CURVES: Say Goodbye to Gary Heavin!

102 thoughts on “CURVES: Say Goodbye to Gary Heavin!”

• Buying a Curves was the worst thing I’ve ever done. I’m one of the fortunate ones who kept the total loss around 50K.

  You took a fantastic idea and a well respected brand and drove it into the ground along with the money of lots of good hard working people.

• Well I still think it is a rat deserting a sinking ship. How are they going to make franchises more profitable it takes members for that to happen, and as I have read Curves is the fastest failing franchise. I would like to thank Gary and Diane for nothing. Oh hang on I do have something to thank them for – Bankruptcy, ill health, stress, the near breakup of my marriage. Well done. I hope you enjoy your retirement and spending your millions. As they say ITS GREAT TO BE AT CURVES.

• Hey all the AUSTRALIAN franchisee’s GET OUT BAIL LEAVE WHILE YOU CAN !!!!!!!!!
  I did . Take your members with you OPEN YOUR OWN CENTER .

  I have bought a similar model to curves , ITS NOT A FRANCHISE that means no franchise fee’s…….. for $40.000 you get an entry level with hydraulic’s and its 24HOUR…….. or you can buy a complete gym system that’s all the equipment & set up, 24 HOUR and you can run your gym like a real gym.
  Have a look at the web site, you can buy a franchise if you want to BUT the directors of this company wont sell you a franchise if you dont want one. I bought a model of this company NOT A FRANCHISE and I am really happy , so are all my members. We offer real classes, real gym and my members can acess it

• AUSTRALIAN CURVE OWNERS ………..Look at this web site http://www.ozifitfranchise.com.au.
  I bought this fitness model I am so glad I did. My members love it . they can access it 24 hours a day 7 days a week . I have a life I have weekends off because I dont run classes on weekends and I dont have to pay staff double time and I am saving money . No franchise fee’s I charge members $13.00 a week this includes all classes NO CONTRACTS .
  GOOD BYE CURVES IT WAS A GOOD MODEL GONE BAD DUE TO GREED .
  GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN DONT SIGN ANYTHING WITH THE NEW DIRECTORS. SEEK LEGAL ADVISE .
  OPEN YOUR OWN CENTER YOU CAN DO IT, BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING IT , YOUR MEMBERS WILL COME WITH YOU . I had to open my gym under my families name , and their is nothing CURVES can do. close up.

• You robbed me of every thing you could get UUU should never be anything again
  And give every bankrupt curves back a 50,000 I screwed up payment!!!!
  Now I am unemployed now ,Divorced , and you still wanted my to hang>
  So why don’t you help us see a little sunshine in our life MR & MRS Heavin the helpful MILLIONAIRES!!!!!!! You should be stoned. As the Bible says.

• Praise the Lord. I can now close my Curves with no obligations. I have contacted my Lawyer and per my franchise agreement, I can close. I have one year and three months left on my contract, but with the sell it looks like i’m free to close. I have lost over $100,000 in the past eight years because of mis management. I call Curves international for advise from my area director (Kentucky) an she has no clue! Where did all our ad money go? I has seen no advertising. My attorney advised me to close and sue. I don’t want to go that route, but may have to. I was considering filing bankruptcy, but now it don’t look like it’ll come to that. My Wife left a $70,000 a year job in 1999 to start Curves because se loved the idea. We had no idea it was going to turn into a nightmare!!!! We have two wonderful children that don’t see their Mommy. She works 100 hours a week, because we can afford to hire someone. We argue and the stress is overwhelming. I thought in the beginning Curves was a Christian Company. After four years I found out different. Gary and Diane – Please make this right with the Franchises that did it you way!!!!! I don’t want any threatening letters or scare tactics. Mail me a check for my loses.

• Joe some of us unhappy franchisees in aus are trying to get a class action going against Mr Gary (Howie) Heavin, I am sure that you would be able to get enough together in America to do this. It only takes one, why should we all roll over and die, Gary and Diane haven’t. I’m sure that this selloing of CI has something to do with Gary not wanting to be bankrupt again, (I smell a rat). Why should he reap the benefits while we all suffer. I am sure that between us all (worldwide) we would have enough ammunition to get this *******.

