ORLANDO, FL (BRAIN)—4th of July weekend not only brought fireworks to the sky, but also to the IBD sales floor.
“We were busy,” said Holte Tucker, manager of Open Road Bicycles in Jacksonville, Florida. “This whole month has been busy. Repairs have been up. Sales have been up. People are out there wanting to ride bikes and have fun.”
A poll by Leisure Trends seems to back Tucker’s comments, with 79 percent of respondents indicating sales increased greater than 20 percent from the prior year.
Asked when customers began shopping for their 4th of July activities 64 percent of respondents indicated sales up the week before 4th of July.
“The week before everyone wanted to get their bikes ready for the weekend,” said Zack Geyer, sales/mechanic for Stadium Bike in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Retailers were discreet choosing not to divulge details regarding hot selling products. Leading up to the weekend, however, there was an uptick in some categories including car racks and bike carriers.
Retailers’ forecast for the remainder of the summer seems to vary by industry with most bike, paddlesports and specialty running stores remaining optimistic, whereas outdoor and scuba dive retailers are bearish.
***NOTE: Responses were received from nearly 50 stores representing more than 220 locations across the country.
—Jason Norman
