UK report shows summer season sales up 30 percent

For many UK specialty outdoor retailers, the summer 2002 season was significantly better than 2001, with many stores running 30 percent or more ahead of last year, according to the Go Outdoors Market Monitor report. Produced by the UK’s outdoor trade association, Outdoor Industries Association, the report shows average sales per store for summer increased by 13.7 percent. Footwear and tents were the best performing categories. “Most of this improvement can almost certainly be attributed to recovery from the 2001 foot and mouth crisis,” said Andrew Maxted, the association’s marketing director. The report also monitors sell-in data from outdoor brands, and showed continuing price pressure for lower than average prices for many product categories. For more on the association and its reports, go to www.go-outdoors.org.uk.