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Strategies & Market Trends : BFT: Will the tulip craze ever break down? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Pancho Villa who wrote (341)	4/18/1998 8:22:00 PM
From: Jethro Bodine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 650

I went to local Bally's this morning (Sat.) around 9:30. Upon entering parking lot I was surprised at the number of cars and the size of the facility. It was located in a choice shopping center one mile from the largest retail mall in the city - right behind the Hooter's restaurant. I walked around the side and could see the swimming pool and the track above on the perimeter of the second level. I then walked in the front door to look around and was asked by the desk employee for my card. I told him I would like a tour of the facility as I'd never been there before. He immediately pulled out a clipboard with a form and told me I had to complete and sign before anything. He said it was to protect Bally's in case I injured myself at anytime even on their parking lot outside. While I was looking it over, I said that I didn't come to work out today but wanted to see the facilities. He said I couldn't go past the desk without signing the form. I asked about cost and all he said was something about 36 month deal. I told him that I was looking for a 3 month arrangement to make sure I liked everything. He started telling me that people needed the 36 months so that they would stay with their workout program. Then he said "see all these people working out this early - this is a health club - there is a massage room upstairs" and then told me of a couple of other places in town implying that this was a "health club" and not just another weight lifting place. I do believe that is a good marketing strategy as they appear to be targeting a market that has extra income and needs the satisfaction of belonging to an "exclusive" place. The entry was indeed beautiful with marble floors, and lots of crome and glass. I had decided I wouldn't be signing anything on this visit so I wasn't going to write down my phone, address, workout habits. So I left only a few minutes after entering with very little. I did note several senior citizens of both sexes which seemed in sharp contrast to the otherwise yuppy type of group and cars. I was surprised at how little of interest and personality was shown by the attendant. He was indifferent to my interest hardly giving me the time of day. Of course I felt the same about him so the chemistry just didn't match. Very little information from the visit. It is geared toward those with higher incomes or those that are into the material things, status and a correct image. If that is indeed the target market I will at least say they are addressing it well. I know this posting is short on facts and has little to add to the thread but it was my findings based on the brief visit today.