Franchise Spotlight: Curves for Women

With over 9,000 locations worldwide, Curves for women has quickly taken the spot as a top leader in women’s fitness. Gone are the days when Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig were the only choices on most women’s minds when it came to weight loss, weight management, fitness, and exercise. Curves is a growing concept that has enabled women to focus on the health benefits of exercise, diet control, and weight maintenance.

Each Curves center is equipped with exercise machines and tools in a ‘safe,’ comfortable environment. Women can work out together in an enclosed, group setting, and forego the hike to a gym or co-ed fitness facility where many may not be comfortable. The idea has been successful so far, with almost 4 million members. The concept is simple; membership requirements ask that each member come in to their closest center for 30 minutes, three times per week. Curves may be akin to a fitness club, but is focused on long-term strategies to stay focused, inspired, and motivated

The Weight Management Plan offers the Curves 6 Week Solution. This is a set of small classes that introduce women to adequate nutrition, formulates a healthy and sensible plan based on goals and needs, and provides resources for more information. The effect is an educational, rather than an enforced approach, and is just one way that Curves hopes to empower women to stay healthy without a need for a ‘diet’.

In December 2005, Curves was announced as the 10th largest franchise company in the world, and also made its way through partnering with large donations to hurricane relief efforts, joining with Avon for beauty promotions, and offering franchise outlets to countries worldwide. The concept was founded by Gary Heavin over 27 years ago, where he took over a health club in Texas and subsequently opened the first center in 1992.