Aerobics First
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersHalifax, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Aerobics First firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aerobics First
- Legal name
- Aerobics First
- Website
- https://aerobicsfirst.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aerobics First industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Athletic and Ski Retail
- NAICS
- Shoe Retailers (4582)
- SIC
- Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor Performance Footwear & Apparel Retail (Trail/Hike) (CRAMACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ski & Snowboard Equipment Retail (Skis, Boards, Boots, Bindings, Poles) (CRAMAJAA), Ski & Snowboard Apparel Retail (Outerwear, Base Layers, Gloves, Socks) (CRAMAJAB), Outdoor & Active Lifestyle Apparel Retail (CRAAABAL), Winter Accessories & On-Mountain Essentials Retail (Hand/Foot Warmers, Packs, Hydration, Sunglasses) (CRAMAJAJ)
Keywords
Where Aerobics First is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Halifax
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Aerobics First business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Product Sales: Revenue generated from selling running shoes, walking shoes, ski boots, skis, apparel, and accessories to consumers. Products are sold both in-store and through the online e-commerce platform.
- Professional Services: Revenue from specialized services including professional boot fitting, ski tech and tuning shop services, and fitting consultations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing with sale/discount options |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Aerobics First product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aerobics First is an independently owned specialty retailer that sells running, walking, and ski footwear, apparel, and equipment from premium brands through its Halifax storefront and Shopify online store. The company differentiates by offering professional shoe and ski boot fitting services, precision ski tuning and repairs, and a junior ski exchange program, serving the Halifax running, walking, hiking, and skiing community since 1980.
Product overview
Aerobics First is Halifax's independently owned Run/Walk & Ski specialty shop established in 1980, offering a comprehensive portfolio of athletic footwear, ski equipment, and apparel. The product line consists of core footwear categories (men's and women's shoes with subcategories including running, walking, trail, road racing, stability, track & XC spikes, waterproof, and cross training) from over 15 major brands; ski equipment including boots, skis, and accessories from brands like Atomic, Head, Salomon, and Tecnica; men's and women's running and ski apparel; kids' products; and run & walk accessories. The company also provides services including professional boot fitting, ski tech & tuning, junior ski exchange program, ski racing support, and community programs like The Bagel Run group runs. Free shipping is available on orders over $150 Canada-wide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Men's Shoes Athletic footwear for men including running, walking, trail, road racing, stability, track & XC spikes, waterproof, and cross training shoes from brands such as Altra, Asics, Brooks, Hoka, Mizuno, New Balance, On, Salomon, Saucony, Norda, Oofos, Olukai, Propet, and Keen. Sold to individual runners, walkers, and fitness enthusiasts in-store and online.
- Women's Shoes Athletic footwear for women including running, walking, trail, road racing, stability, track & XC spikes, waterproof, and cross training shoes from brands such as Altra, Asics, Brooks, Hoka, Mizuno, New Balance, On, Salomon, Saucony, Norda, Oofos, Olukai, Propet, Cambrian, and Keen. Sold to individual runners, walkers, and fitness enthusiasts in-store and online.
- Ski Boots Ski boots including all mountain, touring & hybrid, wide fit, racing, women's specific, and Nordic/XC categories from brands such as Atomic, Head, Salomon, Tecnica, K2, Lange, Nordica, Rossignol, and Zipfit. Sold to downhill, cross-country, and ski touring consumers.
- Skis Alpine skis including all mountain, carving, freestyle, touring, powder, racing, women's specific, and Nordic/XC categories. Sold to skiers across various disciplines.
- Ski Equipment & Accessories Ski equipment including bindings, helmets, goggles, poles, tuning equipment, ski & boot bags, heated products, socks, insoles, race protection, skins, and accessories. Sold to skiers as complementary gear.
- Men's Running Apparel Running apparel for men including Aerobics First branded apparel, tees, tanks, long sleeves, shorts, pants, tights, running jackets, socks, and underwear. Sold to male runners and walkers.
- Men's Ski Apparel Ski apparel for men including ski & snow jackets, pants, base layers, mid layers, winter hats, neckwear, gloves, mitts, and socks. Sold to male skiers.
- Women's Running Apparel Running apparel for women including Aerobics First branded apparel, tees, tanks, long sleeves, shorts, pants, tights, running jackets, sports bras, socks, and underwear. Sold to female runners and walkers.
- Women's Ski Apparel Ski apparel for women including ski & snow jackets, pants, base layers, mid layers, gloves, mitts, and socks. Sold to female skiers.
- Kids' Products Children's footwear, skis, ski boots, poles, helmets, goggles, ski jackets, pants, base layers, hats, neckwear, gloves, mittens, and socks. Sold to families outfitting children for running and skiing.
- Run & Walk Accessories Accessories for running and walking including sunglasses, hats, caps, gloves, mitts, nutrition, hydration packs, belts, bottles, recovery and strength products, watches, electronics, visibility gear, anti-chafe products, trekking poles, traction aids, strollers, dog harnesses, wash and care products, insoles, and laces.
