CURVES: Say Goodbye to Gary Heavin!

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

• I am very interested in participating in any legal action against Curves International that are underway. I am located in Canada.

  Please send e-mail address of genevive thank you.

• I too am very interested in participating in any and all legal actions against Curves International. I am located in Pennsylvania. A friend of mine thinks she may have found something that can help us all. This new company that Curves International sold too is not just partners, they are SHAREHOLDERS and all us franchisees never had a say in any of it and also whoever signed there papers before they sold out should definately be able to close or sell without recourse since we never signed any papers with these new people!!! This was admitted at one of the so called supposidly required / mandatory Group Action Meetings. This came right from someone who works for Curves International. So i took all this infor to my lawyer. Hope this is of help to others also

• Genevive please contact me regarding your lawsuit.

• Connie i feel the same way as you. I could never sell this to some unsuspecting person and put them through the nitemare ive been through in the last year. Weather i knew the person or not i wouldn’t do it.

• Hope i am in your same situation. Dealing with all this new crap. Need some info about a class action lawsuit if there is any started in the United States. I am in Pennsylvania

• Patti, please let us know if you find out more regarding getting out since we didnt sign any new contracts…I had one attorney look at my franchise agreement and he didnt seem to offer any hope….I did hear that an attorney named Ronald Gardner with Dady and Gardner in minneapolis, min. has helped some curves owners in the past, he also helped them set up a franchise association…I havent communicated with him yet, so I dont have any details as to what he did with any previous cases. Look him up on the internet. I will post any other info I get. Feel free to contact me through admin. If you get any more info regarding class action suits, or any attorney that sees a way out let me know! Take care

• Thank you for the info Hope. I will definately keep you informed of any new information i get. I will check those lawyers out. Ive been doing some research also to see if there are any good franchise lawyers in my area. Have a great day. Keep your chin up we will all get thru this somehow.

• Patti, did you ever connect or hear anything from genevive? I tried connecting with her and never got a response…I sent an email to Ronald Gardner and he replied and said he would call me to discuss, I asked if he had any current curves owners he is representing and told him if he does I would like some info. So I am waiting to get his call, will let you know. You hang in too, and regardless of all this I wish you a blessed christmas.

• I never did hear from Genevive either. I will be speaking with Ronald Gardner today at 11:00. I am very anxious to hear what he has to say. I faxed over about 13 pages of different things on Friday so he could review them before our conversation today. I have a positive feeling about it all. So nice to know he has done other Curves things in the past and is well versed with there franchise agreements and all. I will let you know what he says. I want to wish you a very Merry Blessed Christmas and New Years also.

• Hope i spoke with Mr Gardner from Dady & Gardner law firm. Awesome guy! I am having him represent me. He asked me how i found him and i gave him your name if you don’t mind. Told him we have been chatting on here. I feel very positive i will be able to close with not owing Curves very much if anything. I really think they will back down when they see he is my lawyer. He is very, very knowledgable about Curves and there franchise agreements.

• Patti that is so great!! I really like him and was impressed with his knowledge. I dont know the details of your situation in comparison to mine…I hope you will keep me up to date on the progress! Im not sure what I am going to do yet..how much time do you have left on your contract?

• Hello Hope, I have 4 more years on my contract. My first year will be up in a couple months end of March. So this is when i plan on closing. I sent Mr Gardner my franchise papers and retainer fee overnite which they should have received this past Friday. Wanted to get the ball rolling ASAP. Will definately keep you informed of my progress. Your in my prayers as are everyone on here that is or has experienced this nitemare with this franchise.

• WARNING!!!

  I just want to caution anyone posting here looking for legal action. Your first mistake was buying a curves. Your next one is making an emotional decision to pay an attorney. NO ATTORNEY is going to make you whole again. Rather, they will milk you for every cent you have left, drag you through years of litigation, and deliver you nothing. Just ask the last group of dunderheads that hired the sleaze ball Robert Zarco. Oh, wait! They are gagged from talking. Don’t be a fool again.

• Mine is already wrapping up nicely and only took a couple weeks and this is not the attorney I’m using. Found somebody way better. Walking out of all of this smiling ear to ear. Your probably a snitch for the a-holes at curves so whatever.