• @ Joe:
  How are you free to close without penalty? What is the loophole there and where can the rest of us find it in our agreements?

• I have a call into my attorney and will let you know for sure. I know he is wanting me to sue for damages, personal lose, mis-management of Curves, etc… He did mention a case action, because Curves did not support their Franchisees. My attorney has a small practice in Kentucky, but is well connected everywhere. He said from what I explained to him, we would win. He is asking me for a $5000 retainer to go after them. I will keep you posted.

  P.S. – Anyone out there in the US want to help? Maybe we get the same attorney that UnHappy Franchisee used??

  Blessings! Good to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

• After purchasing a curves franchise in 2008 , I have lost EVERYTHING …my life savings, retirement find of £100,000 , I have suffered severe stress, and depression . This was the worst decision I have ever made. the only good decision I made regarding Curves was to close the doors last Friday, 27th July .. I too have received emails advising how much I owe in future royalties and advertising fees. Also that I need to return the equipment tha I Have paid for AT MY EXPENCE .
  Gary and Diane Heavin….you should be ashamed of yourselves ..

• @ Joe…I think if there is some way for some Franchises to get out..I do hope you post that information for everyone…thank-you!

• Wow, you people have to take responsibility for your own actions. When the money was flowing like water everyone loved Curves and couldn’t get enough. Territories were sold out immediately and there were lines of women waiting to sign up and hop on the circuit. The economy started to boom and people were living large. Curves, Gary, forwarned his franchisees and through this business model, kept costs down and gave women the opportunity to have successful businesses. As soon as the economy changed, when people started to have to work for their money again, this is when everyone starts to blame everything on Curves, Gary.
  Well there are plenty of us who still work hard and make a honest days pay. We don’t expect something for nothing and we work and know that our successes and or our failures are exactly that, Ours!
  Curves clubs have been approaching their 10 year contracts and most owners have made their money and then some and most are at retiring age. This is mainly why these statistics reflect closures. The good economy made businesses open everywhere. The turn in economy has caused business to close everywhere, not just Curves.
  I look forward to the exciting possibilities ahead with our company & Gary. I love what i do and there is most certainly no other fitness concept like this. For all you who dont want to enpart of Curves please give those other no name, no systems, no support, put everyone down type clubs a chance if you like. Misery loves company, enjoy each other!

• Deb,

  Several points to consider. Curves didn’t ‘sell out of territories immediately’ … they ASSIGNED any zip code to anyone who was asking with barely any market studies being done. I know of one instance where a ‘sales person’ literally assigned territories to new owners at a club camp; they were just throwing zip codes at him. There was no rhyme or reason for territory distribution – it was like flinging mud at a wall. In our metro area there were handfuls of low income, depressed towns that had no business having a Curves but they had them. The game in Texas was to SELL SELL SELL territories – as many as they could. They were making millions selling the system and making money secondly through their family owned company store, Ideas in Action. They insinuated to owners that it was forbidden for clubs to offer products for profit. (Stupid us for listening – because it wasn’t really forbidden – it was actually just a recommendation – part of ‘do everything we say’ and you will be successful.)

  There was little support from Curves. It was practically non existent for years. Sink or swim. That was the early days of Curves. Curves was opening territories a mile from each other just so one man could lay claim to ‘fastest growing fitness franchise’ and plant his flag on that moutain top with no regard for how it was affecting the people who bought into the hype. There was a reason that the public referred to us as a ‘cult’. Looking back, it was very cult like. I believe many Curves franchisees experience(d) Stockholm Syndrome.

  You are right that there are many locations who are still doing well enough for the owner to make a small profit. It’s a nice hobby business. Which is probably all it ever should have been. But a lot of professional, intelligent, hard working, seasoned business people bought Curves and they failed too. You have to ask yourself why or how so many smart people were too stupid to run a Curves. It’s not rocket science.

