CURVES: The Rise & Painful Fall of the Curves Franchise Chain
Curves, the women-only 30-minute fitness franchise, once boasted it was the fastest growing franchise chain in history.
Curves now has the dubious distinction of probably being the fastest-failing franchise chain as well.
According to the company’s franchise disclosure document filings, Curves grew to a record 7,877 U.S. franchise locations in 2005.
Just six years later, the Curves system had fallen to just 3523 clubs.
The women’s fitness chain shrunk by more than 50%, a total loss of 4354 U.S. clubs.
Thousands of once-hopeful Curves franchise owners suffered severe personal and financial losses as a result of their failed clubs.
Many who closed prematurely suffered the additional indignity of being harrassed and sued for thousands of dollars in “failure fees” and liquidated damages by Curves International, even after they had lost their entire investments.
(See more than 1000 comments from Curves franchisees here: Curves Franchise Complaints.)
Are you familiar with the Curves franchise? Please share a comment below.
Curves Lost More Than 4300 Franchise Clubs in Six Years
Curves founder Gary Heavin opened the first Curves club in 1992 in Harlingen, Texas, and the first independently owned and operated Curves opened in Paris, Texas, in 1995. The Curves website currently boasts of its rapid growth, fueled by the personal investments of owner-operator franchisees:
Curves caught on like wildfire and opened clubs at an astronomical rate, sometimes more than doubling its number of locations from year to year. This was all done by word of mouth until Curves launched its award-winning national advertising campaign in 2003. What took McDonalds 25 years and Subway 26 years to do—open 7,000 locations—Curves did in under a decade.
The “History” section of the Curves website does not mention that more than half of those locations would close just as quickly.
Franchisees complain that the company failed to innovate, failed to adapt to the changing economy, and failed to keep women interested in the dated, limited workout. Many charge that, during its growth frenzy, Curves oversold and overexpanded, selling clubs in hopelessly small, unsustainable markets and allowing franchisees to cannibalize each other’s sales.
CEO Gary Heavin Blamed Curves Failures on Greedy Franchisees.
The Curves growth frenzy and subsequent decline spawned a secondary market of Curves “resales,” established Curves franchises sold from original or 2nd or 3rd franchise owners to new owners. When Curves was hot, many owners unloaded their clubs on hopeful new owners for prices that would prove to be exorbitant. As Curves’ struggles became more apparent, many franchisees had trouble selling their clubs at bargain prices as low as $1.00.
CHART: Curves Franchise Resales (Transfers)
| Year | Transfers (Resales) |
Difference from prior year |
Total Franchise Outlets | Difference from prior year |
| 2000 | 191 | 1258 | ||
| 2001 | 214 | 23 | 2221 | 963 |
| 2002 | 281 | 67 | 3903 | 1682 |
| 2003 | 421 | 140 | 6019 | 2116 |
| 2004 | 729 | 308 | 7419 | 1400 |
| 2005 | 890 | 161 | 7877 | 458 |
| 2006 | 1267 | 377 | 7746 | (131) |
| 2007 | 1069 | (198) | 7090 | (656) |
| 2008 | 792 | (277) | 6247 | (843) |
| 2009 | 552 | (240) | 5214 | (1033) |
| 2010 | 379 | (173) | 4387 | (827) |
| 2011 | 318 | (61) | 3523 | (864) |
In comments on the widespread closures, the management of this private and notoriously non-communicative company blame Curves franchisees for the franchise failures.
In 2009, CEO Gary Heavin was quoted as saying that high SBA loan defaults of Curves franchisee loans were a result of “the overpriced resales of franchises between third parties.” (Source: CURVES: Franchise Resale Buyer Alleges Fraud).
In 2010, then-President Mike Raymond was quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying that the widespread closures were the result of a corporate effort to “prune the system” to correct the damage from greedy franchisees. According to the Curves WSJ story:
Franchisees and industry experts point to a failure to keep up with changing trends—including more flexible hours for busy working women—cheaper competition and the tough economy as major reasons for Curves’ decline.
The company disagrees with its critics, contending that much of the club closings were intended as part of a plan to “prune the system,” according to Curves President Mike Raymond. Some owners had bought into Curves for the wrong reasons, he says, “they were motivated primarily as investors rather than owners.”
