For the second straight year, it looks like the Tennis Industry is having another great year, especially in racquet sales. Sales of tennis racquets to dealers in the 12 months through June 2005 are up 29% in units and 18% in dollar sales vs. the 12 month period to June 2003. This follows 2004 results that had increases of 16% in units and 8% in dollars.
Racquet sales to dealers in the first half of this year are up 14% in units and 13% in sales over 2004, according to Tennis Industry Association President Jim Baugh.
Tennis Industry Association president, Jim Baugh, sees a lot of positives in the results. “First, the unit sales growth the past 2 years shows some of our new player programs are starting to work. Second, the growth in dollar sales, especially this year, shows consumers are buying more premium, high performance racquets as well. In fact, the largest growth category this year is the super premium category (up over 35%) which indicates positive reaction to the recent introductions of new technology frames from many of the top manufacturers.”
This increase also ties in appropriate with what dealers expect for sales increases in 2005. 57% of dealers indicated that they expect sales to increase while only 10% predict a decrease in sales to consumers.
Ball sales, after growing in units in 2004, are down slightly in 2005. Baugh said this could be deceiving. “It is getting increasingly more difficult to track industry balls sales as some of the top retailers are beginning to import balls directly under their own brands. We are hoping to get these retailers to submit their sales to ball shipment census reports but this is a process”.
“Overall, we are on the right track. Industry sales are the most positive they have been in years and the efforts to grow the game at the grassroots level have intensified also. Along with the USTA, we have promoted Tennis Welcome Centers for 2 straight years, the USTA has greatly expanded its “Tennis in the Parks” campaign and at the 2005 US Open, we will launch Cardio Tennis to consumers. We just need to keep our focus, work together, execute and keep pushing!”
