IBD merchandise sales up 5 percent last month
BOULDER, CO (BRAIN)—The fourth quarter got off to an encouraging start for independent bike dealers, with October merchandise sales rising 5 percent compared with a year earlier to $182 million. A 6 percent increase in average selling price more than made up for a 1 percent drop in units sold, according to BPSA Topline Cycling RetailTRAK™ data from Leisure Trends Group.
Bicycle sales rose 6 percent compared with October 2010 and accounted for 48 percent of merchandise sold. This growth was fueled largely by sales increases in road bikes—up 9 percent to $34 million—and 29ers, which surged 80 percent to nearly $12 million.
Click the link above right for an interactive chart of the October numbers.
The explosive October growth in 29er sales compares with an 8 percent increase in overall mountain bike sales for the month. Road and 29er models accounted for 51 percent of October bicycle dollars.
In other bicycle categories, transit/fitness models were flat at $14 million in sales despite a 2 percent dip in units sold. Within that category, sales of cross/hybrid models rose 4 percent to $12 million, while commuter/town bike sales tumbled 17 percent to a little more than $2 million. Leisure/lifestyle bikes inched up 1 percent to just over $4 million in sales.
Cycling apparel was a weak spot in October, down 8 percent in units and 7 percent in sales with just over $7 million despite 14 percent more on-hand inventory at the end of the month.
In aftermarket parts, where sales rose 4 percent, strong performers included tires/tubes, up 10 percent to $11.5 million, and wheels/wheel parts, up 10 percent to $4.8 million.
Fork and suspension sales, meanwhile, declined 15 percent to $456,000.
Sales of aftermarket accessories rose 5 percent on healthy growth in electronics, up 45 percent to $3.8 million; lighting, up 10 percent to $4.7 million; and trainers/rollers, up 8 percent to $1.9 million.
