Chicagoland’s Newest Sports and Recreation Megaplex Breaks Ground
Midway Central Station in Bedford Park Celebrates Groundbreaking
(Bedford Park, IL) August 11, 2020 – Located just minutes from Chicagoland’s Midway Airport, the Village of Bedford Park celebrated the groundbreaking of their newest sports and recreation venue, Midway Central Station. The ceremony took place on July 11 on the plotted site where the event center will be located. Construction has begun on the 116,000 square-foot indoor sports, events and recreation venue and is scheduled to be completed by summer 2021.
The ceremony hosted members from the Village of Bedford Park, ALPA Construction, Sports Facilities Management (SFM), The Concord Group, Hoefferle-Butler Engineering, and more. Mayor Dave Brady commented on this momentous occasion, “We are thrilled to begin construction on a venue that will be an asset to our already thriving community. We are grateful to our partners who have made our vision come to life. Together, we will successfully open this center with events and programming to the Village and the rest of Chicago come 2021.”
SFM CEO Jason Clement, added, “Midway Central Station represents the next generation of sports tourism venues with unique entertainment amenities. The destination alone located next door to Chicago’s Midway Airport is already making this site a top choice for events in the region and around the country. We are ready to continue the next phase of development, and we are thrilled with the design being developed by ALPA Construction. Every decision by Bedford Park leadership from the Mayor, Board, and staff has been in support of creating a world class destination and guest experience.”
Midway Central Station will feature 8 basketball courts or 16 NCAA-regulation volleyball courts, an e-sports café, a family entertainment center including a redemption arcade, laser tag/laser frenzy, party rooms, and more. The venue will offer comprehensive programming and entertainment, making it a desirable destination for events in the area. In the first year alone, Midway Central Station is expected to bring in $5.7 million in local spending to Bedford Park.
To learn more about or to book with Midway Central Station, visit: playmidway.com.
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About Midway Central Station: Midway Central Station is a member of the SFM Network, the nation’s largest and fastest growing network of sports facilities and is operated by the industry-leader in outsourced operations, Sports Facilities Management. Our Midwest location and proximity to Chicago’s Midway Airport increases the likelihood that you and your team will compete against teams from all regions of the United States and beyond. Only minutes from Midway Airport, major interstates and top-rated hotels; athletes and their families consider this the most convenient destination for sports tournaments. Full hardwood courts, a premium lounge with gaming options, and a state-of-the-art arcade that includes laser tag and e-sports are just a few of the amenities waiting for you. Learn more by visiting, playmidway.com
Port Washington, NY, July 30, 2020 – As golf courses around the United States continue to reopen, golf equipment dollar sales grew by 51% in June compared to the same month last year, building off of the market’s 22% growth in May, according to The NPD Group.
The golf industry was trending positively entering the pandemic; annual sales were up 5% and 7% in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and 15% in January and February 2020 combined compared to the year prior, before the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns suppressed sales.
“The golf industry was in a good place before the COVID-19 crisis, largely due to a surge of retirees entering the market, and in May we started to see this health returning. Today’s growth is driven by new players as well as pent-up demand from the closures of physical golf retail stores and golf courses. The sport is also reaping the benefits of being a social distance-friendly activity,” said Matt Powell, NPD’s sports industry advisor.
Sales of full set golf clubs rose by 68% in June and golf balls were up 45%, a trend that Powell suggests is tied to new, entry-level players joining the activity. Glove sales increased by 51% for the month, and tees grew by 49%.
Training aids – specifically golf nets and screens, and swinging and putting mats – is an area of the market that fared exceptionally well during the lockdown months and continues to perform well year-to-date. A source of physical activity during lockdown and an opportunity for golfers to play or practice the sport sans courses or driving ranges, these products saw their fastest sales growth of the year in March and April, up more than 140%. Sales grew 78% in June.
Source: The NPD Group/ U.S. Retail Tracking Service
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About The NPD Group, Inc.
NPD offers data, industry expertise, and prescriptive analytics to help our clients grow their businesses in a changing world. Over 2,000 companies worldwide rely on us to help them measure, predict, and improve performance across all channels, including brick-and-mortar and e-commerce. We have offices in 27 cities worldwide, with operations spanning the Americas, Europe, and APAC. Practice areas include apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty, books, B2B technology, consumer technology, e-commerce, fashion accessories, food consumption, foodservice, footwear, home, juvenile products, media entertainment, mobile, office supplies, retail, sports, toys, video games, and watches. For more information, visit npd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @npd_sports.
