Full Transcript
Whether working out at home, outdoors, or at the gym, more and more people are catching on to the benefits of being physically active, along with the overall improvement it can have on our health, of course, which is great news. On this week's Take 5, I want to share with you some numbers that show just how dedicated some Americans were to their fitness routine in 2020, and also how IHRSA continues to work hard promoting and protecting our industry.
Thanks for joining me for another IHRSA Take 5, sponsored by Precor.
Fitness Equipment Sees Increased Sales
Because gyms were either closed or restricted much of last year, many people took matters into their own hands, so to speak, and decided to create their own home gym resulting in skyrocketing fitness equipment sales. According to SFIA's Manufacturer Sales by Category Report, consumer fitness sales jumped 40.5% to almost $5.59 billion. The top five categories that saw the largest increase were treadmills, elliptical machines, exercise cycles, free weights, and home gyms. These numbers further demonstrate that the interest in fitness is alive and well.
COVID Surge in Brazil
Unfortunately, Brazil is recently seeing a surge in COVID cases. But this time, as the country announces stricter rules and closures for many businesses, gyms in Rio de Janeiro are able to stay open with just a few restrictions. The secretary of health of the state of São Paulo acknowledged to the press that gym-goers seem to really comply with the safety protocols in place, and the decision to close gyms was a mistake, as gyms do not pose a significant risk of spreading COVID as long as they follow all safety precautions such as those preached through the Active & Safe program at IHRSA. We can only help more countries revisit their previous positions related to club closures based on the available scientific data. Heck, maybe even California could take a lesson.