Fitness: Movin’ & Shakin’ — Strive Strength, Fitness Showrooms, Precision Fitness, Sportline and more…

Strive Smart Strength on Jan. 20 requested a 60-day extension to file its financial statements and bankruptcy plan in its Ch. 11 reorganization case. The Pennsylvania company, which originally filed Ch. 11 on Sept. 23, 2009, exhibited at the Athletic Business Conference in December. Papers in the case are now due by March 22 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Pennsylvania. In the request for an extension, attorneys noted, “The basis for the requested enlargement is that the debtor is going to base its plan of reorganization on an auction and Sale of all of its personal property. The Debtor is still compiling the information for these motions and requires more time.” Original court documents stated the company had over $29 million in unsecured debt with about $27 million of that to the founders’ father, E. Ronald Salvitti, and it had assets of $150,500….

Fitness Showrooms, based in Long Island, N.Y., opened the doors on its sixth store in January, this one in the heart of Manhattan. That location is at 134 W. 26th and has nearly 10,000 square feet in a prime mid-town spot (www.fitnessshowrooms.com)…. Precision Fitness Equipment in Boston told us of its latest donation of $11,000 in equipment to the Special Olympics, noting it manages to donate about $20,000 a year. “It’s what we do. It’s what we are about,” said owner David Aykanian. Click here to see more….Fitness Resource is continuing with its FR Cycling pilot retail bike division (www.frcycling.com) begun in late 2009. So far, of its 25 stores in three states, the Virginia-based retailer’s website shows the FR Cycling division at six locations in Virginia and three in Maryland…..

Sportline, owned by EB Brands, which also owns Valeo, has opened up distribution in Germany for its heart-rate monitor line, as well as its pedometers, stop watches and water bottles. The new director for that central European area is Roland Wagner…. On March 10, the SGMA will hold its 11th annual “National Health Through Fitness Day,” a day of advocacy and lobbying in Washington, D.C., by and for the fitness and sporting goods industry (www.getinvolved.sgma.com). Participants, from suppliers and retailers, learn about the issues, are taught how to effectively lobby, and spend time in groups meeting with legislators on current bills. They include the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) that provides federal money to school districts and community-based organizations for physical education equipment and programs, and the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act that would encourage physically active lifestyles by making sports, fitness and recreational activities payable pre-tax through accounts similar to Health Savings Accounts.

–Therese Iknoian

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.