https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61182406 BBC Homepage * Skip to content * Accessibility Help * Your account * Home * News * Sport * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Future * More menu More menu Search BBC * Home * News * Sport * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Future * Culture * Music * TV * Weather * Sounds Close menu BBC News Menu * Home * War in Ukraine * Coronavirus * Climate * Video * World * US & Canada * UK * Business * Tech * Science More * Stories * Entertainment & Arts * Health * In Pictures * Reality Check * World News TV * Newsbeat * Long Reads * Business * Market Data * New Economy * New Tech Economy * Companies * Entrepreneurship * Technology of Business * Economy * CEO Secrets * Global Car Industry * Business of Sport Covid: Have the lockdown success stories lost their shine? By Noor Nanji & Star McFarlane BBC business reporters Published 1 day ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics * Coronavirus pandemic A woman using a Peloton bikeImage source, Peloton Image caption, Peloton has already taken a hit but which other pandemic winners are now struggling? Lockdown measures imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic led to a surge in demand for online services, but two years on, have those trends reversed? Stuck indoors, there was a boom in demand for takeaways, online shopping, streaming and online fitness. But as restrictions eased, some pandemic darlings are now finding life tougher. Netflix, Peloton and Boohoo have all seen the popularity they enjoyed during the pandemic fade. So who is still winning and who is losing? Online fitness With lockdowns came the closure of gyms, yoga studios and fitness centres, meaning people turned to screens for their daily endorphin hits. Peloton, the global firm that sells exercise bikes and membership subscriptions for remote classes, was one of the first companies to really cash in on online fitness. However, as people have returned to gyms, the company's shares have slumped. Shares are down by more than 60% this year already. Peloton saw its losses spiral in the first three months of the year, with the company warning that growth will remain difficult. Many personal trainers also switched to online sessions during the pandemic - but after restrictions eased some say this is no longer such a popular option. Roxy Sullivan, a personal trainer based in Bristol, says she only has a handful of clients that continue to train online, with the rest done in person. Roxy holds up one plate with cupcakes and another with saladImage source, Roxy Sullivan Image caption, Roxy grew her business on social media during the pandemic by posting fitness videos "I just prefer training clients face-to-face," she says. "It's much easier to engage with people in person and as a personal trainer it's nice to be able to motivate them whilst being in the same room." But not all online fitness has lost its shine. The popularity of online yoga during lockdown is a trend that is "here to stay", according to the British Wheel of Yoga, the sport's national governing body. Ian Vollum, founder of Fat Whippet Yoga, moved his classes online during the pandemic and now says he has no plans to restart in-person sessions. Ian Vollum does a yoga pose on his mattImage source, Ian Vollum Image caption, Ian Vollum taught one-on-one yoga classes in his garden when restrictions allowed before making the move online Mr Vollum says many of his clients got used to exercising indoors during the pandemic and feel happier doing classes from the comfort of their own homes. "[Clients] have realised they don't want to be in the gym with what they call 'yoga bunnies' or younger people working out where they feel watched and intimidated," he tells the BBC. He says keeping classes online is also good for clients who are still worried about Covid. "They don't want to be going back to packed-out places that put them at risk," Mr Vollum says. "The restrictions might be gone but there are still a lot of people who care about that." Online retailers Drew Cockton with a range of candles from his businessImage source, Drew Cockton Image caption, Drew Cockton says people are buying fewer candles online now that lockdowns have ended Drew Cockton says sales for his candle business, Owen Drew, boomed when everyone was stuck at home. Since then, he's seen a sharp reduction in sales. The reopening of physical stores has meant a pick-up in competition, and he says businesses like his, which are primarily online, have suffered as a result. "Everyone was bored during the lockdowns, furlough money was burning a hole in people's pockets, and we did really well out of that," he says. "That trend has now reversed and people are shopping online less." Official figures also suggest the pandemic surge for online retail has not been sustained. Online retail sales peaked during the coronavirus lockdowns, and have been on a slow decline since then, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The most recent ONS data shows that retail sales in March fell by 1.4%, as the cost of living rose. The biggest contribution to the slide came from a drop in online sales. Online retail giants such as Asos, Boohoo and AO World saw their share prices jump in the early days of the pandemic but have now come crashing back down. * Boohoo hit as shoppers return more clothes * Why are prices rising so quickly? "Online retailers were big beneficiaries from the pandemic and lockdowns, but there is now a