http://www.snewsnet.com/ If it happens in the outdoor and fitness markets, SNEWS® is there so you can listen in. Always insightful, sometimes humorous, absolutely invaluable. No one covers the outdoor and fitness markets better than we do, period. In print since 1983, on the web since 2000, and now in audio for your listening pleasure. Interviews, special reports, event coverage, and more. en Copyright SNEWS® LLC, all rights reserved Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:15:02 -0700 60 http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/BallBike_to_add_commercial_unit_021012.html FitOne plans to introduce a commercial model of its recumbent bike with a stability ball seat at IHRSA next month after wowing retailers and show-goers at the Health and Fitness Business Expo in Las Vegas last September. SNEWS gets the story. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/BallBike_to_add_commercial_unit_021012.html Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Anytime_Fitness_releases_Weight_of_the_Union_report_020812.html Anytime Fitness finds that while two out of three people in the United States are overweight, and one in three is obese, its members are logging more workouts at 24-hour facilities. SNEWS brings you highlights from the Anytime Fitness Weight of the Union report. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Anytime_Fitness_releases_Weight_of_the_Union_report_020812.html Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Cybex_settles_lawsuit_020612.html Cybex has settled what had been a $66 million product liability suit verdict, reducing the sum to $19.5 million, which most likely will keep the company afloat, officials said. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Cybex_settles_lawsuit_020612.html Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Apple_eyes_fitness_equipment_technology_020312.html A recent patent filing by Apple suggests the company is working on technology to better transfer and share fitness equipment data to media devices and others in real time. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Apple_eyes_fitness_equipment_technology_020312.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Womens_apparel_could_be_good_for_fitness_retailers_020312.html Women control approximately $12 trillion of the overall $18.4 trillion in global consumer spending, according to the Boston Consulting Group. Carrying women’s-specific sportswear could help some specialty fitness retailers get a piece of the $157.2 million women spent on sportswear in specialty outdoor stores in 2011. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Womens_apparel_could_be_good_for_fitness_retailers_020312.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Accessories_to_keep_your_customers_muscles_well_020112.html Sore muscles plague your customers after grueling workouts or long days hiking or snowboarding. SNEWS spotted a few items at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market you can offer to keep their aches at bay. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Accessories_to_keep_your_customers_muscles_well_020112.html Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Fitness_financials_Amer_Precor_fitness_sales_up_013112.html Amer Sports’ fitness sales, which primarily consist of its Precor brand, jumped 22 percent in the fourth quarter 2011 with strong sales at both the commercial and consumer level. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Fitness_financials_Amer_Precor_fitness_sales_up_013112.html Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Green_fitness_products_power_to_grid_013012.html In fitness, it isn’t easy being green — at least when it comes to retail equipment options to sell for use in the home. SNEWS takes a look at the latest sustainable fitness equipment technologies — those that feed power back to the grid — and what it will take for consumers to purchase the products for home use. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Green_fitness_products_power_to_grid_013012.html Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Brunswick_4Q_fitness_sales_up_012612.html An 11 percent increase in Life Fitness and Hammer Strength equipment sales helped parent company Brunswick (NYSE:BC) report an 8 percent rise in revenue for the fourth quarter 2011. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Brunswick_4Q_fitness_sales_up_012612.html Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Diamondback_Fitness_LifeCore_Fitness_join_forces_012512.html Raleigh America's Diamondback brand has licensed off its fitness division operations to LifeCore Fitness, which will merge sales, warehouse and customer service departments in California. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Diamondback_Fitness_LifeCore_Fitness_join_forces_012512.html Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/RD_Rogers_Company_sold_to_GetFit_Holdings_Inc_011812.html The parent company to retailer Push, Pedal, Pull, RD Rogers Company, has been sold to GetFit Holdings, Inc. Representatives from P3 and GetFit Holdings declined SNEWS’ requests for interviews, but we bring you the owner's farewell letter to staff. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/RD_Rogers_Company_sold_to_GetFit_Holdings_Inc_011812.html Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Costco_Roadshows_benefit_manufacturer_retailer_011611.html Costco Roadshows offer fitness manufacturers another chance to push volume and raise awareness of their brands among consumers. SNEWS chats with Doug Johns, Precor's vice president for global marketing and product management, about its Costco Roadshow success. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Costco_Roadshows_benefit_manufacturer_retailer_011611.html Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Spirit_Fitness_parent_Dyaco_going_public_011312.html Taiwan-based Dyaco International, parent to the Spirit Fitness brand, plans to take itself public by the end of 2012. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Spirit_Fitness_parent_Dyaco_going_public_011312.html Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/StairMaster_StepMill_gets_competition_011111.html Now that the patent on the StairClimber’s StepMill technology has run out, two other manufacturers, Johnson Health Tech and Med-Fit Systems, are introducing new products to the rotating staircase market – Matrix ClimbMill and Nautilus K2 Vertical Climber. Plus, Star Trac has something in store for later this year. SNEWS takes a look. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/StairMaster_StepMill_gets_competition_011111.html Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Merchandising_doctor_Healthstyles_010912.html Fitness stores might feel there is little they can do to make heavy, black and difficult-to-move equipment exciting, but there are ways to add visual interest to the fitness retail environment without a costly renovation. The SNEWS Merchandising Doctor pays a visit to HealthStyles in Boulder, Colo. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Merchandising_doctor_Healthstyles_010912.html Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Leadership_education_top_notch_at_Athletic_Business_010612.html While it's common for trade shows to offer some educational seminars as added value for attendees, the Athletic Business Conference does it with a twist – offering educational seminars as the prime attraction at a solid trade show. SNEWS offers some notes from excellent seminars it attended from the leadership track at ABC. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Leadership_education_top_notch_at_Athletic_Business_010612.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Looking_ahead_Hodgson_to_step_away_from_SNEWS_010412.html For nearly a fifth of my life, I’ve had the pleasure of guiding this ship called SNEWS® with my wife, Therese, every step of the way. On Dec. 31, 2011, she bid adieu. Now, it is my turn. On Jan. 31, I will cede control of the wheelhouse at SNEWS to a new captain. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Looking_ahead_Hodgson_to_step_away_from_SNEWS_010412.html Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Fitness_reader_favorite_stories_2011_010212.html As the clock begins on yet another year, SNEWS® thought we'd all enjoy a look back at what you, our fitness readers, found to be the ten most compelling stories of 2011 -- the ones you clicked to read in the highest numbers. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Fitness_reader_favorite_stories_2011_010212.html Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Measuring_power_not_just_for_elite_cyclists_anymore_123011.html Many companies that offer stationary bicycles are taking a page from elite cyclists in terms of measuring power output on bicycles. This new feature on some high-end and commercial models of stationary cycles is intended to help consumers measure progress over time. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Measuring_power_not_just_for_elite_cyclists_anymore_123011.html Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 MST http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/QR_codes_spreading_122811.html A year ago, QR was the conversation of tech geeks, early adopting countries such as Germany and Japan, and Best Buy employees. Today, “QR code” is the fastest growing marketing search term in the United States. SNEWS takes a look at why it should matter to you. http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/QR_codes_spreading_122811.html Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 MST