SFIA Releases 2022 Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report

The sports and fitness products industry grew by 15.8% in 2021

SILVER SPRING, MD (April 8, 2022) – The sporting goods industry experienced record-breaking sales in 2021, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) annual Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report. The report, released today, tracks U.S. wholesale revenues of sports and fitness goods in over 30 categories, and provides comparisons to revenues from previous years. 

The total market for sports equipment, exercise equipment, athletic footwear, sports apparel, and licensed merchandise saw a 15.8% increase in revenue from 2020 and a 16.4% increase since 2019 pre-pandemic numbers, with a majority of the tracked categories experiencing growth of over 10% in those two years. As a result of these record-breaking numbers, the sporting goods industry is now valued at over $111 billion dollars.

“These numbers are extraordinary – the largest jump SFIA has seen in the history of us tracking this data,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “Even with the numerous supply chain issues and a myriad of challenges manufacturers have experienced because of the pandemic, these sales figures clearly show the sports and fitness industry is thriving.”

Total sports equipment sales are up 16.8% since 2019. The top five sporting equipment categories with the largest growth over two years are golf (57.1%), camping (33.6%), snow sports (27.2%), tennis (27%), and basketball (26.6%).

Total exercise equipment sales, including both consumer and institutional, have increased 42.2% from pre-pandemic levels, with four consumer equipment categories – home gyms, exercise cycles, free weights, and exercise benches – experiencing over 100% growth since 2019. Fitness product sales showed the most volatility amongst different products within the category, with consumer fitness products showing dramatic growth in the initial stages of the pandemic period. 

“When Americans were restricted from schools, facilities, and group gatherings, they still wanted to be physically active and they purchased our products for this purpose,” says Cove.  “As pandemic restrictions lessened, Americans continued to buy active lifestyle products –  showing how central the sports and fitness industry is to Americans’ well-being. With team sports participation approaching pre-pandemic levels, we are optimistic the positive market indicators will sustain.”

The 2022 Manufacturers’ Sales Report is free to SFIA Members and is available to the public for purchase by clicking here for $245.

Many manufacturing sales increases parallel participation trends reported in SFIA’s 2022 Topline Participation Report, which you can learn more about 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].

# # #

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.

Team Sports Participation Slowly Recovering, Pickleball Officially Fastest Growing Sport

SILVER SPRING, MD (Feb. 11, 2022) – As the world slowly began to reopen in 2021, Americans got back on the move, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) annual Topline Participation Report. The report tracks participation rates of Americans aged six and older, across 120 different sport, fitness, and outdoor activities, including a section dedicated to the impact of COVID-19 on participation rates.

For the second year in a row, inactivity levels declined. Decreasing by 0.7% from 2020, inactivity is the lowest it has ever been. Compared to 2016, activity has increased 7.8% – that is 16.8 million more people participating in sports and fitness in a five-year span. Lower inactivity levels in 2021 were primarily driven by the 18-24 and 25-34 age groups, with youth inactivity – age groups 6-12 and 13-17 – also decreasing for the fifth year in a row. While these activity numbers are encouraging, there is still a lot of work to do as over 72 million people are still inactive.

“2021 showed pandemic-friendly activities like tennis, golf, running, hiking, yoga, skateboarding and surfing continue to be popular, while other categories that declined in 2020 are starting to recover,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA.

Across the seven sports categories tracked by SFIA, water sports saw the largest year-over-year increase in participation at 2.3%, followed closely behind by outdoor sports with a 2.2% increase. Team sports saw a year-over-year increase of 1.8%, but participation still remains lower than pre-pandemic levels with approximately 2 million fewer people participating in team sports in 2021 than in 2019.

Pickleball continues its incredible rise, becoming the fastest-growing sport over the last two years, with participation seeing a 39.3% growth. Yoga has grown 12.8% in that same time frame, making it one of the fastest-growing activities during the pandemic.

We continue to see a substantial participation impact through major events. With the summer Olympic games taking place in 2021, participation in gymnastics, fast-pitch softball, swimming on a team, and court volleyball all increased by over 8%. This is almost double the amount of growth the next highest team sport saw.

