By Matt Purdy
correspondent
In the world of finance, there is an often-discouraging notion that you have to have money to get money. In the world of fitness, there is sometimes an equally-discouraging feeling that you have to be in shape to get in shape. Knowing that you aren’t in the best physical condition can make it that much more difficult to lace up a pair of jogging shoes and chug down the sidewalk in full view of the neighbors, let alone join a gym full of bouncy fitness buffs and alien-looking apparatuses.
If you happen to be a woman, that’s where Curves for Women comes in. Sticking with the finance analogy, Curves offers sort of a low-interest loan—a way to break the cycle of not being able to obtain what you don’t already have.
Chapel Hill native Camille Andrews, who opened a Curves franchise in Carrboro Plaza last July, said that Curves seeks to provide a time-efficient workout in a supportive environment. The simple, 30-minute Curves program, she says, targets women who wouldn’t normally expect to find themselves walking into a gym. She repeatedly refers to the supportive atmosphere and "contagious enthusiasm" among everyone who walks through the door.
When she talks about Curves, Andrews’ own almost girlish enthusiasm is clearly evident in her eyes, in her smile, and in the rapidity of her speech. "It’s so obtainable, so do-able: anyone can get 30 minutes three times a week to alter their health. Most of us already spend an hour and a half a week frettin’ over the fact that we’re not in shape. Why not use that time to get in shape and feel good? We owe it to ourselves. Women too often neglect themselves to do for others," she said.
Doing for others is a big part of what makes running Curves enjoyable and fulfilling for Andrews. "I married into a large family in Carrboro and I really learned what it is to have people help you," she said. "I especially learned that when my husband passed away eight years ago. I’ve had wonderful family support and friends in my life and it’s nice to be able to give that back to women."
The Curves environment is very different from a traditional gym. In fact, it doesn’t look much like a gym at all. Curves occupies a relatively small, 1200 square foot space next to Farm Bureau Insurance in Carrboro Plaza. Inside, there is one big room with a grey carpet. The workout area consists of 8 simple-looking exercise machines arranged in a circle facing each other.
There are no mirrors lining the walls and there is no clink-clank of iron weights. The machines use hydraulic resistance and do not require adjustment. Customers work their way around the circle, spending 30 seconds on each machine and making a total of three rotations. There really isn’t much to it, and that’s the idea. The barebones setup makes Curves simple and approachable, both as a workout and as a business.
In many ways, Curves is the ultimate franchise-in-a-box: there is minimal remodeling necessary, no inventory to worry about, no product to produce, and, according to Andrews, advertising is mostly word-of-mouth. In January, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Curves as the number one fastest growing franchise and the number two overall best franchise, behind only Subway.
Andrews said that Curves locations target "essential shopping areas"-- places where people need to go anyway for groceries, haircuts, etc. In other words, Curves generally occupies about the same locations as video stores and laundromats and it seems that they can be spaced with about the same density. Andrews’ Curves currently has about 440 members and she already has plans to open additional locations in Timberline Shopping Center and Cole Park Plaza.
According to Entrepreneur.com, the start-up costs for a Curves franchise range from $25.6 to $31.1 thousand-- relatively cheap compared to $52 thousand to $191 thousand for a Subway and $300 thousand to $2 million for a Gold’s Gym.
Entrepreneur.com cautions that fast growing franchises can be problematic for owners because, with so many new locations appearing, the parent company may not be able to keep up with training and support. Andrews says that, in her experience, Curves International has been very supportive. "They provide training and workshops to make owners as capable and well-informed as we can be," she said.
Andrews runs her Curves with a staff of 5, composed of her fiance (a personal trainer and the only male allowed), her two daughters, a girlfriend, and a Curves member. Andrews’ mother, at age "she’d kill me if I told you" is also a Curves member. Andrews points out that, as women age, resistance training can be an effective way to fight osteoporosis.
The health of the community and the people in it are very important to Andrews. Her Curves collected 900 pounds of food for the North Carolina food bank this spring and she plans to hold a food drive annually. For Breast Cancer Awareness Week, Andrews waives the joining fee for women who show proof of a breast exam. "I just love this town and look forward to being more involved," she said. "I’m glad every day when I wake up that I get to go do this. There’s not a lot of people who can say that."