Sport 2000 Austria sees itself as the market leader in Austrian sports retail for the Corona year 2020. Despite tense supply chains, the company remains optimistic about the coming winter season.
A contribution by Hildegard Suntinger
The purchasing cooperative Sport 2000 Austria expects an increase to 600 million euros for the calendar year 2021. This would correspond to growth of 1.6 percent compared to the previous year. Including the results of the license markets in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the forecast is EUR 640 million – an increase of 0.62 percent. The number of members was increased from 306 to 308. Departures were due to pensions. Due to the lockdowns, only one dealer was lost, according to managing director Dr. Holger Schwarting at a press conference in Vienna on October 21.
Due to the lockdowns in early 2021, the ski rental was de facto canceled. The tourist areas were only frequented by locals and day-trippers. In the spring there was a strong demand for outdoor, touring and cross-country skiing items and in the summer the tourist locations made good sales, especially in August and September, explained Schwarting.
Nevertheless, the ski segment also leads the sales ranking in the second pandemic year of 2021 among shopping companions. The share is 35 percent. Bike follows in second place (25 percent). Despite delivery bottlenecks, the industry managed to bring more bicycles onto the market. Outdoor (20 percent), which Schwarting describes as the “new fitness center”, ranks third. The trend towards fitness hardware in lockdowns has come to an abrupt end. Products are now available that are suitable for outdoor activities independent of groups. The interest in sporting activities on the part of female target groups has also increased.
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