According to Union Sport et Cycles, turnover in stores and online is up 21% in the first half of 2022, compared to the same period last year.
The practice of sport seems to be experiencing a renewed interest on the part of the French. In any case, sales of sporting goods are doing well. According to the latest figures from Union Sport et Cycles (which represents 65% of the market in value), turnover in stores and online increased by 21% in the first half of 2022, compared to the same period l ‘last year.
An increase in sales which is particularly found in textiles with a 28% increase and in equipment (including bicycles in particular) with an 18% increase in sales. Overall, a sales peak was particularly strong in April with a 132% increase in sales compared to the same month in 2021.
A drop in sales in June
However, this positive momentum came to a halt in June. After five months of increased turnover, sporting goods trading activity fell by 6% in June 2022 compared to June 2021.The intense heat did not encourage sports practice, which impacted activity. In addition, this figure should be put into perspective since it refers to a particularly strong history, with a month of June 2021 which had itself experienced an increase of 36%“, says the Union Sport and Cycles.
These overall positive figures for the whole half-year mainly benefited the physical stores since the turnover generated online is at half mast. It is down 14% over the half-year, compared to the same period last year. “The improvement in sanitary conditions and the return to “normal” life have benefited physical stores, which have recovered a significant part of the customers captured by online businesses during the pandemic», Explains the Union Sport et Cycles in its study. In this sense, in May 2022, the market share of internet sales represented 14% of sales in the sector, compared to 25% in May 2021.
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Despite a generally good performance in sales of sporting goods, professionals in the sector want to be cautious. “The rebound of the epidemic since May, the rise in inflation, the supply difficulties and the shortage of raw materials are indicators to watch in the analysis of the growth of sporting goods stores these next months“, concludes the organization of the sector.