Lou Lentine: Empowering People to Elevate their Health and Well-being

In the realm of the fitness industry, where new companies are formed on a daily basis, Echelon Fitness emerges as a luminary for developing the finest products for both home and commercial fitness. This is the tale of Mr. Lou Lentine, the dynamic founder and CEO of Echelon Fit, who strives to provide individuals with the tools they need to embark on their health and wellness journey through an array of high-quality, affordable residential and commercial connected exercise equipment.

We conducted a one-on-one video conversation with him to comprehend what changes Lou Lentine is bringing to the wellness industry by establishing this company. Based on the interaction, we have crafted this exclusive narrative, which sheds light on his overall journey, Echelon Fit’s product range, vision and goal, and industry insights.

Lou Lentine’s trajectory in fitness has been marked by an unwavering pursuit of knowledge and helping others along their fitness journey. After earning his degree from the esteemed University of Central Florida, he commenced his entrepreneurial career by creating and promoting cutting-edge consumer goods to a global audience through retailers and business-to-consumer sales. Throughout the years, the magnificent man has been fortunate to have numerous product success stories. From a mosquito trap using propane in the 1990s to a bucket with a spin mop in the early 2000s, and finally to laser Christmas lights in 2015. He frequently appeared on the Home Shopping Network to pitch his ideas, which helped him create product marketing pitches. He filed dozens of patent applications for the inventions he has made all through the years.

The Tale of Echelon’s Inception

In 2015, after a major success with laser Christmas lights selling over 20 million units, Lou Lentine got fed up with copycat products infringing his patents. Despite spending millions to protect the patent, they were unable to stop those who infringed. Lou’s doctor also advised him to change his lifestyle and shed some pounds. Although he has always exercised, he had never prioritized it. He was aware that by developing a product that offered streaming content as well, he might transform people’s lives and create a brand that would be impossible for competitors to replicate. He would be making changes to his life and prioritizing his fitness at the same time. The incredible leader lost 25 pounds and has 12% body fat. He works out daily on Echelon equipment and has never been happier or healthier.

Echelon Fit: An Overview

Launched in 2016, Echelon Fit offers 1500+ live classes each month and thousands of on-demand classes to enable community members to work out whenever it’s convenient for them. The company offers scenic walks, rides, and rows for members who prefer to be active but aren’t fit for a strenuous workout. Celebrity guests attend classes, and there are challenges for all skill levels. Another partnership that gives the community even more access to fitness is with RunDisney, which allows members to participate in unique virtual races at their own pace in the comfort of their own homes. They experience a feeling of achievement when receiving their Disney medal of completion. If someone doesn’t want to use equipment, the team offers an app with over 500 workouts that can be done at home or on the road, “off” equipment. These workouts include Zumba, Pilates, yoga, conditioning, and more. You may stream this app to your Samsung smart TV for an even more expansive and superior experience.

Overcoming the Obstacles Along the Way

In 2008, the banks were crashing, and Lou’s banker came into his office and told him they were shutting down his credit line, even though they had the best account. Although the leader was dissatisfied, he maintained his composure and carried on growing the company without any help from the bank. Lou believes that in business, it’s essential to be persistent and never give up. “Staying on course but not being afraid to pivot is the key to success,” stated the leading man.

Then in 2020, yet came another obstacle. COVID was a challenge for all businesses, and Echelon was not an exception. Initially, everyone thought it was a win for fitness companies. Even though their top-line sales were outstanding, they had more inventory than they had anticipated due to unexpected increases in freight, product, and COVID-19 expenses. Planning was difficult at the time because the team went from 50 to over 250 members in just a year, and revenues surged by 400%. Echelon was able to improve as a firm by being nimble and sometimes making tough decisions.

Lou’s Innovative Approach: To Build and Nurture the Echelon Team

The inspiring leader started by seeking out incredible, experienced talent—not defined by boundaries—who wanted to work with a start-up company (not a start-up CEO) and help shape the organization into a leader in the fitness sector. He looked for professional, creative, and nimble “doers” so that they could learn quickly from mistakes, enjoy victories together, and eventually become a more powerful and better brand in the marketplace.

Sustaining Adaptability and Resilience

It all comes down to being agile and able to change course quickly when needed. Lou takes great pride in his organizational skills and his team’s quick decision-making, testing, shifting, and pivoting. Their ability to remain nimble allows them to develop, learn, improve, and even retreat when necessary. Lou works to empower his team members’ innate ability to think, solve problems, and generate ideas. They promote an inclusive atmosphere, celebrating victories and triumphing as a team if they believe they are a part of something bigger and can see how their individual efforts impact the company’s position, branding, awareness, etc.

Lou’s Take on the Latest Industry Trends: At a Glance

People are looking for solutions, self-gratification, and “one-stop shopping.” Today’s fitness company needs to be more than just equipment and accessories. To be a true fitness company, you need to care about your customer’s and community’s well-being. Lou and his team have aligned themselves with experts. These experts are knowledgeable about fitness gear, programs, and community involvement, but when it comes to general health issues like diabetes, heart disease, weight loss, and rehab and recovery, Echelon has teamed up with Advent Health Hospital and Rehab Facility to provide information, awareness, and insights straight into the homes of our neighbors. Their goal is to have the members feel well-versed in their health needs and for the team to walk alongside them and help them achieve their wellness goals.

Exploring New Horizontals of Growth

Keeping their community at the forefront, Echelon Fit is currently focused on creating great value,, (without sacrificing innovation) and new high-quality equipment to their inventory. In late January, they will launch their new Strength Home machine that gives you an all-over, full-body workout and that is slim enough to fit anywhere in your home. A new elliptical and stair climber have recently been introduced as well, and Echelon will be expanding their commercial line with the addition of 5 new cardio equipment pieces and a new strength machine. They all will provide you with the best workout possible and the best possible results.

“Spacing savings without sacrificing bells and whistles is our goal. Money should never be an obstacle to making a commitment to live a healthy life. This is why we have something for everyone and everyone’s budget, and why we will continue to add newness and innovation to our products and services,” Lou further informed.

Inspiring Advice from the Visionary 

Pay attention to toughness and agility. You must be prepared to fail quickly but also to learn from your mistakes. Without “trying,” you will never grow, and as a leader, I give that permission to my leadership team. You have to be able to pivot, shift, adjust, and “go with the flow” at times.