SILVER SPRING, MD (May 15, 2019) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is pleased to announce a new corporate and strategic partnership with OpSec Security. For over 35 years, OpSec Security has been helping to protect the world’s largest brands in the fight against counterfeiting, diversion and fraud.
Brands, organizations and governments around the world rely on OpSec to provide the best combination of data, insight and guidance to ensure the integrity and performance of products and documents. This service builds deeper and more profitable relationships with customers and constituents, due to OpSec’s proven experience, deep industry expertise, wide range of solutions, and digital and physical integration leadership.
“The scourge of counterfeited consumer goods is a huge problem around the world, and both hard and soft sporting goods consistently rank among the most highly impacted products,” said Tom Cove, SFIA President and CEO. “Not only does the problem affect manufacturers financially, but fraudulent products can pose safety risks to users. While manufacturers and enforcement agencies are doing their best to combat the problem, our partnership with OpSec was formed to introduce SFIA members to the most innovative technologies and services available to support the delivery of authentic products into the hands of consumers.”
“OpSec is privileged to become an SFIA Silver Corporate Partner,” said Rich Cremona, OpSec Chief Executive Officer. “This new relationship will allow our team to further engage with the decision makers and key influencers around our common goal of eliminating the counterfeiting and diversion of hard and soft sporting goods. OpSec is looking forward to aligning our optical and digital resources together with SFIA members to stay one step ahead of this global problem.”
The SFIA Corporate Partner Program is a collaborative effort between SFIA and up to 15 corporate entities that have demonstrated a leadership role within the sports and fitness industry. The program creates a bridge between industry professionals and the companies most closely connected and committed to serving the sports and fitness industry. The monetary commitments made by these select Corporate Program Partners support the broad range of member services and professional development programs created, funded and offered by SFIA to its members.
OpSec’s three-year Silver Partnership will be highlighted at SFIA signature thought leadership events, including the 2019 SFIA Industry Leaders Summit, which will take place September 25-26 in Baltimore and the 2020 Business & Risk Management Summit next April. OpSec will also serve as an industry expert for the SFIA Webinar Series.
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.
ABOUT OPSEC: OpSec and its 400 employees are located in eight global locations: United States, England, Dominican Republic, Germany and Hong Kong. In 2018, OpSec manufactured over 13 billion security images for the luxury goods, licensing, fashion and apparel, consumer products, and automotive and pharmaceutical markets. OpSec’s product portfolio includes unique identifiers that enable authentication throughout the product lifecycle, supply chain, online marketplace and enforcement. Notable clients include the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, MasterCard, and VISA. For more information, please visit www.opsecsecurity.com.
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SFIA to assist companies in applying for exemptions
SILVER SPRING, MD (May 14, 2019) – President Trump announced plan to impose up to 25 percent tariffs on an additional $300 billion of Chinese-made goods (“List 4”). This action will impact nearly all athletic footwear, apparel, and sports and fitness equipment imported into the U.S. from China.
“This is something we have feared,” said SFIA President & CEO, Tom Cove. “While there have been threats around these tariffs for many years, this action is the farthest-reaching and most damaging trade policy our industry and our customers have ever faced. We still hope the Chinese and American governments can come to an agreement before the tariffs go into effect, as these new tariffs will be potentially-destructive to many industry companies who cannot move manufacturing processes out of China in such a short period of time.”
SFIA will work with companies to navigate the process to exempt products from these new tariffs. Comments will be accepted up until June 10 and public hearings on the tariffs will be held on June 17, with tariffs potentially going into effect as early as June 24. SFIA will be sharing additional information on the exemption process as it becomes available. For information on SFIA’s exemption effort, please contact Chandler Hoffman, at [email protected].
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 visitwww.sfia.org.
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President announces Friday deadline to impose tariffs
SILVER SPRING, MD (May 8, 2019) – In response to the slow pace of trade negotiations with China, President Trump announced that tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese-made products will increase to 25 percent at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 10. This action follows the Administration’s previous tariff hikes in 2018, which resulted in a 10 percent tariff on select Chinese goods.
