Integrity Square

In today's special episode (big #500!) host Pete Moore hands the mic to industry veteran Al Noshirvani and dives into a wealth of topics currently affecting the HALO (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoor) sector. Listen for insightful stories about overcoming business challenges, from employee and landlord issues to the complexities of deal funding, and aligning management teams. Pete shares his personal and professional experiences and Al (who has been "in the room" on some deal closings) praises Pete's innovative, out-of-the-box, deal-closing abilities and delves into how to maintain optimism and transparency in business transactions. Pete continues and discusses the pressures of public markets on companies like F45 and Peloton, and the high debt burdens imposed by private equity. He goes on to explore the need for gyms to adapt to emerging trends, such as family fitness and workout recovery, and lays out his vision for the future of the HALO space among societal health concerns. Finally, Moore hits hard on the (ever present, ultimately harmful, and yet still ongoing) "race to the bottom" in gym membership pricing, and his optimistic views on expanding activities like pickleball. On "irrational development" Pete states, "There's enough private equity out there so that you don't have to subject yourself to running a public company in the spotlight. Just keep it private, and run it methodically . . . I think the push to go public can cause people to get over their skis. And then when you do that, you crash hard. So that's gonna be an unfortunate black eye in the industry." A few key takeaways: 1. Pete dives into the intricacies of handling various obstacles in business deals, from employee issues and landlord disputes to the complexities of securing funding. He underscores the importance of maintaining optimism, transparency, and fostering fair and collaborative agreements for all parties involved. 2. Moore shares his personal fitness journey, highlighting the benefits of early workout to kickstart the day. Additionally, he discusses the importance of focusing on workout recovery, emphasizing the need for health clubs to integrate recovery programs to enhance member satisfaction and performance. 4. Pete discusses the pressure on companies like F45 and Peloton upon going public, given their low franchisee financials compared to competitors. He also touches on the increasing involvement of private equity leading to high debt burdens on companies. 5. Moore expresses optimism about the future, highlighting the potential amidst societal health concerns and the expansion of varied fitness activities. He emphasizes the need for health clubs to cater to family fitness, address the obesity crisis, and adapt to emerging activities like pickleball. https://lnkd.in/eHUCKYv8

In the constantly changing HALO sector, Jill Kinney and Active Wellness are bringing something to the fore that's a little different. They've moved past the old way "that's how it's always been," to create a potentially new paradigm in the space that could end up being a bit of a game-changer. In a compelling use-case, Active Wellness has partnered with Providence, a major healthcare system and investor. This has given them a place on Providence's Executive Committee for outpatient care, providing important insights into the industry's needs and opportunities for integration. Together, they have developed a clinical operation that is quite compelling. At the heart of their innovation is Activate, a highly personalized wellness and fitness experience, with each member receiving support from a personal health coach, trainer, registered dietitian, and sleep specialists. Active Wellness's goal with Activate is clear: To create the best wellness and fitness program tailored specifically to individual needs, setting a new standard in personalized healthcare and wellness solutions. Follow this page for more HALO sector updates (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) from Integrity Square/The HALO advisors. Look for this episode with Jill Kinney on the HALO Talks Podcast here: https://www.halotalks.com/ and be sure to subscribe to get notified. Jill Kinney: https://lnkd.in/epptitv5 Active Wellness: https://lnkd.in/e9n7URMJ #ActiveWellness #HealthcareIntegration #PersonalizedFitnessProgram

Jill Kinney knew that a great idea alone wasn’t enough for long-term success, especially in healthcare, where marketing was often misunderstood, or more or less ignored entirely. Some even tended to think that their medical fitness centers were so unique, had no competition, and didn't need to worry about competition, but that's the furthest thing from the truth. Jill and her team at Active Wellness are often brought int to turn these facilities around. They usually came in after others had tried, bringing their business expertise, especially in marketing and sales. After implementing their particular model, Jill and her team make these businesses profitable, often achieving 18 to 25 percent EBITDA returns. Follow this page for more HALO sector updates (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) from Integrity Square/The HALO advisors. Look for this episode with Jill Kinney on the HALO Talks Podcast here: https://www.halotalks.com/ and be sure to subscribe to get notified. Jill Kinney: https://lnkd.in/epptitv5 Active Wellness: https://lnkd.in/e9n7URMJ #HealthcareMarketing #MedicalFitnessCenter #BusinessTurnaround

A new HALO Talks with Jill Kinney is out! Jill has extensive experience in developing, owning, and running clubs over the years. She built her own brand, took what she knew, and applied it to the fitness management business. Under her leadership Active Wellness introduced two new models to market. The first was the Active Wellness Center, a fresh take on the medical fitness center, focusing on actual profitability and business strategy. The second model was a competitive, consumer-focused brand. Jill and her team used their expertise to understand market needs and create a model that was not only effective but also transformative for the senior population. Follow this page for more HALO sector updates (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) from Integrity Square/The HALO advisors. Look for this episode with Jill Kinney on the HALO Talks Podcast here: https://www.halotalks.com/ and be sure to subscribe to get notified. #BusinessModel #FitnessManagement #ActiveWellness

