Growth in consumer expenditure through specialist sports goods retailers is expected to accelerate during 2014 as the wider high street economy recovers and the gains in sport participation numbers made since 2011 have proved sustained.
The expansion plans of the major chains are slowly filling the gaps left by the demise of JJB Sports but consumer caution remains a brake on sales, particularly in the equipment segment, and high street operators face an ever-rising threat from web-only rivals who are eroding their traditional advantages of service, convenience and expertise.
This report assesses trends in UK adults’ purchasing of sports goods, examines motives for buying and incentives to try a new retailer, as well as attitudes towards technological developments in kit and equipment. It also tracks the performance and strategy of the leading players in the market and identifies potential responses to the main opportunities and challenges emerging.
Definition
This report examines the retailing by specialist outlets of sports clothing, footwear and equipment. For the purposes of this report, Mintel defines specialist retailers as those with a high street presence (web-only retailers are excluded), specialising in the sale of sports clothing, footwear and equipment, which are defined as:
Sports clothing, e.g. tracksuits, swimwear, hooded sweatshirts, accessories (gloves, caps etc)
Sports footwear, e.g. trainers, running shoes, football boots, ski boots
Sports equipment, e.g. tennis racquets, golf clubs and balls, trampolines, snooker tables.
All items of clothing and footwear that are specifically designed for sport are included, whether these items are worn when participating in a particular sport (described by retailers as ‘activewear’ or ‘performance’ items) or worn as casualwear. This includes items carrying a well-known branded logo and items produced under a clothing retailer’s own-label.
Some exclusions have been made from the list of products bought by consumers for active leisure, because they represent highly specialised markets. Among these are: boats, boating and sailing products; any other vehicles used for sport; and equipment and apparel for horse riding, fishing, hunting and shooting. Sales of bicycles are also excluded on the basis of their additional use as a method of transport as well as for sporting purposes. This market is covered separately by the Mintel report Bicycles – UK, March 2014.
Although the market size data relate purely to sales of specialist sports goods retailers, in order to provide some context, The Consumer sections of this report examine competitive outlets as well as overall levels of sports goods purchasing. Similarly, the Brand Research section also provides complementary information about consumer attitudes towards leading sports goods brands.
Value figures throughout this report are at retail selling prices unless otherwise stated.
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