WNiF Magazine - Autumn 2013 Edition | Page 98

FITNESS SUPPLIERS GUIDE FITNESS SUPPLIERS GUIDE Brooks Running 03 9338 5099 Body Science 07 5586 0700 CW-X Conditioning Wear...........72, 73 02 9938 4220 Danskin 02 9970 5189 Fashion Brazil 02 9667 3133 Fit Designs 03 5338 8329 Hoka One One 02 4872 1242 Lorna Jane 1300 567 625 Missfit Sportswear 0438 614 619 Mizuno / Thorlo 03 9239 7100 Moving Comforts 1300 73 50 99 Oxyfit Brazil 0408 556 999 Ridgy  0406 677 175  Rockwear 07 5556 0533 Saucony 03 8878 3000 Skins Compression Garments 1300 852 100 Skirt Sports 07 3289 6560 Zumba Clothing 02 9699 4884 SUPPLEMENTS & NUTRITION General Nutrition • Hydration • Sports Nutrition • Vending Machines • Weight Loss Products 180 Nutrition [email protected] Active Lifestyle Nutrition 07 5539 5186 Amazonia 1300 85 10 50 Ascend 03 9919 0800 Aussie Bodies 02 9490 0300 BIO Engineered 02 9080 0900 Bioflex............................................75, 84 03 6266 4725 Blackmores 1800 803 760 BlueLine Sports 02 9520 0640 Body Attack Sports Nutrition Australia 1300 599 825 Complete Health 03 9670 1346 Elite Distributors 0412 342 888 Emi Nutrition 02 9756 0744 Endura Sports Nutrition 07 3623 4508 EX5.......................................................75 +1-985-892-7090 Ezy Protein 1800 399 776 Flush Fitness 03 9681 8219 GNC Live Well 1800 779 990 Gu Sports Gel 02 9520 0640 Healthelicious 0409 078 634 Horleys 1800 00 23 45 Icon Foods 02 9519 0700 International Protein 07 5549 0482 Let Go And Live 1300 500 177 Max’s www.maxs.com.au Musashi 1300 851 312 Next Generation Supplements 1800 288 019 Nutristore 1300 880 484 Nutrition Complete 1300 885 875 Nutrition Systems 1300 883 523 Nuun Hydration 0429 543 134 Omniblend 03 9358 6388 Pharmacare 02 9997 1466 Power Supplements 02 8188 0394 Probiotec 03 9278 7555 Reflex Nutrition 07 3206 3114 RP Vending 1800 066 112 Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing 1800 673 392  Superior Supplements 03 9397 1082 Supplement Warehouse 1300 438 244 Swisse 1800 794 773 The Healthy Chef...............................75 0412 205 355 The Supplement Den 1800 111 445 Vitaco 02 9490 0300 Worldwide Vending...........................87 1300 386 609 Five questions with... TECHNOLOGY Access Control • Client Management • Communications • Exercise Programming • Fitness Testing • PT Systems & Software • Retention Management • Website Solutions AusWebDesign.................................2, 3 1300 388 188 BioAge 1300 556 540 Centaman 02 9906 7522 ClientConnect..................49, 86, 88, 89 1300 802 377 Clubware............................................54 1800 114 777 EZeMember........................................90 07 3720 0700 Fisikal 02 8412 7400 Fitbit.....................................................80 www.fitbit.com/au/one Fitech 02 9037 0112 Gantner...............................................32 02 9011 8114 Gladstone Health & Leisure 1300 242 067 Gumnut Software.................................6 02 8011 4996 GymBrand..............................49, 80, 89 1300 802 377 Gymmaster................................... 41, 91 03 9111 0323  Leisure Manag ement Services 03 9938 4567 Links Modular Solutions 03 9938 4567 MYZONE 03 8643 7474 Platypus Software..............................90 07 3720 0700 Pro Conditioning 1300 720 484 PT Essentials............................63, 81, 91 1300 078 277 PulseTec Solutions ...........49, 86, 88, 89 1300 802 377 Retention Management...................89 1300 802 377 Spree Sports.......................................80 +1-214-468-0000 Treshna Enterprises......................46, 91 03 9111 0323 WorkOutConnect................... 49, 81, 89 1300 802 377 Adam Hubbard Director of Product Management at Precor What does your role entail? The key areas are understanding customer and end-user needs, and helping to develop new products and services. We spend a considerable amount of time with customers around the globe understanding trends, talking to operators and staff, observing and interviewing exercisers and looking for new ways Precor can continue to improve the fitness experience and its effectiveness. How does the R&D process differ for commercial strength equipment compared to CV equipment? The fundamentals are largely the same. Strength training and strength equipment is, however, subject to more diversity of training methods and techniques. Use your QR Code reader on your smartphone or device to view our mobile site with over 1,700 registered fitness suppliers. Interview by Craig Mac 98 WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - AUTUMN 2013 There is a lot more input from trainers and biomechanics specialists involved. Popular training methods often conflict with each other and strength equipment is subject to more personal preferences and opinion. This makes it even more critical to have a deep understanding of your customer and their needs so Precor is able to have a clear vision and goals for any new products. Cardio equipment by contrast has far more engineering complexity. The products involve more moving parts and electro-mechanical systems requiring extensive life testing and planning. Cardio also requires considerable software development. The user experience delivered through Precor consoles is one of the key advantages we enjoy in the market. We spend considerable time designing the user interface to deliver an intuitive and personalised experience. What importance do you place on social media and entertainment functionality when it comes to designing and developing a new piece of cardio equipment? Social media can be an important tool to understand some of the macro trends in the market. We look across a number of mediums including fitness centres, health care and education markets for insights and market needs. Ultimately our most effective tools are the simplest ones – observing equipment in use, talking to staff, talking to service technicians and so on. Many of our most innovative products have come from the most grassroots methods. We will continue to look at any and all ways to reach our customers and understand how we can improve their lives. Social media will certainly play a key role in this. There seems to be a never-ending pursuit for the perfect piece of equipment that engages gym goers and provides the ultimate workout experience. Where do you begin with each new project? It is important to understand the underlying driver for exercisers seeking out new types of equipment. Of course exercisers are looking for an effective product to use. Beyond that exercisers are looking for variety and personalisation. They are looking for the equipment to adapt to their bodies and grow with them as their fitness level improves. Exercisers look for products that provide workout variation to help remain mentally engaged and physically challenged. These are two of the key drivers that influence our product development process. We believe this is the right approach based on the overwhelming success of products like our AMT which adapts to the user’s natural stride length, and even allows users to control their stride height using our new Open Stride feature. Are there any tips you would give ‘buyers’ when deciding on a new installation of equipment for their gym or studio? I would advise buyers to do the same things that we do when designing equipment and that is to understand your customer and listen to their feedback. If you are a fitness expert, avoid letting your own opinions and preferences cloud your opinion of the products and services you select. I am often surprised when I sometimes see large facilities and chains purchase equipment based primarily on what they personally like to use. Trial equipment, take surveys and listen: the customer is always right.