97. Lou Lentine, CEO of Echelon Fitness

Today I’m joined by Echelon Fitness CEO Lou Lentine. 


 


In this episode, we discuss the company’s growing connected
fitness platform — including smart bikes, treadmills, rowers, and
interactive workout mirrors. Lou explains how Echelon was able to
build partnerships with 12K retailers, including Walmart, Target,
and Costco. Plus, he talks about the company’s plan to release
gaming-inspired content and strength training equipment in an
effort to become the hub for at-home fitness. 


 


More from Lou


 


Lou Lentine embodies the very definition of an entrepreneur. By
the age of thirty, he built a $30 million dollar consumer
products business. Today, he stands as the CEO of Echelon Fitness
and President and founder of Viatek Consumer Products
Group. 


 


Echelon Fitness, is raising the bar on at-home connected fitness
by making wellness accessible and affordable for everyone. From
state-of-the-art indoor cycling bikes to first-in-class
touchscreen fitness mirrors, auto-folding treadmill and smart
rowers, Echelon incorporates thoughtful design and smart
innovation into personalized workouts that fit into your active
life, when it’s convenient for you. Members can join a variety of
live and on-demand classes led by down-to-earth personal fitness
instructors who are there to help you stay balanced and reach
your wellness goals. You can even track your performance against
Echelon’s live leaderboard and beat your personal best while
cycling, boxing, strength training, cardio, yoga and more.


 


Viatek Consumer Products Group is a company that has developed
solution-oriented merchandise that has attracted major retailers
and TV Shopping Networks. His high level of corporate citizenship
and exemplary talent within the sales industry has allowed Viatek
to establish partnerships around the globe and distribute
products in seventy countries spanning five continents. Some of
his numerous honors and recognitions include: the World Trade
Book of Honor Award, Exporter of the Year Award, Deloitte &
Touche Fast 50 for Central Florida & Fast 500 USA, University
of Central Florida Alumni of the Year, and a Nomination for the
Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young.


 


Lou Lentine believes that the frontier of innovation starts with
an idea. Developing products that make sense or solve a common
problem is one of his biggest passions. In his opinion, watching
a product blossom from an idea to a reality, to ultimately
landing in the hands of a happy customer is the biggest success
any inventor can reach.


 


No stranger to direct response TV, Lou Lentine developed some of
the most popular items on TV including the Hurricane Spin Mop, a
revolutionary mopping system that cleans floors throughout the
home without the use of harsh detergents which then landed on the
shelves of major retail giants including Walmart, Target,
Walgreens, and CVS. The Hurricane went on to be distributed in
over 30 countries. Among his other notable inventions, the
patented Renu-it Battery Regenerator, a Home Shopping Network’s
special,  sold nearly 2 million units worldwide; Mighty Jump
— an emergency car jump starter sold millions of units globally.


 


Lentine and his affiliated companies have been developing and
inventing products since 1992. He began promoting his products on
television in 1996, including on HSN, the Shopping Channel
Canada, QVC, USA, QVC UK, QVC Germany, and Shop TV Japan. He
moved his business to Chattanooga in 2011. He has filed for more
than 100 patents. 


 


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