Press Contact:
Marissa Guyduy
+1 516-625-2203
By Matt Powell
Vice President, Senior Industry Advisor, Sports
@NPDMattPowell
Sneakernomics: Back-to-School through the Lense of Sports Retail
Over the last few years, we have seen back-to-school sneaker sales start later, peak later, peak lower, and last longer than in the past. This has been primarily driven by the “buy now, wear now” mentality; if a new pair of shoes is not needed right now, why should families buy them? Plus, the longer families wait, the greater potential to buy at a discounted price.
This back-to-school season will be unique in a number of ways due to the marketplace, economic, and behavioral shifts brought on by the pandemic, and I remain pessimistic on how sales will fare this year.
June was an outstanding month for sneaker sales, but we should be careful in how we interpret these results. Brands were releasing an extraordinary amount of limited shoes in a month that typically does not see this happen. The results were jaw dropping increases in sales growth, but it is a strategy that is unsustainable for the longer term.
After three months of lockdown, there was pent-up demand to just get out and buy something. That spike in therapeutic shopping is not sustainable either.
Finally, there were great deals on product that had sat in darkened storefronts and had to be cleared. Again, the sales growth stemming from this is not sustainable.
The COVID-19 curve that was beginning to flatten is back on the rise. In certain parts of the country, cases are setting new records and death rates are beginning to climb again. Some states that reopened have reverted back to locking down, and in some cases are closing malls and stores. This does not bode well from a retail sales perspective, and it also raises additional concerns around school reopening.
Every day we hear about another school district going virtual this fall. Those students probably don’t need new shoes to take classes virtually (do they need shoes at all?). Parents may shift their spending to better meet the needs prompted by this new schooling environment, and invest in technologies to help their kids learn remotely. Money spent on tech means less available for shirts and shoes. Other school districts are pushing out start dates as they try to develop saving and executable strategies. Later start dates will impact sales that would have taken place early on.
This back-to-school season flux will have an impact on fall sports as well. Will parents feel it is safe for their kids to play sports under COVID-19?
Given the circumstances, I would also not be surprised if states cancel or postpone “tax free” holidays. Tax free dates only move the needle against the previous year when they start and when they end. Loss of tax free dates will have a negative impact on sales.
From a financial perspective, the economy remains in recession. The June unemployment rate was at a staggering 11%. Those jobs won’t come back quickly and some are likely lost forever. The recent lockdowns will add to the unemployment. All of this impacts consumer spending and behavior. In addition, the supplemental unemployment benefit ends this week. I firmly believe that this benefit has propped up retail sales and without it, sales will be hurt.
All of these factors will have a negative impact on the back-to-school season. Some of the business will go to the internet, but as we saw in March and April, this was not enough to offset closed stores. Some of this business can be deferred until later, but when will that “later” be? I don’t expect the sports retail business will hit the depths of March and April, but the highs of June will soon be forgotten.
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For more information or to speak with Matt Powell, contact me at [email protected] or 516-625-2203.
About The NPD Group, Inc.
NPD offers data, industry expertise, and prescriptive analytics to help our clients grow their businesses in a changing world. Over 2,000 companies worldwide rely on us to help them measure, predict, and improve performance across all channels, including brick-and-mortar and e-commerce. We have offices in 27 cities worldwide, with operations spanning the Americas, Europe, and APAC. Practice areas include apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty, books, B2B technology, consumer technology, e-commerce, fashion accessories, food consumption, foodservice, footwear, home, juvenile products, media entertainment, mobile, office supplies, retail, sports, toys, video games, and watches. For more information, visit npd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @npd_sports.
The U.S. footwear industry has not been immune to the drastic retail and consumer shifts as a result of COVID-19. Spending seemed to change overnight as consumers simply did not buy what they did not need, highlighting the extent to which our lifestyles drive our footwear purchases. The pandemic has simultaneously bred new trends and amplified some existing ones. Seasonal fashion took a big hit, while more practical styles including slippers and running shoes have performed better. Consumers have cozied up even more to comfort, and likely to brands that are resonating with their needs and values.
