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| Product news |
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12 Feb 2008
Amer reveals sports kit sector findings
Supplier: Amer Sports UK & Ireland Ltd
More Amer Sports UK & Ireland Ltd details
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Britons are spending almost as much on sports equipment each year as the Government has pledged in support of London staging the Olympic Games.
Such is the conclusion of a study called UK Sports Equipment Report 2008 which has been published by sports equipment company, Amer Sports.
Highlights from the report include:
- the annual sporting goods market in the UK is worth £5.8bn, just short of the £6bn central Government provision for staging the 2012 Games;
- the UK ranks as the world’s fifth largest market for sporting goods – behind the US, Japan, Germany and France, but well ahead of China;
- the most common piece of sports equipment in British homes is a tennis racquet, followed by golf balls and clubs and outdoor footwear;
- a growing number of Britons are equipping themselves to take part in up to 60 different sports and outdoor activities in a bid to keep fit, lose or reduce weight or enjoy themselves in fresh air more often;
- the biggest equipment markets are in cycling, fitness, hiking & walking, followed by running, golf, football and rugby;
- the biggest spenders on their sport are skiers (£477 per head in 2007), golfers (£294), fitness fans (£172) and outdoor enthusiasts (£157);
- sports fans claim to have equipment worth £364 that’s unused and 65 per cent are prepared to consider giving it away to charity or schools.
The report also features new research that suggests more people are looking to increase their use of sports equipment in the year ahead and purchase some of the latest gear either from traditional retail stores or, increasingly, through the internet.
The most often used items of sports gear are outdoor running shoes. More heavyweight items in the top 20 pieces of equipment owned by sports fans include mountain bikes and cycling accessories, teamsport bats and sticks, sports watches and multi-gyms and weights.
Squash and badminton racquets and table tennis bats are also some of the most commonly owned sports gear, but seldom used. Most sporting items are kept in the garage, with others choosing a cupboard or spare room. Almost one in five even keep kit up in the attic to gather dust.
However, a significant number of active sports fans (65 per cent) are willing to consider give away some of the kit they have stored away to charities or schools – and some (57 per cent) even to beginners in order to see more people engaged in sport.
The big new trends in sports equipment include customised products such as made-to-measure golf clubs; ski boots that are moulded to an individual’s feet; a cardiovascular machine that will play your personal image and music selections; and personalised tennis racquets. There are also more products today being designed exclusively for women.
The means of obtaining sports equipment has changed too in recent years, with more consolidation of retail outlets to big sporting superstores and greater use of the internet to select and purchase items.
Amer Sports, based in Helsinki, is the parent company for well-established brands such as Salomon, Wilson, Precor, Suunto and Atomic.
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Supplier: Amer Sports UK & Ireland Ltd
Frimley Surrey UK
Amer Sports is the world’s leading sports equipment company. We offer technically-advanced equipment and products that improve the performance of active sports participants. Our major brands include Salomon, Wilson, Precor, Atomic and Suunto.
Web:
www.amersports.com
More Amer Sports UK & Ireland Ltd details
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