Cove says, “As we continue to face challenges with an ongoing, unpredictable pandemic, we are encouraged to see folks returning to health clubs and heading back out to the courts and fields, and continuing the active lifestyles they adopted during the pandemic.”

The 2022 Topline Participation Report is free to SFIA Members and is available to the public for purchase by clicking here for $349.

The report is provided free of charge to members of the media. If you are interested in a copy of this report, please contact Lisa Futterman 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.

The 6th Annual Event Will Take Place Virtually This July

SILVER SPRING, MD (Feb. 9, 2022) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA)’s annual Start-Up Challenge is back for the sixth time. The Start-Up Challenge, the industry’s premier innovation showcase, brings together young companies and entrepreneurs to pitch groundbreaking concepts in a competitive format. Up to 10 finalists will be selected from the applicant pool and will present virtually to over 100 judges, consisting of executives, investors, and thought leaders in the sports and fitness industry.

To date, SFIA has showcased 31 start-up companies as finalists, providing them with the opportunity to raise awareness, receive investments, initiate partnerships and kickstart their business in front of their target audience. Since participating in the Start-Up Challenge, these finalists have collectively raised over $168 million.

“Our industry is fueled by innovation, with start-ups leading the way,” said Tom Cove, SFIA President & CEO. “As we enter the third year of the pandemic, we need new ideas and bright entrepreneurs who care about making a difference in sports and fitness more than ever. SFIA is committed to supporting new ideas and we’re excited to again host the Start-Up Challenge to highlight the next wave of groundbreaking innovators and judges.”

All 2022 finalists will receive one free year of an SFIA membership, their company logo featured in an SFIA research report, direct leads and instant feedback on their company from all judges, and a personal introduction to five judges of their choice.

The grand prize winner will additionally receive free registration to SFIA’s Industry Leaders Summit (ILS) in October (annual C-level industry conference; $1,700 value), a panel speaking opportunity at ILS and public recognition at the dinner reception, national media coverage, a spotlight in SFIA’s State of the Industry Report, and more prizes to be announced.

The application is now live and open to any entrepreneur with an idea, product, or service in the sporting goods, team sports, sports tech and/or fitness space. All applications submitted before March 25, 2022, will be evaluated and considered for a finalist position.

Potential judges and interested Start-Ups can find additional information and the applications by clicking here or visiting sfiastartupchallenge.org. 

SFIA Start-Up Challenge Digital Media Partner: Spark Inc. 

# # # 

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’s New Tracking the Fitness Movement Report Reveals Fitness Industry Saw Positive and Negative Impacts During Pandemic

While Overall Participation Rates Remained High, Industry Sees Change in Activity Trends

SILVER SPRING, MD (November 3, 2021) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its 2021 Tracking the Fitness Movement Report, which features an in-depth analysis of specific trends, participation habits, and purchasing behaviors in the fitness industry. The COVID-19 pandemic impact reverberated throughout the sports and recreation world, but nowhere was the simultaneous positive and negative impact felt more dramatically than in the fitness business.

While participation levels in fitness remained strong in 2020, staying flat from 2019 with over 200 million fitness participants, the pandemic altered the sorts of activities that individuals could participate in. Activities that could be done at home, outdoors, or through digital connection thrived, while fitness activities taking place in health clubs or other enclosed fitness spaces struggled due to forced health club shutdowns. 

2020 showed us that Americans really came to understand the value of being active during the pandemic, not just for physical health, but for mental health. This led to changes in the types of fitness activities that active Americans were participating in, dramatically affecting the fitness business that even led to a reduced supply of fitness products on shelves and online. Walking for Fitness, Bodyweight Exercise, Yoga, Running/Jogging, and Free Weights were the top fitness activities that Americans participated in during the pandemic.

“Despite the challenges we faced with COVID-19, more Americans longed to be active,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO of the SFIA. “We saw individuals adapting the nature and venue of their fitness activities. While the connected fitness trend was already on the rise prior to the pandemic, it allowed active Americans to digitally connect. We saw more capabilities to be physically active from our own homes, and the use of digital tools to connect, partnered with the ability to participate in socially-distanced outdoor activities.” 

