Industry Experiences Second Largest Single Year Growth since 2010
SILVER SPRING, MD (April 18, 2023) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its 2023 State of the Industry Report, featuring an in-depth analysis of the trends and issues affecting the sports and fitness products business, including participation, economic performance, and the industry environment.
The industry reported 4.3% revenue growth in U.S. wholesale sales of athletic footwear, apparel, sports and fitness equipment, and licensed products in 2022, totaling over $116 billion dollars. This represents the second-largest percentage growth since 2010, but a pullback from the record performance of 15.8% in 2021. Of note, the 2022 industry growth rate was lower than the current-dollar GDP of 9.2%, where traditionally, they track very closely. The dollar figures of both GDP and industry revenues were undoubtedly affected by inflation, which influenced raw material inputs, labor and logistics costs, and final product pricing.
“Last year was a difficult year to categorize. Sports and fitness companies continued to meet strong demand for their products and collectively realized healthy annual growth,” states Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “At the same time, many SFIA member companies reflected high concern around uncertainties in the marketplace that lasted much longer than anyone anticipated at the beginning of 2022.”
The SFIA report, which was released today at the SFIA/NCAA/NFHA Team Sports Conference in Indianapolis, IN, reflects executive surveys on a variety of industry-specific indicators. In 2022, 55.2% of companies who responded said they increased profitability, while 28.4% said they decreased profitability last year. The 55.2% number is the second largest since 2015, reinforcing the resilience of the sports and fitness industry through the pandemic and supply chain disruptions. For a third consecutive year, the number of respondent companies that decreased profitability (28.4%) declined.
Inventory management was a big story in 2022. After historically low inventory levels previously, 67% of companies increased their inventory levels in 2022 – the highest number of companies that have increased their levels in the last decade. 57% of companies increased their R&D investments, which is a slight decrease from 2021, but still is the second-highest number in the last five years.
The State of the Industry Report includes a number of attitudinal and forecasting responses from the industry, including the current state of the sports and fitness industry (Around 85% say strong or average), the future state of the sports and fitness industry (around 95% say strong or average), and top concerns facing the industry going forward (potential economic recession affecting domestic sales growth, and inflation impacts affecting profitability).
In terms of sports and fitness participation rates, more Americans reported doing some physical activity, at both the CORE and casual levels, but team and fitness club activity rates have not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
The 2023 State of the Industry Report is free to SFIA Members and is available to the public for purchase by clicking here.
The report is provided free of charge to members of the media. If you are interested in a copy, please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected].
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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 sfia.org.
SILVER SPRING, MD (March 23, 2023) – Product sales in the sporting goods, fitness, and related recreation markets grew 4.3% last year, building on record sales growth in 2021, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) 2023 Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report. The report, released today, tracks U.S. wholesale revenues in sporting goods and fitness equipment, athletic footwear, sports apparel, and licensed products, further broken down into more than 30 categories, and provides comparisons to revenues from previous years.
“Maintaining a better than 4% growth rate across all industry categories in 2022 after the huge year we saw in 2021 is a good performance,” says Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “It has been a crazy three years, obviously, but to maintain healthy growth rates as our industry dealt with pandemic restrictions, supply chain disruptions, and soaring inflation speaks both to the sustaining demand Americans have for active lifestyle products and the resilience of our industry.”
Nearly every single category tracked in the report grew in 2022. Total sports equipment saw a 4.1% increase, with snow sports (11.5%), golf (8.3%), scuba and skin diving (7.5%), and water sports (7.4%) leading the way. In addition to growth this year, golf equipment sales are up 70% since 2019 – which in large part has to do with the increase it saw during the pandemic as a COVID-friendly activity.
Total sports apparel and total licensed merchandise also were two categories that saw increases, at 6.4% and 7.1% respectively. Every single item tracked in these categories went up in 2022, with the one exception of a minor 1.8% decrease in branded activewear. Total athletic footwear saw an increase of 2% in 2022, now up 18.1% since 2019, with football (9.1%) and baseball (8.8%) leading the way. In addition to growth this year, the fitness/workout footwear category is up 71.7% overall since 2019.