- Gift Cards Online gift cards available for purchase through the e-commerce storefront.
- Ski Tech & Tuning Shop Professional ski tuning and repair services offered in-house. Available to skiers requiring equipment maintenance and performance optimization.
- Professional Boot Fitting Expert boot fitting services to ensure proper ski boot selection and customization. Available to skiers seeking performance and comfort optimization.
- Junior Exchange Program Program allowing families to exchange junior ski equipment as children grow. Targeted at parents managing recurring gear replacement for their children.
- Ski Racing Ski racing services and support, providing equipment and expertise for competitive skiers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 44 years of continuous operation as an independent specialty retailer
Companies that use Aerobics First
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Aerobics First technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Aerobics First partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Aerobics First competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Running Room: Canadian specialty running and walking retailer with multiple store locations and community running programs (e.g., Learn to Run clinics). Directly comparable in product mix (running/walking footwear, apparel, accessories) and target customer (recreational and competitive runners), and the closest Canadian direct competitor to Aerobics First's run/walk pillar.
- Mountain Equipment Company (MEC): Canadian member-owned outdoor co-op retailing apparel, footwear, ski equipment, and accessories across multiple categories. Highly comparable overlap on outdoor footwear, ski gear, and apparel, with similar specialty-service positioning; differs in scale, multi-store footprint, and member-owned structure.
Broad incumbents
- Sport Chek: Canada's largest sporting goods retailer, owned by Canadian Tire Corporation, offering footwear, ski equipment, apparel, and accessories across hundreds of stores. Overlaps on virtually every Aerobics First category but operates as a mass-market broad-line retailer rather than a niche specialty shop.
- REI: U.S. member-owned outdoor co-op with deep assortment in running footwear, ski equipment, and apparel, plus in-store services (boot fitting, bike/repair shops). A scaled analog of the specialty-plus-service model Aerobics First pursues, though operating as a national co-op rather than an independent shop.
- Decathlon: Global sporting goods mass-market retailer with own-brand and partner brands spanning running, trail, and ski categories at aggressive price points. Competes on assortment breadth and price, increasingly relevant in the Canadian market where Decathlon has expanded its store footprint.
- Sporting Life: Canadian premium sporting goods retailer carrying running, ski, and outdoor apparel/footwear with a service-oriented specialty-store feel. Closely comparable on premium-brand assortment and customer demographic, though operating larger-format stores in major Canadian cities.
- Sport Experts: Canadian sporting goods retailer (part of the Candarel/FGL Sports portfolio) carrying footwear, ski, and apparel across multiple categories. Comparable broad-line assortment with mid-market positioning; competes on convenience and price rather than specialty expertise.
Emerging players
- Backcountry: U.S.-based online outdoor and specialty retailer (with former Canadian operations) carrying the same premium running, trail, and ski brands Aerobics First stocks. Represents the e-commerce-native competitive threat that pressures in-store specialty retailers on selection depth and convenience.
- Evo: Action sports retailer (ski/snowboard, bike, skate) with both online storefront and flagship specialty stores, offering premium-brand ski equipment, boot fitting, and tuning services. Directly comparable to Aerobics First on the ski pillar, especially boot fitting and tuning service offerings.
Others
- Hudson Bay / HBC Sporting Goods (formerly known banners): Canadian department store historically selling sporting goods, footwear, and ski equipment alongside broader apparel. Tangentially comparable as an omnichannel Canadian retailer adjacent to Aerobics First's categories but not a direct specialty competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Aerobics First social profiles
Digital presenceAerobics First financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aerobics First leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Aerobics First funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aerobics First M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aerobics First
What does Aerobics First do?
Aerobics First is an independently owned specialty retailer that sells running, walking, and ski footwear, apparel, and equipment from premium brands through its Halifax storefront and Shopify online store. The company differentiates by offering professional shoe and ski boot fitting services, precision ski tuning and repairs, and a junior ski exchange program, serving the Halifax running, walking, hiking, and skiing community since 1980.
Is Aerobics First a public or private company?
Aerobics First is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Aerobics First founded?
Aerobics First was founded in 1980. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Aerobics First based?
Aerobics First is headquartered in Halifax, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Aerobics First make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Retail Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are professional Services.
Who are Aerobics First's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Running Room and Mountain Equipment Company (MEC). Broad incumbents are Sport Chek, REI, Decathlon, Sporting Life and Sport Experts. Emerging players are Backcountry and Evo. Hudson Bay / HBC Sporting Goods (formerly known banners) is listed as an others.
Does Aerobics First have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aerobics First.
What industry is Aerobics First in?
Aerobics First's product category is Specialty Athletic and Ski Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMACAI, Outdoor Performance Footwear & Apparel Retail (Trail/Hike), with a secondary code of CRAMAJAA, Ski & Snowboard Equipment Retail (Skis, Boards, Boots, Bindings, Poles). Its NAICS code is 4582 and its SIC code is 5661.