Peloton is undergoing a significant rebrand, dumping its identity as a seller of luxury exercise bikes and equipment for one of health technology for all.
“We’re shifting perceptions from in-home to everywhere, fitness enthusiasts to people at all levels, exclusivity to inclusivity across all Peloton members present and future,” chief marketing officer Leslie Berland said in a written statement Tuesday.
The company rolled out new pricing for tiered membership that ranges from $12.99 US to $24 US per month, and said that its app now offers the largest number of free classes since its launch in June 2018.
While it first rose to prominence as a purveyor of expensive internet-connected exercise bikes that allowed people to simulate the feeling of being in a gym while at home, the company has added many non-bike exercises of late, including walking, yoga, meditation and various strength and conditioning programs.
More than half of all Peloton workouts were not cycling related last quarter, the company said in a press release, stressing how it is becoming “more than a bike company.”
CEO Barry McCarthy replaced founder John Foley just over a year ago to right a business that has had numerous stumbles, from marketing missteps to recalls. He has made a hard push to shift the company’s focus from high-priced hardware, to software and a fee-based app.
In October the company announced it was cutting about 500 jobs on top of the nearly 800 layoffs it made in August. It also closed its North America distribution network and shifted delivery work to third-party providers.
Peloton experienced incredible sales growth during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The New York company’s share price multiplied by more than five times in 2020 amid lockdowns that made its pricey bikes and treadmills popular among customers who pay a monthly fee to participate in interactive workouts.
Sales began to slow in 2021 as vaccines allowed people to roam more freely from their homes, including visits to the gym.
After hitting a high of more than $160 US a share in 2021, Peloton has steadily slumped ever since. The shares were changing hands for just over $7 US apiece on Wednesday, down about three per cent on the day.
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