  As for those 10 year owners who you think are just quietly closing because they want to retire – don’t you think they’d prefer to sell the club for some small profit? Of course. You must know there are a LOT of Curves listed for sale and no one wants to buy them. Curves owners are selling their clubs for $10,000 just to get out. Why is that? Because it’s a lot of hard work and long hours for not a lot of profit. Did you ever read Craigslist for Curves for sale? In the last few years we’ve had 3 banks and 2 landlords call us to offer us equpment – entire circuits with SMART included. Reposessed or abandonded Curves equipment. That scenario is repeated across the county no doubt.

  Watching Curves after Curves after Curves after Curves after Curves close, like dominoes across the fruited plains was depressing. And very bad word of mouth as more and more women repeated the phrases: “Curves doesn’t work”, “All Curves are closing”, “Curves was a fad”. All of those sentiments are still out there. None of those accusations were challenged with an effective advertising plan. When attacked – you make a plan to stand your ground. Curves never did. Instead they started assisting with the pruning. (Reference the WSJ article where they admit it.)

  As for Gary forewarning franchises, hmmm. One mentor was bold enough to wonder why a friend of mine was being so nice to her members. She ‘coached’ her to keep the place clean, keep pure records, and flip it. The mentor presumably was trained for her job in Waco. She knew what was going on. So he didn’t? She was smarter than him, I guess. My friend was left feeling confused. She thought she was supposed to be making women’s lives better. (We should have bought a clue then!)

  In my estimation, Gary Heavin was ill equipped to manage what he built. Throw in nepotism with a sycophantic culture in the corporate office and you have a recipe for disaster. And because of that, thousands of peole have suffered financially and emotionally. He should have sold 5 years ago.

  So we have the trifecta of: Too many territories sold, ineffective support, and greed.

  Within that framework you have owners who can and did thrive. But you had many more who were tortured by Curves – emotionally and financially.

  Hopefully the corporate culture is now changing and the new men in charge can take control of and revive a once great idea.

  Good luck to you.

• Penny,
  Great thoughts but during the “good years” again, everyone was greedy. Big salaries, big houses, big cars, big colleges, big business. All greedy people we are. Insert any business name where you say Curves and they all apply. Should we blame it on the housing market, real estate made everyone rich, greedy, banks, construction, property, taxes…… You name it, it happened over the past ecomic boom. Should we blame it on Gary, Bush, Obama, bin laden, blah, blah, blah.

  Most businesses can’t sell because people are afraid of taking chances. A true entrepreneur knows risks involved and is willing to take those risks. More millionaires were made during the depression then any other time. It has nothing to do with intelligence or lack there of. Has to do with entrepreneurship and having that spirit of I have to try for me, if I succeed, awesome, if I don’t, I will keep trying.
  Again, my success or my failure is all Mine. Take ownership for your actions.

• Yes … the Buck stops … somewhere … it never stopped in Waco that’s for sure. It passed right through. Waco bears no responsibility. You’re right.

  And speak for yourself with regard to greed. I don’t know any greedy owners. Not a one. Honestly. The majority of Curves owners are/were selfless souls who cared deeply for their members. They weren’t and aren’t looking for a jackpot. They merely wanted to earn a living. So sue them. Oh yeah! He did!

• Hello,

  We are in the process of filing a lawsuit against Curves International, for wrongful threats to Franchise and Ex Franchise owners.

  If anyone would like to be a part of it, please contact us soon.

  Together…we have more power.

  Send me an email soon.

  Genevive.

• Again…my email address is [redacted]

  Note: to exchange contact info, email unhappyfranchisee[at]gmail.com. Thanks, ADMIN

• If it is true that the Franchise Agreement is no longer viable, can someone please confirm this. I have 3 years left, and want to close. Thank you.

• Please, do share any information relative to the Franchise Agreements viability. I have several years let as well but would consider closing if the agreeent is no longer viable. Sick of throwing money away

• send e mail address of genevive thank you.

• Do you guys have a clause with years on your franchise agreements?? we don’t here in Australia.

