SILVER SPRING, MD (March 12, 2020) – The SFIA, NFHS and NCAA have decided to postpone the annual Team Sports Rules & Management Conference, scheduled to take place in Indianapolis on April 13-14, 2020, due to the coronavirus. With the disease rapidly spreading throughout the world, it is in the best interest of our guests to cancel the original dates set for the event, and we will reassess once the issue has resolved. We are hopeful that the conference can be held at a later date in 2020.
As for SFIA council meetings, which were scheduled to take place on April 13, 2020, we are actively looking into alternative options and are considering conducting the meetings virtually. Additional information will be forthcoming, as we will continue to serve our industry to the best of our ability during this difficult time.
For any questions regarding the event, please reach out to Alli Schulman at [email protected]. For questions concerning the council meetings, please contact Gregg Hartley at [email protected].
SFIA Releases Annual Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report
SILVER SPRING, MD (March 2, 2020) – The American sports and fitness product industry, including footwear, apparel and equipment, grew by 3.9 percent in 2019. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) released the 2020 Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report today, reporting growth across every major category. Unlike most years, when sports and fitness sales patterns tend to mimic GDP growth, in 2019, the industry not only outpaced the national GDP, but in a year when GDP growth slowed, the industry increased from the previous year.
Athleisure continues to drive growth. Fitness apparel is up 6.5 percent; and looking at categories appealing to the athleisure style, fleece/sweat athletic apparel and outerwear grew 8.9 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively. In footwear, running, casual/fashion and kids all increased over five percent, further emphasizing the growth of athleisure overall.
As select team sports have experienced significant participation growth in recent years, staple products sales are also increasing. Baseball/Softball (3.9 percent), Basketball (4.6 percent) and Volleyball (5.6 percent) were among the strongest team sport category leaders.
Protective gear continues to be a big seller across multiple categories, even in categories where protective gear is new to the market, or sport. Sales increased in the five percent range for multiple team sports.
Consumer exercise equipment, now a $4 billion market, grew by 3.1 percent. Exercise bikes (8.3 percent), rowing machines (7.3 percent) and home gyms (6.0 percent) generated the biggest growth, while treadmills, representing more than a quarter of consumer exercise equipment, showed a healthy 3.0 percent increase.
As for footwear, the two biggest categories, running shoes and kids footwear, both increased over five percent.
The SFIA Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report measures U.S. wholesale revenues across 5 major categories, 34 subcategories, with nearly 150 various breakdowns. This report is free to all SFIA members and available for purchase here.
SFIA hosts 21st annual National Health Through Fitness Day in Washington, DC
SILVER SPRING, MD (Feb. 17, 2020) – On March 11, 2020, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) will be hosting the annual National Health Through Fitness Day to promote the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act. The PHIT Act, which allows Americans to use pre-tax dollars to pay for physical activity-related expenses, will help to reduce the financial barrier that stands between many Americans and an active, healthy lifestyle. This year, SFIA will be joined by celebrity athletes, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), sports and fitness industry executives, and other physical activity advocates, to discuss the importance of focusing on means of preventive care, not just treatment. Physical activity has been proven to decrease risk of chronic disease, obesity and other costly ailments that are causing astronomical healthcare expenses for our country.
In 2020, National Health Through Fitness Day takes on added significance due to the success it has seen over the past few years. Cosponsors signed on at a record pace in 2019 after the House passed PHIT in 2018 and the Senate took steps to streamline movement of PHIT at the end of the year. Just last week, PHIT advocates met with the Chairman of the Lead Congressional Tax Writing Committee to promote PHIT, and it was raised directly to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin at a Senate hearing. There is great momentum behind PHIT and on National Health Through Fitness Day, we will push for PHIT’s inclusion in a bipartisan healthcare package scheduled for a vote in May.
SFIA plans to build on this momentum to garner as much support for PHIT as possible to ensure passage during this congressional term. With the help of professional athletes, including Herschel Walker (Heisman Trophy Winner), Steve Garvey (World Series Champ), Santana Moss (NFL Pro Bowl Player), Kylie Ohlmiller (1stOverall WPLL & UWLX Draft Pick), Paul Rabil (2x MLL MVP), Eric Byrnes (Former MLB Player and ESPN Analyst), Brenda Martinez (2x Olympian), Andrew Ference (Stanley Cup Winner), Kyle Harrison (Tewaaraton Trophy Winner), Ken Harvey (4x NFL Pro Bowl Player) and John Booty (Former NFL Player), SFIA PHIT supporters will speak to the far-reaching, lifelong benefits of an active lifestyle. PHIT is a popular, bipartisan healthcare improvement bill, and we are eager to spread the message.
To learn more about the PHIT Act and SFIA’s National Health Through Fitness Day, click here.