UnhappyFranchisee.com has been covering the troubles and decline of Curves for years. See CURVES: Curves Posts on Unhappy Franchisee.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR GARY HEAVIN, CURVES INTERNATIONAL & THE CURVES FRANCHISE? PLEASE SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
I know the Curves system very well. I joined Curves as a member in 2003. I started working as part time coach in 2004; accepted a manager position in 2005; became an owner in 2009. As I sit reading these articles and owner/ex-owner comments I am bewildered. Like many of the others, I am struggling to maintain my business. I too fell victim to over-pricing from the previous owner and the down turn in the ecomomy. It has not been an easy road. Having said that, I can not figure for the life of me why any of this is the fault of Curves International or Gary and Diane Heavin. I am NOT saying that Curves International is perfect and has made NO mistakes, but I…me myself and I alone, signed a franchise agreement with this company of my own will. No one stood over me and forced me to do so. Certainly no one told me it was a guaranteed success or that it would be easy. No where in the agreement does it say that if the economy tanks, my funds run out, I discover I paid too much, etc. that they will void the agreement and allow me out of my commitment without penalty. As a matter of fact, it spells it out pretty clearly. Most agreements with wireless carriers, cable/internet companies, etc. require a specified term as well. Try to default on these agreements and you will be faced with early termination fees/penalties as well….pretty stiff ones at that. Try explaining to them that you didn’t know the economy was going to take a downward spiral, or that you paid too much for the plan. I have no first hand knowledge of franchise agreements from other companies, but are they “kinder” at default than Curves International. I doubt it. Why do we expect Curves International to just roll over and let people out of their agreements? WIthout recourse? Several clubs around me have closed. For those that followed the specifications of the franchise agreement, things went smoothly for them and Curves International was very gracious and helpful. There was even one case where the franchisee didn’t follow the guidelines and they DID work with her. She wound up paying a VERY small fee. As an owner, I am thankful that Curves has specific guidelines for the equipment when a club closes. The last thing I want is my competition next door getting a Curves Circuit. I understand that the brand MUST be protected for the remaining owners. All of this is spelled out in the franchise agreement. How rediculous is it to complain that you have guidelines to follow when you signed a legal binding document agreeing to follow those guidelines. If you read the agreement prior to signing it none of this should be a surprise to you. I simply think we need to take responsibility for our own actions and not blame others.
I hope that you will publish /leave this up, even though it does not spew hate or bash the company or it’s founders as all the other comments do, if for no other reason that to bring in a different opinion from all the others.
Taking responsibility for my actions,
Pam Hipp
Pamm, your comment is kinda in the right direction and then most of it is not.
I think you misinterpret the comments that others are making. We all pay for advertising and I to this day, have never seen a Curves commercial. And if they do advertise, did you see the networks they advertise on? Who the heck watches those networks? No one.
What about the tasteless bars we have been asked to see, along with a stand that they charged $50! What a pathetic piece of crap. The bars are gross and our profit margin is supposed to be only eight to ten percent and I heard that right out of an Area Director’s mouth. Wow, what moron wants to work to make less than .60???
And if we honor a coupon, we lose money selling them. The decisions that are being made are not being made with the intention of what is best for us. It is made with the decision of what is best for corporate. I have been told to tell members the bars are great. In reality, they are so bland and gross. I would never eat them and incorporate them into my daily diet.
Curves has always stood on we are a Christian based company. Christians help people or at least they pretend to advertise that. I am not Christian and could care less about what a bunch of white idiots with low IQ’s think. Yes, I am atheist so hearing the word Jesus and Christianity thrown around, actually makes me sick to my stomach. Jesus have nothing to do with any of this.
But you are telling me Pamm, that there is no compassion in their hearts? You have read the same stories as I have. So I am sure you read about some getting ill or spouses getting terminally ill and franchisees asking corporate to help them so they can focus on taking care of someone that is dying. Do they have no humanity?
I agree, the economy tanks, or you made a bad business decision, those are not reasons to think you can just walk away. But for those who are SUFFERING with illnesses, should be treated differently. Compassion is being demanded as that how Curves advertises itself.
A Christian based company. The same garbage that the politicians try to spew. Christian Christian Christian. Yuck. The last time I looked, I thought being Christian meant you looked into your heart and forgave. Forgave and helped. They hold prayers at Convention and their meetings. What for? Do you know how I want to barf when I am an online meeting and you hear the lame Area Director say God bless at the end of the meeting. You are kidding me right??
