Will D2C Be A Persistent Strategy in the Fitness Industry?

 

Key Points:

  • With mobile app and digital communication channels, the fitness industry extended their membership reach outside of just the facility to patrons who may not feel comfortable returning to an in-person health club.
  • Body Kore was able to increase its D2C sale percentage to 30% during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Fitness On Demand built brand awareness by offering its virtual workouts for use in gym facilities or in the comfort of a user’s home through its mobile & web applications.

Commentary:

VersatilIty is something that can benefit brands during unexpected industry-wide disruptions, whether that’s the ability to quickly shift gears when times get tough, or provide the same quality experience in multiple ways for varying demographics. For the past year and a half, that versatility has been needed in the fitness industry, and virtual workout solutions company Fitness on Demand is no stranger to building versatility into its business model. MarketScale spoke with Armin Krienke, the company’s Director of Business Development, at IRHSA 2021 on how they have been able to utilize their product with gym facilities to help keep clients engaged, even clients who may not feel comfortable going back to the facility. MarketScale also spoke with Body Kore’s President Leo Chang, a fitness equipment vendor, who also adjusted to disruptions by leaning more on D2C sales during the pandemic instead of on B2B sales.

More Stories From IHRSA 2021:

Putting the Member First: Devising New Strategies for Health Clubs to Thrive

Trade Shows Are Back, and That Means Quality Connections for Fitness Vendors

 

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

farm
The Business Case for AgTech: Better Data Is Key to Managing Risk on the Farm
April 23, 2026

Farming is under more pressure than it’s been in years. Costs are rising, prices are unpredictable, and every decision carries more weight than it used to. What many still think of as a traditional industry is quietly evolving, with more farmers turning to digital tools to manage risk and stay competitive. It’s not about chasing…

Read More
pre-clinical
From Classroom to Clinic: Pre-Clinical Talent Steps Into Healthcare’s Hard-to-Fill Roles
April 23, 2026

Healthcare systems are facing a workforce crisis that’s no longer temporary—it’s structural. Even before COVID-19, staffing shortages across nursing, technical, and administrative roles were already straining capacity; today, those gaps are wider, costlier, and directly impacting patient access. With labor shortages persisting and burnout rising, health systems are being forced to rethink not just…

Read More
learning
If Higher Ed Wants Experiential Learning at Scale, It Needs a Broader Playbook
April 21, 2026

The ground is shifting under higher education. AI is changing how people learn almost overnight—and at the same time, more than half of graduates are underemployed after finishing their degrees. That’s forcing a more uncomfortable question into the open: what is a college credential really worth today? As employers and governments shift their focus…

Read More
skilled trades mentorship
Why the Modern Data Center Is Forcing Communities and Policymakers to Rethink Infrastructure
April 21, 2026

Data centers have moved from largely invisible digital infrastructure to a highly visible source of public debate as artificial intelligence accelerates demand for power, fiber, and compute capacity. The modern data center is now being built closer to population centers to support low-latency services, bringing critical infrastructure into direct contact with residential communities for…

Read More