| CBI Interview |
Waldyr Soares
parses the Brazilian fitness industry’s progress on the
10th anniversary of the IHRSA/Fitness Brasil partnership
By Patricia Amend
Highlights
» Birth of an industry
CBI: First of all, please tell us something about your business. » Partnering with IHRSA
Waldyr SOareS: My company, Fitness Brasil, provides continuing-education ser-
» Painful tax challenges
vices for professionals in the fields of physical education, nutrition, and physiotherapy.
» Wellness opportunities
We stage trade shows that feature the top corporate brands in the health and fitness
industry. And we generate scientific and marketing information through the Fitness
Brasil Institute. We also produce quality publications for consumers and professionals,
alike. Our trade magazine, Fitness Business Latin America, now has a circulation of
about 10,000. Last year, Fitness Brasil had sales of $2.3 million (U.S.).
Waldyr Octavio Soares,
CBI: Similarly, can you provide us with a little overview of
69, the founder and president
the Brazilian fitness industry?
of Fitness Brasil, was born
in São Paulo, Brazil, and
WS: Well, there was no official data before 2007, which is when the
has always enjoyed sports
Federal Physical education Council (CONFeF) first began collecting
and fitness activities. A
it. That year, however, IHrSA estimated that Brazil had a total of
self-taught entrepreneur,
7,350 clubs, 3.7 million members, and annual revenues of just $801
he obtained his first business
million. By 2008, the figures had climbed to 12,682 clubs, 3.9 million
experience working as a
members, and $1.2 billion in revenues. This year, we expect them
sales representative for a
to finish at 14,016 facilities, 4.7 million members, and $1.1 billion
government concessionaire,
in revenues, the latter drop due primarily to the strength of
and, later, as the director
the U.S. dollar.
of a leasing company. When
he was 42, Soares decided
CBI: Who are the principal players in Brazil?
to begin producing special
What’s the market like in other South
events, and, in 1982, founded
American countries?
Mecânica de Produção,
which, initially, focused on
WS: Brazil has four large chains—runner, Bio
aerobics and fitness. In 1989,
ritmo, A! Body Tech, and Companhia Athletica—
he left that company to found
each of which has 13 to 20 units. The majority of
Fitness Brasil. Soares is
their clubs are concentrated in São Paulo and rio
married and has four children.
de Janeiro, but each of the companies has units
The two youngest, ages 7 and
throughout the country. These chains charge
10, attend a school that devotes
monthly fees of about $120-$150. The rest of
half of the day to academic
the market is comprised of small- and medium-
studies and half to sports. His
sized clubs, which cost much less. Taken
wife is a runner. Soares works
together, Brazilians pay an average of $25 in
out at least three times a week,
monthly dues. The only international presence
doing stretching, aerobics, and
consists of Contours and Curves franchises.
strength training at the 4 Fit
In South America, the second-largest market
Academia, in São Paulo, which
is Argentina, with 4,950 gyms, followed by Chile,
he describes as being “as natu-
with some 460.
>
ral as brushing my teeth.” —|
www.ihrsa.org | SePTeMBer 2009 | Club Business International
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