Total exercise equipment was the only major category that showed a decrease last year. The 3.7% decrease is due in large part to the decline in consumer exercise equipment sales in 2022. However, it should be noted that 2021 was the greatest year in sales in fitness equipment history – at 52.7% growth over 2019 numbers – so naturally, it had to decline. Free weights are still up 150% since 2019, followed by exercise benches at 106.7%. While consumer figures are down, institutional exercise equipment saw 3.5% growth after a decline the previous year.
“The impact of inflation on this year’s sales numbers was critically important,” states, Cove. “This report details annual sales figures and presents a trend comparison. At the same time, we note the importance of unit sales analysis to understand the ‘big picture’ in terms of overall industry growth.”
The 2023 Manufacturers’ by Sales Category Report is free to SFIA Members and is available to the public for purchase by clicking here for $250.
The report is provided free of charge to members of the media. If you are interested in a copy of this report or an interview with a member of SFIA, please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected].
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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 sfia.org.
WASHINGTON, DC (March 15, 2023) – The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act was re-introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives yesterday, Tuesday, March 14. Supported by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and a broad coalition of sports, health, business, and community organizations, the PHIT Act allows pre-tax flexible and medical savings accounts to cover physical activity expenses, effectively reducing the out-of-pocket expenses for American families and individuals for youth sports fees, health club dues, training costs and much more.
Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) are leading the Senate effort to pass PHIT and Congressmen Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) are spearheading the House campaign. Senators Baldwin (D-WI), Capito (R-WV), Cramer (R-ND), King (I-ME), Marshall (R-KS), Scott (R-SC), Sinema (I-AZ), Tillis (R-NC), and Wicker (R-MS) joined in introducing PHIT. In the House, Congressmen Boyle (D-PA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), LaHood (R-IL), and Sewell (D-AL) are original co-sponsors of this bipartisan bill.
“As a lifelong athlete and fitness enthusiast, I understand the value of and feel grateful to have access to gyms and fitness equipment,” said Sen. John Thune. “For some Americans, though, 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 empower people to make healthy choices, get active, and hopefully avoid the onset of costly chronic conditions.”
“Joining a local gym or signing your kids up for little league are great ways for families to get healthy and connect with their community, but those fees can be really expensive,” stated Senator Chris Murphy, “This bipartisan legislation would allow people to use their pre-tax medical accounts to cover those expenses. It is a smart investment that would help more Americans prioritize their health, lead active lives, and connect with others.”
“With families tightening their belts, gyms, youth sports leagues, and other exercise classes have become less and less affordable and accessible,” said Rep. Jimmy Panetta. “I am proud to reintroduce the PHIT Act alongside Rep. Kelly to provide financial incentives for families to really invest in physical activity for their kids and themselves. An active lifestyle is the best preventative medicine, and by encouraging these habits we can promote healthier communities.”
“As a former college football player and youth football coach myself, I have seen young Americans greatly improve their lives because they were able to join a team and play sports,” commented Rep. Mike Kelly “This bill gives kids, especially those in underserved or low-income communities, a real chance to play the sport of their choice. This isn’t just about athletics; it is about gaining critical team-building and character-building traits that stay with kids for the rest of their lives. I thank the National Football League, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball for supporting our efforts.”
“Physical activity is key to preventing numerous diseases and fostering healthier lives and communities,” added Rep. Terri Sewell. “We in Congress must do what we can to ensure that America’s families are empowered with the tools they need to live healthy and active lifestyles. That is why I am proud to be co-leading this bipartisan legislation to make it easier for Americans to afford things like gym memberships and fitness equipment and participate in youth sports.”
The bill also has drawn support from a number of national governing bodies in the sports and fitness industry, including from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and more.
