Local exhibitors at the 2012 Fit Expo reported stellar sales and buyer enthusiasm for sports equipment and nutrition products made in the U.S.A. “It costs more to manufacture in the U.S., but athletes will pay more for the quality,” explains Chris Kalberer, a veteran vendor of jumping ropes at “Just Jump It.” This innovator has applied sophisticated fabrication techniques first used in mountain climbing equipment to elevate the everyday jumping rope to an athletic performance tool. A good application was on view across the aisle at “Sports Research.” This sports science innovator has developed a high-tech body gel branded “Sweet Sweat” which improves blood circulation to optimize the way the human body uses energy in exercise routines. Its demonstration provided on-site testing and measurement of Fit Expo trial candidates who performed jump rope routines at its stand.
San Gabriel Valley based CrossCore is growing with brisk sales of its portable, multi-functional, total fitness solution. Its specially engineered sets of ultra-elastic cables and attachments can turn almost any building element or vehicle into a platform for resistance training routines that can optimize any muscle group and achieve almost any fitness goal. This innovative fitness solution for athletes on the go impressed the Department of Defense so much, elite units of the Army, Navy and Marines are now using it, too. Fit Expo visitors lined up to take advantage of a show special $50 discount to acquire their own set for only $200.
Nutrition programs from Los Angeles also appealed to buyers and made valuable contacts with large national distributors. ONFood of Beverly Hills has developed a total nutrition solution for athletes in training who need to manage their weight while maximizing the nutrients they absorb from food. It now offers complete daily menus of prepackaged “airline style” meals that are precisely measured to provide 100% of daily nutrition goals at specific calorie targets.
Protein bar manufacturer QuestBar credits events like Fit Expo with helping it to build a community of loyal consumers that is so enthusiastic large distributors are now coming directly to the company to place volume orders without having to set up a wholesale sales force. Launched just before Fit Expo last year, Questbar’s product sampling programs have generated e-mail sign-ups that turned into a nutrition conscious online community that engages teammates and friends. All these protein bars are baked, packaged and shipped right here in Los Angeles. The successful brand has gone global through referrals of the online community without the time and expense of building a separate export sales division.
Service exports are yet another part of the “Made in L.A.” sports business success story. Swedish ballerina Veronica Jensen turned her pilates experience into a global exercise phenomenon that rejuvenates mature women and appeals to everyone who seeks a livelier exercise regimen. Jensen began pilates training as part of her own physical rehabilitation program. She upgraded what she learned to create a new high-energy group exercise program -- “Piloxing” at her Toluca Lake dance studio. Her international experience as a prima ballerina gave her the contacts to sign-up dance instructors around the world for training and program licensing. That’s just one more way that “Made in L.A.” is earning success for sports business.
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