Take a look below for an excerpt and link to our online magazine…

Learn to live fabulously this fall with the newest edition of elements living magazine! In this issue, we reveal our most luxurious weekend retreats and indulge our inner gourmet with a visit from Chef J. We check in with All-Star trainer Ella Storm for top tips on toning thighs and buns, and discover the best way to handle a night out on the town with the Nutrition Twins. Dr. Fab reveals the secret for looking eternally glam with antioxidants, and our resident sexpert Letty Livingston solves your craziest romantic woes. Ready to start living the glamorous life? Fall into it today with elements living magazine!

When you consider that we launched 4 years ago with one initial location in Atlanta, the growth is truly impressive. What is hard to see from this map is the tremendous momentum from a multiple of development deals which are in the works. Many of our partners and franchisees are about to reap the tremendous benefit from getting involved at the initial stages.

Success internationally for elements begins at the local club level – having the best local club teams to create the best fitness experience for our members. We strive to continually enhance our brand from the customer experience upwards, and thank you again for all of your ongoing feedback to help us grow as a strong and unified team.

To view a larger version of this map, simply click the graphic.
For more information on business opportunities with our elements brands, click here.

One of the initial consumer principles behind our new Organics™, by elements Weight Loss Supplements was to create a highly effective weight loss brand which was more than simply diet pills. As we began to study the marketplace from a 10,000 feet view, we discovered a host of new raw materials, ingredients, and delivery systems which were not only better than pills, they were more effective as well.

One good example of this is our concept “protein stick” – Imagine a “pixie stick” the candy we enjoyed as kids, but this version is easily carried in a purse or bag, and can be put into a small bottle of water to create a refreshing mid-day drink – complete with a serving of protein, Vitamin C, and energy to get through the rest of the day. Another example is our sure-to-be a bestseller “weight loss taffy,” which combines the craving for a sweet and chewable candy with a safe and effective appetite suppressant. Our team has gone to great lengths to seek out effective and novel formulations which will take the elements fitness and BalanceD Diet franchises to a whole new level.

I will be discussing more about our highly-anticipated product line in upcoming posts. We are expecting a July launch for the initial 5 items, to be sold within our elements clubs.

Supplements

One of the true marks of maturity for a brand is growing interest from developers to invest and launch your brand internationally. Top International Developers are usually highly keen on their local markets, and tend to have the resources to launch and operate units in multiple cities simultaneously. The top international developers seek out category-leading brands, they want to rollout the top concepts locally. Our steadily growing interest from international developers (Australia, India, England, Canada, Peru, Mexico, Latin America) tells me that elements for women is quickly reaching that status.

Elements employs a unique approach towards international development, as we believe a fitness brand needs to not only be translated physically into the local language, but translated culturally as well. For example, the fitness experience for a woman in Brazil is far different from a woman in India. Our expert team is widely regarded as leaders in the industry worldwide, and is actively involved with IHRSA (the International Health Racquet and Sportclub Association). As a truly international brand, elements is well positioned to help spearhead the exploding fitness and wellness movements worldwide. The worldwide growth also helps to add tremendous resources, credibility, and status to our US clubs. We have receintly announced our expansion into Canada with a Toronto flagship. Later this summer we will be making several exciting announcements regarding new flagship clubs in Latin America, as the hub to elements South American expansion.

elements living TV is the next evolution of our acclaimed online magazine, a television network broadcasting within the elements clubs which will bring our articles, personalities and brand “to life” for members, on demand. Upon entering an elements club, the music will be hand selected (according to market, demographic, and time of day), with station breaks and branding segments mixed in to create a true entertainment experience for members and guests, and a emergence as a major media player in the fitness arena.

Behind the scenes the workload is tremendous. Luckily, our partners have already done the heavy lifting of developing the architecture of the network, the video servers and technology, and the media/licensing relationships that are critical to the venture. Add on top of that selecting thousands of music tracks and videos, and having someone screen each word and frame to ensure the content is appropriate. In addition to the music, the network will feature full (and all important) digital signage, cleverly branded station breaks, teasers, and “healthy lifestyle” segments.

The benefit to our elements club and members will be tremendous. The entire experience in any of our facilities will be choreographed in real-time, making the workout experience more memorable and entertaining. Early Nielsen research has projected this to improve overall member satisfaction rates, and to greatly increase the lifespan of a member, as well as the ancillary revenue per member, again, attributed to the clear and direct messaging from our elements TV network.

To me, this means having consumers, employees, franchisees, and executives tied to the brand, feeling as if it the ownership is theirs. By formally offering stock in elements parent company (to qualified investors) we have done just that… taken our loyal franchise owners, team members, vendors, and “friends,” and have allowed them to share in our tremendous growth and upside.

As we continue our international expansion, this will give select investors the opportunity to share in the growth of the brand, and will allow the company to grow without being burdened with heavy debt.