The increase will impact all previously targeted products including hats, gloves, bags and football helmet components, among other things. At this time, no tariffs on new categories have been announced, though President Trump has publicly threatened to impose tariffs on all Chinese imports. Should the President expand the tariffs to the remaining $325 billion in Chinese imports, virtually all athletic footwear, apparel and equipment markets are expected to be impacted.
“We want to be clear: Negotiating with China to ensure a fair trading regime is very important, especially in regard to China’s policies related to intellectual property protection and forced technology transfer,” said SFIA President and CEO, Tom Cove. “However, increasing tariffs like this is the wrong approach. These taxes will fundamentally harm the American sports and fitness products industry; there’s no way around it. But as difficult as it will be for our companies, it will be doubly worse for American consumers who will face serious price increases and reduced selection.”
SFIA has communicated with the Trump Administration, along with other member companies, for months and has been clear that if these tariffs are imposed, companies will be forced to raise prices, reduce production, divert resources from planned research and development, and potentially lay off employees. China currently represents one of the most important production source countries for the industry, with companies from every sector producing goods to be sold in the American market. Companies have been attempting to develop and implement contingency plans, but only so much can be done to mitigate such massive impact in such a short time.
“Our industry has aggressively taken steps to diversify its sourcing outside of China, but it is simply not possible for the majority of companies to quickly re-locate the bulk of its production. As a result, there is no way to avoid the onerous impact of these tariffs if they remain in place,” said Cove. “We fear a particular threat to small and medium-size companies who have less capacity and market power to make dramatic shifts in real time.”
SFIA has urged the Administration to explore alternative negotiating strategies and tools to achieve its trade objectives with China.
SFIA will organize industry petitions requesting exclusions from the proposed tariffs to assist the industry in navigating these difficult challenges. If you’re interested in learning more about the petition process, please contact Chandler Hoffman, at [email protected].
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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SILVER SPRING, MD (May 2, 2019) – The 2019 SFIA Manufacturers’ Sales Report, which measures U.S. wholesale revenues, is released today and shows that the sports and fitness products industry grew by 2.3 percent in 2018, totaling $92.3 billion. The report is broken down into four categories, all of which experienced an increase in sales: Sports Equipment totaling $25.1 billion (0.8%), Fitness Equipment totaling $5.4 billion (3.6%), Apparel totaling $36.6 billion (1.2%) and Footwear totaling $16.6 billion (4.6%).
The fitness market, specifically, which tracks 25 different categories of equipment, reported positive growth in all but one product category. The baseball/softball category experienced the greatest growth among team sports at 7.7 percent. This was driven by a huge year in baseball bat sales, reporting 18.9 percent growth. This increase is due to the USA Baseball rule change in 2017, which created a new standard for all youth bats starting on Jan. 1, 2018, requiring all players and leagues to purchase a new bat last year. Golf clubs also experienced healthy growth (8.9%). Boutique fitness trends, responsible for introducing Americans to many nontraditional exercises, are likely stimulating across the board increases in the fitness and martial arts equipment categories.
Overall, athletic footwear experienced an increase of 4.6 percent, with sport sandals/slides (20.0%), casual/fashion (18.0%) and classic/originals (10.0%) ranking as the top three growth categories. The top three categories are not performance wear, representing the strong influence of sports and fitness styles in today’s fashion world. Apparel sales grew by 1.2 percent, while licensed merchandise came in with a strong 5.8 percent growth, indicating greater fandom and new opportunities for brands and apparel manufacturers.
“Last year’s performance reflects a challenging market environment, where it’s more about the market share than it is about industry growth,” stated SFIA President & CEO, Tom Cove. “As an industry, we must understand the critical importance of increased sports and fitness participation, as a long-term strategy to fortify the foundation of our industry.”
The full 2019 Manufacturers’ Sales Report is free to all SFIA members and can be accessed here.
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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SILVER SPRING, MD (April 25, 2019) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is pleased to announce new co-chairs of the Baseball/Softball Council. Andrea Gordon, CEO of Diamond Sports, Inc. has been chosen to represent the baseball sector of the committee, and Tim Lord, Senior Director of Product Marketing and Development at Dudley Softball & Spalding Baseball will represent the softball side. These two individuals provide great knowledge of the baseball/softball industry and have served as long-time members of the council.
