BOULDER, CO (BRAIN) — Independent bike dealers rang out last year on a high note, with December sales of $218 million, up 3 percent from a year earlier, to propel full-year 2012 merchandise sales to $3.3 billion, according to Leisure Trends Group’s RetailTRAK data. The 2012 total is the highest since Leisure Trends began tracking sales in 2009.
At $106 million, bike sales remained even in both units and dollars sold in December, but several categories saw dramatic gains. Twenty-niner mountain bikes jumped 27 percent in units and 20 percent in dollars sold, moving up from 24 percent to 31 percent of all mountain bikes sold. Transit/fitness bikes grew 7 percent in units and 9 percent in dollars to account for 16% of all bikes sold, a 1-point increase. Children’s bike sales had an impressive holiday season with gains of 8 in units and 12 percent in dollars in December.
Road bike sales, dipping 6 percent in units and 5 percent in dollars, totaled $28 million in December. Twenty-six inch mountain bike units, falling 12 percent, dragged dollars down 9 percent. BMX bikes plunged 25 percents in units and 24 percent in dollars, their weakest December in at least four years.
For all of 2012, total bike sales remained steady in units but grew 5 percent in both average retail selling price and dollars sold for $1.7 billion at retail.
In December dollars, apparel fell 3 percent, shoes gained 5 percent and helmets jumped 17 percent. Aftermarket parts edged up 2 in dollars even as units slid 4 percent during the month.
Aftermarket accessory sales held steady in units sold but jumped 8 percent in dollars to total $52 million in December. Electronics, on many cyclists’ wish lists this year, shot up 19 percent in units and 24 percent in dollars to total more than $17 million for the month.
December 2012 vs. December 2011: Dollar Sales
- All bicycles: Flat
- Road bikes: -5%
- Mountain bikes: +3%
- Transit/fitness bikes: +9%
- Lifestyle/leisure bikes: -3%
- Shoes: +5%
- Apparel: -3%
- Helmets: +17%
- Aftermarket parts: +2%
- Aftermarket accessories: +8%
