While many Western resorts were able to open their doors early last month, there have been no reports materializing of record snowfalls to drive early sales. As a result, SnowSports hardgoods’ sales have had a relatively slow start to the season but below normal temperatures are clearly driving apparel sales. As Thanksgiving shoppers flocked to stores across the country, several Outdoor and Snow Sports apparel companies benefited from fashion trends that are putting outdoor-inspired fleece on the backs of high-school and college students around the country.

Based on data compiled by SportScanINFO, which compiles point-of-sale data from major retailers across the country on a weekly basis, this cold snap is driving sales of outerwear up considerably. Outdoor and Snow Sports apparel sales are up in high-single-digits for the month of November, with particular strength in outerwear. Overall outerwear sales from the retailers covered by SportScanINFO are up in the mid-20’s for the month of November, including “Black Friday.” All of this increase came from outdoor inspired outerwear. The outdoor outerwear category saw sales increase in the upper 60% range during the month of November. The business gains have since abated a bit as temperatures moderated later in the month and into the early December retail period.

Outdoor brands are all showing positive momentum for the month, but TNF continues to gain market share in outerwear. However, Mountain Hardwear, Patagonia, Arc’Teryx, and Columbia also remain strong in the category. Sierra Designs and Helly Hansen had the largest increases in market share in the outdoor category for the month.

Snow Sports outerwear saw sales decline in the double-digits for the month, however, this category remains more evenly distributed between brands. Columbia controls the largest part of the market share, but Spyder Active Sports, TNF, Pacific Trail, Arc’Teryx, and Burton are making considerable strides in both sales and market share in the category. In addition, Cold as Ice, Fera, and Helly Hanson are three relatively smaller brands in the category that are making a big move in Snow Sports apparel this year, judging by their increases in market share for the month.

The best sellers in outerwear continue to be dominated by TNF and Columbia, with TNF’s women’s Khumbu fleece jacket topping the list, followed by the brand’s Bionic soft shell and Denali fleece. Columbia’s Bliss Ridge and Bishop Pass also sold well in November along with Mountain Hardwear’s Windstopper Tech jacket. The combination of the heavy storms in November last year, combined with the popularity of select outdoor-influenced jackets this year, has boosted the share of sales for Outdoor companies to 51% this year from 37% last year.

Overall snowshoe, ski, and snowboard hardgoods sales were down in the mid-singles for November due to declines in Alpine hardgoods and Snowshoeing. Snowboard sales were up in the low-singles for the month. Salomon continues to have the dominant market share in alpine hardgoods, and actually made some considerable gains during the month of November. At the same time, K2, Atomic, and Tecnica all increased their share in the category. In snowboards, Burton, K2, and Lamar control the majority of the market.