THE BOOK - FITBIZ 2005

Welcome to the GearTrends® FitBiz 2005 magazine -- issued to the trade Spring 2005. As a GearTrends® website visitor – you now have direct access to the same market-leading editorial, feature articles and product information that industry professionals have come to rely on. To maintain the quality that our readers and members have come to expect in GearTrends® publications, we are providing all magazines only in high quality Acrobat PDF format. (You can download the FREE Acrobat Reader here)

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Cover / TOC / Editors Letter / On Target
How to partner with personal trainers for in-home consultations that can increase sales.

Going The Distance
Be informed so lifetime warranties don’t turn into a lifetime of headaches.

Talk of the Town
We roamed the country, asking retailers of all sizes about how 2004 had shaped up—what was selling, or not, what was hot, or not—and found that for many, the year’s sales had been a pleasant pick-me-up.

Topsy Turvy
Despite bankruptcies, financial woes and huge shifts in retail in 2004, the industry in general is still looking up. Here’s our annual rundown of the “top” fitness retailers based on a tried-and-true, no-fudging-possible formula of store numbers/changes.

E-Commerce Special Report
Our cover story (continued inside) focuses on eBay, and the challenges this new distribution channel is presenting the fitness industry. Is it good or bad? The jury’s still out.