Importance Of Marketing

It is very important to understand what the consumers want before marketing takes place. Knowing the trends or changes and recognizing when to respond to these helps an organization to efficiently deliver what the customer wants profitably. The true importance of marketing is to also comprehend the demographics and how to effectively attract the consumers to the companies products and services.

LA Fitness's marketing department stays aware of the buying behavior of their consumers (LA Fitness, 2007). To appreciate how a consumer makes decisions in buying marketing and relationships must be fully understood (Armstrong and Kotler, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1997, 1993). Until recent history the examination of consumer behavior has been focused on the customers generalized choices. This in a sense has led to poor business decisions which resulted in bad marketing strategies. This day in age marketing has been able to take a better approach by collecting and analyzing data (Carrigan, Szmigin, & Wright, 2004).

La Fitness had a great start into the marketing world for their organization. "Not many businesses can claim it all started with a photo of Princess Diana with her legs in the air. In 1993, when the then-owner of London gym LA Fitness, Bryce Taylor, hawked illicit workout photos of his most famous member to national tabloid The Mirror, many of his customers left in protest. In 1996, Taylor sold the club to entrepreneur Fred Turok and his two partners. By then, Londoners had forgotten the scandal, so the funky name stuck" (BusinessWeek, 2007). This little turn of events became a great marketing success for LA Fitness. Marketing is highly important in the success of any business and as they say in Hollywood any publicity is good publicity.

LA Fitness began when all three companies merged in 1990 in Britain and in 2003 the annual sales soared 39% to 99.3 million pounds (BusinessWeek, 2007). LA Fitness has continually been expanding internationally in a very competitive marketplace. Due to this it is crucial that they continue to deliver intelligent marketing to stay ahead of the game. "Building on their successful direct mail campaign in April 2006, they wish to continue with a customer-focused approach. LA Fitness's successful takeover of the Dragons Gym chain assures their continued growth and gives them greater reason to develop a gym network strategy and an effective targeting proposition" (BusinessWeek, 2007).

LA Fitness is perceived as the leader in the fitness industry. The organization offers superior equipment, facilities and staff for many convenient international locations. They are headquarterd in London and according to MidOcean Partners