An upturn in retail sales of sportswear is always a good indication that more people are becoming involved in energetic pursuits - which can, in turn, signify that it is a wise time for investments in fitness club furniture.
But for an even earlier signpost of when you might want to earmark some funds for new fitness club furniture and other fixtures and fittings, you might want to look to trends in what the retailers themselves are stocking.
Research from Verdict Retail declares that "in just four weeks since the peak Christmas trading period, it is clear that sportswear will be the retail spotlight in 2014".
The segment, worth around £5.8 billion in the UK, is forecasted to achieve growth of 3.2% over the coming year, despite the challenges still being faced throughout the retail sector.
At 0.4 percentage points above the clothing and footwear market as a whole, sportswear is an economic bright spot for 2014 - and this is likely to filter through to the sports club segment in terms of increased membership and potentially more regular visits by existing users too.
This is thanks to something of a perfect storm of influences, dating back at least as far as London 2012, whose legacy is still being felt.
In 2014, there is a football World Cup to look forward to, which is expected to boost sportswear sales in the first half of the year.
But on top of these direct sporting influences, there are also several trends within the retail sector that are combining to boost sales.
For instance, Verdict Retail claim that there has been a lack of choice in the sportswear segment in recent years, which retailers are now trying to overcome.
Senior clothing and footwear analyst Honor Westnedge explains that retailers are "riding on the success of the London Olympics and recognising a gap in the market for greater choice within sportswear".
As this filters through to more affordable and practical clothing options for sports enthusiasts, it may encourage more people to register for membership at their local sports club.
For operators, this could make 2014 a lucrative year, while providing the funds needed for any fitness club furniture refreshes that have been delayed during the recent recession.