Host Sonari Glinton explores the great kettlebell shortage of 2020, as closed gyms led to unprecedented demand for home exercise equipment. We learn how manufacturing overseas made kettlebells difficult to get, and how bringing the manufacturing to the U.S. and supply chain diversification provided ways to meet the demand, but were far from simple solutions.

In this episode we meet Jennifer Lau, co-owner of FitSquad who experienced the kettlebell demand firsthand. At the same time, Jay Perkins, the co-founder of Kettlebell Kings saw his supply of overseas manufactured kettlebells stall when demand was at its highest. We go to Viet Nam to meet Dinh Tien Vu, Director of Vietnam CastIron who was able to manufacture kettlebells in his foundry while Chinese factories were shut down. And we talk to Joe Franklin of USA-Iron, who was able to make kettlebells quickly by producing domestically in the USA.

Disclaimers:

The guest speakers are neither employees nor affiliated with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. (“Morgan Stanley”). The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. The information and data contained herein has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information or data contained in this podcast.

This podcast does not provide individually tailored investment advice and is not a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any security or other financial instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it.