O2 Fitness, the largest independent fitness company in North Carolina, recently acquired the Charleston, S.C.-area East Shore Athletic Club, a 12-location chain. The acquisition gives O2 a grand total of 24 clubs serving the North Carolina Triangle region and Charleston, S.C., metro area.
East Shore Athletic Clubs (ESAC) have traditionally offered anything from K180 personal training to CrossFit and group training. Currently, no re-branding plans exist, and ESAC’s services offered will remain the same. O2 Fitness will instead use portions of $1 million to improve the overall experience for ESAC’s members.
That $1 million will also be used to improve the clubs that were already under the O2 Fitness umbrella. According to a press release, upgrades to be made in O2 Fitness’ 24 total clubs during the coming months include new plasma televisions, carpeting and equipment.
More classes and training opportunities will also be available at all 24 clubs after O2 Fitness’ upgrades are complete. Existing O2 Fitness clubs offer 50 group exercise classes per week, as well as other services such as TRX® training, personal training and even childcare for those parents wishing to become members. That kind of impact is one that the CEO of O2 Fitness, Michael D. Olander Jr., hopes to develop even further.
“We believe our expansion into a brand new market and commitment to invest $1 million in improving the user experience across our growing footprint really speaks to our continued commitment to being the absolute leader in every market in which we operate,” Olander said in a news release.
In addition to physical changes, O2 Fitness will also institute its member rewards program in the newly-acquired clubs. Through this program, run by Perkville, members earn points by working out at the gym more often, talking about their experience at the club through social media, referring other people to become members and other activities.
O2 Fitness was recently part of Inc. 5000’s list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Olander founded the company in 2002 and it has since been on the Inc. 5000 list for four consecutive years. The growth of the company, although highly recognized within the region, is still not complete, according to the CEO.
“We will continue to aggressively identify and pursue more growth opportunities like this in the future,” he said in the release.
By Ashley Scoby
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