• Hope if you would like to speak with me further about this please get my email off admin. We don’t need to have this GUEST whomever it is in on our conversation. Obviously he/she or they are a snitch for curves international or another curves owner or former owner who is very disgruntled and didn’t so enough research to find a good lawyer. We don’t need to be called names or harrassed

• Hi Patti! Yes we need to connect!! I agree with you regarding spies on the posts…because of that I am going by a different name, I chose Hope because thats what I need! One thing guest is right about and that is the first mistake was buying curves! I will try to connect with you through admin….if you see a different name just dont ignore right off. I am so happy you have found hope and relief ahead. I will pray for you too. May God bless us with a Happy, Healthy, New Year, and set us free from all bondage!! Hope to connect soon! You can also request my info, email from admin

• Dear Gary and Diane,

  Firstly, I want to thank you for making such a huge difference in my life and for all of the opportunities you provided to me. They were life changing. . As the Assistant Director of Mentors, a franchise owner and mentor, I was thrilled to have my dream job and as a boss goes, I couldn’t have asked for better people to mentor me not only in my job, but in life. To this day, I use many things you have taught me in my everyday life. I have the upmost respect for you guys and wish you nothing but the very best in whatever the future calls you to do. Curves will not be the same without your dedication and ownership. I have never seen you do the wrong thing. I guess it was time however to move on. Wishing you and your family all of the best in the future…

  Paula Sparks

• It’s not possible that these people did the right thing. Curves have closed at an unbelievable rate in my area. The leadership had to be awful.

• Gary and I were friends and he ripped me off of a business deal for a measly $10,000! Even after he became a multi millionaire he never reached out to help the few of us whose shoulders he stood on to get where he is today. Shame on you Gary!

• I worked for curves for 7 years…we have closed all but three in seattle leaving so many frustrated members. I do not know this new company but just the fact that they are keeping Gary involved tells me there is no hope. Owners get out while you can. My former boss lost her shirt. I wondered why thrre is advertising agin and not just on cable. Where were you when owners needed you G&D. You have gotten rich on the backs of many. I now work at a small gym in my hometown I have lost a dress size with a real trainer and I would never work for another curves. But like I said there are only three left here.

• Hi, Patti and admin

  I am interested in hearing how your case is coming along?

  Thanks!

  Another owner who has closed

• I can tell by the posts that this change taking place within the Curves Company is definitely getting rid of the illiterate and lazy owners! Good move Curves, AND Monty Sharma!!!

• Barbara, thanks for sharing your amazing intelligence…..so good to know that you are superior to everyone else. Watch out…. pride comes before the fall….

• Hi Barbara Pluym,

  You should open your own Curves. Sure, 5,000 of the 7,500 USA Curves have closed in the last 5 years. (Can you imagine Curves Intl sold to those idiots?)

  2,500 USA Curves remain but many of those owners would LOVE to sell to someone smart, and energetic like you! Buy one! You’ll probably LOVE it! (And you can show those 5,000 closed owners how it’s done!)

  Penny

• Hi Penny, tell it like it is !!!!!!! Soooo true! I was checking the numbers and found that there are aprox….2500 clubs left and out of those 2500 there are aprox…600 for sale!!! 25 percent are trying to GET OUT!!!!! ( For all you fact people please note I said aprox..) Out of all those clubs for sale the majority wont sell and those owners are forced to close down….how is it going to look when the next 500 close and there are only 2000 left….what is curves going to do about all these illiterate people other than continue to make money on their misfortune, due to curves deception and greed!!! I guess thats what all the smart curves corporate people do, plan how they can continue to deceive and bankrupt the women who gave their hearts, and their money…if curves corporate is the example of intelligence then I dont want to be part of that group!! Eventually people like Barbara Pluym and Curves International will get what they deserve…they are not god.

• WOW I am glad I sold my Curves locations for a profit years ago! I saw from the beginning how easily they handed out territories with no market research or qualification whatsoever. I was amazed at the people running some of them in my area. I was just lucky to be the first to open. Made some good money but saw quickly how incompetent and greedy Curves was all along. Some of my locations had just enough members to make a decent profit but then Curves got greedy and sold a new territory right smack in the middle. My members dropped at both locations below the break even point. The poor person that bought that one in the middle NEVER made money. Never did Curves give the support we owner paid for. WOW after reading the horror stories here, I am so fortunate to have cut the cord. Shame on you Gary for allowing your greed to hurt so many families. Karma. that’s all I can say!

• Curves franchisees and former franchisees:

  It’s really time to bring Curves’ closing practices out in the open and put a stop to the insensitive and unethical way Curves continues to treat its failed and failing franchisees.