NPD footwear experts Matt Powell and Beth Goldstein have identified the top trends shaping the industry in today’s new world…
Health and Wellness
Matt Powell: A renewed consumer interest in health and wellness, and keeping social distance, are behaviors that bode well for areas of the market – performance running and outdoor footwear, in particular. Stay-at-home orders have encouraged consumers to spend their time in different ways and pursue social distance-friendly activities such as running and biking. With gyms and fitness centers closed, the lockdown has also forced consumers to rethink their exercise routines and invest in equipment for their home, and the footwear and apparel to enable the workouts. Performance running shoe sales have been trending positively for the last few weeks. We should see running continue to benefit throughout the COVID-19 recession as this business has typically performed well during recession. I also believe that the virus itself has motivated many consumers to adopt healthier practices and place a greater emphasis on their physical health and wellbeing.
Beth Goldstein: In fashion, this will manifest itself in consumers’ desire for comfort. This has already been grandfathered in as a key priority for consumers when it comes to their footwear, but after three months of hunkering down in cozy attire and slippers, we aren’t going to want to stuff our feet into uncomfortable shoes. With that being said, sneakers, lower heels (or none at all), and the fusion of fashion and athletic elements will remain important.
Casualization
Beth Goldstein: Tied to comfort, the pandemic will likely reinforce the shift we have seen away from dress footwear; sales were down by 12% in 2019, according to NPD’s Retail Tracking data, and that decline sharpened since the pandemic began in the U.S., with sales down more than 70% from March through May 2020 compared to last year.
E-Commerce
Matt Powell: Entering the pandemic, about 30% of footwear sales were generated online, but the shutdown of physical stores revved up online sales, according to NPD. While the growth hasn’t compensated for in-store losses, almost two-thirds of footwear sales were generated online in April. Though this ratio was reduced in May as stores reopened, many consumers won’t be rushing back to stores, and won’t unlearn any newly adopted online shopping behavior. We can anticipate another acceleration of online purchasing to occur. Some retail stores will not rise from the rubble, and this will drive more business to the Internet. We can expect retailers and brands with seamless e-commerce platforms to thrive, and the opposite outcome for those that don’t have appealing, user-friendly websites.
Seasonality
Beth Goldstein: Footwear will always have seasonal categories, but the store closures timed just as spring product was hitting the floors really emphasized the consumer’s “buy now, wear now” mentality. With nowhere to go, and uncertainty around when we’d go out again (and where), the seasonal footwear demand just wasn’t there. We can expect to see brands and retailers take a lesson here and focus on more seasonless, transitional options so that if we again find ourselves in a situation where we essentially miss a season, it won’t have such a negative sales impact or require such heavy promotional activity to move through the inventory
Brand Value and Societal Impact
Matt Powell: Trusted brands, as well as those who have provided aid in some way during today’s challenging times, will benefit and be top-of-mind for consumers moving forward. Broadly speaking, consumers appear to be embracing brands they can trust. According to CivicScience, brand loyalty has gone up during the pandemic. Aggressive discounting to move inventory and additional, non-comp footwear releases are driving much of the positive results right now in the athletic space, and while this is unsustainable, brands will have difficulty getting customers to spend full price. Consumers may, however, be more inclined to spend more on brands with which they have a closer connection, where loyalty and shared values outweigh the monetary cost.
Beth Goldstein: Social responsibility and eco-consciousness have been hot topics in the footwear industry as younger consumers look to engage with brands and retailers that share their values. We’ve moved beyond simply having eco-friendly product to creating sustainable models with lasting societal impact. I’m often asked if sustainability will still be a concern moving forward or if the pandemic pushed that down the priority list. I think the pandemic has driven many consumers to become even more aware of how their actions impact others—and society as a whole—so I believe sustainability and cause-based programs will remain important and brands and retailers should try not to pause their efforts here.
For more information or to speak with Matt or Beth, contact me at [email protected] or 516-625-2203.
Follow us on Twitter @npdretail @npd_sports
Port Washington, NY, June 16, 2020 – The unprecedented growth trend for U.S. cycling sales that began in March accelerated even further in April, according to The NPD Group. April sales for traditional bikes, indoor bikes, parts, helmets, and other accessories grew a combined 75% to $1 billion compared to last year. This is the first month since NPD began tracking the cycling market that sales have reached $1 billion in a single month. Typically, April sales fall between $550 and $575 million.
Bicycles suitable for family use, neighborhood riding, and those with more approachable price-points showed the strongest year-over-year sales gains. Lifestyle/leisure bikes, which are more basic adult bicycles sold at prices under $200, grew by 203%; front suspension mountain bikes were up by more than 150%; and children’s bikes increased by 107% for the month. Accessories sales also grew, including helmets (+49%), water bottle cages (+60%), and bike baskets (+85%).
