Shoppers need alternative payment methods to bring home the fitness equipment they want and need. When treadmills, squat racks, ellipticals, rowing machines, and other gym equipment cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, a purchase can feel unwise at best and out of reach at worst. But with consumer financing options from a trusted partner like United Consumer Financial Services, businesses can provide affordable, accessible payment plans that help push exercise equipment sales. Read on to learn how to drive fitness equipment sales with financing solutions built for your business.
Make Exercise Equipment More Affordable
Whether someone is new to the gym or is in their tenth year of membership at a health club, cost is a major factor driving consumer gym choice. Unfortunately, many individuals feel tethered to a gym membership because they assume purchasing their own equipment is out of reach. Consumer financing makes exercise equipment more accessible and affordable by providing low monthly payment plans that work for your customers.
Most shoppers don’t have thousands in cash to allocate to outfitting their home gyms. Charging to a high-interest credit card isn’t a great option either because of the overwhelming revolving interest rates. Instead of forking over a massive lump sum for a new treadmill or weight rack, payment plans allow shoppers to bring home their equipment while paying it off over time. This level of accessibility helps retailers expand boutique equipment revenue while meeting consumers’ need for affordable payments.
Offer Payment Promotions to Attract More Customers
Eliminating interest from your customers’ payment plans makes purchasing fitness equipment even more affordable and appealing. When you partner with United Consumer Financial Services, your exercise equipment retail business can offer same-as-cash options to attract shoppers to make their purchase. UCFS offers the following promotions:
- 90 days, same-as-cash – always included for consumers at no charge to the business
- 180 days, same-as-cash – usually included for consumers at no charge to the business
- 12-month, same-as-cash – sometimes included for consumers at no charge to the business.
The above plans are based on the program each business selects. For example, if choosing a program that offers financing to consumers with excellent credit, the business can offer 12 months same-as-cash at a low fee – or no fee – because the consumers are not high risk. If a business chooses a plan that approves consumers with not-so-good credit quality, the business will pay a small fee for the same-as-cash program, because of the higher risk on a consumer’s repayment.
With same-as-cash, consumers can avoid interest if they’ve made their minimum monthly payments and they’ve paid the total balance within the promotion period. Regardless of the program you choose, same-as-cash promotions are a great way to engage shoppers and convert them to customers. Avoiding interest is an attractive option for customers exploring big-ticket purchases like a new treadmill, elliptical, or a fully outfitted home gym.
Empower Shoppers to Build Out a Home Gym
According to the 2025 US Health & Fitness Consumer Report: Headline Trends released by the Health & Fitness Association (HFA), more than 77 million Americans, equating to 25 percent of individuals aged six and up, have gym or fitness club memberships. This is a significant market that would be better served by investing in at-home gym equipment.
Many individuals spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each year on a gym membership. What they don’t realize is that for the same monthly payment –– and often, for even less –– they can have a custom gym right in their homes.
Consumer financing is a straightforward solution to grow at-home gym spend. By breaking down a lump sum cost into a monthly payment plan, retailers can engage the fitness club market and empower consumers to build out their dream home gym without draining savings or taking out a bank loan. Providing affordable payment options allows shoppers to bring home more equipment without feeling overwhelmed or overburdened by a substantial upfront payment. For retailers, this means increasing average order values and revenue while giving shoppers what they want: a simple, frictionless purchase experience and new fitness equipment without breaking the bank.
The numbers: more than 77 million Americans are members at a gym or fitness club and are a prime market for exercise equipment retailers.
Cross-Sell and Upsell Fitness Equipment
Those purchasing exercise equipment care about their health or the health of a loved one. They want the best product for the best value. But because the cost of the best equipment is so high, many shoppers find themselves settling for a lower-end model or compromising on features to make the purchase more affordable.
Choosing the right financing partner for fitness equipment retailers empowers your team to cross-sell and upsell your equipment, so you increase profits and consumers go home with the new equipment they want. When shoppers don’t feel pressured to choose between upgraded equipment and their budgets, they’re free to purchase the higher-end models or even multiple pieces of equipment to outfit their home gym. The low monthly payments afforded by UCFS’s financing program increase treadmill and elliptical conversions, lift strength rack turnover, and help you move more inventory year-round.
Guide Shoppers through the Buyer’s Journey with Streamlined Financing
A big-ticket purchase like new home gym equipment requires a significant investment –– both financial and emotional –– from consumers. Any obstacles to purchase have the potential to derail the sale, resulting in lost revenue. By partnering with the right consumer financing firm, businesses reap the benefits of a streamlined financing process that gives customers confidence and peace of mind to move forward with their purchase.
Employing a mobile-first approach to consumer financing facilitates a quick, simple, and accessible approach to affordable payment plans. When you provide financing through United Consumer Financial Services, shoppers can apply online via a tablet, smartphone, or computer. We send a credit decision in a matter of minutes, allowing consumers to move forward with their purchase. Our fast, stress-free application and approval process empowers customers and helps exercise equipment retailers increase sales.
Sell More Exercise Equipment with Payment Plans from UCFS
Affordable, accessible payment plans turn home-gym dreams into reality. When retailers find the right consumer financing partner, they can better meet consumer needs while increasing exercise equipment sales. A division of Marmon Holdings, a Berkshire Hathaway company, United Consumer Financial Services brings more than 45 years of experience to our clients and their customers. Contact us today to learn how to become a merchant and discover how offering financing solutions can help you drive fitness equipment sales starting immediately.
