Article in Veterans Journal on Christine Collins and Felisa Weiser:

Keeping Fit: Body and Business

After a half dozen vocations, former = Navy Lieutenant settles on fitness franchise.

by Rhonda Sanderson=

3D"" = From the Navy, to the airlines, to the cruise lines, 37-year-old Christine Colli= ns sees life as an adventure.

Collins enlisted in the Navy in 1985, two days after graduating high school. “At the time, I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life and the Navy offered me a chance to see the world and live an adventure,” said Collins.

She spent eight weeks in boot camp in Orlando and then joined the Navy’s BOOST program in San Diego. After a year at BOOST as an = E-3, Collins was given a scholarship to attend Boston University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in communications. She graduated= in 1990 as an Ensign and was sent overseas to the NATO base at NCTAMS MED in <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Naples, Italy during Operation Desert Shield/Storm where she served as a communications w= atch officer. Two years later she was transferred to COMSUBGRU 8 in Honolulu where she served as an assista= nt training officer. She resigned from the Navy in August 1994 as an O-3 Lieutenant.

“At the time, I was a single mother to my one-year-old son. I wanted = to raise him near my family in F= lorida and I wanted to make sure I could provide some stability for him instead of moving around every two years with the military,” said Collins.

After her time in the Navy, Collins went on to become a court reporter, fli= ght attendant, airline administrator, and vacation planner for Carnival Cruise Lines. In June 2004, Collins embarked on her most exciting venture to date: opening a Slim and Tone—Express Workout and Weight Loss Studio in Coo= per City, Fla. with her mother Flo= rence.

Since Yardley, Pa.-based Slim and Tone began franchising in early 2003, it = has notched eye-catching growth, multiplying to150 locations in 31 states, as w= ell as opening international facilities in Costa Rica, Canada, Scandinavia, New Zealand and China. The company expects to grow to 1,000 locations by the en= d of 2008. In November 2004, NutriSystem acquired Slim and Tone, allowing the ch= ain to provide a complete diet and exercise program for successful weight loss = and improved health.

While others may have popularized the women’s 30-minute express worko= ut, Slim and Tone has improved the concept and differentiated itself in a numbe= r of ways: Slim and Tone features state-of-the-art, “third generation̶= 1; fitness equipment that’s not only easier to use and more comfortable,= but offers nine adjustable settings instead of just one; clubs are open all day= and on weekends; and members can receive personalized programs in diet and fitn= ess.

3D"" = Like Collins, Felisa Wieser is another veteran finding success with Slim and Ton= e. Wieser enlisted in the United States Air Force in December 1992, fresh out = of high school. She spent the next four years stationed at Keesler Air Force B= ase and Travis Air Force Base where she was a camera operator, video/audio edit= or and video producer. In January 1996 Wieser was honorably discharged and enlisted in the reserves. She enrolled in college and after graduation enro= lled in the Walnut Creek= , Calif. police academy.

Shortly after graduating from the police academy, Wieser was reactivated and was sent to Germany<= /st1:place> for almost six months in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

“When I returned from Germany, I was still activated and stationed to assist the war at Travis until the e= nd of July 2004,” said Wieser. “I discovered I was pregnant in Mar= ch of 2004. I was released from the military around that same time but after m= uch thought and consideration, my husband and I decided that returning to my ca= reer as a police officer would be too difficult for a family.”

Felisa and her husband, Scott, both fitness buffs, decided that the time was right to fulfill their dreams of business ownership. Because of their backgrounds, something in the fitness industry seemed like the logical choi= ce. The Wiesers first approached Curves, but when they were told there were no available territories, they began looking at alternatives and found exactly what they were looking for and more with Slim and Tone. The couple opened t= heir Vacaville, California club in September 2004

The initial U.S. franchise investment was $31,900 and included exclusive territory rights for up to five miles and/or 40,000-plus population; 22 pie= ces of equipment including eight hydraulic resistance machines, running boards, steppers, bosu balls, an elliptical trainer, stationary bike, ab bench and stretch trainer, along with marketing materials and training. The monthly U= .S. royalty fee is $395. The total required unit franchise investment is approximately $50,000 to $75,000, including such costs as build-out, lease start-up costs and working capital.

Collins and Wieser largely attribute the success of their businesses to the= ir time in
the military.

“The total required unit franchise invest= ment is approximately $50,000 to $75,000, including such costs as build-out, lea= se start-up costs and working capital.” “The discipline I learned in the military and the importance of getting the job done right the first time with attention to details has proven invaluable to owning my business,” said Collins. “The military is where I first learned= how important it is to stay physically fit to improve my quality of life and gi= ve me more energy to handle the long hours and constant pressure of being an o= wner and manager of a gym.”

Wieser shares Collins’ sentiments and adds, “In the military, y= ou learn how to delegate and that is important in business, too. I hire people, like an accountant, to do the jobs I am not trained to do so there are no errors detrimental to the business.”

Betsy Ludlow, founder and president of Slim and Tone, says veterans tend to= be very strong owners. “The veterans in our system have good organizatio= nal skills, a strong work ethic, are caring and compassionate and exceptional r= ole models when it comes to health and fitness.

“Women can relate to this category and product,” Ludlow continu= ed. “The majority of our franchisees had fitness memberships elsewhere. They’ve experienced the business as consumers. Owning a Slim and Tone promotes a healthy lifestyle and it benefits society. It’s not like opening a doughnut shop.”