A Belfast businessman has acquired the master franchise to roll out a chain of women’s fitness centres across the UK and Ireland.
Chris Donaldson is bringing Ladies Workout Express to these shores from the US.
He has already opened gyms at Market Square in Bangor and Longstone Street in Lisburn as well as in Dublin, Galway and Manchester.
Six more are due to open, most of them in the Republic, within the next few months and by 2010 he hopes to see 200 in operation.
The women-only gyms comprise a 24-station circuit of hydraulic equipment and aerobic stations where members complete a 30-minute workout.
The franchise system has been running for 20 years and has over 1,000 outlets globally.
The franchisee of each Ladies Workout Express gym pays around £40,000 for a franchise and equipment, usually starting by managing the business themselves and, as it grows, appointing a manager to run it on a day-to-day basis.
Mr Donaldson explained that he initially travelled to the US with the intention of buying one gym but was so impressed with the concept he bought the rights for the UK and the Republic.
No comments yet.