The YEAR AHEAD T
BY JAMIE CRANE
he coming year should be anoth- er exciting and interesting year as our industry and fitness trends
continue to evolve. Although there appears to have
been no slowdown in growth this past year in the larger chain clubs that of- fer their members a wide variety of of- ferings and amenities, we saw incred- ible growth in the smaller specialty group-training category, including indoor cycling studios, sport specific/ high performance facilities, CrossFit gyms and those focusing on HIIT. It is hard to argue with the success
that these facilities are enjoying (for example, Orangetheory and SoulCycle are two that quickly come to mind). I think that most fitness enthusiasts enjoy being surrounded by like-mind- ed people with similar goals who will push and cheer them on regardless of their ability or fitness level. I be- lieve that the group fitness trend will continue to grow in 2018 as more and more of these smaller clubs carve out their niche. On the equipment side, and with
this above trend in mind, equipment manufacturers are working to design models that will meet these smaller and more-specialized facilities’ needs. IHRSA 2018 has promised to present some of these innovative new designs and ideas, and our company is looking forward to bringing them back to the Canadian fitness market. Technology will still be a big focus
in 2018, and the ability of members to give their feedback via mobile apps will play a big role. As a low-tech kind of workout guy, (do I really need to be able to check emails and Facebook on the treadmill?), I’ve finally seen the light with some of this past year’s products. As a competitive person, Stages Flight, for example, has really
opened my eyes with its interactive group experience that is both chal- lenging and fun. As our understanding of functional
training and biomechanics improves, I see its popularity continuing and it be- coming incorporated more and more into different styles of workouts. The demand for machines that mimic our everyday motions will continue to be in high demand and their designs will continue to evolve. With the vast number of fitness
choices now available to the public, the quality of equipment has become an important factor again when facili- ties (both large and small) are making their buying decisions. Where some brands were once reserved for the elite, we are seeing more clubs using these types of brands to create a wow factor that sets them apart from the crowd and draws in members.
Jamie Crane is the president of Dotmar Fitness Equipment Inc., the Canadian distribu- tor for Stages Indoor Cycling, FreeMotion Fitness, TrueForm Runner, Eleiko and Dynamic Fitness, among other brands. Contact him at
www.dotmarfitness.com
Find Your Niche
Jamie Crane
“The demand for machines that mimic our everyday motions will continue to be in high demand and their designs will continue to evolve.”
30 Fitness Business Canada January/February 2018
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