Contours Express franchise owners are mourning the tragic death of Winnsboro, TX franchise owner Joy Glasgow.

Both Joy Glasgow and her daughter, Lauren Miller, moved to Winnsboro from Oregon, and opened a Contours Express women’s fitness franchise last year.  Both mother and daughter worked at the center, which had been growing in membership.

According to a KLTV report:

Just before 8:00 am Monday, the Wood County Sheriff’s Department made a welfare check at a home in the 3900 block of CR 4660. That’s when deputies found the body of 53 year old Joy Elizabeth Glasgow with a gunshot wound. KLTV 7’s Molly Reuter spoke with those that knew her today, and says the news of her death has quickly spread through the Winnsboro community.

About a year ago, Joy Glasgow opened a fitness center for women called Contours Express. This morning, a sign hung on the front door saying ‘closed till further notice’. Those that knew her told us that Glasgow’s daughter worked at the fitness center with her, and Glasgow often slept at the gym as well. Some of Glasgow’s clients drove by the fitness center this morning in disbelief over what happened.

“I couldn’t believe it you know I thought she was just a good lady, and I was really shocked,” said Renee Healy, who works out at the fitness center.

Police reportedly have a “person of interest,” who is in custody on outstanding warrants.

Our condolences go out to Ms. Miller, and to all of Joy Glasgow’s family and friends.

*  *  *  *  *  UPDATE  *  *  *  *  *  *

According to KLTV 7:

Authorities charged 31 year old Alvin Milliken of Mount Vernon Thursday with capital murder. He’s accused of shooting and killing 53 year old Joy Elizabeth Glasgow…  Milliken was dating Glasgow’s daughter, and had a history of violence.

Wood County authorities say 53 year old Joy Glasgow was actually a witness in at least one of the criminal cases pending against Milliken.

According to the arrest affidavit, in the past year, Glasgow’s daughter has filed two separate police reports against Milliken, her boyfriend, for abusing her.

The arrest affidavit goes on to say, “The defendant had exercised control over the victim’s daughter for the entire relationship and the victim was the only thing standing in the way of the defendant’s money and total domination of Glasgow’s daughter.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Related:

Is Contours Express a Great Fitness Franchise?

Franchise Dreams Becoming Nightmares for Many Fitness Club Owners

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Franchisees, customers & experts vote for their favorite new franchises at Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

Are you considering opening a 30 minute circuit training club like Curves for Women, Contours Express or Butterfly Life? Are you concerned about the franchisee struggles you’re reading about here… but still think you could make it work in your town?

Well there’s a way to open a new fitness club at half the cost and without the restrictions and ongoing fees of the national franchises. Simply take advantage of the bargain-priced equipment available from the franchisees of the many clubs that have closed. You don’t need to feel bad about taking advantage of their misfortune; you are relieving them of monthly storage bills and putting a little of their investments back in their pockets. Just don’t beat them up on price. They’re already pricing it at a bargain, and you don’t need the bad Karma coming back on you after opening.

Is it foolhardy to try a concept where the franchises have failed? Maybe. Maybe not. Remember, these franchisees bought everything new, paid a franchise fee, advertising fees, ongoing royalties and made required inventory purchases. With a lower cost of entry, you may be able to achieve profitability with a lower member and revenue base.

A new site called Your Town Health Club provides franchise owners with a low cost way to advertise their club and/or equipment for sale… and it offers would-be club owners like-new equipment and fixtures at bargain basement prices. For example, the Richmond, VA franchisee of Contours Express is offering his full equipment package, signage, and even franchise rights to 2 territories for more than 50% off.  Of course, he’s also willing to sell the equipment package without the sign & territories to a future independent club owner:

VA Contours Express Franchise Pkg:  8 Piece Fitness Circuit, Signage, 2 Territories

Email Inquiries to: cerichmondva@gmail.com

Fitness Club Equipment For Sale: Eight Piece Contours Express Weight Circuit

Original Price: $17,000

Location: Richmond, VA

Condition: Great condition. Looks brand new.

Seller says: “We are selling an eight piece Contours Express circuit weight equipment for $8000. This is less than half of what we paid for it 18 months ago. Everything is in great condition and looks brand new.”

[Click on photos to enlarge]

Contours Express Channel Letter Neon Sign

Contours Express channel letter neon sign available;

18 months old and in perfect working condition.

Original price: $6000

Eight Piece Contours Express Weight Circuit

Original Price: $17,000

“We are selling an eight piece Contours Express circuit weight equipment. Great condition. Everything is in great condition and looks brand new.”