“The National Football League is pleased to support the PHIT Act, which is sensible, bipartisan legislation that makes participation in youth sports and physical activity more accessible and affordable for more Americans. Encouraging youth to adopt active lifestyles and healthy habits has been a cornerstone of the league’s commitment to community, and the PHIT Act helps to further advance that important goal,” said Brendon Plack, NFL SVP of Public Policy and Government Affairs. “We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors in Congress, as well as other stakeholders in the sports community, to move the bill across the goal line. Enacting the PHIT Act into law will mark a victory in the ongoing effort to promote and support healthy and active families across the country.”
“At the NHL, we believe that hockey is for everyone, and that is why we support efforts in Congress to advance the PHIT Act, which would help make sports more affordable for all who have a passion and love for the game, regardless of socio-economic status,” said Kim Davis, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives and Legislative Affairs. “Data consistently shows that participating in youth sports can lead to immediate and long-term physical, mental, and economic benefits for players, their families, and their communities. The PHIT Act would directly help countless American families access these invaluable sports opportunities.”
“Every child deserves the right to be healthy,” said Wayne Moss, Executive Director, National Council of Youth Sports. “Youth sports is a fun pathway to healthy lifestyles and leads to positive physical, social, and emotional outcomes. Sports also serve as a protective factor for risky behavior. The PHIT Act will reduce participation barriers and allow more young people to participate. This bipartisan legislation will help mitigate the physical and mental health challenges created by COVID-19.”
“Americans, especially our children, need to be more active, and studies have shown that children who are physically active do better academically in school,” said Jon Butler, President of Pop Warner Little Scholars. “Being active is also a good means of enhancing mood elevation and self-esteem. Passing the PHIT Act to lower activity costs will help families with youth sports expenses to increase participation in sports.”
SFIA is a leading advocate on Capitol Hill for promoting physical activity in America and is committed to finding solutions to the cost, access, and other barriers to participation. SFIA believes physical activity is key to a healthy life and the U.S. needs to make it a bigger priority. The long-term benefits of a more active America will not only improve the health of our citizens but also contribute to the national priority of lowering overall healthcare costs.
“The pandemic gave us a new appreciation for the physical and mental health benefits of activity,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “The PHIT Act is a common sense solution to allow more Americans to participate in sports, exercise, and recreate in the outdoors by making such activities more affordable and accessible. SFIA applauds Senators Thune and Murphy and Congressmen Kelly and Panetta for their strong commitment to improving the health of every American, and we pledge to work worth with our congressional champions to pass the PHIT Act.”
For questions regarding the PHIT Act, please contact Bill Sells, SVP, Government Relations & Public Affairs, at [email protected].
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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 sfia.org.
Pickleball Remains Fastest Growing Sport in America — 124 Activities Tracked in Report
SILVER SPRING, MD (February 22, 2023) – More Americans participated in at least one sport, fitness exercise, or outdoor recreation activity in 2022 than in any of the five previous years, according to the newly released Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Topline Participation Report. Considered the sports and fitness industry’s essential reference document for sports participation, the 2023 SFIA Topline Report tracks participation rates of Americans aged six and older, across 124 different sports, fitness, and outdoor activities, including a section dedicated to the impact of COVID-19 on participation rates.
For the fifth consecutive year, activity in the U.S. continued to increase. In 2022, 77.6% of all Americans, or 236.9 million people, participated in at least one activity during the 2022 calendar year. Based on trend analysis into and out of the pandemic disruption, the United States saw a 9.2% increase in total participation rates from 2017 and a 1.9% increase from 2021.
“This year’s report reinforces that Americans are prioritizing physical activity as they establish habits and routines in a post-pandemic environment,“ states Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “But, we will make a mistake if we take some good signals for granted. Looking forward, sports and fitness delivery systems must commit to providing accessible, reasonably priced, and high-quality experiences to keep athletes engaged.”
Pickleball continued its incredible rise in America and remains the fastest-growing sport. Participation nearly doubled in 2022, increasing by 85.7% year-over-year and by an astonishing 158.6% over three years. But pickleball is not the only racquet sport to see continued growth. For the first time since 2015, every racquet sport increased its total participation number compared to the previous year.