“For far too long the cycling industry has been solely focused on the pinnacle athlete, but these results show that a broader, family and beginner focus can reap gains. This is a silver lining, and one of the important sports retail lessons to come out of the pandemic,” said Matt Powell, NPD’s sports industry advisor.
Another trend that emerged in March and amplified in April was the purchase of cycling equipment for indoor riding. Stationary bike sales grew by 270% for the month, with April sales the second-highest that NPD currently has on record. Trainers and rollers, which allow bikers to mount their current bicycles and ride indoors, experienced a growth rate of 415%.
“The excitement that consumers are showing in cycling, particularly in recreational and family riding, is an absolutely amazing moment for the bike community. This is a unique and powerful chance for retailers, manufacturers, and non-profit organizations to engage new riders,” said Dirk Sorenson, sports industry analyst at NPD. “Continued growth will require them not only to have product in stock, but to focus on new riders’ basic needs such as how to fix a flat tire, or locating a family-friendly trail to ride. Addressing these basics right now has immeasurable ROI, and the industry should be laser-focused on servicing these new riders.”
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About The NPD Group, Inc.
NPD offers data, industry expertise, and prescriptive analytics to help our clients grow their businesses in a changing world. Over 2,000 companies worldwide rely on us to help them measure, predict, and improve performance across all channels, including brick-and-mortar and e-commerce. We have offices in 27 cities worldwide, with operations spanning the Americas, Europe, and APAC. Practice areas include apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty, books, B2B technology, consumer technology, e-commerce, fashion accessories, food consumption, foodservice, footwear, home, juvenile products, media entertainment, mobile, office supplies, retail, sports, toys, video games, and watches. For more information, visit npd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @npd_sports.
Press Contact:
Marissa Guyduy
+1 516-625-2203
[email protected]
One thing we know for sure about COVID-19 is that there is so much uncertainty. Will there be a second wave? When will we see a vaccine? How long will the economic aftershocks last? When will folks feel like going to malls again?
We turn to data to help us answer the open-ended questions, and best prepare for the different scenarios that may unfold. From my sports industry perspective, some U.S. consumer behavior and spending patterns are emerging in the data, offering a glimpse into what sports retail will look like as we move through this pandemic. In today’s turbulent times, I’m glad there are some glimmers of positivity.
From a consumer behavior viewpoint, an NPD Checkout survey found that compared to pre-COVID behavior, exercising at home has increased by more than 70% and twice as many consumers are using online or app-based exercise classes. In addition, consumers plan to exercise more after COVID-19 is over. This behavior certainly bodes well for the sports industry.
I expect we will see a renewed and heightened interest in wellness and fitness post-pandemic. In addition to the lockdown providing a greater incentive for people to exercise at home or be active in the open air, I believe this illness has also motivated people to adopt healthier habits. Overall, I expect the combination of these factors to drive an increased interest in healthy lifestyles, which bodes well for sports retail. A survey recently released from our partner CivicScience indicates that more Americans are working out than they were just a few months ago. As an industry, we’ll need to figure out ways to keep them doing so – a blog topic for another day.
From a broader perspective, consumers appear to be embracing brands they can trust. According to CivicScience, brand loyalty has gone up during the pandemic. I think consumers will begin to gravitate even more so to the tried-and-true brands they trust, and I expect that their purchases will become more pragmatic. For example, we may see a shift away from sport lifestyle footwear to a more versatile and multipurpose performance shoe. Running footwear will likely see resurgence.
Looking at consumer spending behavior, the additional $600 unemployment benefit has likely propped up sales in the earlier months of this crisis; however, with that benefit set to expire at the end of July, we can expect softer sales results as the nation slowly gets back to work. On the other hand, consumers who remain employed may have greater discretionary income as they haven’t been spending on planned expenditures such as travel, cultural and sports events, child care and a myriad of other “normal” expenses. This can leave more disposable income for other purchases.
It probably comes as no surprise that e-commerce has been a huge winner during the lockdown. NPD data shows that in April, two-thirds of all athletic shoes sold in the U.S. were sold online. Of course, as stores re-open, this ratio will likely come down, but during the crisis many consumers learned new ways to buy products on the internet. I don’t think those lessons will be unlearned. We can expect retailers and brands with excellent e-commerce platforms to thrive, and the opposite outcome for those that don’t have catchy, user-friendly websites.