Circuit includes:

• Shoulder Press,
• Arm Curl,
• Triceps Press,
• Chest Press,
• Lat Pull Down,
• Leg Press,
• Leg Curl,
• Leg Extension
• Extra seat pads

Contours Express Exclusive Franchise Territories*

Mechanicsville, VA CE Territory normal price: $18,000

Midlothian, VA CE Territory normal price: $18,000

Finally, we have two Contours Express franchise territories available for sale in Mechanicsville and Midlothian, VA. These are generously sized territories in two of the prime suburban areas of Richmond, VA. Contours Express territories are currently being sold by the franchisor for $18,000 each; however, we are willing to accept a best offer for them. Could be a great deal for someone looking to get in at a significantly reduced price.

* Subject to corporate approval by Contours Express

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 DO YOU HAVE A HEALTH CLUB, FITNESS CLUB FRANCHISE OR EQUIPMENT TO SELL?  VISIT YOURTOWNHEALTHCLUB.COM.  CLICK HERE FOR CLUB AD PRICING, HERE FOR EQUIPMENT AD PRICING.

Curves franchise owners and ex-franchise owners:

What’s it like to own a Curves for Women franchise?

Was it a good investment decision?   Was the Curves franchise ownership what you expected?

Has it enriched you financially?  Emotionally?

Would you recommend the Curves franchise to would-be franchise owners?

 SHARE YOUR STORY, EXPERIENCES, INSIGHTS WITH A COMMENT.

(Top New Franchises) Pretty disturbing warning from an ex-franchisee over at Unhappy Franchisee regarding the Lady of America franchise.  Read it here.

Lady of America has been no stranger to bad press and controversy, here or elsewhere:

Lady of America Franchisee Locks Door, Walks Away

Article Scrutinizes Quiznos Rick Schaden, 1-2-3 Fit Franchise, Butterfly Life Franchise, Contours Express Franchise & Fitness Franchise Woes

 WHAT DO YOU THINK?  HAVE YOU HAD ANY DEALINGS WITH LADY OF AMERICA FITNESS FRANCHISE.  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

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Unhappy Franchisee: Franchising rumors, rants, controversies, issues, complaints & insider information you’re not supposed to know.

Unbiased franchise information, franchise interviews and detailed, searchable information on 400 franchise and business opportunities..

Franchisees, customers & experts vote for their favorite new franchises at Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

Stuart Goldman of Club Industry’s Fitness Business Pro, a leading health club industry trade publication, has written an extensive and well-researched article on the struggling 30-minute fitness franchise chains and some of the powerful names that were instrumental in putting the match to this “hot new franchise” phenomenon.

I plan to look at particular points of this article in upcoming posts. Please share your initial comments below.

Here’s an excerpt. Click a link to read the entire article:

Source: Lights Out by Stuart Goldman, Managing Editor, Fitness Business Pro

The troubles that continue to plague circuit club companies also extend to business-savvy franchisees who trusted the reputations of some of the biggest names in the industry.

1-2-3 Fit, Denver, was founded in 2005 by Quiznos restaurant executives Rick Schaden and Brooksy Smith, who combined their efforts with fitness legend Ray Wilson. The 1-2-3 Fit Web site lists 27 stores open in 11 states, with seven more stores opening soon. One franchisee says 22 stores have closed since the company’s inception.

It sounded so simple. It made so much sense. Experienced, knowledgeable people banked on the marriage of a well-known sandwich chain and a fitness industry legend to create an exciting new circuit club franchise. At another promising company, people counted on the experience of a group of investors that included the founder of the biggest revenue-producing chain in the industry.

1-2-3 Fit, Denver, which opened in 2005, was the brainchild of Rick Schaden and Brooksy Smith, two men who made Quiznos a successful national restaurant chain. Schaden and Smith called upon fitness legend Ray Wilson, whose background includes opening several club companies, to help them with their venture into the fitness industry.

“It was the perfect mixture of franchise team and fitness team,” one former 1-2-3 Fit franchisee says.

Butterfly Life, San Ramon, CA, opened in 2003 and had the initial backing of Mark Mastrov, the founder of 24 Hour Fitness who resigned last month as chairman of 24 Hour. Mastrov’s colleagues, Mark Golob and Tom Gergley, had operated Linda Evans clubs in California before opening Butterfly Life.

“With Mastrov’s name, how could you go wrong?” one former Butterfly Life franchisee says.

But according to many franchisees at the two companies, plenty did go wrong…

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE

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