Planet Fitness
 Planet Fitness Ypsilanti Twp., MI |
|
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Exercising, Health Clubs |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Newington, New Hampshire |
| Website | www.planetfitness.com |
Planet Fitness is an American franchise of fitness centers based in Newington, New Hampshire.[1] Each gym features exercise equipment and personal trainers to assist its members. It markets itself as a "Judgement Free Zone", though somewhat controversially it has rules in place to discourage deadlifters and grunters. Planet Fitness opened its 500th location on January 18th, 2012.[2]
As of January 2012 it is the national gym sponsor of NBC's reality show The Biggest Loser. The contestants on the show will work out on Planet Fitness equipment while at The Biggest Loser Ranch in Calabasas, California, and then at Planet Fitness gyms near their homes, working with Planet Fitness personal trainers.[3]
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[edit] Origins
The fitness club was founded in 1992, when Michael Grondahl acquired a financially struggling gym and dramatically reduced prices to compete against better-known brands. The low-cost business model focuses on the needs of occasional or first-time health club members rather than more experienced members.
There are eleven corporately owned gyms, with the rest being independently owned and operated.[4] The franchise is concentrated mostly in the Northeast, but it is a nationwide franchise.[5] The Franchise has been added to the Inc. 500 list.[6]
[edit] Controversy
The chain came under controversy because of a New York Times article[7] describing the public cancellation of a patron's membership (for "grunting") at their Wappingers Falls, New York location. The event resulted in the club calling the police on the member, and later a lawsuit for defamation on the part of the ex-member, which was ultimately settled for an undisclosed amount.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporate/soskb/Corp.asp?357769
- ^ "Planet Fitness opens 500th gym". Foster's Daily Democrat/Fosters.com. Retrieved January 23, 2012. http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120123/GJBUSINESS_01/701239993/-1/FOSNEWS01&template=DoverRegion.
- ^ "Planet Fitness strikes a deal as ‘Biggest Loser’ gym partner". "Yahoo Finance". Retrieved January 23, 2012. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/planet-fitness-strikes-deal-biggest-165800277.html.
- ^ Fit for franchising: From first gym in Dover, Planet Fitness building big brand http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091108/GJBUSINESS_01/711089989/-1/FOSNEWS0415
- ^ www.planetfitness.com
- ^ "Planet Fitness - Health". Inc.com. http://www.inc.com/inc5000/2009/company-profile.html?id=200904710. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
- ^ No Grunting, They Said, and He Was at the Gym. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/nyregion/18grunt.html?em&ex=1163998800&en=e846705f7752894f&ei=5087%0A
