Sports retailers must appeal to older consumers
27/10/2009
Los Angeles-based research firm IBISWorld has published a new market report on sports retailing in the US.
In the 37-page report, the company points out that retailers specialising in sports and outdoor equipment and clothing will need, for demographic reasons, to be less dependent on the under 30s in future.
“Sports participation drives demand for sporting goods,” the research company says. “A looming threat to this industry is the changing demographics of the US population. Persons aged less than 30 years have the highest participation rates in sporting activities, a key market that will decline in population beyond the outlook period. A potential target market is the ageing baby boomers. Moving towards retirement, they are increasingly concerned about health and longevity, thus involving themselves with sports and recreational activities.”
The short summary of the report that sportstextiles.com has seen gives no figures, but it makes it clear that the top three US sports retail groups, in order, are Dick’s Sporting Goods, Foot Locker and The Sports Authority. It also suggests that sporting equipment has the greatest share of the retail market, with athletic footwear in second place and athletic apparel only third.
Share this story:
