Nautilus wants to build a healthier work culture, one employee at a time: Top Workplaces 2021

For the ninth year in a row, Nautilus Inc. was named winner of The Oregonian / OregonLive’s “Top Workplaces” competition for the tenth year.

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The fitness company, based in Vancouver, Washington, has made everything from Bowflex machines to Schwinn bikes and ellipticals on its way to becoming one of the leading brands in the industry. The company’s ultimate goal is to help people achieve their fitness goals and lead healthy lifestyles.

According to Ellen Raim, Chief People Officer of Nautilus, the company’s success and high praise can be largely attributed to one word: culture.

“(It) focuses on collaboration, innovation, transparency, giving, fun, and the mission of enabling healthier living through individualized networked fitness experiences,” said Raim. “And this is how you build a healthier world, one person at a time.”

This culture is initially cultivated internally. Despite the fact that Nautilus has employees around the world, Nautilus hosts monthly town hall meetings, fireside chats with executives, and “Final Fridays,” where departments review their progress. Nautilus also recruits a diverse range of staff, including military veterans.

“We believe that every person adds something special to our team,” said Raim.

Nautilus employees (from left) Cynthia Wilson, Starla Manning and Shelby Contreras receive product training in a conference room at Nautilus headquarters in Vancouver.Randy L. Rasmussen / For the Oregonian / OregonLive

The culture nurtured from within is then expanded to the community, where employees are given eight hours of paid time to volunteer for a service of their choice. Some employees take part in back-to-school trips, American Heart Month fundraisers, and holiday events where they shop with children.

Nautilus was founded in 1986 by Arthur Jones, an inventor with a passion for physical fitness. Jones’ invention of the “Blue Monster” resistance machine and the philosophy of training to failure helped revolutionize the industry. He then worked with champion bodybuilders.

The foundation established by Jones continued to grow in the decades that followed. The company manufactured strength and cardio fitness products, which now include Bowflex, Nautilus, Modern Movement, Octane Fitness, Schwinn and Universal.

In 1999, Nautilus became a publicly traded company. Then in 2011 the company turned to home furnishing. The company has currently grown to 455 employees, 339 of whom are based in Vancouver. In 2020, the company’s total revenue was $ 552.6 million.

“The reputation of innovation, combined with culture, attracts and holds top talent, which has been a major factor in the company’s success,” said Raim. “We come to work every day to fulfill our noble mission: to enable a healthier life through individualized networked fitness experiences.”

As with many other companies, the COVID-19 pandemic also posed some challenges for Nautilus. It faced supply chain issues that hampered its ability to meet expected product demand. It also struggled to hire workers.

“However, we are not afraid of challenges and everyone has faced them, which often required extra work in order to provide our customers with the highest level of service and support,” said Raim. “We are indebted to the incredible contributions of our employees who have been persistent and persistent in delivering amazing products to our customers.”

Nautilus employee Tony Montoya leads product training for (from left) Lily Caballero, Mya Gaede and Janelle Torres.Randy L. Rasmussen / For the Oregonian / OregonLive

The company’s focus has now shifted to the future, particularly its “North Star” initiatives. Nautilus has launched a digital platform for Bowflex products that can be streamed on Netflix, Hulu and Disney +, offering customers personalized training and fitness tips. The company continues to focus on fitness at home while building manufacturing facilities to increase production.

Raim described the day-to-day operations of Nautilus, which are driven by the customer’s experience, as “focused and intentional”. Nautilus holds focus groups with consumers to get feedback on potential product ideas. The company is constantly testing new software updates and is working on making its warehouse operations more efficient.

“With our products, workouts, resources, tips and motivational content, we help people achieve their fitness goals,” said Raim.

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For more information on top jobs, visit oregonlive.com/topworkplaces.