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Despite uncertain economic times, the home fitness industry enjoyed two days of networking, reviewing new equipment and conducting business.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. - July 23, 2008 - Health+Fitness Business (HFB), a division of Nielsen Business Media, today announced that its home fitness equipment trade show, the Health+Fitness Business Conference and Expo held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado last Thursday and Friday, was an industry success.

"The show was extremely upbeat and had a high level of energy with major brands and highly-qualified buyers doing a lot of business as usual, despite the current challenging economic conditions," said Andy Tompkins, Health+Fitness Business Expo's show director. "Hundreds of key buyers shopped the event, and the mood on the show floor was very positive and optimistic. We're excited to see that the marketplace seems to agree that Health+Fitness Business Expo is a vital part of the industry's sales cycle."

One hundred twenty four home fitness equipment and accessory manufacturers and distributors exhibited at this year's show, including two more exhibitors than the 2007 show. Another indication of the relevance of the show and the current cost saving efforts within the industry was an increase in the number of non-exhibiting manufacturers as 65 attended the show, a 72 percent increase compared to last year.

Many exhibitors and retailers noted that they sent fewer employees to the show in an effort to trim expenses, yet despite challenging macro economic factors affecting the industry as a whole, manufacturers felt positive about their show experience.

"The Health+Fitness Business Expo was a very successful trade show for us," said Ryan Pertile, marketing manager for Octane Fitness. "The show is a great place to introduce new products before the 2008-2009 selling season. While attendance was slightly down from previous years, it did not hinder the excitement surrounding the show. The energy that was shown by dealers - plus the show in general- is the ultimate platform for matching Octane's new concepts that will carry over to sales and excited customers."

"This is an important show for us and we rely on it in a big way," said Alan Gore, co-owner of BodyCraft. "Our brand's goal is to keep our functionality, while providing beauty, to help bring exercise equipment out of the basement and upstairs into consumers' everyday living spaces. Health+Fitness Business Expo is a way for us to effectively communicate that to retailers. The show's new two-day format made for two busy days of meeting with both our regular long-term and prospective customers."

Recent retail store front consolidation has led to fewer buyers controlling more industry dollars. This, along with recent increases in travel expenses, also contributed to fewer retail buyers attending the 2008 Health+Fitness Business Expo. However, many buyers continued to support the event as a key resource to keep their businesses as successful as possible.

Specifically, 325 individual stores (about 60 fewer than last year), and 640 individual buyers (close to 230 less than last year) attended this year's show (16 percent and 27 percent decreases, respectively). Both of these numbers, along with conversations with buyers during the show and similar attendance figures from exhibitors, indicate that the industry as a whole sent fewer employees to the show in an effort to trim expenses. Health+Fitness Business staff conducted a written survey of a broad range of attending buyers. The following is a sample of some of their comments:

"My main goal for attending Health+Fitness Business was to learn about new fitness trends and how they may translate to our customers," said Justin Karkoc, senior buyer for Target. "Overall the show was well organized, easy to get around, and the new two day format was conducive to my business needs and schedule. The show met all of my goals and expectations."

"Attending HFB affords me the opportunity to support the health and fitness community, while meeting with colleagues I don't usually get face time with," said Matthew Losciale, director of purchasing and merchandising for Busy Body Home Fitness. "The show is a perfect opportunity for principal players from both retailers and manufacturers to meet and discuss more than just price points and work together to grow the industry as a whole."
 
The overall mood at the 2008 edition of the Health+Fitness Business Expo was optimistic. Both manufactures and retailers were excited to work together and keep business as healthy as possible for the 2009 selling season.

"Despite a difficult economy, the show attracted hundreds of key retailers, national media and 1,500 of the leading professionals in the health and fitness industry," concluded Tompkins. "Buyers working the show floor were focused on purchase decisions and represented thousands of the best storefronts in the United States, Canada and internationally."

In an effort to better meet the needs of the industry, the 2009 edition of the Health+Fitness Business Expo will be held August 6-7 at the Colorado Convention Center.

For more information about 2008 edition of the Health+Fitness Business Expo, please visit www.healthandfitnessbiz.com.

About Health+Fitness Business
Health+Fitness Business (HFB), a division of Nielsen Business Media, is a full service tradeshow company whose goal is to create, market and produce high quality tradeshows and educational conferences. HFB is the leading retail fitness industry business-to-business trade event, bringing together top manufacturers, retailers, buyers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of the fitness. Going into its 12th successful year, HFB gathers more than 175 fitness related brands and close to 2,000 industry professionals and decision makers on an annual basis. For more information, please visit www.healthandfitnessbiz.com.

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