NSGAs recent study, “The Sporting Goods Market in 2005,” found that females are significant purchasers in many important footwear and equipment categories. In 2004, females purchased 54% of the $14.8 billion of athletic footwear sold at retail. However, only 10% of females made their athletic footwear purchases in sporting goods store versus 16% of males. 11% of the female purchases were from specialty athletic footwear stores versus 13% of male purchases.
Specifically, female customers purchased 85% of aerobic footwear; 35% of boat/deck shoes; 43% of bowling shoes; 49% of cross training shoes; 64% of fashion sneakers; 55% of fitness shoes; 49% of running shoes; 71% of sport sandals; 45% of tennis shoes; 64% of walking shoes; and 48% of water sport shoes.
In equipment, females purchased 41% of the bicycle helmets; 38% of the backpacks and daypacks; 60% of the ellipticals; 45% of the heart rate monitors; 52% of the exercise bikes; 62% of the treadmills; 47% of non-prescription sunglasses; 46% of the soccer balls; 37% of the tennis rackets; 43% of the in-line skates; and 42% of non-motorized scooters and 38% of motorized scooters.