  While there are not a lot of comments lately, make no mistake – this is not a “dead” thread… there are a tremendous number of franchisees reading every day as they search for answers and help… they just aren’t posting.

  I need to hear from you. I need to hear your stories – what you have gone through and what you are going through… What Curves demanded from you and what they settled for (if you’re already through the closing process) I would like to get copies of correspondence that they’ve sent you. I will keep it confidential and won’t post anything without your consent.

  If you can provide me with some current demands, especially from the current owners, I will reach out to franchisee attorneys and others in the hopes of getting some assistance pro bono or on contingency. I will also try to reach out to the company to get them to change the practices and policies toward those who believed and invested in their brand, and have lost enough already. I believe Curves & North Castle Partners will be better off taking a more enlightened approach, rather than face a national PR campaign and petition to stop their current tactics.

  Please send an email to UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com if you wish to share your story, information, documents, or even if you just wish to receive our email updates (no spam). If you have items to mail, email me for the address.

  Thanks,

  ADMIN
  UnhappyFranchisee.com
  UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com

• I owed a Curves. I did not know anything about the fitness industry prior to that which is the only reason I went into a Franchise. They promised to help and teach. As time went on I tried to learn what my members wanted so that I could serve them. I felt that my members wanted more than a circuit. or at the very least a good circuit with new hydraulics. I bought new ones but you couldn’t buy them from Curves because the new ones they sold weren’t smooth. Our Power Workouts were awesome but having to use their advertising meant noone would ever know. The Smart came one year too late, Curves Circuit with Zumba was one year too late. The stretching circuit was awesome but they never advertised it. We were never allowed to try anything new or fun. I wonder if my Curves would have benefited having a Weight Watchers class inside? No way! Curves wanted the weight loss industry too!

  I too would love an accounting of our ad money. It was my understanding that this money was restricted for advertising yet I do remember they gave some to their franchise club so already we know it was not used exclusively for advertising. I’ll help in any lawsuit and will even gladly audit the advertising revenue! I am a Certified Public Accountant. and can be contacted at [redacted].

• Hi I am going through pretty much same thing. I closed in Oct 2012 and was only opened 7 mths. I was lossing to much money and could not afford to loose anymore. Curves lied to me about things they promoised me. Now after about 6 mths after closing i heard from them via e-mail from a company they hired a credit companty with a demanding letter asking for 14 thousand for royalites and advertising which I never benifited from because I am in Canada. I just heard again from the cerditer and now they are down to $4000 and I have to give them an answer today. I feel like they deserve nothing. I lost over 50 thosands a full time paying job, started to get migrains that I never had in my life due to stress and depression. I don’t have 4000 dollars to waste on them when they did nothing for me but put me in a bad finacial rut. I am not sure what I should do, I am in Canada and I am nervous when they say they will take me to court in Texas, etc. If anybody can help it would be great especailly any from Canada who may know more on the laws between the 2 different states or has experienced the same…

• I have known Gary & Diane since the inception of Curves. I watched many Curve owners prosper and enrich there new lives. Curves was and is responsible for giving each franchisee a real shot at he American dream. Great Work Gary & Diane.

  Your Friend,

  Garey Mesmer

• The American Dream that Gary & Diane offer is for Gary and Diane. I had problems with getting Curves going. I asked for help and was given just the same info that they gave everyone else. Nothing specific for our area or my concerns. The Area director only contacted me twice and said that she was too help me on a weekly basis. Well twice in 4 years wasn’t much help either. So I went to Texas to get more help. I was given a promise from Gary that if I followed specific instructions “like only opening during the hours they say” etc that I would be profitable. I did what they asked and immediately lost customers. There are so many things that they said to do that lost me money. My “American Dream” was to lose $60 k. I sold for $1,000 dollars and after a year they went belly up too. I loved the employees and the members, it was really hard to leave them. I cared for my members. How did Gary “care” for my wife and I? They sent me a bill for another $4500. I don’t see how anyone can say they care about franchise owners who are their customers. They are just about greed – only helping those who are making them money. Everyone else – well see Tanya’s statement above.

• I NEED HELP, YES, I’M SCARED OF THE THREATS AND BULLYING….