In a similar vein, direct-to-consumer activities have kept many brands afloat during the lockdown. I don’t expect we’ll see brands pulling back from this effort going forward. Brands will be more formidable competitors than ever.
As we’ve already started to see in the news, we can expect brand and retailer bankruptcies as we come out of this crisis. There may even be some “strategic” bankruptcies so companies can shed unwanted liabilities. Fewer stores will lead to more e-commerce sales.
We can expect the return to physical retail to be slow and painful. Research conducted by CivicScience found that for customers who like to shop at Academy, 25% say they would be comfortable shopping there in one to four months, and 50% say in more than four months. For customers who like to shop at Footlocker and The Finish Line, about 40% say they will shop there in one to four months, and about 30% say more than four months. Based on the poll, Dick’s Sporting Goods has the most favorable outlook, with about half saying they would shop soon and 30% saying in one to four months. This tells me that the recovery of physical retail will be bumpy.
Blanketing all of this will continue to be social distancing. I suspect this will remain a disruptor going forward – it will change fitness regimes, retail layouts, customer returns, and so much more. Social distancing will be the defining, societal change of the pandemic.
I will share more of my insights and observations as we continue to learn more about the COVID-19 consumer of tomorrow.
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For more information or to speak with Matt, contact me at [email protected] or 516-625-2203.
About The NPD Group, Inc.
NPD offers data, industry expertise, and prescriptive analytics to help our clients grow their businesses in a changing world. Over 2,000 companies worldwide rely on us to help them measure, predict, and improve performance across all channels, including brick-and-mortar and e-commerce. We have offices in 27 cities worldwide, with operations spanning the Americas, Europe, and APAC. Practice areas include apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty, books, B2B technology, consumer technology, e-commerce, fashion accessories, food consumption, foodservice, footwear, home, juvenile products, media entertainment, mobile, office supplies, retail, sports, toys, video games, and watches. For more information, visit npd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @npd_sports.
Embracing outdoor moments and looking to create them in both the open-air and comfort of our backyards has been a natural response to stay-at-home orders. With air travel showing slow improvement and family vacation options limited, camping could have a breakout summer.
By Dirk Sorenson
Executive Director, Industry Analyst, Sports
My favorite childhood memories are of trips with my dad to fly fish and camp in Colorado and Utah. I will be a heretic and say I hated the fly fishing part, but I went to enjoy family time and the outdoors. Those trips were incredible, multi-day excursions that included leaky tents, testy camp stoves, meals from cans, and coolers that really didn’t hold their cool. I learned to start fires, set up tents, and sleep under the stars. These were the fundamentals of my summers, and the moments that made me a permanent camping guy.
Times have changed. And I’m not talking about the fact that I now own a tent that doesn’t leak, or a stove that actually works.
The COVID-19 crisis has challenged me to find additional uses for my camping equipment, to entertain my 10-year old son in our backyard. My equipment is becoming multipurpose – it isn’t just about the multi-day family trip anymore, but a fundamental tool in keeping my family entertained, active, and focused on more than a video game or the latest TikTok snippet.
Last week, I went on a purchasing binge for camping items to invent more options for summertime backyard activities. Those same purchases will end up supporting my family all summer long, as I seek ways to reinvent summer now that our traditional vacation plans have been cancelled. Instead of a flight to see family 2,000 miles away, we’ll pack up our car, meet our family somewhere in the middle, and camp. Items like a new tent, better cooler, portable tables, chairs, and more fuel are all going to be used both in the backyard and during this camping adventure.
Looking at NPD data, I realize that I’m not alone in my outdoor equipment-buying behavior. Recreational tents showed strong sales in the last two weeks of April, with sales up 32% in the week ending May 2 compared to last year. Grills, a backyard staple, have consistently performed better week-over-week since the COVID-19 crisis changed our lives. Other camp basics are also beginning to sell better now than at comparable times last year, including camp tables, camp chairs, and lanterns. All of these items can be used both in the backyard and at the campground. My overall takeaway in looking at camping’s leaders and bleeders is that multipurpose products that can be used in both environments are experiencing growth, while those exclusive to hardcore camping or travel have yet to emerge from the crisis.
Embracing outdoor moments and looking to create them in the comfort of our backyards has been a natural response to stay-at-home orders. With air travel showing slow improvement and family vacation options like theme parks limited, camping could have a breakout summer.