Prior to this change in leadership, Pat Ryan, Global Product Director at Wilson Sporting Goods, served as the council Chair for over a decade. SFIA applauds his service and dedication to the sport and industry, overall. The Baseball/Softball Council, one of SFIA’s 6 councils dedicated to specific sports, has been in existence for over 35 years.
“The transition of the Baseball/Softball Council Chair position to two co-Chairs, each with a focus on the two distinctly different needs of both baseball and softball, is a great move for the committee,” stated Gregg Hartley, Director of the SFIA Baseball/Softball Council. “We are happy to have both Andrea Gordon and Tim Lord take over as chairs of baseball and softball respectively, as they are both respected leaders on industry issues and will bring their unique perspectives to the operation of the council.”
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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SILVER SPRING, MD (March 28, 2019) – Momentum behind the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act continues, as 24 members of the House and Senate have signed on as cosponsors in the two weeks since it was introduced. PHIT remains very bipartisan, with 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats joining the lead sponsors, Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Mike Kelly (R-PA), in supporting this pro-activity, pro-health bill. The PHIT Act passed the House in July 2018, but failed to receive a vote in the Senate before they adjourned for the year.
SFIA launched the cosponsor drive the day after PHIT was introduced in House, during National Health Through Fitness Day. On March 13, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) hosted celebrity athletes, sports and fitness executives, medical professionals and active lifestyle advocates on Capitol Hill to address the need to help families with youth activity expenses. Attendees spent the day in meetings with members of Congress, promoting the PHIT Act and providing information on the far-reaching benefits of an active lifestyle, and how it serves as a disease prevention health measure.
“Earlier this year, the CDC reported that 90 percent of healthcare spending goes toward treating chronic disease and mental health issues,” stated SFIA’s Senior Vice President of Government & Public Affairs, Bill Sells. “The bottom line is: PHIT will increase activity! It’s time to pass this bill to reduce healthcare spending. We have great leadership in Congress and look forward to passing PHIT in 2019.”
As healthcare costs continue to rise and chronic disease continues to affect more Americans, SFIA is leading the effort to be proactive on the inactivity issue and promote a solution to reverse the sedentary lifestyle trend. Allowing Americans to pay for activity-related expenses through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) will create more opportunities for children to participate in youth leagues and activities, building the foundation for a future of healthy, active individuals.
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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Active lifestyle enthusiasts promote PHIT bill to address inactivity crisis in America
SILVER SPRING, MD (March 13, 2019) – Today, just days after the reintroduction of the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act in the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) celebrated the 20th annual National Health Through Fitness Day. SFIA hosted a star-studded lineup of athletes to push the PHIT Act, legislation that will ease the burden of active lifestyle costs. Collectively, the athletes in attendance boasted one World Series, one Stanley Cup, 11 Olympic medals, one Heisman Trophy, seven Pro Bowls, one NBA Most Improved Player Award and 10 MLB All-Star Game appearances. In addition to the athletes, SFIA was joined by the American College of Sports Medicine, sports executives, youth league organizations, health and fitness industry representatives, and other physical activity proponents eager to speak with Congress about the importance of PHIT.
Throughout the day, more than 100 meetings were held, more than half directly with Congressmen/women and Senators, to discuss the severe state of inactivity in our country. Every year, individuals in households with an annual income under $75,000 become less active, and inversely, activity rates among higher-income households continue to grow. In turn, economic status is strongly influencing youth participation in sports.
“Now, in schools, it’s all pay-to-play,” said former NFL Pro Bowl player, Santana Moss. “If my kid is going to play any varsity sport – I have to sign them up and pay first, then they have to make the team. Then, once they make the team, I have to buy the equipment, the shoes, the uniform, and whatever else there is. If households can’t afford to buy the equipment, then their kids can’t play. That’s one of the biggest issues we’re seeing, and that’s why we’re trying to pass this bill.”