willingness to get back to High Streets, helped by lower levels of fear over catching the virus," says Nick Carroll, from market research firm Mintel. "Those online retailers without physical stores are naturally going to find it harder." Michelle Ovens, founder of campaign group Small Business Britain, says online businesses are having to think more creatively in order to survive. "As the demand for e-commerce rebalances following the lockdown boom, small businesses are using their new resiliency and creativity to develop new innovative routes to market," she says. "This includes click and collect models, hybrid experiences and bringing the best of both digital and physical worlds together." Takeaways and home deliveries Chef Saima holds up tray of baked goods in her kitchenImage source, Saima Salahhuddin Image caption, Chef Saima Salahuddin saw strong Deliveroo sales during Covid Saima Salahuddin, a chef from east London, started taking online orders for her South Asian meals during the first lockdown. "Our business, Chattpatta Kitchen, really flourished during Covid," she says. "We started by selling on Facebook but then expanded to Deliveroo and Uber Eats." Saima says sales have held up even after restaurants reopened and dining out returned. However, she says she does need to offer some attractive deals and discounts for her customers. "During the pandemic, people have gotten used to the comfort and ease of ordering food at home," she tells the BBC. "We do have to work a bit harder to attract consumers now, but they are still coming to us for the convenience." * Takeaway meals still booming, says Deliveroo * Taste for takeaways outlasts Covid lockdowns Figures from accountancy firm KPMG suggest that when it comes to dining, consumer habits have changed for the longer term. Before the pandemic, Britons spent around PS38 per month on takeaways, home deliveries and meal kits, KPMG says. But between spring 2020 and spring 2021 average monthly spend per person reached PS53. That figure has remained high into 2022, says Will Hawkley, KPMG's global head of leisure and hospitality. "At the moment, we're not seeing a drop off," he says. "The trends we saw during lockdown are continuing, with people still ordering meals online," he says. However, he warns this might now start to decline, as consumers tighten their belts in response to the rising cost of living. More on this story * Peloton warns 'turnarounds are hard' as losses rise 6 days ago a woman with a Peloton bike * Households cancel streaming services to cut costs 18 April Family watching TV Related Topics * Companies * Takeaway food * Streaming * Peloton * Coronavirus pandemic Top Stories * Live. Fighters leaving Mariupol steel works - Ukraine * Black Buffalo residents tell of grief and fear Published 4 hours ago * Johnny Depp hit me on honeymoon, says Amber Heard Published 1 hour ago Features * Pinned down by Russian fire in key frontline village troops * The children's camp that became an execution ground The basement in Bucha * Can Africa replace Russian gas supplies to Europe? A view of the flare on the Kaombo Norte, a Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel(FPSO), a project operated by Total, the French multinational oil company, on November 8, 2018, about 250km off the coast of Angola in the Atlantic Ocean * The new jet set - why private plane use has soared Lady Gaga lands in a private jet * How Australia became the anxious country A pedestrian wearing a face mask walks past the Sydney Opera House in Sydney on 13 July 2021 * A tale of two women's murders - and media bias Alexandra Inshina * What's the difference between love and lust? Disloyal woman looking another man and her angry boyfriend looking at her on the street * The forgotten genius who invented our future Nikola Tesla * Eurovision win brings 'incredible happiness' to Ukraine Kalush Orchestra celebrating their win in Turin Elsewhere on the BBC * Russia pushed back from Kharkiv - front line report Correspondent Quentin Sommerville and cameraman Darren Conway are with Ukrainian troops as they advance. Ukrainian troops on the front line near Kharkiv * Russia fighting for motherland in Ukraine - Putin The Russian leader uses Victory Day to tie the war in Ukraine to the fight against Nazi Germany Russian battle tanks * LISTEN: The extraordinary story of Putin's life A revealing history as told by those who have watched, studied and worked with the Russian president Putin Most Read 1. 1Turkey could block Finland and Sweden Nato bids 2. 2Johnny Depp hit me on honeymoon, says Amber Heard 3. 3McDonald's to leave Russia for good after 30 years 4. 4Twitter hits back on Musk doubts over fake accounts 5. 5Celebrity soccer wives' feud spills into court 6. 6Biden approves return of US troops to Somalia 7. 7Matriarch accused of leading drug clan captured 8. 8Pinned down by Russian fire in key frontline village 9. 9Ukraine round-up: Kharkiv shelling eases but Bucha horrors linger 10. 10The children's camp that became an execution ground BBC News Services * On your mobile * On smart speakers * Get news alerts * Contact BBC News * Home * News * Sport * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Future * Culture * Music * TV * Weather * Sounds * Terms of Use * About the BBC * Privacy Policy * Cookies * Accessibility Help * Parental Guidance * Contact the BBC * Get Personalised Newsletters * Why you can trust the BBC * Advertise with us * AdChoices / Do Not Sell My Info (c) 2022 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. [p]