Worth His Weight
With a growing chain of weight-loss center locations, this franchisee proves he's got what it takes to succeed.
When Neal Smith first joined the LA Weight Loss Centers
franchise system, he intended to operate two centers in Birmingham,
Alabama. While his customers were slimming down, business was
bulking up. Four years later, Smith has a chain of 17 weight-loss
centers and plans to open another 15 locations in the next year.
"We've had more success than I ever dreamed of," says
Smith, 47. "We decided to keep growing as long as it made
sense. And it's still making sense."
On the marketing end, Smith's goal is to spread the word
about LA Weight Loss Centers to its client base, primarily working
mothers. "We try to reach the working woman wherever she
is," he says.
These tactics seem to be working for Smith, who previously
worked with another weight-loss system and owned discount stores.
He projects sales of $15 million for 2003 and sees more growth on
the horizon. "The market's there. Consumers want to be
health-conscious-they just don't know how," he says.
"We fill that niche."
Content Continues Below