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. 

 

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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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