Athletic Footwear Market Share Report Announced for First Quarter of 2000; Nike Holds Commanding Percentage of Footwear Market After First Quarter

Business Wire, April 7, 2000

Business/Sports Editors

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 2000

SportsTrend.Info, the sporting goods industry's authoritative source for product sales information, has released the latest sales figures for the athletic footwear market.

Using the most current point-of-sale data compiled from the nation's leading sporting goods retailers, department stores and specialty stores, SportsTrend.Info each week tracks exactly what products consumers are purchasing, as well as where and when.

The top-selling footwear manufacturers, first quarter of 2000 compared with the first quarter of 1999 based on market share dollars, are as follows:

  Manufacturer      2000              Manufacturer          1999

1.  Nike            39.2%             Nike                  48.9%

2.  Adidas          15.1%             Adidas                16.9%

3.  Reebok          10.9%             Reebok                10.9%

4.  New Balance      9.4%             New Balance            3.7%

5.  K-Swiss          3.6%             K-Swiss                3.1%

6.  Timberland       2.9%             Timberland             2.1%

7.  Asics            2.1%             Asics                  1.5%

8.  Saucony          1.4%             Lugz                   1.4%

9.  Skechers         1.4%             And 1                  0.9%

10.  And 1           1.2%             Saucony                0.9%

After the first quarter of 2000, Nike products comprised more than 39% of the footwear market, including an astounding 65.5% of the basketball shoe market. Although down from last year's numbers (48.9% of the overall market and 73.6% of the basketball shoe market), Nike continues to dominate the footwear industry.

In addition to its stronghold on the basketball shoe market, Nike's market share ranks first for cleated shoes (56.6%), second for aerobic shoes (22.7%) and casual shoes (12.0%) and third among court/fitness shoes (16.3%).

Second among overall footwear is Adidas with a market share of 15.1%. After one quarter last year, Adidas was in the same position, holding the second highest overall market share (16.9%). In 2000, Adidas has closed the gap on Nike overall and ranks second in basketball shoes and cleated shoes.

Remaining consistent from 1999-2000 is Reebok who's market share is 10.9% compared with last year's 10.9%. While remaining third in overall market share, Reebok continues to dominate the aerobic shoe market with a 61.4% market share, up from last year's first quarter share of 56.4%.

Making a considerable jump from 1999 to 2000 is New Balance who's market share went from a 1999 first quarter percentage of 3.7 to a 2000 percentage of 9.4.

K-Swiss raised its first quarter overall market share from 3.1% in 1999 to 3.6% this year and leads all manufacturers in 2000 with a market share of 28.5% in the casual shoe category. Timberland is number six for the first quarter of 2000 with a 2.9% market share, up from its 1999 first quarter share of 2.2%, while Asics raised its market share from 1.5% to 2.1% in 2000.

With an increase from 0.91% in 1999 to 1.42% in 2000, Skechers made a significant overall increase and is very strong in the casual shoe market with an 11.9% market share, trailing only K-Swiss and Nike.

Rounding out the first quarter's top 10 are Saucony and And 1. Both manufacturers increased their market share from the first quarter of 1999 with Saucony going from 0.9% to 1.4% and And 1 from 0.9% to 1.2%. Among basketball shoes, And 1 increased its share from 3.6% in 1999 to 6.5% in this year's first quarter.

SportsTrend.Info is designed to provide weekly, point-of-sale data with the highest possible degree of accuracy and integrity. Functioning as a central clearinghouse for sports industry data, SportsTrend.Info enables its subscribers to access comprehensive reports from a wide variety of perspectives.

All of the nation's major retailers are included in surveys. Mass merchandisers, smaller chains and independent retail outlets are included in order to provide a comprehensive basis for the generated reports.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Jeff Atkinson, vice president, Sales and Marketing for SportsTrend.Info is available for commentary and analysis of trends and developments within the sporting goods industry, and the athletic footwear market in particular.