GRAPEVINE

    
SHIFTING GEARS
     Faster Fitness Training Studios has opened three centers in the Charleston area in the past three years, giving founder and President Chris McNeil the incentive to launch a franchising program.
     A franchise holder can open a small chain of the training studios in a region for a lower cost than a traditional health club, he said.
     The company focuses on one-on-one personal training. Sessions typically take 30 minutes and attract busy people who can squeeze in a workout, as well as take part in the studio's "lifestyle" nutrition program.
     "Our studios appeal to people who feel lost in the shuffle in large health clubs," McNeil said. The most recent center to open is in Summerville. Other outlets are in Mount Pleasant and Charleston.
    

     Staff reports