• I closed my business in November of 2012. I was treated like worthless trash in the days leading up to my closing. My area director kept telling me “oh well this new company will really help and if you can just pay to buy this program and go to this convention, your business will prosper!” I was losing money daily. I was a wreck, my relationship with my husband and kids was in jeopardy and I was done. I did all of the “after hour” parties they asked me to do. I put up all the lead boxes and flyers, did all the social media and newspaper ads I could afford and nothing! They made me feel like I wasnt doing enough, and I was! I heard nothing from them after I closed and I am now getting phone calls and emails from some collection company saying I owe them $51,000 for the rest of my contract royalties and ad fees! Really??? You didnt advertise for me when I had the business so why do you need money from me to NOT advertise for the small shabby remaining franchises. I wish I had never heard of Curves!

• Dear Pamela, have you tried contacting Attorney Ron Gardner, I know a few who used him to help them. I know this is such a horrible nightmare and loss, the stress is unreal.

• Regina, I know what you have gone through, Im in the same boat…I havent closed yet, been trying every thing I can, inlcuding tried to give the business away…no luck, nothing but stress and more problems, so Im looking at closing again, and contacting the attorney…Ive lost more money than I can stomach, its taken a toll on my health, my home, future financial security, my marriage, I have nothing left to give. Now I just want the nightmare off my back, and breath…then maybe regroup to see how I will survive and live…right now living in my car sounds better than dealing with curves, I just need peace.

• Hi, I have been a curves owner since January of 2012. I bought a business that I was aware was sinking. However, my thoughts were that my drive and desire to help people with their fitness goals and weight loss dreams could turn the business around. I do not feel as though I have totally failed…I have made positive changes to the business, just not enough.
  After changing locations in November 2012 (for 500/month less rent), I still have not made ANY profits. I feel as though I am constantly having to “DO” something to keep my head afloat!
  I am now truly wanting to untie my hands from this daily headache. I have dumped way too much personal funds into this business just to pay the bills! In a city of 30,500 people, I am in competition with 11 other fitness facilities in a 5 mile radius! I cannot continue to throw my husband’s hard earned money into my unprofitable business.
  Yeah, If I was there ALL day, EVERY day I could MAYBE turn over a small profit. However, that would be at the mercy of my children and my husband (which I would lose due to lack of family commitment)
  Does anyone out there have any suggestions, or insight that they would like to share?

• I wish I knew about all this before!!! My ex-husband and I owned 2 Curves in SC. When the business started going down hill there was no help at all no encouragement no suggestions ..not a thing and we eventually had to close the doors. This took a huge toll on our family..finances and eventually our marriage along with Bankruptcy.They were out to get your money they didn’t care about anything else. Very upset how they ran this program and I will never step foot inside a Curves again! !!

• We in East Tawas MIchaigan (a retirement community) are very sad to see curves being taken over by a company who boasts in a letter they are targeting 20-40 year olds, sounds like discrimination to me. We have a large number of seniors who attend and I am sure we are not the only facility who does.
  Do we need a class action suit started?

  The whole basis of curves has been shot, it is now for 20-40 year olds who can get on the ground and do different exercises our bodies will not allow us to do anymore. Not only that but its going to cost a lot more money to go, more money for the curves complete, more money for the equipment. What the heck.

  Frustrated and disgusted is what I and others are, why didn’t they just start a gymn of their own.

  :(

• Kerry, very well said!! My club is majority seniors and always has been, I dont know where they get the idea that 20-40 years will want to come, that age group has many other places they prefer that offer many other amenities and exercise classes as well as cute guys!! My members have been very unhappy with the new direction of curves and I am in the process of closing. Its no longer great to be at curves.

• I am all for a class action suit so count me in.
  We own a small franchise and have lost money since we opened in January of 2012. Wendy Law told me about the 28,600 we would owe them if we abandon or close. We DO NOT need any stereo equipment or clothes to stack up beside curves bars, let alone mats, machines etc. etc. Frustrated in Sturgis

• Gary and Diane Heavins are communist republican bastards

• We would be interested in speaking to any current or former Curves owners about their experiences. We successfully brought claims on behalf of former franchisees of Contours Express. The stories I see from Curves owners are eerily similar. Email us with your contact information and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

  Jonathan E. Fortman
  LAW OFFICE OF JONATHAN E. FORTMAN, LLC
  250 St. Catherine Street
  Florissant, MO 63031
  (314) 522-2312
  jef@fortmanlaw.com
  http://www.fortmanlaw.com