“The polarization of income dictating activity levels is evolving,” stated former NHL player, Kevin Westgarth. “The ability to participate in sports, or any kind of physical activity, in schools or wherever – places where, traditionally, everyone comes together and where everyone is supposed to be on equal footing, no longer exist. Losing those opportunities has been devastating to the landscape of youth sports, and it is something that the PHIT Act will help address.”
The United States government is in a critical position to stop this trend and prevent income from having such a strong impact on Americans’ activity levels. The PHIT Act proposes a change in the IRS definition of “medical expense,” to include physical activity-related expenses as a form of prevention. It is one of the most bipartisan pieces of legislation going through Congress at this time, due to the fact that a more active U.S. population will lead to healthier lifestyles and lower healthcare spending, which is currently projected to reach 20 percent of the U.S. GDP by 2025.
“National Health Through Fitness Day is a special time because it gives us a chance to actually connect directly with Congress and talk about things that are important to us and the industries we support,” said SFIA Chairman, Chris Clawson. “Most importantly, the PHIT bill was introduced in the House yesterday, which means that we now have both House and Senate support. We are really excited about moving this forward. We think it’s a game-changer; not just for the industry, but more importantly, for the people of America, as it will provide them with the opportunity to use FSAs and HSAs to focus on prevention, as opposed to just treatment.”
SFIA applauds congressional efforts to encourage activity via the PHIT Act to reverse the inactivity trend, and presented Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) with SFIA’s Champion of Health & Fitness Award for their leadership and concerted efforts to improve health through activity in America.
“Having athletes help us deliver our pro-health message is very exciting, as they are living proof of the everlasting benefits of an active lifestyle,” said Bill Sells, Senior Vice President of Government & Public Affairs at SFIA. “American society has changed over the years and casual daily activity is no longer free. Unfortunately, middle and lower-income families are suffering the most. The PHIT Act will lower the cost of active, healthy lifestyles by allowing consumers to use medical pre-tax dollars to prevent chronic disease. This is something our country needs.”
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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House and Senate introduce legislation to make activity more affordable, encouraging more Americans to participate
WASHINGTON, DC (March 12, 2019) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) applauds congressional efforts to reintroduce the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. On Wednesday, March 6, PHIT Act lead sponsors, Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), reintroduced the bill in the Senate (S.680); and on Tuesday, March 12, PHIT lead sponsors, Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) and Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA) reintroduced the bill in the House (H.R. 1679).
The PHIT Act would allow Americans to use pre-tax medical accounts to cover all physical activity-related expenses, such as gym memberships, youth league registration fees, race entry fees, personal trainers and equipment expenses exclusively intended for the sole purpose of being physically active. With healthcare costs increasing, chronic disease affecting a majority of the country and inactivity among lower-income households growing, it is vital to decrease the financial barrier that stands between Americans and the ability to lead an active lifestyle.
“Investing in preventive health is one way Congress can help incentivize America to be a healthier nation,” said Thune. “For some Americans, certain gym or athletic league membership costs can be prohibitive, keeping them from pursuing healthy habits, like exercising or participating in other physical activities. By giving Americans greater flexibility with their HSAs and FSAs, we can help people make healthy choices, get active, and hopefully avoid the onset of costly chronic conditions.”
“I’m proud to reintroduce the PHIT Act with Senator Thune. Our bill is a great first step to encouraging Americans to lead healthier, more active lives,” said Murphy. “The PHIT Act would allow folks to use their own flexible spending accounts to cover physical activity expenses like gym memberships, little league and youth sports, and other fitness related equipment. This will help drive down healthcare costs and reverse the trend of obesity, diabetes and other chronic preventable diseases.”
“Physical fitness for America’s children is one of the best ways to build a healthy lifestyle and prevent future health expenses,” stated Kelly. “It makes sense to let Americans use pre-tax medical accounts for this purpose. Not only will this change make it more affordable for parents to put their kinds into youth sports programs, it’s also a crucial investment in our future collective health. We should encourage healthy choices, and the PHIT Act will do just that.”
