Skift Take
Find out what’s on the rise and worth tracking in the wellness industry this year with these Megatrends, from mind- and body-focused co-working spaces to health biohacking to the continued buzz around CBD.
Skift Wellness launched its first newsletter this past fall, after we realized there wasn’t a place that spoke about the modern business of wellness and looked at the industry through a journalistic, critical lens.
Over the past few months, we haven't only explored the latest and greatest in wearable technology, boutique fitness studios, and athleisure. We’ve also examined how other industries — be it travel, work, beauty, or food and beverage — have attempted to break into the wellness sector, whether that’s a legacy diet brand redefining its mission or a startup looking to change the way offices work.
In conjunction with our Skift Megatrends 2019 package, we’ve also been tracking all that’s coming up in wellness. Our Wellness Megatrends 2019 list includes what innovation and marketing tools will shape the wellness economy in the United States, as well as globally. Expect to find which wellness tech trends will be on the rise, what challenges await the buzzed-about CBD industry, as well as how meditation apps can continue to capitalize on the growing category.
These are the 10 Megatrends that will help define wellness 2019.
ATHLEISURE
Brands Look to Memberships to Keep Loyalists Locked In
How do you make sure revenue stays high with an endless stream of startups entering the athleisure space? Keep your loyal customers coming back for more. Companies in the “fitness apparel-meets-lifestyle” sector, like Lululemon and Tracksmith, are starting to realize what building their communities can mean for business — and that fans of the brand are willing to cough up a hefty fee to feel like they’re part of the “tribe.”
Lululemon, for example, tested a loyalty program in Canada last year: For $128 Canadian Dollars ($96.55 in U.S. dollars) annually, devotees received, among other things, a pair of leggings or shorts, as well as free classes and free shipping. The pilot program was so successful, the brand announced on a sales call, that it plans to expand it to Lululemon’s other markets, likely with a fee increase.
Meanwhile, Tracksmith, a running apparel brand with a devoted following, recently announced its Hare A.C. running club. Priced at $128 annually, it includes not just a free racing tank, early access to major launches, and exclusive lines, but also in-person perks, like invites to pop-up events around the country, that will likely further build a sense of community around the brand. “We heard feedback tha