If you present yourself as a Christian, then be one and look into your heart to help others. I too, would like to know where my advertising funds go? I too would like to know why they told us to not charge an enrollment fee for CC and then went just kidding a few months later. I understand it is a new company and they are trying different things to see what works. Some things will and some won’t. I respect that. However, getting us to sell a program that has minimal advertising behind, or bars that are nasty, is plain stupid.
My clubs are ALL profitable so this is not coming from someone whose world is crashing around her as it is for some of those other owners. I believe any business owner should work and struggle a little, you will know the value of hard work. But the struggles these owners have does tug at your heart. You can’t ignore the plight of others.
I am stable and enjoy what I do. I have worked other corporate positions and have built an impressive resume for someone in her 30’s. With that said, there are many things that this company does that would make anyone question their ethics.
I am not in a lot of debt for my clubs, I am fortunate. But those that are, yes, why not question why CI allowed five clubs to open within a 10 mile radius. That was a horrible financial decision that was waiting to crash. They simply did that, cause they were greedy.
Once touted the fastest growing franchise, now they hold the esteemed title of fasting failing franchise. Why? Greed.
Curves is not a Starbucks and never will or could be. A good company has control over their expansion. I know that as I have worked for those companies. Curves does not. CI tries to hype up #’s for persuasion, hoping idiots like you hop on board. Don’t be fooled by the very overinflated #’s. Try telling your AD that and see how quickly he/she will shut up and go away.
They know what they are doing and how misrepresenting they are. And they also know they have no answer. Don’t knock the plight of others, thinking you are presenting yourself as the reasonable one. You can’t even spell right.
I own a club in the UK. We have had exactly the same problems as I see being posted by clubs in the US and Australia and a whole host of other countries.
Curves take advertising fees but never spend them on advertising. Communication from Head Office and all levels does not exist. They just don’t want to know their franchisees problems and don’t want to be involved at club level. They only thing that they are interested in is that you are running your club within the rules and regs of your franchise agreement. If you close your club, either before the end of the agreement or at the end, they still want to nail you. No matter the fact that you have given 10 years of blood, sweat and toil and completely signed up to the Curves ethos. They call Curves and the franchisees a family. If that’s the case, they could be classed as abusive parents who psychologically torture their children. Curves is not a family and never will be. The only people who are worth their salt in this company are the franchisees and their staff. Curves UK is in meltdown. Clubs here have been closing at an alarming rate over the past few years and the closure rate is now becoming exponential. This is because franchisees have been promised the earth for too long and nobody believes anything that Curves tell us any more. In addition, North Castle have now changed the new 5 year franchise agreements by doubling the monthly franchise fee, increasing the ad fees (when they don’t spend a penny on advertising), including a clause which allows them to increase the ad fees from 3% of gross turnover to 6% at 30 days notice if they so wish, and also a clause which insists that you have to buy the new machines. With turnover already at a critically low level for most clubs, this will destroy almost every club who decides to sign up to it hence almost nobody will sign up to it.
Curves UK will be almost non existent in 3 years time. We will probably have a dozen clubs left who are still tied into their agreements. Curves was set up by Gary Heavin as a fast growth get rich quick business for Gary and his family. He got out when he knew the writing was on the wall. Why on earth did North Castle Partnership buy into this disaster? Clearly, they did not do their due diligence. A little bit of time trawling the web and reading sites like this one, a bit of time talking to owners and surely they would have got the real picture. But no, just like Curves, NCP also fail to communicate with the people who really run the business – the franchisees. Seems like Gary not only hood winked a lot of franchisees but he also managed to do it to a big ‘professional’ outfit like NCP. Fortunately for NCP, they can afford the hit. The franchisees can’t.
Gary and Diane Heavin = not nice people.
Staff working at Head Office level in the US and other countries and who understand how Curves abuse the franchisees = not nice people.
NCP buying a business which was screaming failure and imminent meltdown = suckers.
I owned three locations for a total of 10 years. Luckily, I was on the “rise” end of the spectrum. We were actually fortunate to reap the benefits of hard work . Life, for those of us who are grateful, just didn’t get much better. I believe that CI was also experiencing the same “grateful” feeling. They were reaping the benefits of their work without having to deal with many franchisee complaints, and in many cases, never heard from the franchisees. What a way to sail, let’s do this some more….
Now let’s talk greed. Advertising was ALWAYS a rip off. CI set the rules, and we followed them. Costs continuously rose, but not dues. CI offered little support and the area managers had no power. This went on for years, and became increasingly frusterating and scary.