“Senators Thune and Murphy and Representatives Kind and Kelly deserve a lot of credit,” stated SFIA President and CEO, Tom Cove. “They are true champions in the cause to promote activity and health for all Americans, and their leadership will be critical to getting the PHIT Act signed into law. We’re grateful to have their commitment, and the sports and fitness industry intends to advocate as hard as we can for passage in 2019.”
On July 24, 2018, the PHIT Act was part of a package that passed the House of Representatives by a two-to-one margin with strong bipartisan support. Unfortunately, PHIT did not receive a vote in the Senate before the year-end government shutdown. In the new Congress, SFIA is hopeful that the 287 current members who have supported PHIT previously will carry the positive momentum from 2018 into 2019, and pass the PHIT Act to help Americans lead healthier lives.
On March 13, during SFIA’s National Health Through Fitness Day, physical activity advocates will meet with Congress to promote the PHIT Act. SFIA will be joined by our partner, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), celebrity athletes, sports and fitness industry executives, and physical activity enthusiasts to discuss the PHIT Act and the far-reaching benefits of a physically active lifestyle with members of Congress.
To learn more about the PHIT Act and SFIA’s National Health Through Fitness Day, click here.
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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SILVER SPRING, MD (Feb. 27, 2019) – On March 13, 2019, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) will be hosting the 20th 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 severity of the inactivity pandemic in America and the importance of active lifestyles with members of Congress.
The 2019 National Health Through Fitness Day is likely to be a significant moment for SFIA and the PHIT Act, as the bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in July of 2018, with overwhelming bipartisan support. PHIT also enjoyed bipartisan support in the Senate, but due to the government funding impasse that led to the shutdown, the bill never made it to a Senate vote before Congress adjourned to end the year.
After reaching this historic milestone, the PHIT Act is closer than ever to passage, and SFIA plans to use this momentum to make the PHIT Act happen once and for all. With the help of professional athletes, including Herschel Walker, Steve Garvey, Carl Lewis, Santana Moss, Gheorghe Muresan, Ken Harvey, John Booty, Bobby Valentine and Kevin Westgarth, all of whom can speak to the far-reaching, lifelong benefits of an active lifestyle, PHIT will be a popular healthcare improvement bill among the new Congress.
To learn more about the PHIT Act and SFIA’s National Health Through Fitness Day, click here.
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 (Feb. 18, 2019) – Sports and fitness participation grew across the United States last year, though levels of intensity varied across the wide variety of physical activities Americans chose to pursue. The annual SFIA Topline Participation Report, the largest sports and fitness participation survey in the U.S., tracking 120 activities at both core and casual levels, reveals all seven major categories (Fitness Sports, Individual Sports, Outdoor Sports, Racquet Sports, Team Sports, Water Sports and Winter Sports) experienced slight growth over the last five years. Youth inactivity rates (ages 6-12 and 13-17) continue to decline moderately for the fourth consecutive year. However, overall inactivity rates were unchanged, at a stagnant 27.3 percent, and lower household incomes continue to be associated with lower physical activity rates. Nearly half of American households making under $25,000 per year reported being totally inactive last year.
“We remain very concerned with the strong link between income disparity and physical activity rates,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO of SFIA. “Our society cannot allow sports and physical activity to be available only to those with the most means to pay for it.”
In the team sports category, basketball and baseball, the two sports with the largest total participation base, are showing the strongest gains. Also, niche sports, such as lacrosse, ice hockey, beach volleyball and gymnastics, experienced increases at the core level (which is the best reflection of athletes committed to the sport), but decreases in casual/overall participation.
As for fitness, the largest segment of the seven categories covered, nearly every equipment-based category experienced growth, including treadmill, elliptical, stationary cycling, rowing machine, kettlebells and many others.
“We are encouraged to see most activity categories showing overall increases in participation; but long-term, we need to see these numbers transition from casual to core participants, in order for sustained industry growth to take hold,” added Cove.
Outdoor participation also remained strong, reflecting America’s interest in an “active lifestyle” and sharing time with family. Activities such as biking, camping and hiking reported strong gains.
The 2019 Topline Participation Report is free to SFIA members and available to the public for purchase here.
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.