Posted April 4, 2013 1:11 pm by

GoodLife Fitness keeps growing, acquires Extreme Fitness franchise GoodLife Fitness founder and CEO David Patchell-Evans says the health-club chain began in 1979 with a single club and a solitary full-time employee.

  By Monday, when GoodLife finalized its acquisition of the Extreme Fitness franchise, those numbers had swelled to levels Patchell-Evans might not have imagined when he first entered the fitness business.

  Adding Extreme’s 13 locations brings GoodLife to more than 300 outlets nationwide and swells its workforce to more than 12,600 employees. GoodLife now claims more than 877,000 members but Patchell-Evans still hopes to cater to each one’s needs.

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“Even though we’re big, we try to act like we’re small,” Patchell-Evans says. “It’s about looking after one person at a time.”

For the past year GoodLife has expanded its reach in the local fitness market by acquiring financially embattled but potentially profitable rivals. In 2012, GoodLife bought four locations formerly controlled by Premier Fitness, the debt-ridden fitness franchise that went under last year.

  And this year it absorbed Extreme, whose U.S.-based ownership group sold the chain to satisfy a long list of creditors.health club news ABC Billing Company,health club news AMERI SHAPE,health club news amerishape,health club news anytime fitness,health club news ASF Billing Company,health club news asf international,health club news butterfly life,health club news contours express,health club news curves for women,health club news enroll members,health club news fitness ,health club newsfitness center,health club news fitness life marketing,health club news fitness marketing,health club news fitness promotions,health club news golds gym,health club news world gym,health club news gym,health club news Gym Marketing,health club news Gym promotions,health club news health,health club news health club,health club news health club for sale,health club news Health Club Marketing,health club news  Health Club Promotion,health club news  fitness Consultants,health club news health club promotions,health club news Health Clubs,health club news join health club,health club news Ladies Fitness,health club news Ladies Workout Express,health club news lady of america,health club news NAC Billing Company,health club news Peak Performance,health club news planet fitness,health club news Powerful Promotions,health club news powerhouse gym,health club news Professional Fitness Marketing,health club news Raise EFT $6,health club news Slim and tone,health club news snap fitness,health club news spa studio owners,health club news Targeted fitness,health club news marketing that generates new fitness,health club news  Thousands of health clubs,health club news   world health club,health club news workout express,health club news join,health club newshealth club closed,health club news health club opening,health club newsclub solutions magazine,health club news s,health club news24 Hour Fitness,health club newsAnytime fitness,health club news  Bally Total Fitness,health club newsHealth Club Management ,health club newsCrunch Fitness,health club newsClub One,health club newsCurves,health club newsEquinox,health club newsHealth Fitness Corp.,health club newsLifestyle Family Fitness,health club newsPlanet Fitness,health club newsPlus One Management,health club newsPowerhouse Gyms,health club newsSnap Fitness,health club newsSpectrum Athletic Clubs,health club newsSport & Health,health club newsTown Sports International,health club newsSports Club Co.,health club newsUrban Active,health club newsWellbridgeHealth Club,health club newsWestern Athletic,health club newsWorld Gym,health club news virgin active,health club newsworkout anytime,health club news la boxing,health club news 9 rounds fitness,health club newsweight lifting gym,health club news health spa,health club news attorney general,health club news health club contract,health club news club enhancement fee,health club news health club billing,health club news health club fraud,health club news health club franchise,health club news gym franchise ,health club newsbreaking industry news,health club newshealth club news,health club news

  Patchell-Evans says the new locations’ transition from Extreme to GoodLife will unfold in stages over the next 12 months. Signage at the new clubs will change within a month, while renovations and upgrades will take three months to a year.

  He says the majority of Extreme’s employees were rehired in similar jobs with GoodLife and adds that, because the two clubs had similar membership rates, Extreme customers will experience a smooth changeover.

  Long-term, however, he hopes members notice a difference in the quality of their gym experience.

“The benefit of being larger is that we can invest in infrastructure,” Patchell-Evans says. “We’re going to assimilate these clubs and change their culture to a GoodLife culture. No-one does everything perfect, but our underlying assumption is that we’re here to look after people.”

The acquisition gives GoodLife unparalleled presence among big-box gyms in the GTA. The club now has 82 locations in the Toronto area, including five new spots downtown.

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