Research Paper on:
Curves for Women

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Victorian age tobacco was being sold for its medical properties, and the benefit of holidays and sea air were fashionable to be prescribed by a doctor for increased fitness. The  desire for fitness has reached epidemic proposition in todays world, there are many stresses and influences which are seen as unhealthy, weight problems are at an all time high and  the pressure to maintain health is also increased though the proliferation of increased health awareness. Health clubs or fitness centres have often be seen as the domain of those already  fit or in good shape, the self perception of many women prevented them form entering this environment, even if they felt they could benefit, This indicated a gap in the  market, one that has been filled with women only fitness centres. One of these has been Curves for Women, which started with PACE located in Harlingen, TX , as it  was with PACE equipment that Curves for Women started. The organisation may be seen as leading the trend of circuit training for women only, currently the fastest growing sector in  the fitness industry. To understand the position of the company Porters Five Forces model can be used to analysis the industry. Existing competition There is an high level  of competition within the fitness industry. To understand this we can look at the way the fitness industry has grown over the last few years. The health and fitness market  is a growing sector. In 2000 the US 12% of the population belong to health and fitness clubs, with the annual revenue in the market totalling $11.6 billion (Mintel, 2001).  By 2006 this is expected to reach 14% of the population, meaning that 41.1 million individuals are expected to be members of the health and fitness clubs (Mintel, 2001). The