Fitness equipment suppliers sell and provide maintenance for commercial fitness machines to facilities such as health clubs and physical therapy centers. They also engage in research and marketing to anticipate fitness trends and develop promotional strategies.
Fitness equipment suppliers supply commercial fitness machines to facilities such as health clubs and physical therapy centers. In addition to simply providing equipment to these facilities, they may also be responsible for instructing facility personnel in equipment operation and providing maintenance and repair services. In addition, they may perform certain research and marketing functions, keeping abreast of new trends in fitness equipment and developing promotional strategies to stimulate sales.
The work of most fitness equipment suppliers starts in the sales arena. Representatives can meet with potential buyers or speak with them over the phone to explain the features and benefits of their company’s line of equipment and help the buyer determine which parts best meet their needs. As the sales process progresses, the representative can also negotiate pricing, develop a financing plan, and define warranty terms.
Once fitness equipment suppliers sell their product to a gym, their relationship with that customer becomes largely customer service oriented. Supplier representatives can visit the facility upon delivery to install the new equipment. They may also offer facility personnel a tutorial session in which they explain how to properly operate and care for the equipment.
Another duty of fitness equipment suppliers is to provide maintenance for products under warranty. They may operate a customer helpline where customers can obtain equipment troubleshooting advice over the phone. If problems persist, the supplier may send an associate to the facility to repair the equipment or, in the case of a faulty machine, may replace the part. Some vendors may also offer add-on maintenance, in which a representative visits customers after defined intervals to inspect their equipment, ensuring it is working properly and making any necessary adjustments.
Finally, fitness equipment suppliers can also engage in a certain amount of research and marketing to encourage growth. To keep up with or even outperform competitors, vendors must be able to anticipate fitness trends and design or source equipment to match those trends. When, in the 1990s, many fitness experts began to denounce running as too stressful on the joints, for example, fitness equipment suppliers introduced the elliptical trainer as a safer alternative.
Suppliers can also develop promotional strategies to encourage sales. They might, for example, offer a discount to customers who buy multiple pieces. Alternatively, they can introduce a loyalty scheme in which the customer receives free equipment accessories after providing the supplier with a certain amount of business.
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