J5 Fitness – A Year in Review

How we started…
During the first lockdown, with gyms closed, like many others I started training at home. As I looked to upgrade my equipment and get more and heavier weights, there was a lack of equipment available and what was, was ridiculously overpriced.
Using connections I had in the manufacturing industry from previous jobs, I had my own weights laser cut from 20mm steel. I then started selling to a few friends and family members before taking to eBay. After a couple of months interest and sales on eBay were still high despite gyms reopening, in August 2020 J5 Fitness was officially born.

Products…
The first product we introduced was the standard weight plates. A very basic design but at the time we were very happy with how they turned out, especially with the tweaking required on the laser to provide a smooth finish on the edge. Initially the plates were spray painted but after a while, we moved to powder coating for a higher quality and much more durable finish.

We then upgraded the design and started producing the premium plates with handles laser cut into them.

They are easier to use and handle in a home gym and can be used for a wider array of exercises. Versatility is a key factor people look for in home gym equipment as space is often limited.
The final upgrade we made to our steel plates was adjusting the size of the handles just to give them a sleeker and more aesthetically pleasing design.

We then started offering package deals (which were very popular especially during lockdowns) and adjustable dumbbells etc.
Now, we also have a more commercially suitable range of products, such as hex dumbbells (out now) as well as kettlebells, tri grip plates and Olympic bars (all coming very soon).

Consumer trends…
Having always had a massive interest in the fitness industry it was intriguing for me to witness first-hand some of the consumer patterns that were emerging, especially during the lockdowns. Some people were buying little bits here and there just to tide them over until gyms reopened whereas other were investing in full home gym set ups. 2020 also saw the emergence of online personal trainers, those who already had an online platform/infrastructure set up benefitted immediately but many who didn’t were still able to adapt quickly and achieve success. Two examples I witnessed: One is a friend who already had an APP up and running and saw it grow to new heights over the past year. The other is a customer of J5, who provided his clients with equipment and workout plans tailored to them as well as live interaction and classes via ZOOM.
One thing that has to be said is that be it at home or in the gym, a lot more people are interested in fitness and fitness/exercise is more accessible than ever which is great to see.
 
Issues faced…
It hasn’t all been plain sailing over the past year. Like any new business there’s been obstacles to overcome. The biggest of which being the astronomical rise of sheet steel prices, friends and contacts in the industry said that in their 20 plus years of experience they’ve never seen the steel market so volatile. Not ideal for us as everything other than a couple of products was laser cut from sheet steel. This forced us to look for alternatives, going down the route of cast iron and rubber coated products that you more typically find in gyms. This was always our long-term plan anyway, but this situation required us to bring forward our plans.
 
Future plans…
The support we have received over the past year has been great. With several ranges of new products currently set for release and many more in the pipeline, we’re extremely excited for the future and we will keep you informed of developments.