In terms of team sports, the overall participation rate approached, but did not exceed, the 2019 rate. Basketball, outdoor soccer, and flag football all posted three-year increases of over 4.5%, with basketball leading the way with a 13% increase since 2019. Notably, evidence that “CORE participation” cumulatively across all team sports (a frequency measure to capture those most active) continues to lag suggests while athletes are playing, they may not be playing as much as they used to.
Lifestyle activities generally remained very popular. Golf and tennis have grown more than 20% since 2019, and yoga grew more than 10% in that same time period. Trail running and day hiking participation grew for the fifth straight year. However, facility-based fitness activities like elliptical, group stationary cycling, and weight resistance machines, which suffered as clubs were shuttered during COVID, have struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels.
The report also includes 10-year trend analyses by activity category, data dives into inactivity, and surveys of Americans’ aspirations to take on new activities in 2023.
The 2023 Topline Participation Report is free to SFIA members and is available for purchase for $350 to non-members.
The report is provided free of charge to members of the media. If you are interested in a copy of this report or an interview with a member of SFIA, please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected].
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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 sfia.org.
Adam Franklin & Richard Sullivan Join Board; Six Re-elected to Three-Year Terms
SILVER SPRING, MD (January 9, 2023) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is pleased to announce the re-election of Jonathan Ram, Chief Executive Officer, Clarks, Inc. as Chairman of the SFIA Board of Directors for the 2023 term. In addition, Adam Franklin, President of Franklin Sports, and Richard Sullivan, President & CEO, Asics North America, were newly elected to the Board, along with six Board members who were re-elected, all for three-year terms. They join 11 remaining Board members serving staggered terms. The election took place at SFIA’s Annual Meeting on December 15, 2022.
Ram was appointed to his current role with Clark’s in April 2022, after serving as the Group President for Global Activewear with HanesBrands. Additional previous executive positions include New Balance, NBA, Roots, and others.
“SFIA plays a critical role in addressing the big picture issues facing sports and fitness, and I look forward to serving in this leadership position,” says Mr. Ram. “I am always encouraged by the energy and experience of the SFIA Board members – we are committed to working together to serve this great industry.”
“We are fortunate and grateful to have Jonathan Ram back as our Chairman of the SFIA Board,” states Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “Jon’s industry experience, leadership, creativity, and interpersonal skills are a huge asset to SFIA – especially now as the association evolves away from the focus on disruption of the pandemic and supply chain challenges of recent years.”
New Additions to the Board of Directors Include:
- Adam Franklin: President, Franklin Sports – 2023-2025
- Richard Sullivan: President & CEO, Asics North America – 2023-2025
Board Members Being Re-Elected Include:
- Melissa Dawson: President, Molten USA – 2023-2025
- Rawleigh Grove: Vice President & General Counsel, PING Inc. – 2023-2025
- Ray Hilvert: Vice President, New Balance Sports – 2023-2025
- Scott McDonald: CEO, Body-Solid Inc. – 2023-2025
- Roman Oben: Vice President, Football Development & Strategy, National Football League (NFL) – 2023-2025
- Marco Zambianchi: President, North America, Technogym – 2023-2025
The above new additions and re-elected members will be joining currently serving Board members:
- Dan Arment: Immediate Past Chairman, President & CEO, Riddell & BRG Sports – 2022-2024
- Terry Babilla: President & CEO, BSN Sports – 2021-2023
- Jennifer Bendall: Vice President, North America Government & Public Affairs, Nike – 2022-2024
- Kim Davis: Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth Initiative & Legislative Affairs, National Hockey League – 2022-2024
- Dave Elliot: CEO, Augusta Sportswear Brands – 2022-2024
- Jeff Fiorini: CEO, Nevco Sports – 2022-2024
- Michael Schroeder: Senior Vice President, Sales, Gildan – 2022-2024
- Dan Sheridan: President & CEO, Brooks Running Company – 2022-2024
- Laura St. George: Executive Vice President, Gared – 2022-202
- Kurt Tandan: Associate General Counsel & Senior Director of Corporate Affairs, adidas – 2021-2023
- Mike Zlaket: President and CEO, Rawlings Sporting Goods – 2021-2023
The new Chairman of the Board and Board of Directors began their terms on January 1, 2023.
