User:TerryBG/Icon
| Formerly | Weslo, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Exercise equipment |
| Founded | 1977 in Utah, United States |
| Founders | Scott Watterson Gary E. Stevenson |
| Headquarters | Logan, Utah , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Scott Watterson, Chairman and CEO[1] |
| Products | Treadmills Incline treadmills Elliptical Trainers Stationary Bicycles Rowers Steppers Weight Machines and Benches Yoga and Pilates equipment |
| Brands | NordicTrack, ProForm, iFit, FreeMotion Fitness, HealthRider, Image, Weslo, and Weider |
Number of employees | ~1,500[2] (2020) |
| Website | iconfitness |
| Footnotes / references [3][4] | |
Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. (stylized as ICON Health & Fitness) is a manufacturer, developer, and marketer of exercise equipment, interactive fitness software, and workout content, based in Logan, Utah, United States.
Company overview
ICON Health & Fitness is the world’s largest manufacturer of exercise equipment.[5] The privately held company employs about 1,500 people in 9 locations, including facilities in China, Europe, and North and South America.[2] The company manufactures treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bicycles, weight machines and benches, and yoga and Pilates equipment. ICON is ISO 9000 certified,[6] and as of late 2020 holds about 330 technology patents and 80 patents pending.[7]
Brands
ICON Health & Fitness has a wide range of brands, products and technologies, including the brands NordicTrack, ProForm, Weider, and FreeMotion Fitness. Their fitness technology brand, including WiFi-enabled fitness equipment and fitness wearables, is iFit.[8] The company previously owned a running and trail shoe brand named Altra footwear.[9]
Under a previous license agreement with Gold's Gym, ICON Health & Fitness designed, manufactured, marketed and sold a full line of fitness equipment under the Gold's Gym brand name, from July 2001[10] through December 2019.[11]
In 2016, Golf Digest named the Free Motion Fitness Dual Cable Cross as the best universal fitness equipment in their Editor's Choice award.[12]
History
1970s – 1980s
In 1977, Utah State University students Scott Watterson and Gary E. Stevenson founded Weslo, Inc.,[13] a company that imported Asian kitchen and tableware, along with marble products. In 1979, Weslo began selling wood-burning stoves under the Fire King brand. In the 1980s, they began manufacturing trampolines, and then, under the name ProForm Fitness Products, treadmills, exercise bikes, indoor rowers, and home gyms.[6]
In 1988, Weider Health and Fitness acquired Weslo and ProForm, and in 1990, moved them into the current 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2) headquarters in Logan.[6]
1990s
In 1994, Weider sold ProForm and Weslo, along with Weider Care, to IHF Capital Inc,[14] a group led by Mitt Romney's Bain Capital, in a deal equaling US$450 million. The companies were renamed ICON Health and Fitness, Inc.[13]
ICON acquired HealthRider in 1996,[15] NordicTrack in 1999, and FreeMotion Fitness, Inc in 2001.[6]
2010s
In late October 2015, the remaining manufacturing activities at the Logan, Utah facility were moved offshore. This resulted in the laying off of more than 400 workers.[16] The former manufacturing space became a television studio to make advertisements, a showroom, and engineering and innovation offices. Some of the manufacturing jobs were replaced with industrial design, marketing, engineering, and computer programming positions.[17]
In 2017, ICON created a partnership with Southern Virginia University where the company established an on-campus call center allowing paid employment and flexible hours for students to be employed while attending the University. ICON also donated branded fitness equipment to the student fitness center and the athletic training center.[18]
In March 2018, Icon sold the Altra Running brand to VF Corporation for an undisclosed amount.[4]
Legal history
ICON Health & Fitness was central to a United States Supreme Court case regarding frivolous lawsuits and fee shifting. ICON Health & Fitness had sued Octane Fitness in 2009 alleging patent infringement. Octane was granted a summary judgement stating its designs did not infringe, and asked to be reimbursement for attorneys' fees. Ultimately, the Supreme Court held that Octane deserved reimbursement of its legal fees. ICON was held liable for $1.6 million in fees by the district court, which was later upheld on appeal.[19]
References
- ^ "ICON Health & Fitness Announces $200 million growth investment led" (press release). Icon Health & Fitness. October 5, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ a b "ICON Health and Fitness: About us". LinkedIn. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ "Icon Health & Fitness Inc". Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ a b Dawson, Andrew (March 14, 2018). "Altra Footwear Brand Sold to Owners of North Face, Timberland". Runner's World. Hearst Digital Media. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ "Poll: Americans are spending less on exercise". MSNBC. NBCNews.com. October 19, 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Icon corporate website". Archived from the original on November 18, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "iFit Connected Fitness Adds Bluetooth® Headphone Connectivity on NordicTrack, ProForm and Freemotion Equipment" (press release). Endurance Sportswire. November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ Nelles, Barbara (October 2015). "Mattress news from Las Vegas Market". BedTimes Magazine. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
Icon's patented iFit technology syncs wearable devices and home exercise equipment with a cloud-based app that allows users to track their progress.
- ^ Frazier, Lance (March 6, 2015). "In four short years, Icon's Altra shoes have carved out a significant niche". The Herald Journal. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ "Gold's Gym Announces Strategic Alliance to Market Fitness Equipment with ICON Health & Fitness". July 25, 2001. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017.
- ^ "Gold's Gym Issues RFP for Licensed Home Equipment Partners". PR Newswire. Gold's Gym. December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ "Best Fitness Equipment For Golfers". Conte Nast. April 19, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ^ a b "Proform, Weslo Health-Equipment Firms Sign a Deal to Boost Their Financial Fitness," The Deseret News, November 15, 1994.
- ^ "ICON says it’s scrapping stock offering," The Deseret News, September 27, 1996
- ^ "ICON Health & Fitness to Acquire HealthRider," The Deseret News, July 9, 1996
- ^ Opsahl, Kevin (July 14, 2015). "ICON to eliminate 400 jobs at Logan plant". The Herald Journal. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ Opsahl, Kevin (December 14, 2015). "ICON optimistic in wake of big layoff". The Herald Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
- ^ Bowers, Anna (April 4, 2019). "ICON Health & Fitness CEO Scott Watterson Teaches Students About Critical Optimism". Southern Virginia University. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ^ Mullin, Joe (August 28, 2017). "Fitness company that took its patent case to Supreme Court gets $1.6M fee award". Ars Technica. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
Category:Exercise equipment companies
Category:Privately held companies based in Utah
Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1977
Category:Manufacturing companies based in Utah
Category:1977 establishments in Utah
 | This United States manufacturing company–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |