Warmer Weather and Interest in the Outdoors Spurs Growth in Camping Equipment Sales, The NPD Group Reports
Port Washington, NY (PRWEB) March 08, 2016 -- The fall and winter months are more commonly associated with warm coats than camping tents, but with 2015 being the second warmest year on record in the U.S. (behind 2012), annual outerwear sales were flat and camping-related equipment helped to grow the outdoor industry in 2015, according to global information company The NPD Group.
Outerwear performance is dependent on the weather. A record warm 2012 and one of the coldest winters in 2013-2014 drove annual 2013 outerwear sales up 9 percent, but in 2015 sales suffered as a result of a record warm fourth quarter. Though outerwear sales peak in November and December, the category experienced a 6 percent decline during the fourth quarter of 2015. Camping, which usually generates the highest sales during the warmer months of May and June, saw strong growth continue through the fourth quarter, with a 13 percent increase in sales during this time. This was a result of the warmer weather combined with heightened interest in the activity.
“Despite the atypical weather, there is still a shift taking place when it comes to consumer preference for outerwear, which is altering the category landscape. Driven by the Millennials, consumers are choosing light weight puffy jackets and multiple layers that incorporate new technologies as opposed to traditional, heavy winter coats. Consumers are doing more with less; rather than purchasing specific products for every season or activity, they are buying adaptable and multipurpose items,” said Matt Powell, vice president and sports industry analyst, The NPD Group.
“In the same vain, following the new Millennial pattern, the camping industry is doing a solid job at promoting the unconventional; driven and embraced by consumers, the industry has responded to the less-traditional, modernized, and urbanized side of camping. Brands and retailers in this space are waking up to the fact that they need to market products differently,” added Powell.
Looking at both annual and fourth quarter 2015 sales results, camping categories driving the growth included camp hammocks, backpacking tents, tent poles, tarps, and other tent accessories, which all grew double-digits, or up to 36 percent.
“Consumers are propelling new trends within the outdoor industry, and the seasonal lines which brands and retailers have drawn are becoming more of a stereotype as consumers evolve their definition of ‘the outdoors.’ While camping may be a two-week backpacking trip, it may also be a regular activity in a backyard or apartment rooftop. This urban spin is opening more doors for the industry,” said Powell. “As equipment products continue to cross style, function, and fashion, the industry will continue to gain appeal from more walks of consumers, and keep its current following coming back in both fresh and familiar ways.”
Source: The NPD Group, Inc. / Retail Tracking Service (Outdoor Industry View), January-December 2015
About The NPD Group, Inc.
The NPD Group provides market information and business solutions that drive better decision-making and better results. The world’s leading brands rely on us to help them get the right products in the right places for the right people. Practice areas include apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty, consumer electronics, diamonds, e-commerce, entertainment, fashion accessories, food consumption, foodservice, footwear, home, mobile, office supplies, retail, sports, technology, toys, video games, and watches / jewelry. For more information, visit npd.com and npdgroupblog.com. Follow us on Twitter: @npdgroup
Marissa Cox, The NPD Group, http://www.npd.com, +1 (516) 625 2203, [email protected]
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