Diane and Gary (Christians when it suited them) expanded into Europe, Austrailia and a few other areas which escape me now. These expansions were fueled by greed and ego, without thought or support for their bread and butter; the original franchisees like myself who worked a good system as designed and were successful. The Heavins spread themselves too thin, lost site of the day to day operations, experienced corporate in-fighting at high levels, and were too high and mighty to listen to anyone who made them what they were. I could go on and on.
Fast forward a few years. I closed 2 clubs and limped along with my last (and original ) club, which was at the end of the second 5 year term. I was just making ends meet, and I had purchased my own building so I wasn’t even paying rent. (Silver lining!!) Upon announcement that we would be closing, my members got together and signed a petition to donate extra dues ($5-10/month) for me to stay open for one more year. I couldn’t believe it, didn’t want to, but I did it anyway. These 100 ladies were with me for 7-10 years and I couldn’t say no. But 100 ladies didn’t make me any money, it was just for love.
It was the best year we ever had, I had so much fun with them. However, I had no luck getting CI to allow me to extend operation for one year, rather than an additional 5. I was operating bascially without a proper agreement, which was scary. My members bombarded CI with letters and emails, but not one response. I operated the location for the last year knowing that they were so inundated with other closings, they couldn’t keep anything straight. Isn’t it ironic that I explained this touching situation to CI, and after 10 years and 3 clubs, they wouldn’t bend the rules or accomodate me legally!! Even as their ship was SINKING? Time period 2010-2011.
So ladies and gents, I know CI has been sold to another principal and the Heavins are no longer involved. They will reap what they have sown, good and bad. My suggestion for all of you who are involved, run the place from your heart. Fire your employees who don’t care about your beloved members, and work more yourself. Know your loyal members, be honest and don’t panic. If you really need to close, do the basics according to your agreement. Then just set a date. CI cannot get blood out of a stone.
Looking back, yes I understand the stress of making ends meet and worrying that CI will come after you for money you don’t have!! At the end of the day, you will have hopefully learned a lot from your members (how can you not, they really want to tell you their life stories). In addition, you will have learned how to manage employees and run a business. These are skills you may never have had a chance to learn. You can now go foward in life with priceless experiences that apply personally and professionally. Peace.
Speak my mind for what???????? We need to stop them. I have been a franchise close to fourteen years and l have proof that they just like mike raymond told the wall street journal the widespread failures were part of a strategy to “prune” the Curves system. It is against the law to push people out of business. This is what they are doing. Mr Raymond also quoted while being interviewed, ” how do you know if we are doing, or closing francises on purpose. We are paying advertising fees. And they are not advertising.They are illegal. If they advertise we would not be having these conversations. They need to be stop now.
Has anyone had trouble collecting their wellness monies from Corp. after closing legit??? We closed Jan and can’t seem to get one straight answer from Corp.about anything!!!! But what else is new!!!!
Curves has really hurt it’s franchisees. This year, things have really gone down hill. January, which is supposed to be our busiest time, was a flop. I have less than a year left at my one location and two years on the other. I want to be done so bad. No advertising for the ad fees we pay, charges for a so-called “gateway’ fee so member can access a so-called member portal, that our members never access anyway. I wasn’t surprised to here that their bar sales were low and that bit the dust….for a second time. I guess they didn’t learn in the first time their bars failed. We had to pay for our bar stand and that money is now wasted. I have spoken to many Curves owners and they are all stressed, anxious and struggling. I happen to be one of them. I work ten to eleven hr days for a minimal return. Curves Int blamed owners who didn’t work their clubs; I know a good few, whom bust their butts daily and see nothing. I know a young gal who starts at 6am and goes right till closing at night. Her return is minimal. Curves is going to blame every scenario but themselves.
Curves officially is down to less than 1400 franchises here in the U.S. Anyone want to bet that no one will remember them five years from now?? Dying brand…and now the have made this last ditch attempt with these new BDMs. It’s like they are clawing at the walls, hoping for something. Nothing will happen, it’s done. It’s so sad the debt some of us face and the challenges that lay ahead for us.
