SportsShoes.com sprints to double-digit sales gains as outdoor category shines

SportsShoes.com is continuing its run of strong sales with the digital sportswear giant achieving a 13% year-on-year increase in six-month outdoor product sales across its UK and international websites.

Helping achieve a total turnover of £90 million in the half-year to 1 September, the retailer also secured 7,000 new customers for its growing outdoor categories in the same period, representing a 13% in year-on-year growth.

The total number of unique outdoor customer orders in the period increased 11% year-on-year to 120,000, it noted. 

International sales also grew and even better 22% with 75,000 new customers acquired in the same period, representing 17% year-on-year growth.

Alongside its international websites for France, Germany, Italy and Spain, the retailer is targeting further growth in new overseas markets including Poland, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Nordics. 

The retailer said factors contributing to the half-year growth in outdoor sales included seasonal conditions driving more customers to purchase waterproof footwear and apparel. Also helping was “significant” demand for hiking shoes in the period.

Overall, there was a lot of product to chose from with more than 17,000 SKUs from 150 global running and outdoor brands, including Salomon, Montane, Rab, Patagonia, Asics, Nike, Adidas, Hoka, New Balance and Brooks.

SportsShoes.com managing director Brett Bannister said: “The outdoor market represents a core opportunity for us as we target new growth opportunities in the UK and overseas.
 
“As we do with our running and athlete communities, we always look at ways we can complement and excite our established online presence with physical brand activations.
 
“Underpinning this is our commitment to offering an amazing product range from leading brands and continual efforts to ensure provide a best-in-class online purchasing experience.”