OUTDOOR Trader (2018/2019)

Outdoor Industry Grows Steadily Look Forward to Environmental Protecting, Comfort, Profession I n 2017, the total export volume of sporting goods industry reached 1.79 billion USD, an increase of 0.01% compared with 1.706 billion in 2016. It is not hard to discover the substantial increase of total export value in 2017. It is believed that overseas sales will increase even more in the future. The sales growth of outdoor play goods such as sports shoes, ball games, and inflatable yachts are the most prominent items among all the categories. In addition, both products and activities have new concepts in the sporting goods industry. A comprehensive view of outdoor brand products such as Marmot, Osprey, Columbia, The North Face in recent years, the future trend of outdoor product development is following with six points below: 1. Green Products: Every outdoor product company seems to be manufacturing sustainable environmentally friendly products. In some cases, they use recycled garbage to make shirts, packaging, and other products. Consumers prefer to buy products which are sustain- able and recyclable. 2. Outdoor elaboration: Compared with previous complicated equipment, outdoor products have become more lightweight and exquisite; Experiencing outdoor activities could be as comfortable as staying home. 3. Integrated into daily life: Outdoor retailers now launch products that can be used daily. The outdoor products that consumers can use before and after the adventure will be a money spinner for brands. These products are not only for outdoor activities, but also with cute and cool design! 4. Outdoor equipment for Women: Women are also in love with outdoor adventures! Products designed by female designers is a trend. Sportswear become more fashionable and more suitable for women's stature. 5. Focus on color and style: Outdoor equipment can also be used as "daily use". That is why many retailers' clothing, backpacks, shoes, and even tents and other equipment enhance the design on color and pattern. 6. Multifunctional and technological elements: There are various brands and products on the market, but the products will never succeed without being functional. At this year's Outdoor Retailer Show, all products you can find are versatile and durable, the one with less than 7 functions is basically useless. For example, backpacks can also be used as hand- bags. INDUSTRY TRENDS By/ Infotrade 10