Unhappy Franchisee – Curves founder Gary Heavin and his wife Diane will be featured in an episode of the new “inspirational” ABC series “Secret Millionaire.”
We ask: Do Curves franchisees perceive Heavin’s Secret Millionaire participation as positive brand exposure that will benefit existing clubs?
Or do they perceive it as a slap in the face, an ego-fueled insult to the thousands of failed or failing Curves franchise owners who are now, themselves, suffering financial hardship by investing in Heavin’s franchise?
Feel free to share your view below.
There’s more to this story than it seems… – Gary Heavin
The promo clip for the episode begins with ominous music and a dramatic voiceover:
[Narrator:] “Tonight… A couple who has created a health club empire…
[Gary Heavin:] “We’re kind of the McDonald’s of fitness…”
[Narrator:] “…Will experience life in one of the nation’s poorest cities…”
[Diane Heavin:] “I’m not sure I understand poverty in America like this…”
[Narrator:] “…For six days days they will be stripped of all luxuries…”
[Gary Heavin:] “Six dollars and fifty cents a day… Wow…”
[Narrator:] ““…And assume new lives as secret millionaires… Looking for deserving people who need their help… In the end they’ll surprise community heroes with tens of thousands of dollars of their own money…”
[Diane Heavin:] “We really want to do something special…”
[Narrator:] “After revealing their secret identities as…”
[Gary Heavin:] “There’s more to this story than it seems…”
[Narrator:] “The Secret Millionaire.”
For six days they will be… looking for deserving people who need their help… – Narrator
A television show about the founders of Curves having to search for deserving people in financial crisis may strike some as a tad ironic.
The Wall Street Journal reported 1000 franchises Curves clubs failed in 2009 (Read CURVES: 1000 Franchise Clubs Failed Last Year). Since 2007, 2/3 of Curves domestic franchises – more than 2500 clubs – closed their doors. The financial toll on many franchise owners has been devastating.
On UnhappyFranchisee.com, failed and failing Curves franchise owners have reported that instead of receiving assistance and support from their philanthropic franchisor, they have received threatening letters, demands for closing fees and payments, and been mercilessly harrassed by an IL law firm/collection agency claiming to represent the Heavin’s company.
Curves franchisees, many of whom were “stripped of all luxuries” long ago, have voiced their discontent in more than a thousand comments on UnhappyFranchisee.com (Read CURVES: Robert Lay’s Story and CURVES: Curves Posts on Unhappy Franchisee).
None have, so far, reported receiving a call from Gary or Diane Heavin offering to do something special for them.
We really want to do something special… – Diane Heavin
The Secret Millionaire series will debut on Sunday, March 6 at 9/8c.
The short clip above is a teaser from one of the first episodes of Secret Millionaire, which features Diane and Gary Heavin, scheduled to air on April 3.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW!
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View Comments
Marc,
Thank you for your kind response.
I did buy into the CurvesSmart. It actually works incredibly well. Unfortunately, Curves did not advertise it. Some women on CurvesSmart think it's the "best kept secret" of Curves.
Yes, it should be the responsibility of the franchisor to find us more ways to make money-especially since we are bound by franchise agreements not to do anything unless it is "Curves Approved".
We do have a Curves Franchise Association. It is supposed to speak for owners when dealing with CI. I don't think they have much power, though.
Some Curves bargain down the closing fee (fine). If I had 5k, I wouldn't need to close. I'm trying to wait out my franchise agreement, another 16 months. I hope I can hold out that long! If I can, most likely I will owe them nothing. (Not that they won't try to get what they can from me.) I will be consulting a lawyer to make sure they don't take advantage of me.
Start my own concept? No, thanks. I am done owning my own business.
Actually, many, many Curves are owned by men, who work it full time. I had a friend that was working her Curves over 65 hours a week--certainly not absentee. She lost her club and her life savings anyway, and so did a male owner I knew. How much time you spend in the club is, for the most part, not an indication if a Curves will survive or not.
I do blame GH and Curves International for the over franchising and lack of advertising that have contributed heavily to the demise of Curves franchises in the U.S. It's futile to think he will ever admit to his mistakes, or make restitution. The company is only interested in what they can take.
For now, I will take care of my ladies, because I love each and every one of them. Curves members become like family, and the friendships that I have with these women is what I will miss most.
Thanks for letting me vent, and thanks for the well-wishes.
Does anyone know where Curves International's 2010 Disclosure Document can be found?
Marc, just curious if you own a Curves franchise? Can you really speak to what owning a Curves is really like?
I would also like to know where to get a copy of the CI 2010 Disclosure Document.
Curves 2010 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is posted here:
https://unhappyfranchisee.mystagingwebsite.com/curves-franchise-disclosure-document-fdd/
I couldn't watch Secret Millionaire. There is not enough Pepto Bismal in the world...