• Thank-you Penny for you thoughtful comments. I know many curves owners that you describe and none from the greedy group described above. I followed the curves way and also wanted to make a decent living. I too am now closing after 6 years. You brought up great points.
  Recently,in responce to legal’s email, I let legal know that I will not be renewing and they gave me the email about the two choices. 1-sell and 2- renew.I remewed last year in hopes to sell. My renewal is up in January. Then the AD emails me the same one asking me to respond. Hello? I am glad we have this chance to vent and help each other deal with all the disappointment and frustration.
  At least I can feel good about all the women my club did help, and all I lost is money so far.

• Genevive please contact me.

• http://www.franchisetimes.com/content/story.php?article=02418

  Heavin, 57, “retired” August 31, 20 years to the day the first Curves unit opened. He doesn’t need a job, he quipped; he’s made more money than he can spend. But he’s also worked hard to build Curves into a system of gyms and now weight-loss centers, and he wants professional management to take it to the next level. Heavin admits he’s reached his Peter Principle. “I don’t have the skill set to take this to the next level,” he said. “I’m a visionary. I need to be thinking (of new ideas). This is the perfect role for me.”

• WOW.. poor franchisees lost everything..it’s your own dam fault you lasy owners!!!
  LOOK in the mirror and youll see why you lost it all it’s not Gary’s falt OWN YOUR MISTAKES..remember he planted the seed’s to something good even great but as soon as your plant started groing you all said hey it groing by itself..nothing more I can do ..and then someone else saw the opportunity to grab the same see’d and call them something else than Curves..Lady express , express fit, contours, etc.. then there where not enough water to feed all those plants so the weeker started to die..the weeker or the lazyer..HMMM COMPETITION and LAYZINESS killed the 30 min industry not Gary H …When you see a new concept similar to yours oppening if you dont make sure your clients love you and respect you like a freind you will loose them .. but Curves was once alone ..people where just joining everywhere nothing much to do and the franchisee took their clients for granted.. THIS IS WATH HAPPENED.. nothing to do with Gary…you made your bed and decided not to get up and see arround you how could you make sure no one took your clients.. it is not how you fall that counts it is how fast you get up…stop reading this depressing blog and moove ahead listen to wath the new owners and managers have to say ..hey they just purchase it thay must have something good to do in mind!!
  I strongly suggest that for those out there that are still in business with Curves try working for you ..Look at what you can do for your business not what your business can do for you..!!!

• You have got to be kidding.

• Marc, Curves oversold territories, wouldn’t you say? If that was intentional to squash competition then you could make the case that was a smart move (if you are Gary Heavin). But if that’s the case, the plan was financed using other people’s money. Rather than have one Curves compete against one competitor, CI had 10 Curves competing against 1 competitor. The unintended (was it?) consequence of that was even among Curves owners it was survival of the smartest, fittest, or best location.

  If you assume this was done intentionally – to grab 100% of the market share – then you have to take that to the next logical conclusion: that Curves International (Gary Heavin) gambled away other peoples money. It would be like me inviting people to pay $50,000 to plant seeds (to use your illustration) in my 20 acre garden. And then I purposely overplant my 20 acres – knowing full well that 3/4’s of those seeds will die due to overseeding, underfertilizing, and neglect on my part. I know that the best plots and seeds will survive and thrive and the rest will rot in the field. But I ask people to invest anyway. I think it would be immoral to allow people to ‘invest’ in my garden knowing that most of their investments will be wasted.

  I think that’s basically what happened to Curves. Overplanting of territories and then intentional (admitted) and unintenional pruning of the system due to neglect and underfertilization. But CI wants to perpetuate the myth that ‘dummies’ bought Curves. Well who’s the dummy? If they knowingly sold to ‘dummies’ then that would mean CI is responsible for people’s loss, wouldn’t it?

• Wake up people! Curves was doing GREAT! After Curves became so popular Mr. Heavin MILKED Curves and its investors for everything he could. He didn’t care if he oversold. He created this franchise to maximize his profits and then with the protection with which franchising is safeguarded knew he would not be held responsible.

  The coalition between franchisors, the Federal Trade Commission, the International Franchise Association, attorneys and those who advertise for franchisors as well as those who consult, has made a huge bubble of protection for franchising. The thing about bubbles are they eventually get so big they burst.

