'Dumbbells are like gold dust' - Edinburgh gym equipment providers struggling to keep up with demand

The latest lockdown rules and the ‘new year new me' trend has seen gym stores in the Capital sell out of their equipment at an impressive rate.

Eva Deckers, of Origin Fitness, one of the largest commercial gym equipment suppliers to Scotland and with a store in Newbridge, said the company is “struggling to keep up with demand" during the latest lockdown.

"It's insane how much we have sold since the rules tightened,” she said.

"Lots of customers are coming to us looking for equipment to make home gyms.

"The main reasons behind this recent surge in sales is down to the lockdowns, but also January is a time of year where an interest in keeping fit is revived in a lot of people."

Ms Deckers said visitors to Origin Fitness’s website have jumped by 350 per cent which is a first for the company, and certain equipment sells out shortly after it is restocked online.

"All our bumper plates and bars sell out immediately and the item we sell most of is the hex dumbbells,” she said.

"We also have work-from-home gym packages which are really popular at the moment under lockdown.

Origin equipment (left) and Tracy Griffen in her studio (right) pictures: supplied

“The fact that people are coming to a commercial provider, where equipment is certainly a bit more pricey, is really encouraging. It shows that customers are really keen to keep moving and want good fitness kit.”

A spokesman from Powerhouse Fitness in Atigua Street, Edinburgh, said January’s demand is coming from people looking to develop their home gym since the third lockdown was enforced.

He said: “I think the first lockdown pushed a lot of people to get home gym equipment.

"The increased demand now is a combination of a the newer restrictions and also people adding to and finishing their home gym that they started previously.

"Also with it being colder now, more people want treadmills and other machines as well.

“Demand was still very high when the restrictions were lower, but it has definitely increased since. Free weights have been heavily purchased - dumbbells are like gold dust.”

Tracy Griffen, who runs Griffen Fitness in Leith, said her clients have struggled to get their hands on certain gym equipment since the latest restrictions spurred people on to get fit.

"I have heard from some clients that buying dumbbells is almost impossible at the moment with the spike in interest," she said.

"I tried to get a new bench for my studio and have found it difficult getting my hands on one.

"January will certainly play a huge part in the sudden urge, but it's also down to lockdowns, people have so much time on their hands.”

But for those who aren't in a rush to break the bank on heavy weights and gym equipment, Tracy said some fitness fans have shown real creativity in working out “with what they’ve got.”

"A lot of people in Edinburgh don’t have the space for a home gym, so in many of my sessions I use techniques where people use their own body weight for building muscle, or £6 resistance bands which offer all sorts of different exercise options.

"Sure there is a big demand for equipment, but there is also a lot of people adapting their exercise routine to the situation that we are in right now.”

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