McLean, VA - The final results are in for the 2009/2010 snow sports season and the market finished up 4% over last season in totals sales. Snow sport retailers sold $2.94 billion this season compared to $2.82 billion a year ago. Although sales were up in dollars, fewer units were sold this season.
The 2009/2010 season began with limited cash flow and tighter credit, caused by the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression. Before the season even started pre-season orders were down 10% to 40% and inventories, that were already smaller due to heavy carryover sales last season, stayed small. In fact, inventories started out this season 9% leaner than they were at the beginning of the 2008/2009 season. Small inventories meant that snow sports products were scarcer than normal and retailers sold fewer items at deep discounts. This season, fewer units were sold, but they were sold at higher prices, resulting in higher margins, an increase in dollars sold, leaner inventories at the end of the season and a generally healthier year for snow sports retailers.
“Business really picked up in February and March when the snow started falling again and we finished the season with a smaller inventory and stronger sales,” stated Randy Morgan, owner of Outpost SunSport, Fort Collins, CO.
No comments:
Post a Comment