• Gary & Diane…you changed my life! I had the genuine pleasure of knowing you both and working for Curves as a manager, a mentor with the amazing Royette, and an owner for close to 15 years total. I started when I was 21 and those years were the best years ever! I cannot explain it in less than a books worth of words how I am forever grateful to the opportunity that Gary & Diane allowed me to be a part of. They knew me by name & going to the convention for 9 years in a row was by far the highlight of my year, year after year. The people I met in corporate along with my fellow mentors and franchisees have made a mark in my heart that will live forever. I was obsessed with Curves in an extremely healthy way and I believe the experiences I had during this time made me a better person in every way possible. I learned life lessons that would not have been possible otherwise. I only wish I had the chance to say good bye to Gary & Diane, being my ending to Curves in my life had absolutely nothing to do with the Curves family, product or values. I was the luckiest girl in the world to wake up every morning with a yearning to get to my club. It was the best job in the world and I put 100% of me into it and the return was way beyond financial, it was a life I dreamt of. I want to thank all of corporate, Gary & Diane, and all of the members who have touched impacted my life. Each & every one of you were a blessing and will be forever in my heart. Believe in Curves…it works in every way imaginable!! I am the biggest fan and always will be.
  IT IS GREAT TO BE AT CURVES.
  God bless and health & happiness to all.
  Gianine Caporale
  2002 Manager of the year/Mentor/Franchisee(Queens)
  Bronx, N.Y.

• Gary, you were a dreamer and although you failed
  many times you still accomplished your dream.
  Good for you!

  Strike while the iron is hot and know when to
  hold em and fold em! That’s wisdom!

• 6 months left on my contract. Refuse to have anything to do with the new Jillian workout and all the new expenses. Can’t wait to be done. Sad day for my ladies.

• I came across this site as I am searching for former mentors who worked for Curves International. It was a position I enjoyed for two years. As of today it is still my favorite job!

  Imagine my surprise when I saw a post on here from Paula Sparks. She was the person who handed out mentoring assignments. PAULA SPARKS WAS THE PART OF THE JOB I DETESTED. I last held this position over ten years ago.

• My current self would not have put up with the bigotry and racism I endured via PAULA SPARKS. It was already a little odd to work for what was at the time the “largest fitness franchise in the world” and be one of the only person’s of color.

  PAULA SPARKS was rude, belittling, disrespectful, racist and downright MEAN! Curves International STILL owes me money for mileage and a job she refused to pay me for.

  After all of these years and I can still remember the hateful way she treated me. I am glad to know she had a rewarding experience with Curves. For the most part I did too.

• It has been a year I have been out of my contract it expired 2/14/13. When I read post that Curves wanted to get rid of bad lazy owners it makes my blood boil. I don’t have to defind myself only I know how hard I worked so glad to be free from this but my friend in neighboring county fell for all the hype and resigned for 2 more years! I begged her not to but she thought they would be different! She has pumped thousands (from her retirement savings)into her businesses and is loosing $1,000 – $2,000 per store a month.Talked to her last week and this new Jillian thing is not working! Sounds to me like same s_ _ _ _ different day!

• I have been a Curves owner for 9 years. While I haven’t always agreed with decisions and instructions that have come down from corporate, I have tried to keep an open mind and adapt to change. The clubs that closed in our area were smaller ones that didn’t have enough size to weather the economic downturn. I originally had 2 clubs but closed the smaller club about 3 years ago due to just that situation. Yes, I lost my investment, but I knew that was always a possibility when I bought my franchises.
  We have a fantastic area director in Rachel Treasure, and have had many local trainings and webinars. Most of my members have welcomed the new changes…looking for ways to stay motivated and interested. Not everyone wants to do “Jillian” but we have had all ages of members trying (including 1 90 yr old and several in their 80’s!) I haven’t lost any insurance members…but I have gained a number of new younger members because of the Jillian workout. I don’t agree with the use of our advertising dollars, but I’d like to work with the new New Castle leadership if possible and not burn any bridges.

• I have been a member since 2001 and only took a year or so off do to a car accident. I worked at a Curves for a few years also. And When I worked there and before we had so many members that loved Curves…. There is still quite a few members that has also been there for close to same many years. Now our Curves is closing…They have health and other issues that is making them close in a hurry..by June 30,2014…and cooperate wont even help them advertise it for sale…IDts like being dumped on your back side…go find another Curves that may stay opened or not…to transfer to……not a nice thing for a fitness place that was opened in the name of Christanity…….. We use to be proud members of our Curves….Why Gary and Diane did you sell us out?????? We belived in you and you let us down…Why Why??? And yes at one time it was a large member Curves…Now closing….