CURVES FRANCHISE FAILURE: Is Economy REALLY To Blame?

According to a post on Unhappy Franchisee (Curves Franchisee Blames Economy for Closing), the Albany, MN Curves shut its doors for good, and franchise owner Carol Smith blames the recession.

Smith also owns another nearby Curves.  The Albany Curves had been open for six years; Smith had owned it for two years.  According to the post, Smith contends the economy was to blame for the membership decreasing from more than 100 two years ago to about 45 at the time of closing.

Is the recession really to blame?  Or the club doomed from the start?

A frequent complaint of struggling Curves owners is that the territories they were sold were too small to be viable long term.  A  quick search reveals that the population of Albany, MN is 2,095, and the female population is 1,124

If you subtract 25% for those under 18 or too old to join, you get a 843 total potential members.

Is this really enough population to support not one – but two – Curves clubs?  Is this economy to blame – or just the last inevitable nail in the coffin?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

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