SILVER SPRING, MD (December 22, 2022) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its 2022 U.S. Trends in Team Sports Report, which examines participation and market trends from 2021 in team sports and features in-depth data analysis of age group participation and specific takeaways. This year’s report also breaks down data on team sports coaches and trainings, and features a new section on young adult team sports participation, covering ages 18 to 24.
SFIA data reveals that while participation numbers are increasing, they are not quite back at pre-pandemic levels yet. SFIA data shows that the number of team sports participants increased from 67 million in 2020 to 68.3 million in 2021 – a growth of 1.8% – but participation is not yet back to where it was in 2019 at 70.8 million. There are positive signs for the future of team sports to be seen, as the number of participants in the 6-to-12 age group increased from 17 million to 17.6 million.
“The number of 6-to-12-year old’s playing sports not only increased in 2021, but it is the highest we have seen in the last five years,” states Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “After free play and recess, team sports are often the first regular physical activity in which children participate, and the experience can be the foundational connection to a lifetime of sports and fitness participation.”
As has been the case for many years, SFIA data revealed that basketball is still the most-played team sport in the United States with 27.1 million participants in 2021. Basketball has proven throughout the pandemic to have maintained high participation, as it is easy to play solo, in social formats, and in small-sided games and has a low cost of entry. While basketball continues to maintain its popularity, we did see outdoor soccer overtake basketball as the top sport for 6-year-olds in 2021. With the recent energy and excitement around both the men’s and women’s World Cup, we expect soccer participation to continue to grow in the future.
Among 23 team sports, the biggest year-over-year changes in participation on a percentage basis belonged to fast-pitch softball (+15.3%), gymnastics (+10.9%), court volleyball (+8.1%) and swimming on a team (+8.0%) [fig. 1d]. Participation in these activities was likely aided by the summer Olympics.
Five team sports – including flag football, grass volleyball, fast-pitch softball, court volleyball, and basketball, saw increased CORE participation over a five-year average for 6-to-17-year olds. 11 sports increased total participation over a five-year average for the same age range.
“While a lot of people were back participating in sports, it is important to remember that many spring season team sports were not at full strength in early 2021 due to the Omicron COVID variant,” states Cove. “While conclusive evidence remains to be drawn, early indications suggest 2022 participation may reach, if not surpass, 2019 numbers as organized spring sport activities fully returned for the first time in two years.”
The 2022 Trends in Team Sports Report is free to SFIA members and is available for purchase for $649 to non-members.
The report is provided free of charge to members of the media. If you are interested in a copy of this report or an interview with a member of SFIA, please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected].
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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 sfia.org.
Presented by Licensing International and the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, the event will feature insights from industry leaders including Fanatics, Hasbro, the NFLPA, and The Ohio State University.
SILVER SPRING, MD (December 14, 2022) – Licensing International, the leading trade organization for the global brand licensing industry, and the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the top trade association for the sporting goods and fitness industry, have revealed the first wave of expert speakers participating in the brand-new Sports Licensing Summit.
The event will highlight the trends shaping the future of sports licensing, including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, NFTs, and the shifting retail landscape. Sports Licensing Summit will feature insights from industry leaders including Altius, Fanatics, Hasbro, Learfield, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), Octane5, OneTeam Partners, and The Ohio State University. Additionally, the event will provide opportunities to network with sports licensing experts and develop new relationships.
Taking place on January 17, 2023, the Sports Licensing Summit: Sports Licensing in Focus event will be held at the Sahara Resort in Las Vegas prior to the Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show (January 18–20). Presentations and panels will be held from 1 pm – 5 pm, followed by cocktails and networking.
