SNEWS -- Section Fitness (2024)

Dick's massively under-delivers on highly touted Nautilus shop-in-shop

(Dec 19, 2005) -- When Nautilus announced a partnership with Dick's Sporting Goods to pilot "shop-in-shops" in a selection of stores this winter, we were excited. We even sent people to visit the shops in various parts of the country. Unfortunately, we've learned that these concept shops have been put together very poorly. Read Full Story...

Health magazine's "Best of Fitness" awards give winners big exposure

(Dec 19, 2005) -- More than 1,000 products in six categories were nominated and tested for the second-annual Health magazine "Best of Fitness" awards, much coveted because of a magazine audience that could reach 6.5 million influential, higher-income fitness enthusiasts. Read Full Story...

Kayak trainer turns any kayak/canoe into indoor fitness trainer

(Dec 19, 2005) -- We've seen cycle trainers that allow you to do an indoor workout with your outdoor bike. We've seen stationary training machines that replicate swimming, rowing, skiing and skating. Now comes a trainer designed to tuck under and around your kayak or canoe and create a dryland training system that turns your outdoor boat into an indoor gym. Read Full Story...

Mystery Shopper: Belts, bearings and horsepower…oh my!

(Dec 16, 2005) -- Our undercover shopper, Judy, strode into the Fitness Experts store on Waukegan Road in Deerfield determined to have a grand shopping experience for a treadmill -- one that didn't look like a big, square, chunk o' black metal. Although the storefront itself was well kept, the shopping center it's in is in dire straits. Still, Fitness Experts had a large, easy-to-spot sign with bold, red lettering. Read Full Story...

Fitness financial: Stumping and rhetoric on all sides of Bally issue

(Dec 16, 2005) -- If you want entertainment, take a regular peek at the rhetoric flying around the Bally issue. We're not convinced any of the parties involved meant for this tit-for-tat battle to be entertainment, but – com' on – how can it not be? Read Full Story...

Fitness financials: Everlast hits Nasdaq high after signing three license deals, plus Reebok, Puma, GSI, Russell, Wal-Mart

(Dec 15, 2005) -- Everlast hits Nasdaq high after signing three licensing deals. Reebok shareholders to vote on adidas-Salomon merger. Herz siblings reportedly eyeing Puma takeover. GSI elects new board member. Russell board OKs dividend. Wal-Mart sticks to December sales forecast. Read Full Story...

Icon, Nautilus file court briefs on Icon's victory in trademark infringement case

(Dec 14, 2005) -- Icon and Nautilus have filed lengthy briefs with the U.S. District Court, District of Utah, to state their sides one last time before the judge in the case finalizes the $7.8 million jury verdict handed down in Icon's favor. The case was filed by Icon against Nautilus in August 2002, claiming trademark infringement and false advertising. Read Full Story...

Fitness: Did you hear?...SGMA announces date/location of Sports and Technology event, plus SportsArt, National Retail Federation, Curves and more…

(Dec 13, 2005) -- SGMA announces date/location of Sports and Technology event, SportsArt offfers Xtrainer DVD, National Retail Federation sees a happy holiday for retailers, the jock strap celebrates its 350 mllionth piece. Read Full Story...

Fitness financial: Bally and stockholders spar in court, by letter, … let us count the ways

(Dec 12, 2005) -- The business dealings of health clubs don't often catch the fancy of mainstream media, but as Bally Total Fitness (NYSE: BFT) heads toward its annual stockholder meeting in late January, the sparring between the company and its stockholders has escalated to analysis by business and big-city rags. Read Full Story...

Cybex's John Aglialoro holds all the cards, no bluff.

(Dec 9, 2005) -- Cybex CEO John Aglialoro has raked in big winnings at the poker table.He said the game has taught him life lessons that he applies to his business life. Read Full Story...

Fitness financials: McCoy replaces Buckley as Brunswick CEO, plus Life Time, Costco

(Dec 9, 2005) -- Fitness financials: McCoy replaces Buckley as Brunswick CEO. Life Time's shares dip after downgrade. Costco net sales up 12 percent in Q1. Read Full Story...

