Latest news with #EquinoxGroup
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Equinox names new CMO to grow luxury fitness chain's brand awareness
This story was originally published on Marketing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Marketing Dive newsletter. Equinox has named Bindu Shah as chief marketing and digital officer, reporting to President Marc Mastronardi, according to a press release. Shah, who joins Equinox's executive leadership team, is tasked with growing brand awareness and driving membership acquisition and retention for the owner of luxury fitness clubs. She replaces Jeff De Korte, who departed the brand last fall. Shah most recently served as global chief marketing and digital officer at fashion label Tory Burch, a position she held beginning in 2019. Her resume also includes past stints at Sephora, owner Gilt Groupe and McGraw-Hill. Shah began her career in the investment banking world at Morgan Stanley. Equinox operates over 100 full-service fitness clubs globally, and plans to open dozens of additional locations in the coming years, the company has said. Marketing could play an important role in swaying potential customers who face no shortage of options when seeking a space to work out and are more conscious of their budgets given economic uncertainty. Hiring Shah follows several other executive changes at Equinox. Mastronardi was appointed president of the group in August, jumping from department store giant Macy's, where he oversaw over 500 store locations. Just months later, the company hired Matt Dunnigan, a Restaurant Brands International veteran, as finance chief and Gretchen Koback Pursel, previously of Tiffany & Co., as chief people officer. Equinox built its brand around high-end gyms in major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, London and New York, where it was founded in 1991. However, the chain has encountered stiffer competition from rivals both national and local, including Life Time Fitness and Chelsea Piers Fitness. Blink Fitness, a budget-friendly offering previously owned by Equinox Group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August. Privately-held Equinox Group also operates chains including SoulCycle and Pure Yoga. Recommended Reading Peloton CMO departs as fitness brand shakes up marketing group Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Equinox and SoulCycle Customers in New York May Receive Refunds Over Membership Cancellation Issues
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a $600K settlement involving the Equinox Group over allegedly difficult cancellation agreements with customers 'The Equinox Group made it challenging for customers to end their membership, costing them time and money,' she alleged The fitness group must also improve its disclosures moving forwardEquinox and SoulCycle customers in New York may soon be entitled to cash back due to difficulty canceling memberships. On Friday, May 30, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a $600,000 settlement from the fitness company, claiming Equinox, Equinox+ and SoulCycle made it 'hard for New Yorkers to cancel their membership.' James alleged Equinox Group failed to clearly disclose its subscription terms and did not provide consumers with the subscription acknowledgment required by New York law. 'New Yorkers should be able to cancel a membership they no longer use or want without breaking a sweat,' James said in a statement. 'The Equinox Group made it challenging for customers to end their membership, costing them time and money. As a result of my office's settlement, New Yorkers can now cancel their membership with Equinox, SoulCycle, or any of Equinox Group's brands much faster.' PEOPLE reached out to the Equinox Group for comment but did not immediately hear back. "Prior to being made aware of this inquiry, we had already begun to make changes to our terms and conditions in conformance with all statutory requirements, and our policies are in full compliance. We are pleased that this matter is resolved," an Equinox and SoulCycle spokesperson said in a statement obtained by CBS News. According to the terms of the settlement, Equinox Group must now pay $600,000 in penalties and change its subscription practices, as well as offer refunds to subscribers who tried to cancel their membership but were unable to. Of the complaints mentioned by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Equinox was accused of using 'hard-to-understand terms and conditions' within the company's documents, which ultimately made the cancellation process 'complex, difficult, and time-consuming." 'This settlement requires Equinox Group to pay $600,000 in penalties and provide refunds of up to $250 to eligible New York subscribers who filed complaints with the Equinox Group, Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, or the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York between February 9, 2021 and December 31, 2024,' per the OAG press release. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Eligible residents who first became subscribers or attempted to cancel their subscription between Feb. 9, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2024, can claim their portion of the settlement by emailing Equinox Group by Aug. 2, 2025. SoulCycle subscribers should email NewYorkAGclaims@ . Equinox Gym and Equinox+ subscribers should email NewYorkAGclaims@ Subscriber restitution requests must include their name and the phone number or email address associated with their account. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Equinox and SoulCycle Customers in New York May Receive Refunds Over Membership Cancellation Issues
