Fitness Movin' & Shakin': Fitness Quest, Accell Fitness, LifeCore, Nautilus, Cybex

Fitness Quest‘s license with New Balance for the equipment line that was rolled out in 2004 was not renewed, SNEWS® was told by Fitness Quest vice president Mike Clark. The company will continue to service equipment that was sold and it will still sell from remaining inventories. “The decision not to renew was a very tough one, but in an otherwise soft fitness equipment market coupled with volatile commodity pricing, the higher end equipment we offered does not fit into Fitness Quest’s future plans,” Clark said. To read a July 8, 2004, SNEWS story about the line’s debut, “New Balance equipment to debut at Health & Fitness Biz show,” click here….

To help save costs in light of today’s economy, Accell Fitness has laid off its two U.S. regional managers. Continuing to handle the brand will be vice presidents of sales, Dave Neziol (Bremshey) and Jay White (Tunturi), as well as two inside sales representatives. “It’s no different than anybody else,” Neziol told SNEWS. He said the company waited till early 2009 to see how the company had fared over the holidays before making a decision. Although Canada is still doing well, the United States is not and, he said, “the model has to change based on the U.S. economy….”

LifeCore has gained the global license to manufacture and sell the center drive elliptical under a patent by Ken Stearns. The patent’s license had formerly been held by Keys Fitness. LifeCore owner Roger Bates said he will have three models priced between $1,500 and $2,500 with the lowest-price model rolling out in the next three months…. Nautilus has announced it plans to invest $1.7 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Grayson County in Virginia, creating 60 jobs…. There is a new face at Cybex. Jim Philbrick, formerly of SportsArt, has started as Cybex’s Pacific Northwest sales rep. “I am very happy and fortunate to be part of their team,” he said.

Got any news or tips about somebody, some product, or some company doing some moving or shaking? Let us know so we can slip it into our occasional Movin’ & Shakin’ updates. Just email snewsbox@snewsnet.com.