Interview with Daren Carter (Contours Express)

Interview with Daren Carter (Contours Express)

In the following interview we share a few words with a leading entrepreneur who has been involved with franchising for a lot of time.

We hope it will be useful for all of you thinking about  starting your own company in Bulgaria.

We found his story really inspiring.

Thanks to Julia Fogle and Daren Carter for their time.

Biography

In 1984 Daren Carter, just two years out of high school, opened his first co-ed fitness center in Nicholasville, a small community in central Kentucky. With a very limited budget, success did not come right away. Daren and his partner worked intently on increasing their membership while at the same time spending off hours in seminars and workshops focusing on exercise and nutritional guidance. After several years his dedication began to pay off.

In the early 90’s Daren opened another co-ed facility, this one nearly five times larger than the original club. Daren’s success soon became known across the country as he began serving as consultant for centers throughout the USA. Even with his clubs and personal career thriving, Daren recognized that there was still an unmet need in the fitness industry.

He soon set out to develop a unique fitness center where women could feel comfortable. Based on his knowledge of physiology and many years of experience, Daren knew that the importance of weight-bearing equipment did not just apply to men. He decided to use similar equipment, scaled down to fit a woman’s body, so the value of the workout would not be compromised. The first Contours Express opened in August of 1998 in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Women would now be afforded the opportunity to choose a workout that included both positive and negative resistance. Since that time women nationwide have chosen the increased benefits offered by the Contours Express workout.

Under Daren’s leadership, Contours Express has expanded to more than 370 domestic locations and greater than 220 clubs in twenty additional countries. Daren currently serves as CEO of Contours Express, International.

Interview

Bulgaria Franchise Network: How and where started making business?

Daren Carter: Contours Express began in 1998 in Nicholasville, Kentucky, USA

BFN: Why decided to start franchising?

DC: First location did very well and was following model set by our competitors like Curves.

BFN: How many franchises do you have?

DC: 514

BFN: What makes you different from other competitors?

DC: We are the only women’s fitness circuit training franchise that offers real weights not hydraulics

BFN: Why are you interested in franchising in Bulgaria?

DC: We are currently in 27 countries and would like to continue to expand worldwide.

BFN: Are you planning further expansion in other countries? If yes, which?

DC: Yes, we are currently in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom so we are looking to expand in all countries where we do not have any gyms.

BFN: What are your expansion plans in Bulgaria?

DC: We would like to see a Master franchisor purchase the rights to Contours Express and open at least 5 gyms in the first two years.

BFN: What’s the profile of the franchisee/Master Franchisor are you looking for?

DC: Someone that has an interest in helping women, a hard worker and a knowledgeable business sense.

BFN: In this economic crisis, what are the main advantages of a franchise like yours?

DC: It is low cost and highly supported

BFN: Thank you very much, would you like to add something more?

DC: Our proven methods of operation allow our fitness centers to open in spaces as small as 1200 square feet (120 square meters) and be successful in any size town or city with a population of 7,000 or larger. The systems are easy to learn and follow, and are designed to make each franchise profitable in the shortest amount of time possible. As your support system our goal is your complete success, below are a few of the items you will be provided as a Contours Express owner:

• Use & License of Contours Express Brand
• Franchise Support Staff & Activities
• Annual Convention
• Individual Location Website
• Toll-Free Phone & Email Support
• Monthly Newsletters
• Web-Based Marketing Library
• Preferred Vendors / Negotiated Pricing
• Internal Marketing Promotions
• On-Site Marketing Specialist
• Monthly Marketing Calendar
• Quarterly Marketing Packages
• Access to our online library where we house 100’s of marketing pieces and ideas.

For more information about franchising in Bulgaria with Contour Express, take a look here.

Contours Express

The Franchisor talks

We began franchising in 1998 in the United States, and internationally in 2003.  We currently have over 500 franchises, with almost 200 franchises in the US, and over 300 franchises internationally in 27 different countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom- and we are expanding rapidly worldwide!  Women across the world, many whom have never even been to a gym before, are embracing our concept.

Contours Express is a ladies only fitness club that offers women both a comfortable and fun place to exercise and easy to follow weight loss program.  The exercise program only takes 29 minutes, three days per week. Our clubs are especially designed for women, regardless of their skill level, who prefer to exercise in comfort and privacy.  Club members receive personal attention and enjoy fun social experience as they realize their fitness and weight loss goals.  Our unique selling points include.

Our business model focuses on a huge and unserved market with little competition.  Our competition is not a full service coed gym.  Our franchisees’ customers include an enormous market sector of women who would not visit a full service coed gym.  Most Contours Express members have never exercised before, are older, or simply prefer to exercise in a comfortable, fun environment where they receive personal attention and full support to meet and exceed their fitness and weight loss goals. Our franchise offers a fitness program that is safe, fun, effective, which alternates between cardio vascular (aerobic) exercise and weight training.  All of our equipment is specially designed to better fit a woman’s body and our program also allows women of all skill levels to exercise together in a positive and supportive environment.  Our weight loss program stands alone as effective, safe, and thorough.  We do not rely on the use of drugs, chemicals, or fad technique diets. Instead, we offer a trusted and proven program that works!

The cost to purchase a franchise and enter into your own business is extremely low in comparison to the cost of starting your own business independently.  Not to mention, out initial start-up costs are extremely low compared to the costs of other franchises.  The costs include a full training course, equipment, wall charts, and cue tapes.  A franchisee would expect to spend between $30,000 and $50,000 to become fully operational and can become profitable in as little as four months.  The royalty payments are not only low, but are fixed.  Therefore, you do not pay for your success—you keep your profit.

Contours Express
Contact Data
Addres:	156 Imperial Way Nicholasville, Kentucky 40356 USA
Web:	www.ContoursExpressIntl.com
Email:	Julia@ContoursExpressIntl.com
Phone:	+1 859 241 2230
Fax:	+1 859 241 2234
Contact Person:	Julia Fogle
Bulgaria
Franchises in Bulgaria:	0
Owned in Bulgaria:	0
Total in Bulgaria:	0
Costs
Total investment:	$50,000 USD
Franchise Fee:	$35,500 USD
Ongoing royalty fee:	$395 a month (Fixed)
Marketing fee:	0
Term of agreement:	10 years
Others:
PoS Requirements
Surface:	120 square meters
Special requirements:	None
Min. Population:	10 000
International
Country of origin:	United States
First establishment (year):	1995
First franchise:	1998
Establishments (total):	1
Franchises (total):	500