SFIA Releases Annual Topline Participation Report
SILVER SPRING, MD (Feb. 11, 2020) – After years of stagnant activity rates, 2019 saw three million more Americans take part in some sport or fitness activity, according to the SFIA’s annual Topline Participation Report, which was released today. The report found fitness, outdoor activities and team sports categories showing the most growth.
The report also further substantiated alarming income disparities among those who are physically active. Households in lower income brackets ($49,999 and below) are significantly more inactive than those in higher income brackets ($50,000 and above).
“The uptick in number of people being active is good news and reflects a lot of hard work done in recent years to get more Americans active and healthy. But make no mistake. The work is only beginning, and now is the time to double down to sustain this direction,” said Tom Cove, SFIA President and CEO.
“As a nation, we have a special responsibility to ensure that access to sport and fitness is open to all, without regard to one’s income. It’s a moral imperative and it’s also a sure-fire way to reduce long term health care costs. This is why it is so important that we pass the PHIT Act immediately,” Cove added.
Key findings:
In fitness, nearly every category increased in participation. Dance, step, and other choreographed exercise to music (7.0 percent); aquatic exercise (6.4 percent); rowing machine (5.9 percent); and treadmill (5.7 percent) represented the greatest year-over-year growth. The trend is driven by casual (occasional) participation in a multitude of activities. This is likely due to opportunities presented by a variety of studios, gyms and classes, as well as apps like ClassPass, allowing individuals to participate on a more flexible schedule. New gyms, new apps and social media are working to reduce barriers to first-timers, providing the option to diversify your workout and try new things.
Yoga remains strong, with a six percent year-over-year growth. This is a significant increase in an activity with such a large base. There are more yoga participants than high impact intensity training (HIIT), boot camp style training and barre combined. In addition, all combat sports (MMA for fitness, MMA for competition, boxing for fitness, boxing for competition, cardio kickboxing, martial arts and wrestling) reported healthy growth in 2019.
The team sports category paints a mixed picture. Out of 23 team sports, 16 reported a decline in participation; however, the team sports category, as a whole, increased in participation. This growth is attributed to increases in select traditional team sports, such as basketball (2.9 percent), outdoor soccer (4.5 percent), volleyball (2.7 percent) and flag football (3.2 percent).
The 2020 Topline Participation Report is free to SFIA members and available to the public for purchase here.
SILVER SPRING, MD (Dec. 17, 2019) – Dan Arment, President and CEO of Riddell & BRG Sports, has been elected as the new Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Chairman of the Board for a one-year term. In addition, two new directors were elected, and five members were re-elected, to the SFIA Board of Directors for three-year terms. This announcement was made at the end of the SFIA’s Annual Meeting, which took place on Dec. 16, 2019.
New additions to the Board include: Ray Hilvert (Vice President, Global Sports Marketing & Team Sports; New Balance) and Roman Oben (Vice President of Youth & High School Football Strategy Development & College Relations, National Football League).
“As a long-time Board Member of the SFIA, I am honored to take on the role of Chairman,” said Dan Arment, President & CEO of Riddell & BRG Sports. “The industry landscape is constantly changing, presenting new opportunities and new challenges. I am eager to continue collaborating with this talented group of industry peers, all of whom share the same passion to get more kids, and adults, involved in sports and fitness.”
“We are very excited to have Dan Arment lead our trade association,” said Tom Cove, SFIA President & CEO. “He is a prominent, successful leader in the sports industry, and he will bring a fresh perspective and strong direction in his new role of Chairman of the organization. Dan’s expertise, energy and innovative approach will be invaluable to SFIA as our industry continues to evolve.”
In addition, the following board members were re-elected to three-year terms: Melissa Dawson (President, Molten USA), Rawleigh Grove (Vice President & General Counsel, PING Golf), Scott McDonald (CEO, Body-Solid Inc.), Neil Morton (CEO, ATA International) and Marco Zambianchi (President, North America; Technogym USA).
Newly elected and re-elected directors will join the existing SFIA board members, which include: Immediate Past Chairman, Chris Clawson (CEO, Life Fitness), Jennifer Bendall (Senior Director of Government Affairs, Nike), Kim Davis (Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth Initiative & Legislative Affairs; NHL), Mike Dowse (CEO & Executive Director, US Tennis Association), Jared Drinkwater (Chief Marketing Officer, BSN Sports), Fouzan Mansuri (Director & General Manager, Sports & Fitness; Amazon.com), Eric O’Toole (General Manager for Sports & Fitness, Walmart.com/Jet.com), Jonathan Ram (Group President, Global Activewear; Hanesbrands), Michael Schroeder (Vice President, Global Lifestyle Brands; Gildan), Dan Sheridan (Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Brooks Running), Kurt Tandan (Associate General Counsel & Senior Director of Corporate Affairs; adidas America, Inc.) and Mike Zlaket (President & CEO; Rawlings Sporting Goods).
