While many resorts have not seen the record early season snowfall that they experienced last year, most resorts in the Rockies and the Pacific Northwest have been able to open early this year, and it appears that consumers are noticing. During the August through October pre-season period, chain and specialty store combined sales of SnowSports hardgoods, apparel, and accessories increased 11.0% to $386.4 million compared to $$349.5 million last year, according to SIAs Retail Audit.
This year, for the first time, SIA has included Internet sales as an additional retail channel and this added an additional $69.5 million to the overall number, bringing total sales up to $456.0 million. This means on-line sales account for approximately 15.2% of the market. Chain store sales increased 6% to $76.2 million, accounting for roughly 16.7% of the total market. Specialty SnowSports sales increased 11.7% to $309.7 million, and accounted for 67.9% of the market.
Specialty retailers continue to see similar trends to last year, with system skis accounting for a larger portion of their Alpine equipment sales even as price points in this category are declining.
| SIA SnowSports Retail Audit | |||
| 2006 August-October Specialty Store Results | |||
| (Select Equipment & Apparel Categories) | |||
| (in $ millions) | 2006 | 2005 | Change |
| Total | $386.4 | $349.5 | 11% |
| Equipment | $116.1 | $118.0 | -2% |
| Alpine | $75.3 | $73.8 | 2% |
| Nordic | $2.8 | $2.9 | -5% |
| Telemark | $1.1 | $1.0 | 3% |
| Randonee/AT | $0.4 | $0.3 | 46% |
| Snowboard | $36.5 | $40.0 | -9% |
| Apparel | $116.1 | $88.0 | 32% |
| Alpine | $99.3 | $74.9 | 33% |
| Snowboard | $16.7 | $13.1 | 27% |
| Accessories | $77.6 | $71.1 | 9% |
