Record Revenues Reflect a Hip, New Jazzercise

Jazzercise, Inc., reported its best financial year ever in 2002, matching pace with the overall exercise industry and maintaining its position as the world's leading dance fitness program with $62 million in systemwide sales.

Founded in 1969 by Judi Sheppard Missett, Jazzercise gained international recognition as a leader of the dance fitness craze in the 1980s and today as a successful Franchise model. Gold and platinum records for "Jazzercise" (1982) and "Fitness Formula" (1989) made Missett a household fitness name and helped launch a library of 16 home video and audio recordings.

Privately-held Jazzercise has continued steady growth beyond the 1990s, posting a record $62 million in systemwide sales from participants worldwide in its 2001-2002 fiscal year, which ended in June. The figure matches the company's growth in the last seven years -- an average 5.4 percent each year since 1995. Jazzercise boasts 5,300 franchised instructors in all 50 states and around the world.

The industry-wide growth of group exercise formats is among the reasons for such success, says Missett. The 2002 Health Club Trend Report, published in August by American Sports Data, revealed that U.S. health club membership has nearly doubled since 1987.

But that data doesn't account for growth at Jazzercise classes held at local schools, churches, YMCAs or independent Jazzercise centers, which make up a majority of Jazzercise venues. Instead, Missett credits part of the success to highlighting choreography that incorporates the newest fitness trends, including Pilates and yoga movements -- techniques that she has used from the start but that are now enjoying new popularity in the industry.

In addition, Missett points to renewed interest in fun, social activities, a new marketing campaign and the new-found popularity of an electronic billing system rolled out nationally in 1999. The Easy Fitness Ticket (EFT) has grown to 87,000 students, accounting for 55 percent of all franchise fees paid to Jazzercise, Inc., and $2.5 million in gross sales monthly.

Missett's expectations of continued growth for the 2003 fiscal year has even encouraged new exercise videos to update Jazzercise's existing video library. In her first starring role since "Sports Stretch" (1995), Missett's "Pure Jazzercise" and "Stretch by Jazzercise" will be the first DVDs produced by the company. Both will be available from JM DigitalWorks on Jazzercise.com and in the Jazzertogs holiday catalog, a Jazzercise publication of fitness fashion and workout gear.