One unique characteristic of fitness in 2020 was that Americans focused more on a single activity rather than a wide variety, which had been the previous trend. With many health clubs being closed for extended periods of time, Americans had less options to stay active in a communal facility, and in turn, we saw a 40.5% increase in at-home equipment sales. Some of the top sellers included free weights, with over a 104% increase in home-use sales, with other items seeing massive increases since 2019, such as home gyms (74%), exercise cycles (67.1%), rowing machines (47.1%), and treadmills (44%).

“Looking forward, we do believe the health club consumer will return to clubs, although it may take time,” Cove states. “The multitude of fitness activities to choose from, along with access to innovative new equipment, group classes, and in-person personalized training, will attract and inspire returning and new fitness enthusiasts.” 

The 2021 Tracking the Fitness Movement 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 of this report, please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected].

Three New Board Members Elected, Four Re-elected to Three-Year Terms

SILVER SPRING, MD (January 7, 2022) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is pleased to announce the election of Jonathan Ram, Group President, Global Activewear, HanesBrands Inc., as Chairman of the SFIA Board of Directors from 2022-2023. In addition, three new members were elected, and four members were re-elected to three-year terms. They join 13 remaining Board members serving staggered terms. The election took place at SFIA’s Annual Meeting on December 17, 2021.

Mr. Ram has served in his current role with HanesBrands since 2018, and previously spent 16 years with New Balance Athletics Inc., most recently as Executive Vice President.

“Jonathan Ram has had an exemplary career as a top executive in our industry. This experience, combined with his invaluable service as a member of SFIA’s Board of Directors since 2016, including several years on the Executive Committee, make him the perfect choice to lead the organization forward,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “We are fortunate and excited to have Jon’s vision and energy leading SFIA.”

New Additions to the Board of Directors Include:

Board Members Being Re-Elected Include:

Mr. Ram replaces former Chairman of the Board Dan Arment, CEO and President of Riddell, who served two, one-year terms as Chairman. 

“The entire SFIA Board, staff and membership will be forever indebted to Dan Arment for his steadfast leadership during the most tumultuous time our industry faced in generations,” said Cove. “We are so thankful and appreciative for the commitment he made to SFIA when we needed him most.”

The new Chairman of the Board and Board of Directors began their terms on January 1, 2022.

Basketball, Indoor and Outdoor Soccer, Flag Football and Ultimate Frisbee Bucked Trend and Grew

SILVER SPRING, MD (December 21, 2021) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its 2021 U.S. Trends in Team Sports Report, which examines participation and market trends in team sports and features in-depth data analysis of age group participation and specific takeaways. This year’s report breaks out the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the team sports landscape across multiple demographic cross-sections.

SFIA data shows the total number of Americans participating in a team sport dropped by 3.8 million players. In contrast to previous years, team sports participation in 2020 skewed heavily toward casual or recreational participation, which saw an increase versus core participation, with over 80% of touch football, grass volleyball, basketball, ultimate frisbee, and beach/sand volleyball players participating in casual games.

Basketball, which lends itself to solo practice, small-sided games, and social formats, as well as competitive play, was the most played team sport in America in 2020, and its 11.4% growth was by far the largest of any team sport. Even amid the pandemic, four other team sports grew in 2020, including indoor soccer, outdoor soccer – now the number two team sport among 18–24-year-olds – ultimate frisbee, and flag football.

“As much as any sports and fitness category, team sports participation was negatively affected by the unique environment forced upon our country by the pandemic,” said Tom Cove, President and CEO of SFIA. “As was to be expected, team sports that were able to be played outdoors and in a less organized fashion did better in 2020. At the same time, there is encouraging news that the average number of team sports played increased, suggesting more experimentation and perhaps, more overall growth over a long period of time.”

Despite a decline in team sports participation, the SFIA report indicates the number of sports played per participant increased from 1.84 to 1.88, overturning a three-year declining trend. A common theme for sports that had more participants during 2020 was that those sports could be played recreationally, outside, or socially distanced. In many instances, the pandemic forced kids to try new sports that were socially distant.

