New Owner, New Look for Curves in Easton Village

Buying a new business can be exciting and overwhelming all at the same time, especially in a slow economy that is showing little sign of a recovery. Location, location, location can make a big difference in success or failure as well as a products or services that happen to always be in demand and that make a difference in women’s health.

Curves in Easton Village's new owner, Susan Lee, feels she has all of the right ingredients to build and sustain a business. The location Curves serves is North Canton and surrounding areas. It is the only Curves location in the area and has been open longer than any other Curves in Stark County.

The products and services focus on women’s health and fitness along with a positive and motivating atmosphere. As members come in the door for their exercise, they are all greeted by Lee or her manager, Kathy Smitley, or one of the circuit coaches. And, everyone gets a hardy goodbye as they finish and leave just a short 30 minutes later.

“This location has been here since 2001,” Lee said. “I became the official new owner on Sept. 1. Before that, I was a member for over eight years. I really believe in working in women’s health. I have aging parents and have seen firsthand the effects of inactivity.”  

The previous owners decided to retire and Lee saw the business opportunity as an exciting venture, especially since it was a functional, busy women’s fitness club. Plus, a new product line has been added, Curves Complete, a weight management program.

“Adding the weight management program is part of the reinvention of Curves,” said Kathy Smitley, manager.

“The weight management plan will be web-based with a one-on-one session once a week at Curves. Many women are looking for a weight management plan that is accessible, user-friendly and has one-on-one counseling along with motivation and support,” she said.

Smitley has already been certified as a diet counselor through Cleveland Clinic and Lee will be getting her certification soon. Curves offers women of all ages (females at 12 years old to adult can join with their mother) cardio exercise and strength training all in a 30-minute workout with hydraulic resistance machines that are easy to use.

“It is an exercise program that works. The atmosphere is motivating and positive, which is what everyone needs, especially women. Some of our members would not go exercise anywhere else if this location were not here,” Lee said.

There used to be another Curves on North Main Street in North Canton but it closed four years ago. Most of those members now belong to this location, making the current membership about 240 women.

“On one end of the spectrum, we have members from and at the other end, our oldest member is 85 years old,” Lee said.

Curves is staffed with circuit coaches, and they have a registered nurse for education and Smitley, who's the manager and the fitness coach. She coached sports at for 11 years before coming to Curves.

Lee has plans to go out into the North Canton community with lunch-and-learn presentations to let businesses and organizations know about the benefits of Curves and Curves Complete.

“I’m at a point in my life where I’m done raising my kids and I’m ready to do something different and new. I just really believe in Curves and that it makes a difference for women in the North Canton community,” Lee said.

For more information, call 330-244-0300, visit the website, or stop in at 6304A N. Market Ave.

Curves Facts

• Curves International is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest fitness franchise in the world, according to Smitley.
• Curves offers a complete workout with warm-up, cardio exercise, strength training, cool down, stretching and lots of smiles.
• Enrolling as a member in one Curves location makes you a member of more than 9,000 Curves worldwide.