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.
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View Comments
Chris:
Not even a blathering imbecile would believe for a minute that you are a successful business owner. Your swagger is the type that comes from being president of your high school business club or having a junior college intro to business class under your belt :) Or maybe you are a Heavin nephew out to impress Uncle Gary.
It's not just that you try too hard to sound smart (by the way, what is a " pre-written business plan" ? Are there "post-written business plans"?) It's also that your logical fallacy that because Heavin's rich his business plan for franchisees must be sound is naive and sophomoric.
Heavin's business plan works for Heavin. Period. At a time when thousands of his franchisees are failing, CI is turning a record profit - $16M or so last year. Instead of coming to the aid of struggling owners, this good Christian sics collection agency attack dogs on them to try to squeeze any last dime out of them before they collapse.
It's interesting that the blathering idiots you demean were all screened, interviewed and selected by CI. The one thing you might be right about is that many were destined to fail. Perhaps it's not an accident after all.
The reference to Bernard Madoff wasn't because they are both rich. Bernard Madoff made millions by creating an illusion of respectability & inducing others to invest their life savings in what was just a vile scam. He had no intention of enriching any life other than his own, even if it resulted in suicides, broken families, loss and despair. Sound familiar?
Help. Looking for suggestions. I closed my Curves in July of 2010. Had 3 years left on contract, but no way could I stay open. I was bleeding money. My doors closed in July 2010.
Since then Curves Int'l sent me 1 letter in December of 2010. I haven't heard from them since. Until last week -- a phone call from a law firm and 2 letters (one was rather insulting) from same law firm in Illinois asking for the money that I owe them for monthly royalties, etc.
Like was suggested by another previous owner and Mr. Lay, I've simply ignored the calls and letters. So has anyone else been getting these letters? What else should I expect from them?
Any advice/suggestions is greatly appreciated.
Thank you
R
R,
Did you obtain a mutual release from Curves? If you did, fax them a copy.
If not, you may need a lawyer. Good luck and God Bless!
9 months til my franchise agreement is over and can't wait,
another Curves owner
It seems like CFW are all over the place, when it comes to following through, and this is also evident in the legal process, or a luck of any.
I have been told that the CFW Office is quite small, and the legal team is even smaller.
I have to spoken to Grace in the Legal department a few times, and she has always been short with me....I felt the least she could do is listen to what I had to say as I was the one staying up in the early hours of the morning to get to speak to someone directly.....Nothing could be resolved as they already had set their mind on where they were heading ...and that was straight to court.
I have se
I "sold" my Curves to Robin English who "successfully" ran a franchise previously...I sold it for $1.00 after she had come to me 6 months before crying over her divorce and would I acccept her $10,000 in diamonds for my Curves. I needed to return to work so offered her the franchise in order for her to get her life back together...in the meantime she bought 2 others franchises, for what moneyh I don't know, likely the same, and guaranteed me she would not "screw me over" her words......a good "Christian" response.....she now has not paid rent on the premises that I guaranteed for her "when she stated she had no money to pay for franchise fees and transfer fees....and yet she bought ANOTHER Curves. Curves International are as much to blame because I contacted them and requested they not approve her move. Do you think they promoted any integrity on her behalf....oh no...they've allowed her to "screw over" all my members and myself. I too what diagnosed with ovarian cancer and she knows that and yet she continues to be allowed by Curves international, Gary and Diane Heavin to be a crook, swindler and is also not claiming all the fees she brings in to Curves.
WOW! Is this any different than what Matco does with its NHRA sponsorship of Antron Brown and Tony Scumacher? Build popularity to support sales while selling fraudulent franchises to franchisees? False advertising is what has promoted fraud in years past. But now we have the information highway and I look for these fraudulent corporations to start tearing down our rights to communicate over the information highway any day now so there will be NO VOICE to dispute and tell the true story of those who will do ANYTHING to make money. The greed of man is what has destroyed our government and has consumed franchising.
Sell the American entrepreneur on a false dream that is completely controlled by the corporation and allows the corporation to NOT pay employment taxes, Social Security, Retirement, Health Benefits and empowers them to commit fraud, steal, threaten and falsely terminate their franchisee? Sounds like our governments concept of balancing the budget!
Does Curves follow thru on its threats? Just closed in September and got my first letter this week. I can't afford to hire a lawyer and reply! They already got all I have!!!