In a world that is still navigating the fallout from COVID-19 and its variants, it is imperative to maintain a healthy lifestyle and take care of oneself—and the New Year is the perfect time to press reset and strive to move more and eat less.
Fortunately, there is an abundance of products and devices to make this process easier, including fitness trackers, health monitoring devices, hydration/drinkware, pill trays and splitters, and medical history organizers.
At the start of 2021, Statista reported that about half of Americans resolved to start the year by getting in shape and losing weight. That goal has shifted somewhat as 2022 begins, with a recent Medifast survey revealing that people want to take smaller steps to achieve healthy goals. "While the start of the New Year once served as a key moment in time to set annual health goals, many are finding that traditionally ambitious resolutions often lead to disappointment and rarely last beyond January," notes Dan Chard, Chairman and CEO of Medifast. Adopting smaller changes in one’s daily habits can result in more sustainable goals, Chard adds. The survey also found that 43 percent of Americans wish to focus on body positivity or self-care.
Vito Ciaravino at Intelligent Galaxy, LLC acknowledges that the driving force this year regarding health and fitness has been health monitoring for “obvious” reasons. As a result, the company has incorporated heart rate, blood oxygen level monitoring as well as on-demand body temperature readings into most of its trackers to address COVID symptoms of high temperature and low oxygen levels. “Demand has been steady with a peak in the middle as well as the end of the year,” Ciaravino says. “These products have a high perceived value and are a wellness product. Having the ability to monitor your activity and vitals is a motivating factor to better health.”
Another immensely popular health item is drinkware. Hydration is a top priority no matter if one is in the gym every day, tracking steps, taking a daily walk, or recovering from an illness. Consumers want durable, sustainable designs that are retail-inspired and can make a unique statement. Many people consider drinkware a fashion accessory—something distributors can capitalize on when they present drinkware options. According to Michael Van Beck at Tervis, branded drinkware provides more than 1400 impressions over the course of the vessel’s lifecycle, which averages approximately one year, and is a tremendous ROI.
Grethe Adams of Southern Plus agrees that drinkware is paramount in this market segment. “During the pandemic, many have a renewed focus on fitness and with it, demand for all fitness-related products has been strong,” she states. “Nothing is more versatile than water bottles when it comes to this category, as it transcends gender, age, fitness type, and level. In fact, it is a perfect product for a healthy lifestyle in general, as we all could benefit from drinking more water while we are doing our daily activities (work, school, travel, or working out).
“The focus on outdoor activities during these past two years has also helped drive demand for various fitness products, including drinkware,” she continues. “Whether it’s a tumbler for bringing your favorite hot beverage along on the drive to the park or camp site, or a stainless- steel bottle to hold water for the hike, bringing your beverage from home is a must for many.”
To that end, Southern Plus has added a few drinkware styles in the stainless-steel category, including the DW1191 The Apprentice which features a screw-top bamboo lid. “This style combines form and function in a beautiful design that will make you want to carry a bottle with you anywhere you go!” Adams enthuses.
Medical history diaries are a top seller at Bay State, Josette Bosse reports, explaining that companies can imprint their logo in a large area on the front vinyl pouch, just below the preprinted identification and emergency contact section. Bay State’s medical tray organizers are also popular, featuring a plastic base that holds seven, removable, four-compartment pill boxes with an easy-out design, Bosse adds.
Intelligent Galaxy has unveiled an activity tracker that can do a two-point EKG with AI incorporated into the APP that can detect Arterial defibrillation. “This is not a medical device and should not be used as such but it’s a great feature to have on your wrist,” Ciaravino points out. “Also, technology is evolving at a fast pace. The screens are getting brighter and using less power, the menus and sub menus are getting more sophisticated, some of our trackers—even the less expensive versions—feature over 100 dial designs that can be downloaded from the app as well as the ability to create a custom dial from your phone images.”
With health and wellness top of mind as 2022 begins, reach out to fitness centers, companies offering fitness and weight-loss challenges, hospitals, and senior centers. Adams at Southern Plus recommends creating a customized kit for a wellness program by combining items such as a reusable bottle, a bag or backpack, and an exercise towel. Additional popular health and fitness products range from cooling towels, totes, and exercise stretch bands to running belts, mobile phone wallets, and sling backpacks. Help your clients choose the best ones to maximize their brand exposure.