IDEA launches FitFeed, projects 2013 fitness industry trends

Every Friday, SNEWS brings you the 10 best fitness articles we read during the week.

But if you’re craving more fitness articles mid-week, take a look at IDEA Health and Fitness’ new FitFeed, which is available on the association’s website. The feed, which launched in March, includes the top 30 fitness stories being shared by fitness professionals on Twitter and other social networks.

In addition to content, users can view trending hashtags on Twitter, comment back and forth on the FitFeed content, share FitFeed content on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus and IDEA Client Share and see how many times a piece of content has been shared, as well as who’s shared it.

“The feedback has been great,” said Jason Davis, IDEA’s director of web products. “The fitness community is excited to have a resource that puts the latest fitness news all in one place.”

Davis said specialty fitness retailers could utilize the feed to stay up-to-date on fitness trends and find out what consumers are interested in.

IDEA Health and Fitness has more to offer specialty fitness retailers, including a range of education for professionals and the annual IDEA Health and Fitness World Fitness Convention, which this year will be in August in Los Angeles.

SNEWS recently reported that the Bureau of Labor Statistics determined the fitness personal trainer and instructor industry is projected to grow even more by 2020, which could mean big business for specialty fitness retailers, Davis said.

“[Fitness] professionals spend $77 million annually on fitness equipment, $75 million on fitness apparel and $55 million on fitness shoes,” Davis said.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ findings were backed up by the results of IDEA’s Programs and Equipment Trends Report, Davis said.

“As in recent years, the programming and services offered clearly underscore a robust personal training and group exercise presence,” Davis said. “Small group training is still extremely popular.”

Small group training is a more affordable way for consumers to gain the benefits of personal training without paying steeper prices for one-on-one training.

On the equipment side, the report found that respondents think TRX suspension training equipment will become a top seller, as well as anything to do with yoga and kettlebells. Also future hot sellers? Anything that can be sold to trainers to provide their clients with a multisystem approach to fitness, and products that are portable, versatile and can be easily stored.

For more information on the IDEA FitFeed or to read more about the trends report, visit www.ideafit.com.