I have been a franchise owner for fifteen years at one time I owned 3 clubs and I am now down to one. Yes Curves has in general taken everything I own, my house my pension and now I live in a two bedroom trailer with my Mom who gave me everything she had and now she is 85 years old and we have to live off her pension. I look at it this way we still have a roof over our heads for now and I can still hold on to my two old horses and I really enjoy coming to work with my loyal ladies who most have been with me for 14 years. I put in a lot of hours to help stay afloat. My biggest problem now is to decide if I should try to renew my franchise or go independent. Curves could of done better by us with the advertising which I may have seen I ad. They have taken all our advertising monies and didn’t give us enough in return. If it wasn’t for my loyal ladies I would of shut down sooner. It is for them that I continue they have given be a lot over the years.
I know that what I have to say is not of any importance, but here goes. Women that are over weight,
and need the support of a place they can go too, where every one else shares your same feelings about yourself is important. Diets, meals, clubs, what ever, are advertised to help loose weight. But none of it is affordable for the real people who suffer from it. I joined a Curves in 2006, it was the greatest place, I went two to four times a week. I had and still have health issues. During that time, I was loosing weight, eating better, my health was improving, I was reaching goals I set for myself. I loved it. It has broke my heart, to see that something that could help save a persons life literally, is like everything else in this world, got the idea that is more about the money, than the help it is doing. And then we wonder why that the United States is in such a way with so many people over weight. There is no real concern in the United States to help the real people of the United States. It is all about the Money, and the big “Corperations”. I am nobody, I have no money, I am a old widow, there is nothing I can do. But If I had Money, I would try to find a way to help my fellow Human Beings. The Homeless, The Vets, it would not matter to me what color, race, or whatever. The rich or The poor, should never be part of the equation of a Human life. neither should color or race. I miss Curves, and I am ashamed to think that something so good, could be reduced to such an ugly end as this.
“I know that what I have to say is not of any importance…”
Sherry:
Your opinion is important to us. Thanks for sharing it.
ADMIN
I wish there were more Curves. I was a member in a different state for several years. When I moved, the one I started going to, closed down. Now I’ve moved again, and the closest one in over an hour away…
What more can be said? I loved Curves, I was a member for several years, then I bought two Curves franchises in 2007. Not a great time! Additionally, the previous owner lied and gave me member printouts that included members that had cancelled and had not been purged from the system. When I ran the numbers, all seemed well. Guess what? It was not. At all.
2008 hit and I struggled for the next while. I ended up closing one location and merging the two clubs. That continued on until it was time to renew my franchise. I finally got permission from corporate to extend for one year so that the lease on my location ended the same time as my franchise.
During this time, my husband became terminally ill and all my time that was not at the club was spent with him. He died. I still had the club. I closed in 2014, retired and left the Curves world. There is not one in my new location and I don’t expect one any time soon.
So, what did it cost me? A total of about $500,000. Money I will never get back.
I loved the members and I really loved Curves, but I was screwed from day one. I could never knock down that brick wall that I was up against. I was self-employed for most of my life, and made a reasonable living from everything I did – except Curves!!
Don’t ever buy one of these franchises!!!
Hello. I was a single club owner in North Carolina. I purchased my club because I believed CI was owner by a Christian couple with a desire to achieve success through hard work, a safe, nurturing club atmosphere and strong Christian beliefs. This is why our members joined.
When Curves new owners decided to flip and focus on the other side of the coin there was nothing left for us. They wanted me to post a life-size photo of Jillian Michaels and tell my members, “she is a housewife and mother of two just like us.” BULL…I am not married to a woman and did not rely on an alternate plan to have children. Plus I don’t wear provocative clothes when working our nor do I swear or otherwise yell obscenities. When I sent CI a heartfelt letter explaining how their mission statement no longer supported the one in place when I purchased my club and I would not support theirs; they simply removed me for all websites like we did not exist. So I closed the club, by the books. This was back in 2013. This week I learned they have turned the account over to a credit collector and charged me with $28,000. bad debt. If there is still a lawsuit wagon I sure would like to jump on it!
I joined Curves in my 60’s and had never worked out in my life!!!
I absolutely loved it.I only went about 6 weeks /2 days a week and then had to move where there wasn’t a Curves.In that short time I lost a pant size.I am back home again and would dearly love to see Curves come back to our small town.
I feel self conscious where men go.
I am a random woman living in the US. My dream is to open an all female gym and was hoping to make it a franchisable business. To say the least, these comments touched my heart so much that now I’m WORRIED for all the lives I would be impacting if I did go down this road.
I have many personal reasons and beliefs why an all female style gym would be amazing, especially around the country – but I would never want to put anyone in these kinds of situations.
