Retention must start on the first day your new member joins your health club with a simple thank-you letter. Ask yourself, when is the last time you purchased something and two days later got a thank you letter for buying your item? I personally can’t recall the last time I got a thank-you letter in the mail from a business I bought something from. The second your new member leaves the club, print your letter, sign it, write a little something by hand on the letter such as “thank you” or “have a great day,” hand address the envelop (don’t be lazy and print a label), stuff the envelop with a few guest passes and a club information sheet; you will be amazed by the compliments and the thanks you will get from your members for taking the time to send them a thank you letter in the mail.