Outdoor Industry Association recently published its Outdoor Topline Report for February 2009. According to the report, retail sales for all core outdoor stores slipped 17% in February with all three store channels – specialty stores, chain stores and Internet – and all four major categories – equipment, equipment accessories, apparel and footwear – showing sales declines.
Items related to hiking, camping, kayaking, canoeing and other easily-accessible outdoor vacations remained stronger in each channel. Apparel sales struggled, however, as weather and economic conditions converged to create a very difficult climate for sales.
OIA said specialty store sales fell 19% in dollars with a 5% decline in average prices. Every major product category and most sub-categories lost sales for the month. The largest declines came from apparel. Bright spots were said to be sparse, but included climbing gear, down-fill mummy and synthetic-fill rectangular sleeping bags, small and large packs, water bottles, camp/energy food, water purification, stoves and multisport shoes.
According to the report, chain stores sales declined 18% for the month. Nearly every category declined and apparel categories were apparently hit the hardest. Sales growth came out of water bottles, recreation tents, rectangular sleeping bags, camp cookware, water purification and hiking boots, suggesting that camping and outdoor vacations continue to resonate with cash-strapped consumers in early 2009.
The report also said that online sales shrank in February.
The report said total unit sales slipped 22% and dollars dropped 9%. While equipment accessories, footwear and apparel each saw sales decline, equipment eked out a 1% gain in dollar sales, the only major product category to do so across all three channels.
