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Archive for June, 2012
ClubIndustry.com Article – LA Boxing Picks Up Franchising Steam
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012
Jun 1, 2012 12:00 PM, By Pamela Kufahl, editor-in-chief
Of the boxing franchises, LA Boxing is one of the oldest and largest. Founded in 1992 as a fighters’ gym, the original LA Boxing facility eventually began attracting non-fighters—white collar professionals. One of those professionals was Anthony Geisler, president of an online gaming and software company. In 2003, Geisler bought the gym, later opening a second location before deciding to franchise the concept in 2004.
The growth was fast initially until the recession hit, says Philip Jacobs, director of franchise development. Geisler slowed growth to ensure that existing franchisees could weather the storm.
“The storm clouds seem to have passed,” Jacobs says. “Anthony made the strategic decision to start franchising again. That’s when he recruited me.”
Jacobs joined the company in March 2011 with a 20-year background in franchise development for companies such as Mailboxes Etc., Coldwell Banker and Quiznos.
Today, the Santa Ana, CA-based company has 70 locations (12 of which are company owned) and another 60 under development, according to Jacobs.
In November 2011, the company awarded a flurry of new franchises in Alabama, California, Louisiana, Maryland, Texas and Virginia. This spring, the company announced plans to open six locations in New Orleans. It also announced franchise development in its top three growth markets of Philadelphia (10 locations planned in the next two years), Seattle (six locations to open in the next 18 months) and the New York City area (30 locations in the next 24 months).
As the number of open franchises has grown, so has the company’s revenue. In 2009, LA Boxing brought in $3.4 million, growing to $3.5 million in 2010 and $3.7 million in 2011. In 2012, LA Boxing is on track to grow even further, bringing in $1 million in the first quarter, according to Jacobs.
The buzz around mixed martial arts (MMA) has fed into the company’s growth, Jacobs says, and the upcoming boxing competitions slated for the Olympics should continue to fuel that.
The company promotes its hour-long classes as a quick and non-intimidating way to get in shape.
“We believe that boxers are the most well-conditioned athletes in the world, and they did not get like that by getting punched,” Jacobs says. “They got like that by working out and dedicating to a routine. So that is what we’ve done. We took the exercising and the dedication that makes a boxer so well-conditioned and put it in a clean, friendly and welcoming environment suitable to soccer moms, dads and their kids.”
AT A GLANCE
- Company: LA Boxing, Santa Ana, CA
- Owner: Anthony Geisler
- Founded: 1992
- Franchising began: 2004
- Open locations as of May 2012: 70
- Franchises under development as of May 2012: 60
- 2011 Revenue: $3.7 million
- First quarter 2012 revenue: $1 million
- Average start-up costs: $230,000
- Initial franchise fee: $30,000
- Royalty fee: 6% of gross monthly income
- Target demographic: Communities with 100,000 people in a five-mile radius with household incomes of $50,000 to $70,000
- Average number of members per club: 550
- Average membership dues: $70 per month for unlimited classes
- Average personal training fee: $80 per hour
- Average facility size: 4,000 to 5,000 square feet
- Type of equipment: Average of 30-40 heavy bags, regulation boxing ring and some cardio and weight equipment
LA Boxing® Knocks Out Franchise Agreement in North Jersey
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012
Company Plans Call for Nearly 15 Additional Locations to Open Throughout the State
TOTOWA, N.J. – LA Boxing®, the world’s largest boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) fitness franchise, announced today that it signed a franchise agreement with local entrepreneur Franco Pacelli to open a new LA Boxing gym in North Jersey, which will be located at 360 Route 46 in Totowa.
Planned to open in September 2012, the new LA Boxing will be the first of nearly 15 additional locations the company plans to have open or in development throughout New Jersey within the next 18 months. Currently, there are seven locations already operating throughout the state—three in North Jersey, two in Central Jersey, and two in South Jersey.
“We’re looking to grow throughout New Jersey with franchisees like Franco who are business savvy and fitness-minded,” said Philip Jacobs, LA Boxing Director of Franchise Development, adding that there is a high demand throughout the market for alternatives to large, impersonal fitness centers. “We have found that local consumers are increasingly interested in fitness concepts like LA Boxing that offer an unconventional way to stay in shape and break from their typical routine.”
With nearly 75 locations open nationwide and another 50 in the development pipeline, expansion throughout New Jersey is part of the company’s strategic franchise expansion plan which calls for more than 220 locations to open nationwide by 2015. The gyms will be concentrated in most major U.S. cities including Chicago, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Seattle, among others.
For more information on LA Boxing or franchise opportunities, visit http://laboxing.com/franchising/ or contact Philip Jacobs at: (714) 668-0911 or philip@laboxing.com.
About LA Boxing
LA Boxing® is the world’s largest boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts fitness franchise with nearly 75 locations open nationwide and another 50 in various stages of development. The LA Boxing Workout™—aimed at suburban men, women, and children—which burns 800-1,000 calories per hour, is taught by professionally-trained boxers, kickboxers and mixed martial arts fighters. For more information about LA Boxing, visit http://laboxing.com/.
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LA Boxing Baton Rouge – In the news again
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012
By ANGELA CHUSTZ-PARENT theadvocate.com
June 13, 2012
Since opening its doors in February 2010, LA Boxing Baton Rouge has grown rapidly reaching 800 members in its edgy fitness center located at 4520 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite #110. Franchise owner Gabe Miller opened the Baton Rouge location as a place for local cage fighters to train. He also wanted to reach out to a larger community of people interested in taking fitness to an entirely different level.
“You don’t have to be a cage fighter to be a part of the sport,” Miller said. “We have more women than men who participate in some of the classes we offer. We give people an opportunity to lose weight and tone through self-defense. We cater to the working class moms and dads and those who want to be competitive athletes. We also have martial arts available for the kids and summer programs for high school athletes.”
Miller has world-class instructors, who are professional athletes, teaching the LA Boxing programs. Muay Thai, Boxing, Kickboxing, Strength and Conditioning, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Mixed Martial Arts are just some of the classes that LA Boxing offers.
On Saturday, June 16, LA Boxing instructors Thomas Webb and Dustin Johnson along with several students will be competing in the USA-MMA Stacked 2 event at the Baton Rouge River Center.
“Our members get to see all aspects of the sport. They get to see the technical side of what their instructors teach them, and see their instructors get ready to compete for a cage fight, kickboxing or boxing match or even a World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition,” Miller said. “The support from the members that the coaches have during their competitions is unbelievable.”
Miller has recently expanded the South Sherwood location and has plans to open a second Baton Rouge location by the end of the year.
