Koko Fitness, Inc., the specialized fitness technology and equipment company that developed the Koko Smartrainer® computerized commercial multi-gym, has announced their entry into the health club franchise business this month with the launch of Koko FitClub, LLC. The new company will be the exclusive franchisor of The Koko Smartraining System.

Koko FitClub is a specialty gym revolving around Koko’s proprietary 30-minute Smartraining™cardio and strength training workout system. Koko Fitness, Inc. originally opened a club inSeptember 2007 as their working laboratory and, with a rapid growth in membership, quicklydiscovered an enormous opportunity. Just months after the club’s opening, it was voted one ofthe area’s favorite health clubs. Further, the club has received a steady stream of unsolicitedinquiries about franchising opportunities nationwide, according to Koko FitClub’s president andco-founder, Mary Obana.

“Because there was so much interest in the Koko FitClub concept, the decision to offer franchiseswas an easy and logical one,” said Obana. “Koko FitClub uniquely serves the vast majority ofpeople who belonged to gyms in the past, but whose needs are no longer met by traditionalclubs. There are over 250 million Americans who do not currently belong to health clubs. Webelieve there is a sizable market for this opportunity.”

Along with her husband and business partner, Mike Lannon, Obana set out to create “a new typeof gym and a whole new way to workout” that suited the couple’s own busy lifestyle. Koko is forbusy men and women who want and need to exercise, but can’t afford to waste the time ormental energy thinking about how to get the best results. Koko FitClub’s exclusive SmartrainingSystem does it all for them in a clean, civilized, hassle-free environment where members are ableto focus on themselves for 30 uninterrupted minutes. “It’s a true fitness oasis,” said Obana.

The Koko Smartraining System, the industry’s most advanced and effective 30-minute workoutmethod, gives Koko FitClub franchisees an obvious distinction and competitive advantage overother health clubs and fitness franchises, helping to attract new members faster and retain them longer. With the Smartraining System, each strength and cardio workout is precisely planned andcustomized for each member based on unique goals and fitness levels. Workouts take just 30minutes or less, with instruction, guidance, pace, and feedback provided dynamically throughouteach session. The member’s results and progress are automatically tracked and displayed on aprivate web page.

“Our equipment and our franchise model are based on the premise that anyone can achieve theirgoals if given the right system and tools to make it easy…and rewarding,” Obana said.

Franchise owners will bring this brand of easy, affordable and engaging exercise to the masses,according to the company’s director of customer communications, Lauren Dell’Olio. “It’s a greatbusiness opportunity for people with philosophies rooted in making life simpler and healthier.Koko FitClub makes it easy for members to exercise and franchisees to own and operate.”

To that end, Koko has leveraged its expertise in advanced technology to create its ownSmartClub System™, a complete, fully customized and integrated club management system. TheSmartClub System incorporates everything franchisees need to run their business into one, easyto-use operating platform with features including prospect management, member registration andcheck-in, account management, business metrics and usage reporting, acquisition and retentiontracking, e-communications and more. SmartClub allows Koko FitClub operators to avoid theinefficiencies of piecing together multiple, unrelated systems, and removes the operationalhassles often associated with running a typical gym.

“We’ve precisely engineered every aspect of the Koko FitClub model to be incredibly simple tooperate,” said Obana. “Koko FitClub is affordable to open and easy to run. One manager orowner can easily operate multiple locations…and have a family life too.”

Each FitClub location will be a sleekly designed, studio-sized space, outfitted with at least sixSmartrainers and multiple Smartraining-enabled cardio units. To activate any machine, membersreceive a personal Koko Key, loaded with a customized, multi-week workout plan with programsdeveloped by celebrity trainers like Kathy Kaehler and Rob Parr, who train stars such as JenniferAniston, Bruce Willis and Naomi Watts, and elite private trainers such as Certified SportsConditioning Specialist, Michael Wood, who is also Koko’s Chief Fitness Officer.

“Koko provides every member with consistent, world class fitness coaching,” said Wood. “Wemanage every component of their personal workout regimen, delivering the benefits of a 60-90minute workout in just 30 minutes. Members get great results in less time. There is nothing elselike it.”

“Our goal is to make people excited to work out by helping them overcome the barriers toexercise, such as time, money, motivation and quantified results,” said Obana. “When it comes tofranchising – Koko FitClub is following the same approach.”

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