An initial company valuation makes this an ideal time for investors to get on board with the company, but more importantly- stock gives us another vehicle to make the brand “sticky.” Sticky is a word I use frequently, meaning that people have additonal reasons to revisit the brand, the club, or the website, or to encourage others to do so.

elements for women has grown over the past five years from simply an idea to a leading international fitness brand with 55+ clubs under development, including being names “Best of” Atlanta and Chicago. We have developed an acclaimed online magazine, elements living, with a reach into the millions, and All Stall Fitness Advisory Board, and great customer experiences in our clubs. We are now further developing the elements experience and lifestyle to include a winning supplement and product line (Organics), as well as a full television network in our clubs, elements workout TV (and I want to in no way minimize the task by placing it last! It is one of our most ambitious projects to date!)

Maybe, just maybe, with all of these cool projects, interesting people, and great cities – we do have a story that people would like to see. After all, this blog (which I have been keeping for nearly three years) has thousands of very loyal readers – if a blog can create buzz like that, then surely a reality show might be good for elements…. or would it?

It is becoming apparent that the number of personalities multiplying around the corporate offices and our growing reach into the media space will soon lead to something… will it be workout DVD’s sold in our clubs? Great branded fitness programming airing on a major network? A book deal? Its hard to say…although with elements expansion into California, Hollywood is just right around the corner….

Over the years, we have incorporated optimism into the fabric of the brand, from the welcome cards a prospect sees on her first visit, to custom “quotes” wallpaper installations in our clubs, to the placards behind every front desk and in every break room for our staff to see. “Today, I will achieve my personal best”

Growth, optimism, and motivation are the precursors to success. And we, as people and as a company, strive for success each and every day. While our fast growth and steady growth as a brand has fascinated some, it really has come as no surprise to me. I have a motto, it sits with me desk side. I share it with some close friends – it is so simple, yet so true. I hope that hearing these words will empower you to achieve your personal best….

“I truly believe I cannot fail. If I fail, it is only because I have allowed it to enter into my reality. And, since that will never happen – I shall never fail.” – Shawn Russell

elements is the category leader in fitness clubs for women.
For more information on elements, or on brand founder Chris Palumbo, click here. 

elements™ fitness announces expansion into Canada with downtown Toronto Flagship

Toronto, ONT – 4/2/2009 – Upscale women’s fitness brand elements has announced its expansion into Canada with a flagship center-city Toronto location. The club, expected to open early 2010 will be the first upscale women’s-only fitness experience for in the Toronto market.

“Toronto is a great city for elements… it has many similarities to New York, and a full service brand like elements can really be developed to its fullest – we are planning a real showcase location with some great surprises here. This is the first of several planned Canadian clubs, we are quite excited about it. The buzz we have been receiving from Canadian fitness professionals tells me, we are on to something really good”

The elements fitness brand differs from other health club providers with its balanced approach to a healthy lifestyle: body, beauty and mind. Relying on expert guidance and support, elements™ creates a platform for women to come together in an environment of health and wellness. The brand also features an online magazine and media channel, elements living, a full-service interactive diet program, BalanceD™, and a full retail line.

Miami-based elements currently has 12 US locations with a total of 61 franchised and company owned locations under planned development. elements for women has been adding health club locations in signature markets such as Chicago, Atlanta, and New York since its inception in 2004. The company, following its “clustering-based” philosophy to growth, has now begun active development campaigns in Canada and also Latin America.

For more information about business opportunities with elements, please contact Colleen Hawco at 305.535.1525 or colleen.hawco@elementsforwomen.com, visit www.elementsforwomen.com

“No one lives long enough to learn everything they need to learn starting from scratch. To be successful, we absolutely, positively have to find people who have already paid the price, to learn the things that we need to learn to achieve our goals.” – Brian Tracey

… what a great quote, and what a concise way to summarize what great leaders and entrepreneurs already know. Time is a precious resource, in many cases it can be even more precious than money with respect to a new business. After all, who would want to be in the perilous position of overcoming all of the hurdles of site selection and construction, actually getting a business open, only to wonder what truly comes next… sounds scary, right?

I remember this feeling vividly, now more than 12 years ago, when I opened my first health club. Although business skills came natural to me, there was so many details that, as a rookie, I didn’t even know to consider…. do I take the small or the large phone book ad? Is tile the right place to save on construction? Which is the best graphics vendor, local or regional? Negotiating techniques with landlords and vendors… marketing techniques… upselling memberships…. it goes on and on! Time (and a great team) has taught me well. Looking back, I could have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars not to mention the headaches!), had I aligned with the right partner…. it is a very common story in business, mine was lucky to end up happier than most. Choosing the right team, and the right partners, is a critical decision which can greatly affect the success of your new business. Don’t ever underestimate the value of having an experienced team by your side, as you build, launch, and grow your business… time is money, and this advice is sage.

Chris Palumbo is a noted business author, speaker, and founder of the popular elements fitness and lifestyle brand.

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Chris Palumbo is the founder of the popular elements fitness and lifestyle brand.