About FigureRX
FigureRX is the creation
of a Chicago and Los-Angeles-based investment firm that specializes
within the sports and entertainment industries, among other
things. In 2007, to specifically support the fitness industry,
we embarked on the creation of one of the largest dedicated
figure, fitness and women's bodybuilding portals on the web.
Our web site designer is Physique Sites,
headquartered in Ohio.
What is included on the site?
The main focus of our web site is to celebrate and provide
blanket coverage and recognition for the amazing athletes
who compete in the sports of figure, fitness and women's bodybuilding
within the NPC and IFBB. The team members and others featured
on our site were chosen for their incredible accomplishments
both inside and outside of figure and fitness. Our site includes
contest coverage (photos, videos, previews and contest reports),
a magazine, athlete resources, a store, industry-related classified
ads, athlete interviews, rankings and profiles, and photo
and video content. We operate in cooperation with BodybuildingWeekly.com,
an industry news feed, blog, and athlete database. FigureRX
also occasionally sponsors shows, primarily at the national
level.
FigureRX is a non-profit subsidiary of our company, meaning
that every dime (after costs) has been and will be invested
back into the web site, industry and the athletes who make
this sport great. We do not and are not allowed to make any
money on this venture. While we intend to continue to become
a necessary “can’t miss” stop on the web for everyone involved
in figure and fitness both casually and at a competitive level,
our goal is to expand the popularity of the sport and to enhance
revenues; we are not attempting to take business from our
friends at other companies, web sites or vendors within the
sport. FigureRX also seeks to encourage a positive image and
direction for the sport as a whole. We believe that all the
participants in this sport work extremely hard and should
be admired and rewarded for their efforts.
We have temporarily delayed the launch of our supplement
store, which will feature product reviews from a female perspective.
In the interim we would encourage everyone, during an economic
downturn, to give back to your local community by supporting
the supplement stores, gyms, salons, trainers, and fitness
camps in your area. Growing this industry at the local level
will also add to its mainstream appeal.
What is your overall
philosophy/ creed?
FigureRX is here to be as supportive of the figure
and fitness industry as we can be. Everyone involved
with the web site loves the sport and wants to “give
back” in numerous ways. In fact, several of our partners
have track records that include support for female
athletes in all sports. For example, two have been
involved in renewing Title IX provisions and strengthening
enforcement at the federal level. Another co-founded
a program at major business schools across the country,
designed to assist WNBA athletes with the transition
from sports to successful post-athletic careers.
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Figure Superstar Jamie Reed
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Our parent company has less than 100 employees, and you will also
detect a very strong populist strain in our activities. Over the past
few years there has been an alarming level of consolidation in the fitness
industry, meaning smaller family-owned and founded enterprises being purchased
or taken out by large, faceless corporations - particularly in the media sector. We support small businesses
at every level including franchise owners and proprietors.
We always welcome suggestions for improving the site, or
any comments that you may have, via our Contact
Page.
Please see the FAQ below for additional responses
to common questions.
What is your investment company
and how does it work?
An investment company, sometimes referred to as a private
equity or a venture capital firm, collects funds from high
net worth individuals and then invests them in areas where
they have specific expertise. Investors work with specific
firms because of their track record, as measured in annual
investment returns.
If the web site is non-profit,
how do you make money?
The web site itself pays out more in sponsorship funds than
it earns. The parent company derives income from investments
in sports-related entities, including but not limited to supplement
companies, sports teams, fitness-related web sites, gyms and
facilities, exercise equipment, sports publishing companies,
and major and regional sporting events and associations. Supporting
all sports and fitness-related ventures, and expanding the
industry as a whole, indirectly increases the value of our
investments (all else held equal).
Who and what is Physique Sites?
Physique Sites is an
Ohio-based company that offers high-level athlete web design and
technical support.
Do you have an agenda within
figure and fitness?
We have some opinions about the direction of the sport, starting
with the belief that figure and fitness athletes are as dedicated
and work just as hard, if not harder, than athletes in other
sports. Figure and fitness athletes are important, positive
role models for females of all ages and, most importantly,
the sport provides an avenue for continuing in competitive
athletics after high school and/or college. FigureRX believes
in marketing shows beyond the bodybuilding community and to
a mainstream audience. For example, the marketing for a show
and/or expo in Los Angeles should be visible to people living
in the area, even those who have had no connection to the
sport, in order to expand overall interest in the sport. This
applies for both national and local shows.
On stage, we like to see hard work and symmetrical muscularity
rewarded, not penalized. The ideal figure physique has certain
traits, and is quite different from the physique of a female
bodybuilder, regardless of the amount of muscle carried. Muscle
separation and hardness should not be an automatic negative,
but should be judged in conjunction with other qualities such
as symmetry, beauty and presentation. We strongly believe
in physique excellence, but that can mean different things
for different athletes. We respect individual choices regarding
training, diet and supplementation and believe that federations
should support freedom of choice as well.