• This was the worst decision I’ve ever done. Do not buy into this franchise.

• I agree this to for me and my husband was the worst financial path we have ever choosen.

  I purchased Curves in 2009, from owners who had the 10 year contract and did VERY well. Made lots of dollars and wanted out for many reasons. They were lucky to do so well and I don’t think they knew what was comming, cuz they were very helpful, maybe they did, but doesn’t matter, I’m the one that has to deal with my decision I made to purchase a franchise that was run by a BIG DISHONEST JERK!!!!!

  I was one of those that they were fighting with charging an extra fee for keyless entry. I was so angry with them and refused to give them any more money or put me into any more debt, so I closed in August, 2011 with three years left on my contract. I did all the stupid things they required for closing until they told me I was going to have to donate or destroy MY Machines, that I bought. I basically told them they did not buy those machines I did and I would not do that!!! To me that told me what kind of people they really are, which in not a CHRISTIAN!!!

  I have received numerous letters from them with many different amounts of money I owe them. We have hired a lawyer through all of this and would rather give him money, not that BIG JERK GARY!!!! I’m tired of being treated like this and will not go away without a fight!!!!

  I get really upset when I think about all of it, but at the end of the day I was honest to everyone. I gave my members back their money and told Curves those were my machines and if they wanted them could come and get them!!

  Would love to hear from other curvers owners.

• I would really like some advice on what to do if you want to close before the end of your franchise agreement. They have told me I will have to pay the ad/royalty fees for the remainder but Im just wondering if there’s any way around that?

• Joe, please keep us informed regarding release of the contract. Please provide information and contact for us who need to get the legal help. I read in the franchise times article that some of the franchisees may not want to continue wien the demands go up with brand standards….so does this imply that those who dont agree with the demands can bow out of their contracts and close?
  Also some of you in australia have talked about closing and opening your own club and that it has worked well, please give some more info on that…just trying to figure out if I have any viable options….this has been the worst experience, I am totally sick of all the curves hype….thanks for any advice out there!!! I wish you all better days a head!!

• We are closing an australian curves franchise and have been told to pay over $30,000 in fees and destroy machines, give curves our member lists etc. Can anyone give us advise or tell us any way out of this.

• Im a single mother with a 3 year old and I have lost so much, a home, an apartment, block of land and inheritance and my brother lent me money because curves wouldnt let me close with all its nasty letters, I practically begged them to let me close telling them of all the losses, stress and health problems I had bankrupcy, BUT, no there wasnt any empathy just the same ole scripted letter that we all get, so I had to resign the leases and now they are after me as well. Here at just few things they have done. A club called Morley in western australia fixed the smart machines to make it look like every member was doing really well better than it really was going, the owners spent all weekend changing all their results and machines, they were rewarded with a shining star reward after Curves was alerted to this fact. I did some advertising on an internet site that is very big here in Australia I got a lot of members from it for the first time in years, I was called and sent legal letters upon letters to cease that kind of advertising and they stopped the sale of a new owner till they got the letter, by that time the respective buyer had moved on. I now have a law suit from the lessor because I cant pay the rent. There are so many stories Ive even heard of a woman who sleeps in her Curves as she has lost everything and cant afford rent unfortunately this is true. Garrys spiel was typical of all Curves well scripted as usual there wasnt anything new about it. Marc and Deb good luck and I hope you dont end up on this site but you will. Genevive please email me as I want to sue the pants of that lying b#@$%^$%$. He has gotten away with so much it has to stop!!!! ps I now live in a derelict house thanks Garry Im sure your house is lovely, safe and warm you will never change, and your daughter is safe as well not quite like mine

• I’m amazed … I worked for the franchise out of the USA, I personally met Gary .. he certainlly is a very nice person and I felt really good at my job as per my point of view helping woman,.. I worked very VERY hard I lived only for working, when franchise at my contry grew enough they were so happy and nice … but…. I got pregnant… and when I came back from my mother leave that same day they fired me. Then I realized that it is never their intention to give a better live for women… they USE us as long as we are usefull for them. I thank for all that years that I could really help every women I could. This guys changed my live in so many ways due to the economic stress my marriage ended and I had to go through a lot of things… Now as I read all of this I get very sad since it once was a shared dream but on the other side I only see reflected what I at the end realized… as everything in this world (unfortunatelly) everything is about money…. so sad…

