Market Survey : Snow Sports Sales Down in November 1/9/2013

Washington, DC (January 9, 2012) -- SnowSports Industries America (SIA) and Leisure Trends Group have released SIA RetailTRAK™ numbers for November 2012, collected from the Point of Sale systems of more than 1,200 snow sports retailers. November 2012 was another difficult month for the snow sports marketplace with double digit declines in dollars sold compared to sales in November 2011, but there is hope on the horizon as snowfall in December could provide a needed boost in the market.

The snow sports market had an uphill battle to fight in the pre-season and it showed. Season-to-date sales in all stores fell 8 percent in units sold and 7 percent in dollars sold as inertia from last season, recovery from Hurricane Sandy and “fiscal cliff” concerns put multiple dents in the market. Conditions in the snow sports market from late November to the end of the winter season typically depend upon current snow conditions.However the August to November sales pace is predicated on variables like snowfall in the previous season and consumer confidence in general. This season, all of the variables were working against the early season snow sports market.



Early season sales were dominated by carryover sales, bringing in the slimmest margins. In fact, 16 percent of alpine skis and 17 percent of snowboards sold in specialty retail shops from August to November 2012 were sold as carryover. Carryover sales refer typically to gear that sat in retail inventories over the summer months but technically, in the Leisure Trends data, the term “carryover” represents gear that was sold at or below average retail cost. Specialty inventories were swollen at the end of last season so the increase in carryover sales is an expected purge of that inventory.

Unfortunately, that leaves retailers with a cash trickle rather than a flow and sets a Spartan stage for the 2013/2014 ordering season that begins to gather significant steam in November. The December Snow Sports Market RetailTRAK™ data is scheduled for release on January 30th just before the opening of the 2013 SIA Snow Show in Denver, Colorado.

The market data presented in this report comes from the Snow Sports RetailTRAK™ produced for SIA by Leisure Trends Group. Leisure Trends Group gathers RetailTRAK™ data directly from the Point of Sale systems of more than 1,200 snow sports retailers. For more information about snow sports retail sales, market data and other SIA Research products including the Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report, the SIA State of the Industry Videos, Snow Sports Participation Study and other exclusive industry reports, please contact Kelly Davis, SIA’s Director of Research at KDavis@snowsports.org or visit snowsports.org/research.

SIA releases the topline results for snow sports retail seven times each season from November to May covering results of retail sales made between August 1 and March 31 each season. Topline/category retail sales data for the snow sports market is available as a member benefit to all SIA members. In addition, members gain free access to topline data for the Running, Outdoor and Paddle Sports when you register. The topline data is accessible on a 24/7/365 basis on Leisure Trends Cross-Industry RetailTRAK™ data portal. Non-SIA members may subscribe to the topline portal for just $375 per year.


SIA RetailTRAK™ Data 2012/2013 Season Release Schedule

1. New This Season - November 7, 2012 August – September
2. December 7, 2012 (est.) August – October
3. January 5, 2013 (est.) August – November
4. January 31, 2013 August – December
5. March 5, 2013 (est.) August – January
6. April 5, 2013 (est.) August – February
7. May 6, 2013 (est.) August – March