Nautilus To Sell Commercial Brands

US-based fitness equipment company Nautilus Inc is to sell its commercial equipment brands.

Having recorded losses of US$41 million in the first quarter of 2010 and a 37% drop in sales during the period from April to June 2010, the Oregon company had decided to put its commercial business, including the Nautilus, Schwinn Fitness and StairMaster brands, on the market as part of a strategy to focus solely on its consumer fitness business.

Losses in the commercial division jumped from US$1.1 million last year to US$7.2 million as the company discounted products to clear out inventory.

Despite performing below expectations, Chief Executive Edward Bramson says that the commercial business still has "attractive and under-exploited assets."

Nautilus products continue to be distributed by The Fitness Generation in Australia (tel: 03 9765 9999) and Elite Fitness in New Zealand (tel: 09 919 5495).