I owed a Curves and was part of the first round territory sales. As a new franchise as with many they had not “worked out the bugs” meaning there were conflicts they hadn’t anticipated and didn’t know how to solve. I ran into one of those with the owner in the town next to me and it was handled poorly, to my detriment. I decided to sell. I didn’t sell at a crazy amount although I will say there were a lot of people I met that had no business experience that would come and ask my advise. I also sold right before they started the advertising fees. It’s a great concept for many women that are not comfortable going to a “regular gym.
I owned one curves franchise from 2006 to 2013. I made the horrendous mistake of buying a second club in 2010 and closed its doors in 2012.
My failure was in the heighth of the sale to North Castle. All of a sudden everything had to be changed. The colors had to be the same the signage had be the same. Even the coaches were supposed to lose weight or resign. We were supposed to push, push, push for sales not only of memberships, but of bars, and the diet program, and the clothing line.
The small town atmosphere was changed in a blink of an eye. I lost close to $100,000
I was also sued for outstanding franchise fees that could not be collected because I was closed. I sold machines that were in very good condition, some less than 2 years old, for pennies on the dollar.
It was ugly and I felt like such a failure. What was once a fun, exciting workout atmosphere that benefited so many women became all about doing it exactly as some big shot in a big city thought was the right thing – no the only thing, to do to, to be successful.
Having a new snap fitness come to our small town offering memberships for $10 and access to the club 24/7 finished me.
I managed a Curves for 5 years. Loved the plan and enjoyed all the great friends I made. My owner was great. I think Curves is especially good for those 50 and over. It is low impact. The more you put in, the better results you will have. Good luck to those who are still trying!!
Thanks for report! but I couldn’t find out how many clubs they have in America currently. It’s not on their website either :(
I am in the UK and in the process of taking over an existing Curves franchise. Despite the challenges of COVID the current owners have managed to build the club back up into a profitable position and I hope that in signing a 5 year franchise agreement I am not making a big mistake! Are there any other UK owners who can comment on the current challenges they are facing?
Went to curves for a while, long time back. I
really enjoyed the workouts, the machines made a real difference. I lost weight, gained muscle, strength and confidence. But the programs kept changing. The managers got a bit aggressive about the new owners, wanted me to to purchase stuff. I didn’t feel comfortable there any more. I believe that was when Avon got involved. I miss the machines. They made a difference.
I really liked Curves and was sorry to see our local Curves (Yakima, WA & Selah, WA) close. Visited my son in Whitney TX and went there & also to one in Montana while we were on vacation.
Would join in a minute if there were a local Curves.
got the lifetime access to their meal planning but that’s gone too – had some great recipes.
I MISS CURVES!!!
Curves was hurt by the expandiing knowledge that its owner used corporate profits to fund fake abotion clinics. women stopped going or created jars for planned parenthood. The exposes made many women feel this so-called Christian gym was a front for and an adjunct to the anti-abortion movement
Curves was hurt by the expandiing knowledge that its owner used corporate profits to fund fake abotion clinics. women stopped going or created jars for planned parenthood. The exposes made many women feel this so-called Christian gym was a front for and an adjunct to the campaign to end women’s choices about their bodies.
My name is Sarah Braswell and I owned a Curves from 2002 to 2012. I fulfilled my contract with Curves and was looking for a buyer but nobody would step up to buy. At that time in our little town we had 5 or more small gyms started, two of which gave free memberships to medical folks and a country club that offered free membership to its members. Competition was great but we still had a great club and could pay our bills without a problem! My only reason for giving the club up was because I had turned 72 and didn’t feel I needed to sign another contract for another 10 years. Today I meet many of my members in various places and they always say “I miss my Curves”. Was a member before I bought so I knew the basics of Curves and was very excited to buy into it. The previous owner was very helpful in the transfer of ownership and eventually even worked for me as a coach as she also was working for Curves International. They had programs for owners that was very beneficial in running your Curves! Being a good owner and manager was up to you to make your business work. Will never blame Curves International for my business declining. Yes some days or months were hard but adjustments were made for those hard times and we survived! My only regret was not being able to sell my Curves and having to just close my doors. Only good memories of my Curves life. Thank you Curves for letting me be a part of Curves.
The Curves closed in my town. I would go 5 days a week. Someone said that Planet Fitness had the same machines. I tried going there but it wasn’t the same. At Curves I had the company of other women, who I grew to know. At Planet Fitness, there are men! I don’t want to exercise with men lurking around my shoulders!