“This event is bringing together some of the brightest minds in the industry and we are thrilled to share their insights and strategies with the licensing community in partnership with SFIA,” says Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “Sports licensing continues to evolve, expanding to touch categories including entertainment, music, and lifestyle. Sports Licensing Summit will gather experts from across the industry, creating new connections and driving the business forward.”
“We are excited to partner with Licensing International on this innovative new Summit as the sports licensing industry enters an exciting and rapidly changing space,” says Tom Cove, President & CEO of SFIA. “Licensed sports products have always been a reflection of the passion, creativity, and fun of the sports consumer—as a result, the industry carries remarkable energy and growth potential. Sports Licensing Summit will deliver actionable insights around those dynamics and offer access to top executives and decision-makers in the process.”
Sponsors for Sports Licensing Summit include The Brand Liaison, CounterFind, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), Octane5, and OneTeam Partners. Sportico is the event’s official media partner.
SFIA Members can reveal the special discount code for registration by signing into their SFIA account and clicking on “SLS Discount Code” under the “Members Only” Tab.
For more information on the program, click here.
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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 LICENSING INTERNATIONAL: Licensing International is the leading trade organization for the $315+ billion global brand licensing industry. Licensing International’s mission is to foster the growth and expansion of brand licensing around the world, raise the level of professionalism for licensing practitioners, and create greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large. Founded in 1985, more than 1,500 Licensing International member companies in over 40 countries enjoy access to an array of benefits, including extensive educational programming and worldwide networking events. Visit www.licensinginternational.org for more information.
SILVER SPRING, MD (October 19, 2022) – Exploring everything from changing consumer purchasing behavior, digital commerce, and inventory/supply chain trends, to NIL and Title IX’s impact on the industry, the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) hosted the 2022 Industry Leaders Summit, presented by Credova, in Chicago on October 24-25, 2022.
“SFIA was thrilled to gather the industry’s top industry executives for this year’s ILS,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “You could feel the energy and excitement in the room from just being able to be back together again, and to be engaging on a variety of important industry topics with our members, partners, and sponsors.”
Some of the highlights included Wendy Yang, former president of Hoka, who kicked off the conference with a discussion about how brands can be “pro-ruptors”. Yang shared how brands can create positive industry change by challenging the status quo. Rustom Dastoor, Mastercard’s Executive VP of Integrated Marketing and Communications for North America, provided a captivating analysis of consumer insights. He highlighted the three emerging trends in how consumers are living: virtually, with intention, and with impact. Tuesday afternoon featured panels about hot new brands, company culture and retention, digital products and web 3, and Title IX. The day wrapped up with networking sessions and an industry awards ceremony, capped by a celebration of the winner of the 2022 SFIA Start-Up Challenge, Ida Sports.
On Wednesday, the day kicked off with one of the most respected and widely followed sports retail analysts in the country, Matt Powell, who shared year-to-year retail data and outlined industry trends in footwear, apparel, and equipment. The day also included an expert panel on the hot topic of NIL and concluded with Tom Stockham of ExpertVoice presenting the keys to successful influencer marketing and Vince Iacopella with Alba Wheels Up International LLC presenting a timeline of supply chain issues, future problem areas, and potential remedies to improve U.S. port and transpacific congestion issues.
Click here for a brief video recap of the 2022 ILS.
If you are interested in a brief event recap or have any questions about the 2022 Industry Leaders Summit, please contact Lisa Futterman.
Thank you to our sponsors: Credova, Merchant Cost Consulting, The NPD Group, Re:Build Manufacturing
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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 (October 19, 2022) – The Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is pleased to announce that Credova will be the Presenting Partner for the 2022 Industry Leaders Summit (ILS). The C-level executive sports and fitness industry event will take place in-person for the first time since 2019 in less than one week – October 25-26 – in Chicago.
ILS is an annual event the SFIA hosts to bring together the most accomplished, respected, and influential executives together to network and discuss topics currently affecting the sports and fitness industry. The 2022 event includes sessions covering: hiring and retaining top talent, NIL, supply chain, consumer insights, retail trends, Title IX, digital innovation, and more.
