RetailTRAK™ May 2010 - Outdoor Specialty Retail Sales

OUTDOOR RETAIL MARKET OVERVIEW: May 2010

Outdoor stores continued positive momentum into May, gaining 12% in overall dollars across all three channels (chain, internet, specialty). Highest sales and steepest growth came from chains this month, with essentially across-the-board double-digit growth over May 2009 and healthy gains over May 2008 as well. Meanwhile, online sales gained high-single-digits in most product categories. Specialty stores saw unit sales slip, but retail prices increase in most product categories and ended the period with flat sales overall.

Specialty dollar sales were up 2% in the Midwest and 1% in the Northeast, with healthy increases coming from apparel and footwear in both regions. While the South and West both saw overall sales declines compared to last May, there were plenty of product categories with positive momentum in both regions this month. In the South, camping gear such as tents, packs, camp accessories, softshell jackets and multisport shoes all outpaced May 2009. Woman-specific sportswear categories such as dresses, skirts, sports bras casual shoes also performed well for Southern retailers this month. The West accounted for 32% of all May dollars sold in outdoor specialty. While lifestyle and camping items sold well in the South this month, it was all about the more-technical items out West. Products that outperformed May 2009 in the West included sleeping bags, day packs, medium packs, climbing gear, softshell jackets, fleece jackets, multisport shoes, hiking boots, trekking poles and various camp accessory categories.

Compared to May 2009 here are the category changes in dollar sales by channel

All Specialty dollar sales are FLAT 

• Specialty equipment dollar sales +3%
• Specialty apparel dollar sales -1% 
• Specialty equipment accessory dollar sales -7% 
• Specialty footwear dollar sales +10%
• All Western Specialty Dollar Sales -1% 
• All Southern Specialty Dollar Sales -1% 
• All Northeastern Specialty Dollar Sales +1% 
• All Midwestern Specialty Dollar Sales +2%

All Chain dollar sales up 21% 

• Chain equipment dollar sales +19%
• Chain apparel dollar sales +26% 
• Chain equipment accessory dollar sales +17% 
• Chain footwear dollar sales +22% 

All Internet dollar sales up 8%

• Internet equipment dollar sales +8% 
• Internet apparel dollar sales +9% 
• Internet equipment accessory dollar sales +7%
• Internet footwear dollar sales +11%
  

About Leisure Trends Group RetailTRAK™ - RetailTRAK™ represents Point-Of-Sale (POS) data and covers equipment, equipment accessories, apparel, footwear and apparel accessories. LTG tracks the following industries at retail: outdoor, running, snowsport (ski/snowboard), cycling, paddle sports (canoe and kayak), athletic apparel, performance outerwear and scuba dive. The retail POS data covers in the core specialty stores, specialty chain stores and specialty Internet merchants who comprise these industries. Tracking covers all categories sold (topline) down to the brand and model level (brand share) including
category sales and growth, fastest growing brands, top selling styles and trends.

RetailTRAK™ data highlights trends by tracking retail sales of high performance brands and products where the innovators and early adoptors (Alpha consumers / core enthusiasts) shop and spend - the specialty merchant.

Leisure Trends' RetailTRAK™ (a monthly (POS) retail sales tracking & trend spotting service)provides insight into the strengths and weaknesses of brands and helps companies spot opportunities in the competitive marketplace. Understanding retail sales trends is essential to market share growth. Our reports tell you which categories, brands and styles are expanding, which are
sitting still and which are shrinking. Reports are published monthly and include brands, styles, price points, dollars sold, units sold, market share, margins, turn and inventory.

About Leisure Trends Group - LTG is the leading provider for active sports and lifestyle consumer research, retail market intelligence (retail sales tracking) and integrated CRM/Direct Marketing services. Suppliers, retailers, associations, resorts and companies in the sports, recreation, hospitality, travel and entertainment industries rely on LTG. Leisure Trends Group is
headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. For more information, contact Julia Day, 303-786-7900 x107 or visit www.leisuretrends.com .

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