BOULDER, CO (BRAIN) Monday May 14 2012 6:49 PM MT—Overall merchandise sales at IBDs surged 29 percent in March as the warm weather continued to smile down on dealers, according to Leisure Trends Group’s RetailTRAK data.
Merchandise sales totaled $322 million for the warmest March on record, with unit sales jumping 33 percent as average selling prices inched 3 percent lower.
The strong month fed into quarterly sales of $634 million, up 21 percent from the first quarter of 2011. All major categories saw double-digit dollar growth in March and the first quarter, Leisure Trends said in a statement.
IBDs sold almost 237,000 bikes in March, up 24 percent—or 45,000 units—from a year earlier. Bike dollar sales rose 25 percent $174 million, and the average sale price ticked up 1 percent to $736.
Even the beleaguered 26-inch mountain bike joined the party in March, with sales rising 9 percent to $27 million. Twenty-niner sales continued their strong roll, surging 74 percent to $23 million. Overall mountain bike sales were up 31 percent.
Sales of road bikes, meanwhile, rose 17 percent to $67 million, while transit/fitness bikes and children’s bikes set a fierce pace, rising 33 percent to $33 million and 39 percent to $10 million, respectively.
March 2012 vs. March 2011: Dollar Sales
All bicycles: +25%
Road bikes: +17%
Mountain bikes: +31%
Transit/fitness bikes: +33%
Lifestyle/leisure bikes: +13%
Shoes: +27%
Apparel: +21%
Helmets: +31%
Aftermarket parts: +36%
Aftermarket accessories: +39%
Source: Leisure Trends Group RetailTRAK data