In the past we have also supported splitting NPC figure into
two divisions (one that allows more muscularity and separation
and another “bikini-contest” division) and retaining the one
piece round as a critical part of physique assessment. Like
many others, we recognize and adjust with the judging nuances
of the sport even in cases where we may respectfully disagree
with the judging direction.
Finally, our parent company is majority-minority owned, meaning
that a majority of our partners are of African-American, Hispanic-American,
or Asian-American descent. Many are former or retired athletes.
We are obviously equal opportunity and strongly support diversity
initiatives in all sports.

Fitness Superstar Beth Horn
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Is there
anything that you won’t have on the site?
We will not allow nudity or overtly
sexual content on FigureRX. We do, however, encourage
an open and honest discussion on nutrition, supplementation
and contest preparations. We consider the females
in this sport to be athletes and competitors, just
like in any other hard core sport, and we have to
cringe slightly when we hear athletes referred to
as "ladies" .... as in, "ladies, quarter turn to your
right." So we do try to minimize such "slightly sexist"
terminology.
In addition, we strongly discourage
attacks on other companies and individuals within
the industry, including photographers. Everyone has
their appropriate roles within the fitness industry
and we believe that it is important to be respectful
to all. We kindly ask that any athletes representing
us in any capacity to also refrain from public attacks
on message boards or elsewhere. Over time we have
also realized that approximately 90% of the negative
rumors flying around the web are unfounded, and when
in doubt the "do unto others" golden rule is the best
guide.
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Why only figure
and fitness, what about bodybuilding?
We are already tremendously supportive of female
bodybuilders and have a particular niche for competitors who
skirt the limits between figure and bodybuilding. Some of
the best physiques in the world fall between the modern judging
criteria of figure and bodybuilding. Look for an upcoming
partnership with a bodybuilding web site and the eventual
launch of BodybuildingRX.com.
What if I want your company
to invest in mine?
You may send a brief introduction and proposal to the e-mail
address listed on the contact page. Please remember that your
entity must be sports related, and we typically choose to
hold minority positions in large companies or ventures, rather
than operational control of smaller companies or start-ups.
How do you select the athletes
you sponsor?
Team FigureRX selects athletes who we believe are either
rising stars in the figure and fitness arena or who exhibit
excellence both inside and outside the sport. We seek individuals
who have tremendous natural ability and talent, but who might
need that extra push from us to get to the top.
Are your sponsorships exclusive?
What are the obligations?
First, we suggest that you read the section on sponsorships
in our "athlete resources" area. It is important reading for
any athlete in the sport who is seeking to minimize or subsidize
the costs of competing and to maximize career revenues. It
will also explain how you can maximize your own value to sponsors
within the industry.
Sponsors fall into different categories, and FigureRX operates
within the media and discount supplement store categories.
On a grand scale, the easiest way to think about it is to
observe some of the IFBB male bodybuilders. They can be sponsored
by a supplement company (like Muscletech or Eight Ball) while
at the same time having a media sponsor (like Weider or Muscular
Development). In addition, they might be free to appear on
Bodybuilding.com because their supplement company's products
are sold in the store - without any conflicts. Even within
our categories we only consider a handful of companies to
be competitors while we work directly with others. Any athletes
who work with us are free to be affiliated with sponsors in
all other categories, which include supplement manufacturers,
gym chains, clothing, tanning salons, training services, fitness
camps, and many other product types. In fact we encourage
physique athletes to pursue a "portfolio" of sponsorships
in numerous categories.
There are almost always obligations that come along with
significant sponsorship, and like any company we must make
sure our needs for site content and representation at shows
are met. We are happy to discuss any questions or details
individually.
What type of support do you provide?
In any given year, we budget for an operating loss of approximately
$75,000. That amount, plus any proceeds from the web site, is entirely
invested back into the sport and the athletes. To see a typical national
level athlete budget, and guidelines on what we cover and do not cover,
please go here.
How do I apply for a sponsorship?
We are expanding very slowly as we launch various aspects of the web site, and
have not added any fully-sponsored or contract athletes since early fall of 2007. We have instead
hired booth models and invited content guests to meet our need as we expand.
But we are always accepting applications and we encourage
you to look at our guidelines in the "athlete resources" section.
At the moment we are only working with amateur athletes, because we
are so young with a very small staff, and have a lot to learn to be
effective and to add value at the IFBB level.
If we do not respond to you please do not be offended, because
our primary duties are as investment bankers which sometimes
involves 90-hour work weeks and a lot of travel!! We love
this sport and (almost) all the competitors and are tremendously thankful
for your support over the past two years.
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