While most British sporting goods retailers saw sales plunge in the second half of 2008, a few companies came out strong. Sports PLC reported that sales were up by 28 for its U.K.-based website www.thesportshq.com and by 22 percent for the American www.golfoutletsusa.com for 2008. The British site saw a jump in sales of 34 percent in December alone.
In addition, M and M Direct, which sells branded fashion and sports apparel online, had a 31 percent increase in sales for the 10 weeks ended Jan. 4, compared with 2007. Internet orders grew by 57 percent, and M and M Direct was the sixth-most-visited website in the U.K. in December.
The chairman and chief executive of Sports PLC, Simon Millington, expects 2009 to be strong as well. He noted that the company bought Woodworm, the cricket and golf brand, in November, and would be keeping an eye out for other possible acquisitions.
Millington also pointed out the company’s recent additions to its management team: Ryan Emery, the new financial director, comes from Deloitte; Rick Thackray, operations director, spent two decades with American Golf; and Steve Grant, European sales director, is a golf industry veteran.
The CEO of M and M Direct, Steve Robinson, is also optimistic for 2009, noting that the company’s good performance in December was up against a strong month the year before. The company recorded its first single day of sales of more than £1 million (€1m-$1.4m) last Dec. 8.