Camping has traditionally been an approachable family vacation. The key for brands and retailers will be to focus on this version of the outdoor experience – camping as fun, quality family time, whether it is at the campground or in the backyard – and evoking first timers looking to create memorable summer moments for their family.
Brands and retailers have an important role to play not only in encouraging outdoor activity, but also lending a helpful ear. They must embrace ways to go the extra mile to help new campers plan purchases and discover places to camp out, and create glamping moments in their customers’ backyards. Family is the fuel for the camping market this season. All of these basic steps should help to improve summer sales as consumers turn to new options to reinvent vacation this year.
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For more information or to speak with Dirk, contact me at [email protected] or 516-625-2203.
About The NPD Group, Inc.
NPD offers data, industry expertise, and prescriptive analytics to help our clients grow their businesses in a changing world. Over 2,000 companies worldwide rely on us to help them measure, predict, and improve performance across all channels, including brick-and-mortar and e-commerce. We have offices in 27 cities worldwide, with operations spanning the Americas, Europe, and APAC. Practice areas include apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty, books, B2B technology, consumer technology, e-commerce, fashion accessories, food consumption, foodservice, footwear, home, juvenile products, media entertainment, mobile, office supplies, retail, sports, toys, video games, and watches. For more information, visit npd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @npd_sports.
(Carlsbad, Calif., – June 4, 2020) – Today the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) and Blast Motion, the leader in swing analysis, player development, and remote coaching, announced a multi-year partnership to make Blast the Official Swing Analyzer of THSBCA. Blast and THSBCA have a common goal of bringing the baseball community and players together to help young athletes swing with a purpose, compete, and have fun. THSBCA coaches will have the ability to stay connected with their players, while allowing players to continue their development at home. Players will also have the opportunity to participate in virtual developmental hitting competitions, powered by Blast, that will let them compete with their peers, showcase their skills, and improve as hitters.
“The THSBCA has always worked to further the knowledge and awareness of baseball, at all levels, and we see Blast as providing players with an incredible tool to help them understand and improve their swing,” said Rex Sanders, Executive Director at THSBCA. “When coaches use Blast with their teams, we’re enabling them to have access to the same swing analysis information used by MLB teams. They also get a chance to work with players while they are away from the field, allowing them to help hold players accountable for their own individual training. This is an opportunity for both coaches and players to benefit, and it directly helps us advance our mission for the baseball community.”
The Blast solution is designed to help coaches evaluate and improve a player’s swing through automatic swing quality assessments, video analysis and comparisons, 3D swing tracer visualizations, and personalized performance reports.
“We are thrilled to partner alongside the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association,” said Jeff Fallis, VP, Sales, at Blast Motion. “Blast technology helps aspiring athletes better understand their swing and shorten the feedback loop, both in practice and in-game. Athletes that want to take their game to the next level need continual, unbiased feedback on their performance. We look forward to bringing these benefits to coaches and players across the state of Texas, while working with THSBCA on our shared mission to grow the game.”
About Blast Motion
Based in Carlsbad, California, Blast Motion is an information company that provides motion analysis and performance insights. By intelligently combining the bio-mechanics of movement with sensor data, video capture technology, and cloud-based software services, Blast has redefined the way people coach, recruit, train, analyze, and improve their game. For additional information on Blast Motion, please visit: blastmotion.com
About the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association
In 1972 an energetic group of high school coaches and scouts gathered in Waco to formulate new ideas for the promotion and improvement of high school baseball in Texas. Over the past 49 years the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) has grown in every division of baseball and is one of the fastest growing baseball associations in the country with over 3,700 members. For more information on THSBCA, please visit: www.thsbca.com
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (June 4, 2020) — The NFHS hopes to reach thousands of high school students from across the nation July 20-22 with its first virtual National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS). This year’s summit marks the 13th national conference for high school student leaders sponsored by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) since the inaugural event in 2001. The NFHS planned to host the NSLS in Indianapolis this summer; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the summit will be broadcast in a virtual setting on the NFHS Network, which annually streams more than 100,000 high school events online at https://link.edgepilot.com/s/269b3009/6NUkNsogRUyQlLDAEdhXlQ?u=http://www.nfhsnetwork.com/.