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
SILVER SPRING, MD (Dec. 13, 2019) – President Trump has agreed to a limited trade deal with China, putting a stop to the additional tariffs on $156 billion of Chinese-made goods, including footwear and apparel, that were set to go into effect on Sunday. Also in this agreement, existing tariffs on about $360 billion of Chinese-made goods will be cut in half.
In exchange, China has agreed to purchase $50 billion worth of agricultural goods in 2020; however, if China does not follow through on their end, all original tariff rates will be reimposed.
“While, so far, nothing official has been published, these reports indicate very good news,” said SFIA President and CEO, Tom Cove. “If List 4B China tariffs do not go into effect on Sunday, American consumers, young athletes and active individuals across the country will greatly benefit. These tariffs have negatively impacted the sport and health industry, and we are hopeful that this trade agreement comes to fruition.”
SFIA continues to monitor these deliberations closely and will inform its members immediately as new developments take place.
The U.S. and China negotiated this deal within the last week, and is currently pending a final agreement from China.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
100th member of Congress signs on to bipartisan bill incentivizing active lifestyles
SILVER SPRING, MD (Dec. 12, 2019) – On Dec. 5, Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) became the 100th cosponsor of the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act. The bill, which allows Americans to use HSAs and FSAs to pay for activity-related expenses, has garnered strong bipartisan support in the House (44D-43R) and Senate (5D-8R) since it was introduced in March 2019. Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Mike Kelly (R-PA) serve as the lead sponsors of the PHIT Act in the House and Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) are leading the effort in the Senate.
Rep. Cedric Richmond is an advocate for healthy, active lifestyles, always leading by example. As a father and star pitcher of the Congressional Baseball team, the MVP is intent on making activity more affordable for individuals and families across the nation.
“It is very fitting to have Rep. Cedric Richmond as the 100th congressional cosponsor of the PHIT act,” said Bill Sells, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs at the SFIA. “His leadership both on the field and in congress speak to the positive impact sports have had on his life. His support of the PHIT act will create increased opportunities for future generations to enjoy the benefits of active lifestyles.”
Promoting active lifestyles is increasingly important as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new study last week, “Prevalence of Prediabetes Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States, 2005-2016,” warning Americans that prediabetes is on the rise. The report stated that 18 percent of teenagers and 24 percent of young adults had prediabetes, putting them at risk for developing Type II diabetes and other chronic conditions.
“The prevalence of prediabetes in adolescents and young adults reinforces the critical need for effective public health strategies that promote healthy eating habits, physical activity, and stress management,” said CDC Director, Robert Redfield. With over a quarter of the population reportedly inactive, it is increasingly important that the government passes legislation that assists our nation in taking a big step forward in improving physical health and overall healthcare spending.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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President Trump announces verbal agreement to suspend additional tariffs
SILVER SPRING, MD (October 14, 2019) – On Friday, October 11, President Trump announced that he had reached a trade pact with China. While there is no official agreement, the president has retreated from his plan to increase List 3 tariffs from 25 to 30 percent on October 15. List 3 tariffs will remain at 25 percent until further notice.
In his announcement, President Trump reported that China has agreed to purchase $40 billion to $50 billion more in agricultural products from the U.S. The Chinese asked the U.S. to pull back on List 4B tariffs of 15 percent, scheduled to go into effect on December 15, but the U.S. has not made any comment on that.
“SFIA looks forward to seeing the final agreement in writing to glean a greater understanding of the current trade situation,” stated Tom Cove, SFIA President and CEO. “In the interim, we are hopeful that both sides will continue to communicate and work in good faith toward a resolution to this tariff war.”
SFIA filed List 3 exclusion petitions on September 30 seeking relief on specific products and will be doing the same for List 4 products once the process is announced.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
SFIA hosts 4th annual Start-Up Challenge, showcasing latest innovations in sports, fitness and technology
BALTIMORE, MD (Sept. 25, 2019) – Five finalists competed in the 2019 SFIA Start-Up Challenge this morning, kicking off the Industry Leaders Summit. The five entrepreneurs receive 10 minutes on stage, in front of the entire Summit audience, as well as a distinguished panel of judges, to pitch their company. Judges include leading industry executives, such as Erik Anderson, Executive Chairman of Topgolf, and Head of Marketing & Product Management at Amazon, Brian Finegan; investors such as Alison Minter from North Castle Partners and Brian Westbrook, former All-Pro NFL Running Back and venture capitalist; and innovators such as SVP of lululemon Whitespace, Tom Waller, and Head of Innovation at Under Armour, Lorin Hamlin.
