Finding fitness equipment in Jakarta
Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The growing awareness about the importance of sport for health among the public has had a positive effect on the sale of fitness and health equipment, such as treadmills, stationary bikes, rowing machines and multigyms.
"The demand for fitness equipment, both for home and commercial use, is on the rise because fitness has become a growing lifestyle," said Prima Fit's Consumer Brand & Service Manager Patric Lim.
Despite the increasing number of discerning people preferring to work out at home, more new fitness centers have emerged in big cities throughout Indonesia over the last six months. "This means more fitness equipment is needed to supply the newly established fitness centers," he said.
According to fitness equipment sellers, home-programmed treadmills are now preferred by discerning people as they allow users to move their body naturally, like jogging or running, in their own home regardless of age and degree of fitness. "Through the machine, users can monitor the speed, distance, running time, the amount of calories burnt and heart rate," one seller said.
Other basic fitness tools like multigyms and exercise bicycles are also in high demand, another seller said.
Fitness equipment is commonly categorized into cardiovascular (CV) tools whose functions are related to heart/lung endurance workouts, such as treadmills, stationary bikes, steppers and rowing machines. The second category consists of strength- training equipment designed to help strengthen specific muscles such as free weight and weight machines complete with such things as bench presses and leg press tools.
Finding good exercise machines and/or weights for home or commercial use in town is not a difficult task. Among those that provide a great deal of fitness tools to choose from are Prima Fit Showroom at the Indonesian Bazaar in the Jakarta Hilton International Hotel, Fitness Station Showroom in several major malls, MG Sports Showroom, also in several malls and Asia Health Equipment (AHE), located on Jl. Batutulis in Central Jakarta.
With Prima Fit being the sole agent for Life Fitness products from the USA, its showroom is the right place to find products with that brand. However, if you wish to view different brands for comparison, then visit Fitness Studio showrooms, such as the ones in the Taman Anggrek Mall, Puri Indah Mall, Bintaro Plaza or in Pasar Raya Blok M. The showroom provides complete fitness tools produced by different manufacturers, such as Aibi Gym made in Taiwan, Steel Flex and Sport Art, also made in Taiwan, and the USA-made Life Fitness and True.
Fitness tools for commercial use, like treadmills, are normally more expensive than those for home or individual use. The commercial ones are usually more powerful and larger in size, allowing more people to use them. "The daily time usage for home treadmills is between two and three hours, while that of commercial ones is around 10 hours," one seller said.
But the price of fitness tools varies quiet a lot, depending on the item, the brand, series, material and the size. For treadmills, the variety of programs and specifications also determines the price.
The price of a digitalized treadmill with USA-made Life Fitness at Prima Fit, for instance, ranges from Rp 19 million (about US$2,235) to Rp 52 million for home use and between Rp 65 million to Rp 100 million for commercial use.
If you want a more expensive one for commercial use, you can choose a USA-made True digitalized treadmill available at Fitness Station showrooms. The price ranges between Rp 150 million and Rp 200 million.
However, if the budget is an issue for you, you can get one at a lower price at Fitness Station or MG Sport showrooms. An Aibi or Sport Art treadmill is sold there for around Rp 8 million.
The price range for a Life Fitness cross training machine at Prima Fit showroom runs from Rp 17 million to Rp 34 million for home use and between Rp 55 million and Rp 85 million for commercial use.
The lowest price for a multigym at Fitness Station is Rp 28 million, compared to Rp 9 million at Prima Fit and Rp 15.5 million at MG Sports.
Normally, the showrooms offer various benefits to customers as part of the effort to attract prospective buyers and maintain customer loyalty. These include consultation services and after sale service.
Prima Fit, for instance, provides consultation services for investors interested in setting up new fitness centers, and training for managers and instructors on exercise techniques and management through its Life Fitness Academy. The company is also committed to maintaining customer fitness tools via its service, which is designed to ensure the durability of the tools, according to Patric Lim of Prima Fit.
At Fitness Station, you will be entitled to a privilege card provided that you make a minimum purchase of Rp 5 million there. With the privilege card, customers are entitled to periodic services and maintenance free of charge.
Another way to attract prospective buyers is by offering discount prices. At the MG Sport showroom at Taman Anggrek Mall, for instance, all Sport Art treadmills, whether for home or commercial use, are subject to 20 percent discount. A home treadmill is now going for Rp 7.9 million compared to the previous price of Rp 9.9 million.