“The NFHS is excited and thrilled to be able to offer leadership training in a virtual setting for our students who participate in athletics and performing arts,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports, sanctioning and student services and coordinator of the National Student Leadership Summit. “This is obviously an unusual year, but we are in desperate need to develop adaptable and pliable leaders. Our young people are ready to lead. They need training, honing of their skill sets and a chance.”Despite the circumstances, hosting the summit virtually presents several advantages. Since the summit will be offered at no cost to the students, it allows more student leaders to receive instruction on improving their leadership skills and realize the privilege and power of their influence in their school, community and state. The students will receive instruction from a panel of content experts and two featured speakers.Julie Carrier, who serves as this year’s opening general session speaker, is an award-winning speaker, Emmy nominated TV personality, author, 2002 Miss Virginia USA, and a senior leadership consultant to the Pentagon. Deanna Singh, who hails from Wisconsin, serves as the closing general session speaker. She is the author of three books, and she was recently recognized among the country’s Most Influential 40 under 40. In addition to being a gifted communicator and entrepreneur, Singh was recently mentioned in the Forbes Magazine feature, “An Awesome Black Woman Everyone Should Know.”“As an organization, we have taken immense pride in the speakers we put in front of our young leaders. We feel that Julie Carrier and Deanna Singh could occupy a couple of spots on the speakers’ Mt. Rushmore,” Hopkins said. “These women are extremely talented and accomplished. With their talent, passion and communication skills, they could easily be Fortune 500 CEOs if they chose that career path. Carrier has shared her message of confidence, empowerment and self-esteem with millions. What makes Deanna so special is her skill to help people build bridges to each other. She is an excellent storyteller and an impactful example of determination.”The content speakers include Deb Hult, a nationally recognized presenter in relational and motivational leadership and co-founder of Core Trainings who will speak on relationship building and maintenance; Gregory A. Dale, Ph.D., director of sport psychology and leadership programs for the Duke University Athletics Department, who will speak on effective communication with team, bandmates and adults; Omari Pearson, an author, speaker, facilitator, mentor and consultant, who will speak on “Brain Mapping (Goal Setting in the 21st Century)”; and Singh, who will discuss inclusion and perspective.The virtual NSLS will take place via the NFHS Network each day at 12:45 p.m. EDT. Once registered, students will a receive a link to the Network’s coverage, which will be accessed each day, and can be shared with fellow students. Following highlights from past summits at 12:45 p.m., and general introductions, the content experts will make presentations at 1:10 p.m. and 1:50 p.m. each day. The first day of the Summit features Carrier as the opening session speaker followed by Pearson with his “Brain Mapping” session. Hult opens day two of the summit followed by Singh, who also presents on the last day with her closing remarks. Day three begins with Dale’s workshop on effective communication for student-athletes. The summit will conclude at 2:30 each day.“Considering what students have just gone through with canceled sports seasons, proms, graduations and other high school defining events, it is clear to us that this group of young people are resilient and extremely unique,” Hopkins said. “This is not the first world-changing event we have encountered in our history, and we doubt that it will be the last. The difference will be how prepared our young leaders will be when the next event arrives, how well they thrive and lead through it. We now have the possibility to reach tens of thousands of high school student leaders with our virtual summit setting. The scale and the breadth of this opportunity to positively influence these like-minded young people is staggering.”The NFHS started the NSLS in 2015 after previously hosting the National Student Leadership Conference seven times (2001-03, 2007-10). As the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts, member associations felt the NFHS should continue its role in developing and nurturing the leadership skills of high school students.For more information on the NSLS, visit https://link.edgepilot.com/s/90d4d7e1/2Op55XC6q06kiW6OxIrcJQ?u=http://www.nfhs.org/resources/conferences-meetings/national-student-leadership-summit/. Online link to article: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/bbc8d524/cs5dWPi1ckipxXPgwXdeEA?u=https://www.nfhs.org/articles/nfhs-to-host-first-virtual-national-student-leadership-summit/ This press release was written by Cody Porter, Manager of Media Relations in the Publications/Communications Department. ###About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,500 high schools and 12 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.9 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at https://link.edgepilot.com/s/8b6671e7/z4W-cPtr9US–0t0YL9tAQ?u=http://www.nfhs.org/.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Bruce Howard, 317-972-6900, Director of Publications and Communications National Federation of State High School Associations, [email protected] Chris Boone, 317-972-6900, Assistant Director of Publications and Communications National Federation of State High School Associations, [email protected] Cody Porter, 317-972-6900, Manager of Media Relations, National Federation of State High School Associations, [email protected], Nate Perry, 317-972-6900, Coordinator of Media Relations National Federation of State High School Associations, [email protected]
The home fitness trend is one of the biggest to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis. Now that consumer interest is piqued on how to exercise at home, the question for retailers and manufacturers becomes, how do we maintain the momentum established over these weeks? Dirk offers up three answers.