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a $600K settlement involving the Equinox Group over allegedly difficult cancellation agreements with customers 'The Equinox Group made it challenging for customers to end their membership, costing them time and money,' she alleged The fitness group must also improve its disclosures moving forwardEquinox and SoulCycle customers in New York may soon be entitled to cash back due to difficulty canceling memberships. On Friday, May 30, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a $600,000 settlement from the fitness company, claiming Equinox, Equinox+ and SoulCycle made it 'hard for New Yorkers to cancel their membership.' James alleged Equinox Group failed to clearly disclose its subscription terms and did not provide consumers with the subscription acknowledgment required by New York law. 'New Yorkers should be able to cancel a membership they no longer use or want without breaking a sweat,' James said in a statement. 'The Equinox Group made it challenging for customers to end their membership, costing them time and money. As a result of my office's settlement, New Yorkers can now cancel their membership with Equinox, SoulCycle, or any of Equinox Group's brands much faster.' PEOPLE reached out to the Equinox Group for comment but did not immediately hear back. "Prior to being made aware of this inquiry, we had already begun to make changes to our terms and conditions in conformance with all statutory requirements, and our policies are in full compliance. We are pleased that this matter is resolved," an Equinox and SoulCycle spokesperson said in a statement obtained by CBS News. According to the terms of the settlement, Equinox Group must now pay $600,000 in penalties and change its subscription practices, as well as offer refunds to subscribers who tried to cancel their membership but were unable to. Of the complaints mentioned by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Equinox was accused of using 'hard-to-understand terms and conditions' within the company's documents, which ultimately made the cancellation process 'complex, difficult, and time-consuming." 'This settlement requires Equinox Group to pay $600,000 in penalties and provide refunds of up to $250 to eligible New York subscribers who filed complaints with the Equinox Group, Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, or the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York between February 9, 2021 and December 31, 2024,' per the OAG press release. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Eligible residents who first became subscribers or attempted to cancel their subscription between Feb. 9, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2024, can claim their portion of the settlement by emailing Equinox Group by Aug. 2, 2025. SoulCycle subscribers should email NewYorkAGclaims@ . Equinox Gym and Equinox+ subscribers should email NewYorkAGclaims@ Subscriber restitution requests must include their name and the phone number or email address associated with their account. Read the original article on People
CBS News
02-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
New York Equinox and SoulCycle members may be eligible for $250 refunds. Here's how to get it.
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a $600,000 settlement with Equinox and SoulCycle over difficulties people had canceling their membership. Under New York law, subscription services require consent for automatic renewals and must provide a simple method to cancel. The attorney general's office found Equinox's subscription terms were not in compliance. "New Yorkers should be able to cancel a membership they no longer use or want without breaking a sweat," James said. "The Equinox Group made it challenging for customers to end their membership, costing them time and money. As a result of my office's settlement, New Yorkers can now cancel their membership with Equinox, SoulCycle, or any of Equinox Group's brands much faster." "Prior to being made aware of this inquiry, we had already begun to make changes to our terms and conditions in conformance with all statutory requirements, and our policies are in full compliance. We are pleased that this matter is resolved," an Equinox and SoulCycle spokesperson said. How to get the settlement money Under the settlement, subscribers who filed complaints with the Equinox Group, the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission or the Office of the Attorney General between Feb. 9, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2024 are eligible for refunds of up to $250. New York Equinox, Equinox+ and SoulCycle members may also be eligible to $100 in restitution. In both cases, people must submit their request via email by Aug. 2. Equinox Gym and Equinox+ subscribers who tried to cancel their subscriptions in that time should email NewYorkAGclaims@ and SoulCycle subscribes should email NewYorkAGclaims@ Requests must include the name of the subscriber along with the phone number or email on their account.