Cyrus Massoumi of Dr.B (www.hidrb.com) explains recent changes in the IRS code and their impact. The IRS has always allowed people to use pre-tax dollars for medical expenses, but you need a "letter of medical necessity." This must be written in a specific way, linking the patient's condition to the prescribed treatment and showing its benefits. Suffice to say, it's not a "one size fits all" type of approach. The pandemic brought about technological advancements that made it much easier to interact with medical providers. This has streamlined the process of getting these necessary letters for those with qualifying conditions. The improvements in healthcare since COVID have made this process more affordable and accessible. Cyrus views this as a positive outcome during challenging times. Follow this page for more HALO sector updates (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) from Integrity Square/The HALO advisors. Look for this episode with Cyrus Massoumi on the HALO Talks Podcast here: https://www.halotalks.com/ and be sure to subscribe to get notified. Dr. B: https://lnkd.in/eUewrji6 Zocdoc: https://lnkd.in/eYMVMHUd #IRSCodeChange #MedicalExpenseDeductions #COVIDHealthcareEfficiencies

Cyrus Massoumi shares the inspiration behind Zocdoc. Imagine flying across the country with a bad sinus infection. When you land in New York, your eardrum ruptures. In pain, you urgently need to find an ENT doctor. You turn to your insurance company's website and start calling around, only to find that some don't even work. One doctor had even passed away! This is exactly what happened to Cyrus in 2007, leading him to create Zocdoc. It was clearly born from a personal frustration/need to improve access to healthcare. It helps people find and book doctor’s appointments online instantly. Millions have used Zocdoc to navigate the often confusing healthcare system. But a big question remained: "What about the 100 million Americans who either have no health insurance or can't afford the insurance they have?" For a long time, there was really no good answer. Then, during the pandemic, state telemedicine laws changed. New ways of providing healthcare, like asynchronous telemedicine, became possible. This is what Dr. B offers, and he and Pete talk at length about how fitness facilities can take advantage of partnering with Dr. B. It's a win for members and a win for the business owner. Cyrus Massoumi celebrates the evolution of healthcare, aiming to make it accessible to everyone, regardless of their insurance status. Follow this page for more HALO sector updates (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) from Integrity Square/The HALO advisors. Look for this episode with Cyrus Massoumi on the HALO Talks Podcast here: https://www.halotalks.com/ and be sure to subscribe to get notified. Dr. B: https://lnkd.in/eUewrji6 #ZocdocJourney #HealthcareAccess #TelemedicineEvolution

A new HALO Talks is up! Cyrus Massoumi's story explains how the name 'Dr. B' came to be, and their path into the HALO sector. The name emerged during the pandemic. In Cyrus's family, many were doctors, and it was expected that you either became a doctor . . . and if you didn't, "you were seen as not smart enough," he jokes. Cyrus didn't become a doctor, but his maternal grandfather, a doctor during the Spanish flu, inspired him. He split his time between a private practice and a non-profit public practice, treating everyone regardless of their ability to pay. This spirit of inclusiveness and compassion is what 'Dr. B' stands for . . . an homage to his family member. 'Dr. B' is a tribute to legacy, compassion, and the mission to make healthcare accessible to everyone. Follow this page for more HALO sector updates (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) from Integrity Square/The HALO advisors. Look for this episode with Cyrus Massoumi on the HALO Talks Podcast here: https://www.halotalks.com/ and be sure to subscribe to get notified. Dr. B Zocdoc #PandemicHealthcare #NonProfitMedicine #COVIDTreatments

This bodes well! As the HALO sector and (let's call it) "conscious living," are becoming increasingly prioritized, the continued emergence of the "Sober Curious" movement (it's a thing) and now . . .sober bars . . . is nice to see. These innovative spaces are not just about abstaining from alcohol but about creating environments where everyone can socialize, relax, and enjoy themselves. You know. . .a BAR! (Minus the alcohol, but still fantastic "drinks.") It's nice to see the nightlife landscape evolving to be more inclusive and health-conscious. Those spaces that continue to ignore their "mocktail" list do so to their own detriment. 🍹✨ #Wellness #SoberLiving #NightlifeRevolution #HealthyChoices #Inclusion https://lnkd.in/e_5HCnex

The amount of nonsense that continues to get pushed out in the HALO sector for the general consumer only seems to be getting worse. Happy to see though that (slowly) more and more journalists and publications are starting to push back. Journalist Rina Raphael did a HALO Talks with us about this (https://lnkd.in/esWsBxJ4) and addresses this head on in her book, "The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care." Worth the read! https://lnkd.in/eJ9-T_zg

Some interesting news out of the sugar industry. Scientists are experimenting with enzymes that turn sugar to fiber in the gut, microscopic sponges to soak up sugar, and more. Shows some promise! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ez9ssQEm