I do have one question for Mr. H...has he even read the Bible once? He has forgotten the scripture that says you should not let the right hand know what the left hand is doing. Oops, he forgot that one.
I have never come across more illiterate, blathering imbeciles, then on the comments of this page. To all of you who have tried and failed at running one or more Curves franchises, you were destined to fail at life either way. To take a pre-written business plan that has been proven time and time again (I mean... the guy is rich for a reason), and still manage to screw it up, just means that you don't have the mental aptitude, common sense, money management skills, and/or the most minute bit of business savvy. It truly is sad that all you half witted franchise failures whine and moan about you personal failures by blaming it on others instead of putting all of this time and effort in to bettering yourselves. Just face it, you were never mean to be a part of the business world. You all just don't have the intellectual wherewithal to be running things... you should mopping floors at McDonald's. Act like adults, for once, and get out there, learn from your mistakes, and make something of yourselves.
Chris:
Thanks for your enlightening comment. Wow, we really did need a dose of reality from a sharp business mind like yours to put things in perspective!
I'm just curious as to why a business mogul such as yourself bothers berating these poor suckers rather than making easy millions off their bad attitudes? I mean, many of us "blathering imbeciles" will sell you our clubs for just $1. All you've got to do is let us sign them over to you. You could buy a bunch of them, then just follow the "pre-written business plan that has been proven time and time again"
You'll be a zillionaire in no time!
PS my favorite line was about Gary Heavin ""(I mean… the guy is rich for a reason)". Just like Bernard Madoff. What are HIS stupid investors complaining about?
Anon:
Well thank you so much for the suggestions. I happen to own a very successful business venture of my own so I have to need for franchises that have been neglected and sullied to the point that even a business pro would be unable to pick up the pieces.
I see that you feel very strongly about you opinions, however I regret to inform you that your tenacity is trumped only by you ignorance. Due to freedom of speech, I suppose it is constitutional to go around comparing any person with means to Bernie Madoff, but that doesn't make you any more clever or correct. Assuming you are just another of these failed franchisees, I would recommend seeking employment at the National Enquirerer, as they use about as many FACTS in their writing as well. I do, however, feel sorry for anyone who needs to play the blame game to justify their failures, and being the religious person that I am, I will be sure to pray for you.
Best regards
Chris,
I am truly amazed that you could say such hurtful things to people you don't know anything about. I guess that is YOUR freedom of speech at work.
You ALSO do not have all the facts, either--please remember that.
You say you are a religious person. I wonder what religion you believe you are following. I don't know of any religion that would condone lashing out at people you do not know in the manner in which you did, and then say "best regards". You have not walked a mile in their shoes. Until you have, nothing you ever say about them will be clever or correct, either.
I do happen to be a follower of Christ. I also know the difference between "walking the walk" and just "talking the talk". I will walk the walk and forgive you in advance for what you will say to me.
No matter what "religion' you are, would your God approve of what you want to say? If not, I will be the one praying for you.
Okay Chris, you pushed a button on that last comment.
First off, I am one of those "illiterate, blathering imbeciles" you've referred to. No matter what I did I couldn't turn a profit. Why? Because I was bound by a 15 year old business plan and ridiculous restrictions. Being the successful business person you claim to be, I'm sure even you would would agree that any business plan needs to be updated on occasion.
After years of paying royalties and advertising fees, following all the "rules", NEVER receiving any support and little to no advertising for the money I gave them every month I can look back and see that a very large part of that business failing was due to the franchisor not holding up their end of the deal. My biggest mistake was in trusting that a franchisor would actually WANT their franchisees to succeed. What a joke in the case of this particular franchise.
But guess what? I'm no longer bound by an antiquated business plan and I now have a totally different business with endless opportunities. Which by the way happens to be successful. Imagine that! An illiterate, blathering imbecile who should be mopping floors actually being successful at running a business.
I'm sure there are many other former owners who could have been quite successful given a fair chance, but it's a little difficult to do when the franchisor gets more of your income than you do. Most, like myself, put their heart, soul and every bit of energy they had into keeping their business going. Some with very good business skills. Until you've been through what we've experienced you should try not to be so quick with your blanket judgments.
That brings me to the "button" you pushed. You've done a really good job of demonstrating the difference between being "religious" and being "spiritual". A spiritual person would see this as an opportunity to show compassion where a religious person would only see one more thing to pass judgment on. One more opportunity to to say "look at me, I'm better than you, I'm religious!". As caught up as the Pharisees were in the letter of the law rather than the spirit of it they too found time to pray for those who were, in their eyes, less holy.
You might consider adding to your prayer list that you not be judged as harshly as you tend to judge others.