Another positive trend SFIA found was an increase in coaching training, and trained coaches help provide better experiences for players, which can lead to a higher retention rate.

Cove states, “In an unprecedented year, team sports grinded it out and survived. The best news is initial indicators suggest a robust return to team sports participation as pandemic restrictions are lifted and schools and recreation spaces open back up. We are encouraged by the underlying data and feel strongly that team sports have a good foundation for moving into 2021 and beyond.”

The 2021 U.S. Trends in Team Sports Report is free to SFIA Members and is available to the public for purchase by clicking here for $649. The report is provided free-of-charge to members of the media. If you are interested in a copy of this report, please contact Lisa Futterman 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. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

As Congress works to wrap up business for the year, the heat is on to pass lapsed tariff relief programs – the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). These popular programs provide manufacturers tariff relief on products no longer made in the U.S. GSP allows for duty free import of eligible products from 120 countries with developing economies. Both programs expired at the end of 2020. 

The Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness Act to renew the programs in July, but the House has failed to act. There is reason for optimism on action as Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Chairman of the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Trade, raised renewal of the programs during a December 2 hearing on China Trade. Chairman Blumenauer said the programs need to be renewed with changes while Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL), the Subcommittee’s top republican, made renewal of the tariff programs an “urgent priority” in the effort to compete with China. Combined, MTB and GSP offer 100s of millions in potential tariff relief for SFIA member products. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce followed up a letter sent to Congressional leaders pushing for renewal of the MTB and reauthorization of the GSP in year-end legislation. The Chamber noted that failure to act on these tariff relief programs will lead toa loss of sales and jobs for Americans as we struggle to recover from the pandemic. 

The Chamber pointed out that companies pay an additional $1.3 million per day due to the out-of-date and anticompetitive import tariffs on products and inputs no longer made in the U.S. They also highlighted that the MTB is not controversial, it was unanimously renewed in 2018. The U.S. International Trade Commission recommended 88 SFIA petitions for approval and the Senate included all of them in in the Senate-passed legislation to renew the MTB.  SFIA members could receive up to $44 million in tariff relief annually via the MTB program.

The GSP offers duty free access to the U.S. market for more than 5,000 products produced in qualified countries with developing economies to spur economic growth and job creation. GSP products typically do not compete with domestic manufacturers. U.S. companies are paying an additional $1.3 million per day due to the out-of-date and anticompetitive import tariffs on products and inputs no longer made in the U.S.

The National Association of Manufacturers added that many GSP beneficiaries are small businesses, employing fewer than 20 employees, and GSP offers them significant savings to help their competitiveness. A majority of GSP imports are raw materials, parts. and components relied upon by U.S. companies to produce goods domestically, and increased costs harm their competitiveness. It is estimated that the lapsed GSP program is costing U.S. companies more than a $1 billion annually.

The easiest solution is for the House to approve Senate-passed legislation, which provides for limited retroactive relief. The current discussion is related to changes in the GSP eligibility, which could complicate issues and require a House-Senate Conference to reconcile any differences in the bills.  Regardless of the process to get these programs renewed, there is general agreement on the need to act on these popular tariff relief programs.

Congress has a full agenda before adjourning for the year, but there will be multiple opportunities to renew MTB and reauthorize the GSP before Congress leaves town. If they fail to act, MTB and GSP will be a top priority early in 2022.

For more information on MTB and GSP please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP of Government & Public Affairs [email protected].

***

US Chamber of Commerce

Letter (note it is from Dec 2020) but last industry letter on subject)  https://www.uschamber.com/international/trade-agreements/u-s-chamber-letter-on-trade-legislation

Virtual Three-Day Event to Feature Sports & Fitness Industry Experts; Open to Press

SILVER SPRING, MD (November 8, 2021) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) will kick off it’s three-day virtual 2021 Trends & Insights Event, tomorrow, Tuesday, November 9 at 11 a.m. EST, ending on Thursday, November 11. The three-day virtual event is open to the media, and will feature top sports and fitness industry executives during live sessions, discussing trends impacting the industry.

