan 2002
that “his wealth was God’s way of telling him that he was doing the right thing” Think hard on that statement in the context 2009.
Turn 180, and run as fast as you can from him!

By: CURVES: Franchise Overview & Links | Unhappy Franchisee

CURVES: Franchise Overview & Links | Unhappy Franchisee — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:39:07 +0000

[...] CURVES FRANCHISE OWNERS: Share Your Story Here (216 comments) [...]

By: ken f

ken f — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:37:19 +0000

HERE IS WHAT OWNERS ARE SAYING ON OTHER SITES.

I think that it’s great that we are sharing the results of our food drive…1,000 pounds here and 5 new members…but what scares me more are the total number of members that we have left. Folks…what is happening out there…what’s going on…why is Curves in the sewer the past couple of years…we have a niche market of overweight women over the age of 50 who wouldn’t normally go to a gym…where is everyone…why aren’t the women in that demographic joining anymore…all of your numbers are scaring me quite frankly. I had 712 CDs plus about 100 yearlys in my current club back at the beginning of 2004…now I have about 250 members including yearlys and dropping every month. I cannot keep up with the attrition rate any longer. I would have to work 15/hours a day and be out of the club half the time putting flyers on mailboxes, servicing the lead bags all over town, going to EVERY health fair, spending hours in my car everyday getting the news out, praying that the newspapers would print my Grassroots press releases which they have NEVER done even once for me yet…i can no longer bang my head against the wall and keep praying that my numbers will ever go up again because too many are leaving and either no longer going anywhere or joining Planet Fitness 5 minutes down the road. I have done everything I can do keep my business viable but I don’t know how much longer I can hold out.

I’m afraid that most of us who used to have dreams years ago about helping our population of older women get fit…can no longer keep up with the fact that our bills are getting higher and our incomes are getting lower…and Avon and the Walking Poles are just not going to bring in 1000s of dollars a MONTH to make up for it.

THEY NEED TO WAKE UP AND SEE THAT THE BLAME IS ALL ON GARY HEAVINS SHOULDER

By: Patti

Patti — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 06:42:04 +0000

turn all this over to 60 minutes show!!