The third quarter of 2019 for Asics North America (ANA), which includes the United States, Canada and Mexico, showed positive quarterly and year-to-date growth driven by increased traffic to both online e-commerce, retail channels, according to a statement from Asics North America. This marks the third consecutive quarter of sales growth for Asics North America for the first time in 16 quarters.
In the U.S., the brand saw increased traffic and year-to-date growth of 39.7 percent in e-commerce facilitated by a strategic investment in paid search, email and social channels. Further, this increase can be attributed to strong results from performance footwear including: Gel-Resolution, Court Fftm And Gel-Dedicate July 4th Edition and a broader selection of key styles through the Scholar Pack, Urban Explore Pack and Run Colorfully Pack.
There was continued growth across key retail channels, citing 3.0 percent growth year-to-date and 5.7 percent quarterly growth in the United States. This increase is attributed to an upward trend in-store traffic at both full-price and outlet stores during the back-to-school and approaching holiday seasons.
“Asics has continued to showcase our commitment to our consumers and performance running,” said Koichiro Kodama, Asics North America CEO. “As we close out the year, we will continue to enhance the ways in which we support and connect with consumers through our trusted partners and our direct-to-consumers.”
Asics North America experienced growth in both Core Performance Sports and Performance Running Footwear categories. Asics’ Core Performance Sports category increased 19.3 percent year-to-date in the U.S. propelled by tennis models like the Gel-Resolution, Court Fftm And Gel-Dedicate. Further, Asics’ Performance Running category saw growth of 6.2 percent against the previous quarter, attributed to the popularity of the Gel-Resolution, Court Fftm And Gel-Dedicate models.
Across the region, Asics Mexico grew by 98.4 percent over last quarter in local currency and 359.0 percent in the wholesale channel credited to a renewed strategic approach. Meanwhile, Asics Canada experienced a 302.6 percent growth in the e-commerce channel since last quarter driven by the redevelopment in e-commerce strategy.
This quarter saw stellar performances from Asics’ roster of tennis and distance running athletes. At the 2019 US Open Tennis Championships, Novak Djokovic, Julia Göerges and Alex de Minaur all reached the fourth round while Gaël Monfils reached the quarterfinals. Additionally, Sara Hall finished fifth at the Berlin Marathon with a personal best time of 2:22:16, over four minutes faster than her previous best time.
To close out this quarter Asics unveiled their newest technology in performance running footwear in the Gliderride model. Asics gathered 22 runners from around the world at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah for a race without a finish line in a true test of both mental and physical strength. The Gliderride model utilizes technology developed at Asics’ Institute of Sports Science in Kobe, Japan and provides runners with a way to run more efficiently using an energy-saving design and construction.
