KOCHI: Health awareness is increasing among people. So is the sale of fitness equipment and number of shops selling them in the southern metropolis.The increase in demand has attracted more traders to set up shops in the city which has led to tremendous competition in the sector. This has helped bring down the prices of fitness equipment. The fitness equipment is mainly imported from Taiwan by an agency with proper clearance from the government, industry sources said.Most of the agencies supplying the equipment are based in North India. There are also suppliers based in Chennai. The costliest equipment is treadmill which varies according to different features and makers. There are shops selling premium model electric tread mills for Rs 1,63,000, while another shop is offering it at Rs 1 lakh, though the costlier one may have additional features.The cost increases according to the weight of the user. The warranty varies from 5 to 10 years depending upon the product. There are companies which give only two-year warranty. Mostly those buying the treadmill for home use go for direct current machines as they are cheaper and available around Rs 18,000.The price hinges on the horse power of the motors and the number of motors fitted in it. “Demand for such equipment has picked up owing to their affordability. It is also convenient for people to have a gym at home rather than going to health clubs,” sources said.The increase in number of health clubs have also led to a jump in the demand for such equipment. The trend has gained popularity in the last five years. “The recent development is that beauty parlours are also going for such equipment,” the source said.When asked about the presence of any fly-by-night operators in the field, the sources said it was impossible for anybody to play fraud in the business. “People spending huge amount do a lot of homework before going in for such products,” they said.
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