A woman practicing at home using an online course.
Thomas Trutschel / Photothek via Getty Images
The fitness industry was turned upside down in 2020.
When the Covid pandemic entered the US in March, Americans quickly realized that their gym routines would no longer be sustainable. Fitness studios ranging from New York Sports Clubs to SoulCycle held their last group classes because they were forced to shut down to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus. And their users inevitably had to look for alternative ways to sweat in their basements or bedrooms, to try and alleviate the anxiety associated with Covid.
Health and fitness equipment sales more than doubled to $ 2.3 billion during March to October, according to data from The NPD Group. Treadmill sales rose by a whopping 135%, the group said, while sales of stationary bikes nearly tripled. Retailers from Target to Dick’s Sporting Goods could hardly keep items like 10-pound weights and ropes on their shelves.
Now companies from Peloton to Lululemon to Apple are betting that the Covid pandemic has permanently changed the way people will exercise at home. And so far, the numbers seem to support their commitment.