Johnson Health Tech, Inc., manufacturer of Matrix Fitness, Vision Fitness, Horizon Fitness and LIVESTRONG fitness equipment, saw first-quarter sales grow 28% overall with all channels experiencing positive growth within the company’s sporting goods and mass market, specialty and commercial divisions. North America sales grew 32%.
“Much of our domestic growth can be attributed to the overwhelmingly positive response to our new treadmill product line at sporting goods and mass retailers, which had great sell through in the fourth quarter that led to continued growth in the first quarter,” said Chris Clawson, President and CEO of Johnson Health Tech North America (JHTNA). In the sporting goods and mass channel, JHTNA showed an increase in sales by 58% over prior year.
In the commercial channel, Clawson noted an investment in new console technologies, such as the dynamic Virtual Active⢠workout experience, and an expanded Matrix Fitness product portfolio have led to an increase in sales by 36% over the corresponding 2009 time period. The roll out of several exciting new products, including the Johnny G Krankcycle®, the award-winning T7xe treadmill, and the G7 series strength line, in addition to the expansion of JHTNA’s partnership with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to launch the LIVESTRONG® by Matrix line, is fueling continued growth and optimism into the second quarter.
“Our international subsidiaries experienced outstanding sales growth in both retail and commercial segments,” stated Mark Zabel, Vice President Global Marketing of Johnson Health Tech (JHT).
“We believe our aggressive investment in new product development, strategic partnerships, new technology and our global marketing campaign has positioned JHT for continued growth worldwide throughout 2010,” noted Zabel.