Health Notes: Exercise helps chase off Father Time

(Dec 7, 2005) -- You, our readers, have asked for it, so SNEWS® is delivering it: Beginning with this first Health Notes report, we will begin publishing occasional looks at research studies, results and reports that relate to health, fitness, physical activity and wellness. Our goal is to provide you with nuggets of information and condensed insights that will help you serve your customers better and conduct your business with more confidence, be that developing and tweaking equipment and related gear or selling it to the public. Read Full Story...

Fitness: Did you hear?...An Impersonal Trainer, Lifestyle Fitness, TKO's reorganization, IHRSA, Iron Grip, Olympics, SportsArt, Equinox, North Castle Partners, and more…

(Dec 6, 2005) -- Lifestyle Fitness Equipment opens more stores, TKO files first Ch. 11 operating report, Related Companies buys Equinox Holdings for $505 million, IHRSA releases health club operations study, plus much more... Read Full Story...

eBay offers fertile ground for infringements: Fitness Quest, Bayou Fitness in legal battles

(Dec 5, 2005) -- With several hundred thousand virtual eBay stores on the e-commerce website, any manufacturer or holder of intellectual property needs to be constantly vigilant, monitoring for fraud, counterfeiting or violations. Two equipment companies recently discovered what they claim is illegal activity and are engaged in lawsuits: Fitness Quest and Bayou Fitness both are claiming infringement of one sort or another (We addressed the problems of eBay in a special feature in our FitBiz by GearTrends® March 2005 journal. Read Full Story...

Fitness financial: Bally looking to sell or merge amid flurry of restatement disclosures

(Dec 2, 2005) -- Deluging inboxes everywhere with notices of SEC filings (20 last week alone), Bally Total Fitness (NYSE: BFT) finally released all of its back financial statements for fiscal 2004 and 2005 and restated earnings going back to 2000, as well as held its first earnings call in nearly 18 months. Read Full Story...

Pacific Fitness founder back with home gyms … and porch swings, teeter-totters

(Dec 2, 2005) -- When Ted Habing, founder of Pacific Fitness, appeared at the Health & Fitness Business show in Denver in August, his company had an array of familiar weight-training equipment, but those pieces shared booth space with fairly unlikely products -- colorful kiddie teeter-totters and kick-back patio swings. Read Full Story...

Fitness financials: Acquisitions bolster Forzani's Q3 bottom line, plus Amer, Finish Line, Sports Club/LA, George Foreman, Costco, Wal-Mart

(Dec 2, 2005) -- Fitness financials: Acquisitions bolster Forzani's Q3 bottom line. Amer signs a multi-currency credit facility. Finish Line raises guidance for year. Sports Club's reports lower net loss for Q3. November sales results for Costco. Wal-Mart reports November sales, confirms December expectations. Read Full Story...

Kris Reibel starts international sourcing/development business

(Nov 30, 2005) -- After starting his career in fitness nearly two decades ago doing international sourcing and business development, Kris Reibel has returned to his roots. Read Full Story...

Fitness: Did you hear?... Nautilus and Icon reach settlement in Crossbar suit, plus Everlast's George Horowitz, insider fitness stock trading, Matrix Fitness, Star Trac, research on exercise and depression, and more…

(Nov 22, 2005) -- Nautilus and Icon reach settlement in Crossbar suit, Everlast's George Horowitz passes away, insiders stalk fitness stocks, get a peek at Matrix's hybrid bike, steppers draw crowd at Club Industry, plus more... Read Full Story...

Body Masters Ch. 11 reorganization surging strongly ahead

(Nov 21, 2005) -- Just 10 months after reorganizing under Ch.11, Body Masters is quickly getting back into shape. The company has reorganized management, redesigned equipment, streamlined production, updated its technology, improved steel purchasing methods, and worked to improve sales, marketing and distribution. Read Full Story...