Sports Clothing and Footwear Industry in the UK, China and the US Overview

UK

• Sports clothing and footwear has been an established part of the general apparel market for 20 years. 

• The UK market is worth £4.25bn in 2006 at retail selling prices (rsp). 

• Between 2002 and 2006, market growth increased by 4.9%. 

• Sports clothing was worth £3bn at rsp in 2006 and footwear (predominantly trainers) was worth £1.25bn at rsp in 2006. 

• In 2006, Nike Inc. is the clear UK and world leader, followed by adidas Group (which also owns Reebok). 

• The globalised marketing of Nike, adidas, Reebok and other sportswear brands fits in with gloablised production. 

• Domestic manufacture of sportswear has withered away in Europe, replaced by imports from the Far East (particularly China and Vietnam).

China

• Official industry figures showed Chinese firms in the sportswear sector saw inventory levels rise 36% last year, to 58%. 

• According to ResearchinChina, the insights group, Nike took 10.5% of sportswear sales in China last year, ahead of adidas on 7.9%, Li Ning on 7.2%, Anta on 7.1% and Xtep on 4.4%.

• Nike and adidas are expected to take 28% of sports apparel and shoe sales in 2013, Barclays has estimated. 

• “Foreign brands are more popular with China’s growing middle classes who can afford pricier and trendier products.” – Eugene Mak 

US

• Sporting goods to the value of more than $80bn USD are purchased by consumers in the U.S. 

• Almost one-third of these products is sold in sporting goods stores totalling $38bn USD in sales. 

• Walmart makes $8.6bn USD in revenue from sporting goods sales 

• Another 14% sporting goods retail sales is handled online/over the internet. 

• The two major sporting goods manufacturers are Nike and Adidas with $24.13bn and $17.27bn USD in revenue. 

• Other sporting goods manufacturers with at least 1.5bn USD in revenue include VF Corp., Puma, Asics, Jarden, New Balance, Quicksilver, Mizuno, Amer Sports, Columbia Sportswear and Billabong.

References:

• ReportLinker (2007) UK Sports Clothing and Footwear. Available from: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/67638378/UK-Sports-Clothing-_-Footwear---Download-this-market-research- [Accessed: 09 March 2013] 
• World Advertising Research Centre (2012) Nike, adidas well set in China. Available from: http://www.warc.com/Content/News/N30107_Nike2c_adidas_well_set_in_China.content?CID=N30107&ID=994d430c-6b7a-4bad-b604-307d0055735e&q=sportswear&qr= [Accessed: 09 March 2013] 
• Statista (2012) Statistics and Facts on the Sporting Goods Industry. Available from: http://www.statista.com/topics/961/sporting-goods/ [Accessed: 09 March 2013] 

Adistats,

Frances Agoncillo