US golf shoe sales up
Retail sales of golf shoes were up by 5 per cent in dollars to $106.6 million and 2 per cent in units to 1.8 million for the six-month period from October 2000 to March 2001, according to the NSGA (the USA’s National Sports Goods Association).
Their figures show that the average price for a pair of golf shoes during the period in review was $60.41, with 70.4 per cent of purchases made by men. During the six months, specialty and pro shops increased their market share to 45 per cent compared to 43.9 per cent in the comparative period a year earlier, with general sporting goods stores accounting for 22.5 per cent of the market and the internet increasing its share from 1.8 per cent to 2.7 per cent.
The NSGA reported that overall sales of athletic footwear rose 4 per cent during the period with sales reaching $6.78 billion compared to $6.49 billion for the same period in the previous year. Much of the growth was fuelled by a significant rise in sales of gym shoe/sneakers and walking shoe styles, and despite an average slight price drop in each category, unit sales were up 7 per cent for gym shoes/sneakers and 9 per cent for walking shoes. A sales increase in the less expensive gym shoes/sneakers category (average price $26.63) offset the decline in sales of some of the more expensive footwear. Sales of basketball shoes (average price $54.96) declined 12 per cent and aerobic shoes (average price $40.66), 16 per cent.
During the six month period, sporting goods stores and specialty athletic footwear stores lost market share in athletic shoe categories. Sporting goods stores accounted for 11.3 per cent of the athletic footwear market compared to 13.1 per cent in the previous year; specialty athletic footwear stores had a 12.8 per cent share compared to 14.5 per cent, and family footwear stores saw a share increase, rising from 13 per cent to 14.7 per cent. Online/internet sales amounted to 1 per cent of the total athletic footwear market, up from 0.8 per cent the previous year.