• Wow!! I read all of this and wanted to cry!! I am NOT the only one!! My story is long however to make it short – I lost my home, my credit, my relationship with my Mom, almost my marriage and myself. I ended up having a nervous breakdown and was forced to sell my club at a HUGE loss!! The new owners closed within a year. I have not been the same. I have felt like a failure for 6 years and it has affected every aspect of my life and the lives of my husband and children!! I asked Curves for help and/or advice sooo many times and it fell on deaf ears! I was also given bad advice by a previous Vice President of Curves that started my downward spiral!! I had no back up or support from Curves! I am sorry that others are going through the same thing, however I “feel” better knowing that I am really not crazy after all!!

• Julianne Scott please get in touch with me via the admin would love to give you any help I can, Closed my aussie club 3 months ago.

• Sharen pls get in touch with me via the admin of this site.

• JS please get in touch with me via the admin of this site.

• Hi aussie z we have sent details to admin.

• New owner as of March 12th, 2012 and it has been nothing BUT a headache!! All they do is try to brow beat you into everything and the training is a joke. So rushed and shoved down your throat you don’t learn anything. I have 3 people from the corporate world of Curves lie to me about different things saying they are MANDATORY PER MY FRANCHISE AGREEMENT AND RESALE PAPERS and when i finally sent a help ticket to Curves legal department it was sent back to me that NO these things are not mandatory!! I printed it out and have it with all my paperwork. My lawyer has every piece of paperwork i have ever signed. I would dearly love to know the loopholes and ways to get out of all of this sometime. A clas action suit against them is a good thing. All they do is discourage new owners and they are lucky there are places still being bought cause ive had many close around this area.

• Patti pls get in touch with me via the admin of this website.

• Genevive I want to find out about your lawsuit, I need to get an attorney and may want to get involved with your suit. Please contact me through admin…I am going to see if they will connect me with you too. Any one who has success with an attorney please contact me!
  Are any of you still owners and facing this new brand standard changes with the new company?? More demands, more money down the drain! I would like to hear from you! Praying for a miracle and deliverance, restoration, we need help!

• If anyone has an attorney to recommend please post or email me via admin.
  Curves claims that it has re-invented itself and all its doing is re-inventing the curves nightmare!! Help!

• Yes all this new brand standards crap is just that more money going down the drain. These people need stopped!! Like one of the comments aways back we should have some kind of loophole cause we never signed anything with this new company.

• I got your email Auzzie Z. THANK YOU. Will be in touch soon

• I bought a couple of clubs back in 2011…I already sold one because there was no way I run two with no profit ( when I bought it I was told it was making money) I moved my other club last fall and just finished all the painting and now I am told that I need to paint again due to the “new curves” idea…I am also required to buy 8 starter kits for cc but will get ten! This is mandatory. Curves will ship them to me and take the money out of my account. I have not made any money at all. I still have 3.5 years left…I am not sure what to do…how can they make me buy products? I love all my people but I don’t think that it is good for me or my family to keep my club…can we get out of our contracts without fees?

• I am closing my curves, the new owners and all there manditory this that and the other thing. I have my mother that needs me and i can’t travel. They took my silversneaker payments away because i did not want to change my program then my member due payments then cleveland clinic club camp, confrence and all by jan 1 really they have drained me and i pay 95.00 a month advertising for what . My district manager is a joke no help just directions to the next pep rally . Now i get a treatning letter that i will owe them 17.800.00 if i close, it is in mybest interest to sell. I could not in good intent sell this to someone knowing what crooks they are , Dianne and Gary and now the new owners are not skipping a beat where they left off HELP

• I am Not a frenchise company we are a janitorial service in indiana we can get you work our fee [redacted] for more info call [redacted] Thank you

• Can an Australian owner get in touch with me please.

  Thank you.

  Julie