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Post by itsrad on Mar 2, 2019 23:28:06 GMT
But again a strategic decision to abandon the few for the many. I fault WW for a lot of strange decision making but not this. Except it hasn't worked out that way. This might have worked if they had their technology act together when they decided to alienate their older members. For better or worse, the only thing that sets them apart from their competitors is the meetings. The technology passed them by and I'm not sure they can successfully play catch up on that. And stock analysts have caught onto that. In addition to things like MFP and LoseIt, there are services like Noom and DietDoctor. WW has lost focus. And that is big trouble for a corporation.
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Post by finreporter on Mar 3, 2019 2:09:41 GMT
Rad I completely agree with you. I support the decision to focus on those with smartphones. But they're transforming the business in a manner that doesn't necessarily attract those with smart phones. They still seem like a program trying to be current but the numbers show that their new target doesn't see them as current. So either go for it, WW, or just keep the old members happy and keep wasting money on brick and mortar. The company will eventually sink anyway so do what the "few" want so they stop badmouthing you and you at least get one small group who sings your praises!
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Post by itsrad on Mar 3, 2019 3:04:37 GMT
finreporter , I think you misunderstood my point. I think the solution is in the meetings. They just have to figure out how to make them accessible and relevant. Changing the name to "studios" is just ridiculous, and didn't attract a single person.
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Post by alias123 on Mar 3, 2019 3:41:52 GMT
WW has lost focus. And that is big trouble for a corporation. Good point !
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Kitty
Transcendent Member
Posts: 1,449
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Post by Kitty on Mar 3, 2019 5:57:21 GMT
finreporter , I think you misunderstood my point. I think the solution is in the meetings. They just have to figure out how to make them accessible and relevant. Changing the name to "studios" is just ridiculous, and didn't attract a single person. This so much. This is what I have said. This is what makes WW special. The small group setting with support. Nothing else about WW is special and offers benefits over other programs. It might have 30 to 50 years ago, but not today. I read a lot of weight loss research studies and they often talk about the benefit of group type meetings. The WW meetings try to do two things - education and support. I think in recent years they have flailed a bit but abandoning the education part. Well, lessening it anyway. They can even do online meetings if they want to for the people who don't want to walk into a meeting or don't have time. Technology allows this. Why they haven't really done it is just astounding to me.
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Post by finreporter on Mar 3, 2019 7:28:26 GMT
Online meetings are what they should focus on. Then you keep the "special" and still reduce costs and increase margin. And get the smartphone crowd. Like Audrey mentioned earlier, most young people will not have the time or patience to get in the car, drive to the meeting, wait in a line to get weighed, sit through a meeting and then drive home or back to work or wherever they need to get to. So the idea of in person meetings probably only appeals to a smaller crowd that doesn't make as much of a contribution to the bottom line.
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Post by fullmahina on Mar 3, 2019 12:53:52 GMT
Online meetings are what they should focus on. Do you mean actual online meetings that would allow participation from members at home or just mock-meetings that could be watched online? I'm not sure if WW is willing to put in the time or effort for actual audience participation online meetings. And watching a meeting that I am not participating in wouldn't interest me at all. This is what makes WW special. The small group setting with support. Nothing else about WW is special and offers benefits over other programs. No other weight loss programs offer this except perhaps OA and TOPS but they have nowhere near the following that Weight Watchers had. I have used both the online program and gone to meetings. When a leader and a group is good a meeting can be a great motivator. Weight Watchers used to stand out in the crowd by doing one thing very well---the meetings and the personalized support. There are so many online programs available for free or very low cost, so much competition. WW costs too much and doesn't perform. No surprise that they are now in danger of circling the drain. WW blew it.
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Post by itsrad on Mar 3, 2019 13:50:56 GMT
Interactive webinars are easy and inexpensive to implement. With a little effort and relatively small investment, WW could train a cadre of leaders who could facilitate that kind of meeting. When done well, they are extremely effective.
Of course, that would require WW to accidentally stumble into the 21st century.
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Post by DotRen on Mar 3, 2019 13:54:04 GMT
WW also needs to stop penalizing healthy fats. Don't go whole keto , but things like olive oil, avocado and avocado oil shouldn't be penalized so heavily.
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Post by borntexan on Mar 3, 2019 15:10:08 GMT
WW also needs to stop penalizing healthy fats. Don't go whole keto , but things like olive oil, avocado and avocado oil shouldn't be penalized so heavily. Exactly.Olive oil and avocado are both healthy fats but no matter what program you follow you are penalized for this.I have never seen the points on avocado oil but I'm sure it's the same way.
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Post by Jennifer on Mar 3, 2019 15:31:48 GMT
WW also needs to stop penalizing healthy fats. Don't go whole keto , but things like olive oil, avocado and avocado oil shouldn't be penalized so heavily. Exactly.Olive oil and avocado are both healthy fats but no matter what program you follow you are penalized for this.I have never seen the points on avocado oil but I'm sure it's the same way. They are high because of the calories. It's saturated fat that's penalized.
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Post by borntexan on Mar 3, 2019 15:35:34 GMT
I know the fats are penalized because of the calories but having to use or eat a healthy fat still doesn't make sense to me Jennifer.
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Post by zazzles on Mar 3, 2019 15:48:04 GMT
This has been an interesting discussion and lots of interesting ideas have been mentioned.
IMHO what WW need to do is: - Analyze every single weight control offering, both online and with physical presences, to build a matrix of what is offered.
- Review the matrix, determine what (if any) areas that can lead to successful weight loss/control are not being addressed.
- Build a UNIQUE offering that can be the replacement for the original Weight Watchers offering.
Simply having a diet offering as they did 50 years ago no longer cuts it. In the 60s there were scads of fad diets with no science behind them; that is why WW had their initial success using the medically sound obesity clinic diet. But now there are lots of diets available that are medically sound, so WW no longer has a unique offering—they just have a gimmick called points.
I question what some form of online meetings would accomplish. Folks who are young or who are SmartPhone and social media savvy and/or addicted already know how to use Skype, Facetime, and other technology to hold group conferences. Any group on Facebook that focuses on dieting issues could lead to successful online support conferences via audio or video. That is NOT an opportunity for WW to be unique.
And, perhaps, the reality is that WW has simply become obsolete, outlived its usefulness, and simply needs to shut down.
The WW board has a long and difficult journey to determine whether the business is still viable and how to steer it in a direction that will spell financial success for investors and personal success for members. And they need to specifically address the issue of the value proposition, being less greedy for profits so that members feel that they are getting value for the money they are paying.
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Post by Jennifer on Mar 3, 2019 16:05:57 GMT
I know the fats are penalized because of the calories but having to use or eat a healthy fat still doesn't make sense to me Jennifer. Here's where the GHG's would work, weren't 2 teaspoons included?
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Post by borntexan on Mar 3, 2019 16:24:59 GMT
Unless you are following simply filling you still have to count points for healthy fats or oils unfortunately Jennifer. I do follow most of the GHG's on ITB.
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