“SFIA is excited to have Credova as our Presenting Partner for this year’s ILS,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “Credova is SFIA’s only endorsed Buy Now, Pay Later provider, and their services can better support our members in retail sales by providing additional payment options for their consumers.”
“The Credova team couldn’t be happier about SFIA’s endorsement,” says Kamron Davis, Chief Revenue Officer, Credova. “We look forward to bringing our payment technology services to SFIA members and supporting the ILS this year, and for many years to come.”
Credova provides a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payment method with split payments as well as long duration installments. Credova was specifically designed to serve the outdoor recreation and sporting goods markets.
“SFIA is grateful for Credova’s support of ILS, and as an SFIA strategic partner, and we look forward to our continued partnership in the future as well,” says Cove.
Click here for more information on the ILS program, speaker lineup, and to register – seats are still available for the event, taking place October 25-26.
For questions, sponsorship inquiries, or if you are a member of the media and would like to attend free of charge, contact [email protected].
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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 CREDOVA: Credova is the leading outdoor recreation and sporting goods point-of-sale financing platform providing a buy now, pay later solution with multiple financing products. To learn more about Credova, please visit www.credova.com.
SILVER SPRING, MD (October 17, 2022) – The Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is pleased to announce The NPD Group is back again as a Supporting Sponsor for the 2022 Industry Leaders Summit (ILS). The annual industry event will take place on October 25-26, 2022, in downtown Chicago.
The Industry Leaders Summit, presented by Credova, brings C-level industry folks together for networking and to discuss pressing topics in the industry, including manufacturing, consumer behavior and insights, trade and supply chain, the changing landscape of sports growth and consumption, and more.
“SFIA is excited to have The NPD Group back at ILS as a sponsor for our biggest annual event,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “Our members and partners rely on NPD’s detailed insights and data across all channels to help them make strategic decisions for their businesses in the future.”
The NPD Group, which recently merged with Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), offers data, industry expertise, and prescriptive analytics to help its clients understand today’s retail landscape and prepare for the future.
Supported by NPD data, retailers and manufacturers can make the most informed decisions in a dynamic marketplace, and across nearly every aspect of business, including pricing, distribution, product assortment, sales, marketing, demand planning, product development, and more. By combining actual retail sales data from over 600,000 doors with industry expertise and analytics across more than 20 industries, NPD helps companies understand what is selling, who is buying, and the why behind the buy.
“We are appreciative of our continued partnership with SFIA and thrilled to be back at the ILS as a sponsor this year,” said Dirk Sorenson, Executive Director, NPD. “As an industry, we are now facing new challenges where an informed data-driven strategy is of the utmost benefit to both brands and retailers. Navigating shifts in demand during a time when economic uncertainty is a daily headline requires the sporting goods industry to use tools informed by data to improve pricing, product, and supply chain choices. With NPD’s ability to provide detailed sales data down to the item level, we are excited to contribute those very tools to SFIA’s membership and the industry more generally.”
“We are particularly looking forward to welcoming back Matt Powell to speak,” says Cove. “As NPD’s Sports Senior Industry Advisor, Matt is one of the most respected and widely followed analysts in the country on U.S. sports product industry retail trends.”
Seats are still open for the limited-attendance ILS event! Click here for more information on the ILS program, speaker lineup, and to register. For questions, sponsorship inquiries, or if you are a member of the media and would like to attend free of charge, contact [email protected].
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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 THE NPD GROUP: NPD is a global market information company offering data, industry expertise, and prescriptive analytics to help our clients understand today’s retail landscape and prepare for the future. Over 2,000 companies worldwide rely on us to help them measure, predict, and improve performance across all channels, including brick-and-mortar, e-commerce, and B2B. We have services in 21 countries 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, food service, footwear, home, home improvement, juvenile products, media entertainment, mobile, office supplies, retail, sports, toys, and video games. For more information, visit npd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @npdgroup.