McLean, VA – The final results are in for the 2009-10 ski and snowboard season and the retail equipment and apparel market finished up 4% over last season in totals sales according to data released Wednesday by the trade association SnowSports Industries America (SIA). Snow sport retailers sold $2.94 billion this season compared to $2.82 billion a year ago. Although sales were up in dollars, fewer units were sold this season.nThe 2009-10 season began with limited cash flow and tighter credit, caused by the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression. Before the season even started pre-season orders were down 10% to 40% and inventories, that were already smaller due to heavy carryover sales last season, stayed small. In fact, inventories started out this season 9% leaner than they were at the beginning of the 2008-09 season.
Small inventories meant that snow sports products were scarcer than normal and retailers sold fewer items at deep discounts. This season, fewer units were sold, but they were sold at higher prices, resulting in higher margins, an increase in dollars sold, leaner inventories at the end of the season and a generally healthier year for snow sports retailers.
“Business really picked up in February and March when the snow started falling again and we finished the season with a smaller inventory and stronger sales,” says Randy Morgan, owner of Outpost SunSport in Fort Collins, Colo.
Total sales through all channels this season did not top the record breaking 2007-08 season, but they come in as the second highest in history for dollars sold. Apparel led sales this season with $1.1 billion (up 2.48% in dollars, down 2.78% in units), with accessories sales totals close behind at $1 billion (up 7.40% in dollars, down 2.56% in units). Equipment sales totaled nearly $800,000 (up 2.13% in dollars, down 4.19% in units). Equipment has been outsold by both apparel and accessories categories since the 2006-07 season. This year, alpine, Nordic, and AT/Randonée equipment sales were up 57% in both dollars and units sold, while telemark and snowboard equipment sales slipped.
Skis with fat waists moved faster than skinny skis this season. Fat ski sales increased more than 30% in units and in dollars sold . Although rocker snowboards had a good run again this season all snowboard sales were down in units and in dollars sold this season. More than 1.1 million helmets sold through February this season for record sales.
Sales by Channel
A total of $1.8 billion in product was sold this winter in snow sports specialty shops, down 3% in units and up 4% in dollars. Alpine ski equipment sales increased 5% in dollars in specialty shops on strong sales of fat skis (defined as those with greater than 80mm waist width), high performance alpine boots and high end bindings (DIN 12+). Carryover unit sales of alpine equipment fell 15% for skis and 13% for boots.
Snowboard equipment finished the 2009-10 season in decline at specialty retailers with unit sales down 7% and dollars sold down 4%. Many snowboard buyers are still looking for bargains and snowboard carryover sales have increased 16% in units and 19% in dollars. In fact, snowboard and telemark were the only equipment categories that have brought in fewer dollars this season compared to last season at specialty stores.
Overall, more dollars sold coupled with decreased units sales indicated some scarcity in the marketplace and the long awaited arrival of higher consumer tolerance for bigger price tags. Inventories are down 9.5% in specialty shops overall and down 15% in the equipment category at the season’s end. Average retail prices for snow sports gear has increased 7% overall in specialty, driving better margins and ensuring better cash flow for specialty retailers as they prepare for the 2010-11 ski and snowboard season.
This season, the Internet sales channel is not the place to go for low end snow sports gear at rock bottom prices. Average prices for equipment, apparel and accessories are closer to even with brick and mortar specialty and far higher than chain store average prices. When shipping and service are considered, online pricing may be higher in several categories like snowboard equipment, where the average specialty price for this season’s adult gear was $198.67 and the average online price was $197.07.
Overall, online sales are leveling off after three seasons of hyperactive growth. Selling $597 million this year, this season’s 1% increase in units sales coupled with a 7% increase in average prices online yielded a 9.5% increase in dollar sales, but may indicate that this sales channel is well on its way to maturity. The Internet sales channel continues to grow and equipment sales led the way with 10% growth in units sold and 15% growth in dollars sold. The snowboard equipment category realized its only sales gain in the Internet channel, where unit sales increased 17% and dollars sold 20% during the 2009-10 season. Internet sales include sales through “clicks only” establishments that have no brick and mortar shop for customers to visit, as well as online sales in shops with a brick and mortar location and a commerce enabled website for their customers. Many of the sales reported come from brick and mortar establishments that are reaching customers online and in the shop.
Sales in chain stores were down 4% in units and flat in dollars, totaling $563 million. Many chain stores are carrying less equipment this season and that is clearly reflected in the 18% decline in units sold and 13% decrease in dollars sold. Alpine sales were off 15% in units, Nordic equipment unit sales were off 29% and snowboard equipment sales were down 19% in units sold in chain stores this season. In fact, 61% of skis and 54% of snowboards sold this year in chain stores were carryover sales, meaning that they were sold below average retail cost.
Chain stores sell far less equipment than specialty or online sales channels. In fact, chain stores sold fewer than 13% of all snow sports equipment sold this season. Even the traditionally strong apparel sales in chain stores have fallen off this season with declines of 4.5% in units and less than a 1% in dollars sold.
Accessories like hats, helmets, goggles and wax account for about 40% of all snow sports related sales in chain stores. Accessory sales have declined 3% in units in chain stores but people spent 5% more dollars on them this season. Helmets are leading the way in the accessories category with increases of 26% in units sold and 26% in dollars sold. Overall, consumers choose chain stores for lower prices and more selection but with significant decreases in equipment sales, snow sports customers may look to specialty shops again for their high end equipment and expertise during the 2010-11 season and beyond.
Sales by Region
Looking at the data region by region, El Niño conditions, which left the Midwest with higher than average temperatures and lower than average snowfall, led to lower than average sales. In the Midwest, sales were down 10% in units and 3% in dollars to $311 million.
Western states followed the overall market pattern with declines in unit sales but an increase in dollars sold. In fact, unit sales were down 4% while dollar sales increased 4%, representing $23.5 million more dollars sold in the region. Fewer skis, snowboards and apparel sold at higher prices, driving up margins and overall revenue in the Western states this season.
Sales in the Northeastern specialty shops accounted for 29% of all specialty sales this season. Sales were down 8% in units sold and up 1% in dollars sold to $502 million for the season.
El Niño drove sales in the South this season with record snow in places like Houston and lower than average temperatures all winter. Sales in Southern snow sports specialty shops finished the 2009-10 season up 15% in units sold and up 17% in dollars sold to $274 million, an increase of $46.5 million.
The SIA Snow Sports RetailTrak, the report released yesterday, is conducted by the Leisure Trends Group, which gathers data directly from the point of sale systems of about one-third of the snow sports retailers in the U.S. market. The panel and the method for extrapolating the results out to the entire industry is based on a triennial census of snow sports retailers designed to accurately define the size and structure of the snow sports retail marketplace.