Did you hear?… Retailers worry about future travel post-terrorist attacks affecting sales

Although outdoor retailers in the U.K. and Europe are managing after the Foot and Mouth epidemic, the worry now is about future travel post-terrorist attacks affecting sales. British outdoor market observer and consultant Peter Lundscombe told SNEWS®: “According to estimates the cost to the industry was some £60m ($88,740,000 USD) in lost sales (industry size is roughly calculated at £750m, or more than $1.1 billion USD). August and September trading has been extremely strong, with many reporting better than average sales (up on last year basically). The savior for many this summer was travel clothing, travel luggage, and light hikers. Hence the news in the United States and the subsequent downturn in travel have put a serious question on this sector and how it will perform during the next 6-12 months. Although we anticipate that short haul travel (Europe) will continue, a question mark will seriously hang on long haul and could effect sales of the growing travel clothing/luggage market. In terms of European brands, the few that we have spoken to report business as usual.”