According to the July Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Outdoor Topline Report, retail sales for chain, internet, and specialty outdoor retailers declined 4% compared to last July, moving from $371 million to $358 million. The positive trend in close-to-home outdoor recreation and camping continued and many camping, backpacking and hiking products saw healthy sales in July.
Equipment sales may have been even higher, but across much of the nation this July was one of the coolest in decades. The cooler temperatures helped drive increases for insulated tops, shell tops and sweaters.
Outdoor Specialty store sales fell 5% compared to July 2008. Key outdoor recreation and camping categories, however, continued to show strength. In dollars, backpacking tents jumped 14%, mid-temp (11-25) synthetic mummy bags grew 3%, dehydrated meals picked up 13% and hiking boots sales increased 13%. Cool temperatures across the nation pushed insulated top sales up 17%. Shell tops were up 6% in dollars.
Outdoor Chain store sales were down 4% for the month of July but growth in key equipment and accessory categories point to increased outdoor recreation and camping. Backpacking tent dollars increased 10%, energy food surged 42%, dehydrated meals grew 8%, cookware 7% and miscellaneous camp accessories 9%.
Outdoor Internet sales were flat this July with the 10% bump in average retail prices offsetting the 10% unit decline. Backpacking tents increased 9%, sleeping bags shot up 18% and mid-sized packs (2500-4000ci) jumped 17%.
July's thermometer drove outerwear sales but it also kept people on shore and out of the paddle stores. Core paddlesports stores brought in $48 million in July and $239 million year-to-date, down 7% for both periods. Year-to-date, all boat sales were down 13% in units and 11% in dollars.
