Retailers hot for consumers wanting to get out in the cold
PORTLAND, Maine — Over the summer, people looking to get out of the house snapped up boats, bicycles and patio furniture, figuring they were safer socializing and being active outdoors than inside. Now that temperatures are dropping, they’re buying snowshoes, skis, bootsandwinter coats, boosting the beleaguered retail sector.
“People want to get outside in the fresh air,” said Jay Rock from Arlberg Ski and Surf Shop in Portland. “I feel like people are not too concerned about spending money.”
When shoppers aren’t looking for ways to stay active many are looking to stay comfortable, meaning sales of items like slippers and warm pajamas have also skyrocketed.
Hot sellers tend to fall into several categories— products promoting a healthy lifestyle, working and learning from home, and entertaining from home, said Marsh al Cohen, chief retail analyst at theNPDGroup.
“The cozy comfort business continues to thrive because we’ve now worn slippers everyday” sincethe pandemichit, headded.
For outdoor gear, cross- country skiing equipment was up 202% and snowshoes were up 221% from August to October, the latest data available, and are still going strong, according to the Snow sports Industries America.
In the comfort segment, slippers are up 70% and the sleep category is ahead of last year, whennearly$ 8.5billion worth of pajamaswere sold, NPDGroupsaid.
Sleepwear is just about the only area of the clothing sector that’s seeing growth this year, Cohen said. An NPDsurveyonstay- at- home behaviors indicated about half of Americans reported wearing activewear and loungewear and pajamas all day asmore peoplework fromhome.
The trend is a continuation of what began in the springandsummer.
People are canceling travel and staying home because of the pandemic, but they’re also seeking to get outdoors to avoid going stir crazy. That made barbecues, outdoor furniture, outdoor heaters, trampolines, canoes and camping gear hot commodities.
Shopper Kara Douglas of Harpswell picked up some cross- country ski boots, snowpants and other outdoor gear for her family.
She said it’s important for everyone, especially her daughters ages 11 and 14, to get outside.
“They’re spending a lot of time doing school remotely. They’re spending way too much time on screens. For my kids, I just feel like we need to be really, really diligent about keeping them outside and keeping them active,” shesaid.
Some retailers are struggling tokeepitems in stock.
At Rodgers Ski & Sport in Scarborough, shoppers looking to get outside are snapping up alpine skis, and they’ve purchased so many cross- country skis that the supply is low, said Bryan Gallant, assistant manager. Customers want snowshoes, but they’re sold out.
“People are outfitting their whole families, and not thinking twice about it,” he said .“People aren’ t flinching at theprice of the product.”