Peloton, the once-celebrated fitness company, recently announced that it is laying off about 15% of its employees – about 400 people. The company is also looking for a new CEO in its efforts to redefine its business model. Two years ago, Peloton hired Barry McCarthy, an experienced executive from both Spotify and Netflix, to replace co-founder, John Foley. However, McCarthy recently released a statement saying that he no longer saw a way to bring Peloton’s spending in line with its revenue.
Peloton is looking to expand its business model beyond selling stationary bikes, with McCarthy venturing into corporate wellness and revamping subscription models, in addition to phasing out free app memberships. The company also partnered with Lululemon and Hyatt hotels. However, despite these efforts, there was not a major uptick in subscriptions and the company’s stock dropped by over 90% since its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The combination of consumers returning to gyms after the pandemic and a series of safety issues, such as a high-profile treadmill recall due to injuries and a death, have only compounded the challenge of reviving sales momentum.
Though Peloton has over $1 billion in debt, the company has expressed optimism over its latest restructuring efforts, which is aimed at slashing expenses by over $200 million by the end of the 2025 fiscal year. The company is focused on achieving sustainable growth and positive cash flow.
Peloton is an example of the evolving nature of tech-centric wellness ventures in a post-pandemic world. The coming months will be critical for Peloton as it aims to regain its footing in a wildly, rapidly evolving competitive market.