The Start-Up Challenge winner, Miro, is a company rooted in computer vision and artificial intelligence. Miro has created complex algorithms to capture valuable athlete data from various athletic competitions, such as races and sporting events. The tech geniuses behind the start-up have figured out a way to manipulate each participant, individually, segmenting their body into 14 different images, which are then individually analyzed and run through brand detection software. This type of AI provides insights to brands and retailers, picking up in-depth trends and patterns, regarding apparel and equipment, among many different demographic breakdowns, such as age, gender and ability.
Empirika Media Group provided the grand prize of $25,000 worth of digital marketing services, helping to improve the company’s online presence and overall image.
“SFIA has assembled this industry in a room, focused their attention and given a great group of small companies the chance of a lifetime,” said Taylor Host, Co-Founder and CEO of Miro. “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to share our hard work with the titans of the industry. To actually take home the trophy tonight is incomprehensible. We’re going to turn this validation into energy, action and more great nerd stuff!”
Prior to competition kickoff, former Start-Up Challenge finalist from the first-ever competition, Steven Webster, CEO of asensei, addressed the crowd, speaking of his start-up experience and raising capital on-site at the Industry Leaders Summit, regardless of not winning. Through his experience, Webster explained one of his greatest lessons, “It’s not the biggest companies that eat the smallest, it’s the fastest that eats the slowest.” His technology-driven company has skyrocketed since he presented on the SFIA stage in 2016, and serves as an example of what the other 15 previous contestants have accomplished.
It was difficult to select just one winner, as all participants presented new and exciting products, including automated team uniforms, a portable tennis ball launcher, wearable technology to enhance fitness through resistance, and computer vision assets to improve your workout experience and efficiency. The ideas and products presented were unprecedented and are sure to create an impact on the industry.
“We are so proud of the SFIA Start-Up Challenge franchise and are excited by the major innovation we saw this year,” said John Peters, Vice President of Business Development at SFIA. “This competition is in high-demand, due to the many benefits provided by merely attending the conference and networking with leading industry executives and investors, looking to create new relationships, partnerships and mentorships.”
The audience, in addition to the judges, featured over 200 C-Level executives from companies such as adidas, Amazon, Nike, Under Armour, Brooks Running, Walmart and many more. This presentation format allows the entrepreneurs to grow their brand awareness among the right audience and in the right setting.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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Premier sports & fitness event of the year heads to Baltimore
SILVER SPRING, MD (Sept. 5, 2019) – The 7th annual Industry Leaders Summit, hosted by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), presents a collection of speakers who have changed the landscape of the sports and fitness industry through an innovative and creative approach. The Summit will take place on September 25-26, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. The prime focus of this year’s event is to dive into new opportunities presented by technology, increasing participation by accommodating a larger base, and adapting to exterior influences and pressures, all around the theme, Innovate | Activate | Accelerate.
Erik Anderson, Executive Chairman of Topgolf, will provide the first keynote address, telling the story behind the great Topgolf expansion, attracting new players to the game and providing alternative participation methods. Founder of Zumba, Alberto Perlman, will present the second keynote address, ranging from the inception of Zumba to becoming a global phenomenon. For the third year in a row, “Breakfast with Matt” is back, with Matt Powell, Vice President & Senior Industry Advisor at The NPD Group, to provide assessments and sales tracking data for a deeper analysis and understanding of the overall sports, fitness and retail market. Vice President of Intel, Tamiko Hutchinson, will share expertise and insight on the merging worlds of sports and technology, and where it’s headed from the perspective of a technology company.
New to this year’s Summit, the Under Armour Innovation Team will be hosting a tour of their innovation lab, the UA Lighthouse. This event will focus on highlighting small business and innovation, strongly aligning with many of the Summit’s overall topics. George Foreman III, Founder of Everybody Fights; Michael Schaeffer, Founder of NOBULL; and Bruce Smith, CEO of Hydrow, will provide unique insights from the standpoint of a niche company experiencing rapid growth in today’s market. Tom Waller, Senior Vice President of lululemon’s innovation hub, Whitespace, will speak to the power of lululemon and how the company has changed the way athletes and non-athletes alike dress for both work and play.
To top off a full and exciting agenda, SFIA will also be hosting the 4th annual Start-Up Challenge, showcasing the greatest innovations guiding today’s sports and fitness industry. The Challenge will kick off the two-day summit on September 25th. In addition to the list of renowned speakers, the audience will also be comprised of executives from various sports, fitness and retail leaders, including adidas, Amazon, Nike, Walmart, Bose, New Balance, Under Armour, Spalding, Gildan and many more. Click here to view the full agenda and list of attendees.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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