November 2005

Inside Track

John Vuckovich

F or more than 20 years, SPRI® Products, Libertyville, Ill, has been a provider of rubberized resistance exercise and sports conditioning products, fitness accessories, and exercise education programs for the health and fitness industries. John Vuckovich, director of SPRI's Wellness and Rehabilitation Division, tells Rehab Management about how the company has continued since the death of one of its founders, and its plans for the future.

Q. What makes SPRI unique in the marketplace?

A. One thing I value about SPRI is that this company has always made a strong commitment/goal to providing high-quality products, exercise programs, and instructor training services so that a customer not only receives the product, but educational information on how to use that product and the positive results that can be obtained. We feel that the consumer experience is extremely important and therefore make sure that our professional products and education are ideal for every client at every fitness level.

Q. How has the company managed to forge ahead since the death of Steve Block, one of SPRI Products' founders?

A. Steve Block was a great man-everyone who knew him loved him-and his death was a deep emotional hit for all of us. Fortunately, Steve, along with his original partner, Scott Swanson, who is still on board, had set in place a very strong management team before his passing that will continue to propel SPRI to greater heights-which was always Steve's dream.

Q. What are some of your most widely used products and what do they do?

A. SPRI is the leader in rubber resistance in the fitness industry and can be seen in health clubs nationwide. SPRI's main products, such as tubing, stability balls, medicine balls, and balance and stability products, have become a mainstay in not only the fitness industry but also the retail and consumer markets and, now, the rehabilitation and wellness field as well. Our continued growth has allowed us to develop our product line to better serve our customers.

Q. What is your company working on now?

A. SPRI is always working on new, innovative products to bring to the market. Recently, we added four new product lines: Contour-Weights™; Mini Contour-Weights™; Flexors™, a balance and stability line; the WOW™, rhythmatic resistance; and The Reset Glove™. All of these products are new and unique to the market and have brought tremendous responses at the professional tradeshows.

Q. What are the biggest challenges for your company, and in the industry as a whole?

A. Our challenge will be to continue to manage our exponential growth in this rapidly growing industry. In doing so, it is very important to SPRI to keep our focus on the innovativeness, quality, and integrity of what so many have come to view as SPRI products.

—Danielle Cohen

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