Confirmed Speakers Include:

Topics will include: 

Click here to see our full speaker lineup and session topics.

In addition to hearing from sports and fitness industry experts, attendees have the ability to connect with other industry professionals, including scheduling one-on-one virtual meetings, roundtable discussions, and networking.

Trends & Insights is FREE for SFIA members and $299 per registration for non-members.

Event Sponsors and Corporate Partners: Globalization Partners, FlipGive, The NPD Group, Exponent, OpSec Security, Baird

Members of the media are invited to attend Trends & Insights at no cost. Please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected] to register.

### 

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. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

While Overall Participation Rates Remained High, Industry Sees Change in Activity Trends

SILVER SPRING, MD (November 3, 2021) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its 2021 Tracking the Fitness Movement Report, which features an in-depth analysis of specific trends, participation habits, and purchasing behaviors in the fitness industry. The COVID-19 pandemic impact reverberated throughout the sports and recreation world, but nowhere was the simultaneous positive and negative impact felt more dramatically than in the fitness business.

While participation levels in fitness remained strong in 2020, staying flat from 2019 with over 200 million fitness participants, the pandemic altered the sorts of activities that individuals could participate in. Activities that could be done at home, outdoors, or through digital connection thrived, while fitness activities taking place in health clubs or other enclosed fitness spaces struggled due to forced health club shutdowns. 

2020 showed us that Americans really came to understand the value of being active during the pandemic, not just for physical health, but for mental health. This led to changes in the types of fitness activities that active Americans were participating in, dramatically affecting the fitness business that even led to a reduced supply of fitness products on shelves and online. Walking for Fitness, Bodyweight Exercise, Yoga, Running/Jogging, and Free Weights were the top fitness activities that Americans participated in during the pandemic.

“Despite the challenges we faced with COVID-19, more Americans longed to be active,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO of the SFIA. “We saw individuals adapting the nature and venue of their fitness activities. While the connected fitness trend was already on the rise prior to the pandemic, it allowed active Americans to digitally connect. We saw more capabilities to be physically active from our own homes, and the use of digital tools to connect, partnered with the ability to participate in socially-distanced outdoor activities.” 

One unique characteristic of fitness in 2020 was that Americans focused more on a single activity rather than a wide variety, which had been the previous trend. With many health clubs being closed for extended periods of time, Americans had less options to stay active in a communal facility, and in turn, we saw a 40.5% increase in at-home equipment sales. Some of the top sellers included free weights, with over a 104% increase in home-use sales, with other items seeing massive increases since 2019, such as home gyms (74%), exercise cycles (67.1%), rowing machines (47.1%), and treadmills (44%).

“Looking forward, we do believe the health club consumer will return to clubs, although it may take time,” Cove states. “The multitude of fitness activities to choose from, along with access to innovative new equipment, group classes, and in-person personalized training, will attract and inspire returning and new fitness enthusiasts.” 

The 2021 Tracking the Fitness Movement 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 of this report, please contact Lisa Futterman 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.

Industry Speakers Announced for Three-Day Event

SILVER SPRING, MD (November 2, 2021) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has announced the speaker line-up for the 2021 Trends & Insights Event, taking place in one week, next Tuesday, November 9 through Thursday, November 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. 

The three-day virtual event will feature top sports and fitness industry executives during live sessions, discussing trends impacting the industry.

Confirmed Speakers Include:

Topics will include: 

Click here to see our full speaker lineup and session topics.

In addition to hearing from sports and fitness industry experts, attendees will have the ability to connect with other industry professionals, including scheduling one-on-one virtual meetings, roundtable discussions, and networking.

Trends & Insights is FREE for SFIA members and $299 per registration for non-members.

Event Sponsors and Corporate Partners: Globalization Partners, FlipGive, The NPD Group, Exponent, OpSec Security, Baird, SBRnet

Members of the media are invited to attend Trends & Insights at no cost. Please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected] to register.

### 

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. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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