- The fitness industry is developing rapidly as more Americans are exercising from home than ever before thanks to the pandemic.
- Experts say these changes will be permanent and will catalyze a period of consolidation within the fitness industry.
- We spoke to several industry insiders who shared their predictions of possible mergers and acquisitions in the fitness industry.
- You can find more stories on the Business Insider homepage.
The year 2021 is already developing into a decisive year for the fast developing fitness industry.
With more virtual training programs and fitness products for the home In the marketplace, the pandemic has drastically changed the way Americans exercise. And experts say networked fitness will stay here. Some companies like Peloton emerged as early leaders of the new fitness era, closing their banner 2020 year with a major Acquisition of Precor for $ 420 million.
Though many predict stationary gyms and studios won’t be out of dateThese companies could soon enter a phase of consolidation to accommodate closings and bankruptcies during the pandemic, and add digital services to keep up with today’s fitness landscape.
“What you’ve seen in retail is exactly what is happening in fitness on the physical side: a lot of consolidation as the industry goes through this phase of digital and offering hybridization,” said Bryan O’Rourke, fitness analyst and board member of the International Health Racquet and Sportsclub Association, Insider said.
We spoke to several fitness industry experts, including O’Rourke – from market researchers to venture capital to marketing gurus – about potential M&A activity for 2021. Here’s what they had to say.