Exercise equipment stores in Qatar continue to see brisk sales after witnessing a pandemic-driven boom in demand from consumers in the past two years. Several company representatives who spoke to The Peninsula yesterday said they are hopeful that the message of the ‘National Sport Day’ to live a healthy and active lifestyle will also be reflected in a further boost to their sales to keep their momentum running.
“During the pandemic, our sales for gym equipment skyrocketed with more people wanting to have their own exercise equipment at home. We continue to see brisk sales in the New Year. The pandemic has really taught us to want to be more healthy and fit. Cardio equipment such as treadmills and spin bikes are still the most popular among our customers. With a growing number of cycling enthusiasts in Doha, bikes are also popular at the store,” Xaviera Evangelista, Coordinator at Olympia Sports told The Peninsula.
Qatar-based company Happy Home, which opened at the on-set of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to sell the ‘Walking Pads’ here, continues to attract walking and running enthusiasts. The company is one of the official distributors for the Kingsmith foldable treadmill machines in the country.
“When we started this business during the pandemic, we were shocked by the knowledge of the Qatari society on the importance of sports. About 72 percent of our customers are Qataris, and 28 percent are expatriates. Also, 80 percent of them are ladies, while 20 percent are males. And all of them are young people, mostly younger than 35 years old. People in general, are looking after their health. And Qatar has a very active population, even during the pandemic. We also have the World Cup ahead,” Loay Dalis, General Manager of Happy Home told The Peninsula.
Speaking about the popularity of the walking pads among customers, he added: “They are very popular, especially among ladies who value their privacy when exercising. Not everyone can go to the gym. And some customers are also very conscious about hygiene. So at home, they can dress freely and walk or run on the treadmills any time they want. Also, the Kingsmith treadmills are a new innovation. The classic treadmill’s weight starts from 80kg, while the walking pad’s weight starts from 28kg to a maximum of 40kg, and they are completely foldable”.
Globally, the physical activity market is valued at $828bn, and is expected to reach over $1.1 trillion by 2023, according to the Global Wellness Institute (GWI). The GWI’s report on the six-sector global physical activity economy, included fitness, sports & active recreation, mindful movement, equipment, apparel/footwear, and technology markets. The new data has also pushed the wellness market to a $4.5 trillion industry.