Maintaining Momentum for Fitness at Home
By Dirk Sorenson
Executive Director, Industry Analyst, Sports
The home fitness trend is one of the biggest to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis. In the seven weeks between March 15 and May 2, U.S. home fitness equipment sales grew by 175% in dollars compared to the same period last year. Growth occurred across numerous categories including cardiovascular machines (+225%); yoga equipment (+209%); small strength training products like rubber tubing (+209%); and equipment to aid in mobility, such as inversion tables and Pilates reformers (over 350%).
Clearly the need to create moments for health-at-home was at an all-time high during the opening weeks of the crisis in the U.S., as consumers were forced to find alternatives to closed gyms and fitness studios. It has not only been overall sales, but also average selling prices for the equipment that have increased during this seven-week period, up 27%. The average price for stationary bikes really led this price increase, largely due to improvements in connected technology. Bikes now include technology to measure power output from the rider, allow for connection to online fitness classes, and even provide virtual riding environments.
For manufacturers and retailers that want to take advantage of this trend, a number of obstacles present themselves. Numerous articles point to inventory shortages for both sports equipment and bikes. And as the pandemic (hopefully) subsides and stay-at-home orders are relaxed, gyms will reopen to provide consumers with fitness options outside the home. With these challenges, the question for retailers and manufacturers becomes, how do we maintain the momentum established over these weeks while consumers were inventing at-home exercise routines?
I see three answers.
First is to invest in ways to use digital platforms to create community for those exercising at home. Studio fitness and gyms provide opportunities for social interaction. The camaraderie in gyms, particularly in classes, is an enormous draw for gyms. Retailers and manufacturers have to address this and an obvious direction is using online platforms to connect customers. I have written a bit about this trend in earlier posts. Online platforms like Peloton’s streaming classes or Zwift’s immersive multiplayer gaming environment for runners on treadmills and cyclists on indoor bikes should be emulated. Simple efforts like creating local “leaderboards” that are curated by retailers can also go a long way.
Next is to encourage equipment usage by providing structured training insights and programs. Again, this can be done virtually. While many consumers have now invested in equipment, many are still unsure how to use it effectively to become fitter and healthier. Simple steps on the part of manufacturers and retailers to provide consumers with guided instruction is a powerful answer to consumers quickly abandoning the use of equipment because they don’t know what to do. As an example, I recently purchased a weighted sandbag for workouts. I was surprised when the manufacturer mailed me a postcard, thanking me for my purchase and providing links to YouTube workout videos I should try. While that is a simple step, it can go a long way in sustaining the interest of customers in their recently purchased home fitness equipment.
Finally, we need to be realistic about the challenges of shipping and setting up bulkier fitness equipment in our homes. Cardio equipment represented about 40% of the sales of home fitness equipment over the initial seven weeks of the COVID-19 crisis, so the category stands out as a critical one for continued growth. Looking for ways to extend this growth will somewhat rely on how to ship, support, and setup this equipment for consumers. Looking at recent developments in mobile cycling shops–where bike servicing and delivery occurs out of vans or to online furniture retailers like Wayfair where furniture setup and building can be purchased at a nominal fee–are two business models that may provide inspiration on how to tackle this challenge. A more straightforward approach for the retail community may be to lean in to the sale of smaller items like yoga products and smaller strength equipment, like bands and strap trainers.
Ultimately, today’s crisis has piqued consumer interest on how to be healthy at home. It is now time to take advantage of this change and create a category that has more long-lasting sales improvements.
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For more information or to speak with Dirk, contact me at [email protected] or 516-625-2203.
About The NPD Group, Inc.
NPD offers data, industry expertise, and prescriptive analytics to help our clients grow their businesses in a changing world. Over 2,000 companies worldwide rely on us to help them measure, predict, and improve performance across all channels, including brick-and-mortar and e-commerce. We have offices in 27 cities worldwide, with operations spanning the Americas, Europe, and APAC. Practice areas include apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty, books, B2B technology, consumer technology, e-commerce, fashion accessories, food consumption, foodservice, footwear, home, juvenile products, media entertainment, mobile, office supplies, retail, sports, toys, video games, and watches. For more information, visit npd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @npd_sports.
Press Contact:
Marissa Guyduy
+1 516-625-2203
[email protected]