Health & Fitness Biz Show: Exhibitor line-up grows, on-floor education planned

With the annual Health & Fitness Business Expo now two months away, companies are finalizing their booth plans, with show manager VNU announcing that Bladez, Octane, TuffStuff and Universal are among those now signed up to show their equipment on the floor.

Others companies are nearing plans for booths at the Aug. 25-27 show in Denver, VNU trade show director Lance Camisasca said. For a full, up-to-date list, go to www.healthandfitnessbiz.com.

On-floor yoga/Pilates sales education
In addition, Danskin Fitness will sponsor several expo floor seminars and demonstrations about how specialty retailers can use yoga and Pilates to increase sales. Titled, Stretch Your Retail Sales with Yoga and Pilates, it will be the second and third day of the show. Sessions will be at the open demo and educational space, or #771. They will be Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26 and 27, at 10:30 a.m. (yoga) and 11:30 a.m. (Pilates).

Topics to be discussed include addressing what retailers need to add these segments to their stores, how to market them to bring in additional traffic, how to use them to complement current strength and cardiovascular equipment lines, and the do’s and don’ts of marketing and selling yoga and Pilates. Both practices, still growing strongly, are worth considering by specialty fitness retailers. All attendees are invited to the talks.

GearTrends® Fitness Forum adds panel participant
The first GearTrends® Fitness Forum, a panel discussion to be held Thursday, Aug. 25, 10:30 a.m. to noon, has added a participant to its esteemed panel. Scott Logan, marketing director for SportsArt Fitness, will join manufacturers Alan Gore, Bodycraft; and Kevin Lamar, Lamar Health Fitness & Sports; and retailers Rick Viehland, The Fitness Store-MO; Carlos Vazquez, Busy Body/Gyms to Go; and Chip Hunnings, All About Fitness/Lifestyle Fitness. Titled, “What Have You Done For Me Lately? — An open and honest, audience-participation discussion” — the audience-participatory discussion will be moderated by GearTrends® co-publisher Therese Iknoian. Roll up your sleeves, and come ready to speak up about anything from branding and promotion to advertising, sales training, margins and communication.

For additional details about other educational and morning events and parties or lunches, see SNEWS® story, April 29, 2005, “Health & Fitness Biz Show: Event to offer more education, GearTrends® Forum, food, parties,” or click here

Do you have show news to share?
If you have any events, new products, party announcements, company news or other bits and bytes you’d like to communicate to the industry pre-show, drop an email to hfbevents@snewsnet.com. SNEWS® will do occasional show updates leading up to the late August event, with the last one slated for Aug. 8. To have your news considered, please submit it by Aug. 4.