June outdoor gear, footwear and apparel unit sales dropped 1% and average retail-selling prices climbed 2% compared to June 2012, according to Leisure Trends’ latest data, resulting in a 1% increase of dollars for the period, to $548 million. Business looked lackluster against a strong June 2012 thanks in part to the retail calendar, which pushed a portion of Memorial Day Weekend’s strong sales into June last year while they were credited to May this year, says the research firm.
Units climbed in just one category, footwear, where the 4% increase overcame the 2% ARSP decline. Dollars climbed 2% to $117 million, making June just the second month this year with footwear dollar increases.
Apparel units fell 1% but dollars rose 2% to $182 million. Average retail-selling prices increased in every subcategory except rainwear. Outerwear dollars dropped 2% and baselayer dollars plummeted 27%. Sportswear’s strong 7% dollar increase helped keep apparel positive, says Leisure Trends.
Outdoor equipment fared poorly, falling 7% and 4% in respective units and dollars. Every subcategory lost with both measures. Tent and sleeping bag units fell the furthest at minus-10% and minus-11%, respectively. Sales of $74 million marked the second straight year of June declines.
Equipment accessory units remained flat, while ARSP and dollars both climbed 3% to reach $174 million this June. The strongest subcategories for dollars were tools (+8%), instruments (+16%) and food (+6%).
Among the channels, only Internet dollars fell compared to June 2012, down 9% to $113M. Chain climbed 6% to $274 million and specialty expanded 3% to $161 million.
Year-to-date through June, total outdoor dollars rose 9% over the first half of 2012 to $3.2 billion. Units climbed 3% and ARSP jumped 6%. The sole decline came in specialty units, down 1%.
Among the categories across all three channels, only outdoor equipment units fell, losing 4%. The 13% equipment ARSP increase more than made up for that contraction. Apparel dollars remained strong, up 12%. Footwear eked out 1% unit and dollar gains.
With May and June combined, total outdoor dollars climbed 8% over the same 2012 months. Units, ARSP and dollars climbed in every channel except specialty, where units decreased 3%. Internet dollars jumped 12%. All four major categories gained 7% to 10% in dollars compared to the two-month period last year, and units increased in all but equipment.
