Retail sales of sporting goods rose in France by only 0.3 percent in 2010 to €9.14 billion, according to the countrey's association of sporting goods retailers, FPS, with the buying groups and shoe shops scoring best. Integrated sports retail chains such as Décathlon and Go Sport suffered a 0.5 percent sales decline to €4.40 billion.
Sales increased by 1.0 percent to €7.17 billion at specialty stores, driven by a 5.0 percent rise to €2.36 billion for the networks of independent stores such as those of Intersport, Sport 2000 and Twinner, which control 26 percent of the national sporting goods market. Unaffiliated independent specialty retailers registered a 1 percent fall to €410 million.
Turnover declined by 2.5 percent to €1.97 billion for other retailers. Sales at supermarkets and hypermarkets fell by around 6 percent, while department stores, boutiques and shoe shops increased sales by about 3 percent.
In terms of the products sold, apparel and footwear sales were up by about 2 percent, bolstered by cold weather in the fourth quarter. Equipment sales were supported by strong ski sales while bicycle sales were down by 3.5 percent to €1.28 billion.
Bicycle sales fell by 7 percent at large integrated sports retailers and by 8.5 percent at supermarkets. Independent specialty stores increased their bike sales by 2.0 percent and those affiliated with buying groups saw their sales rise by 2.5 percent.
Average selling prices continued to fall for sporting goods, fueled by more frequent promotions, but the decline is now controlled, according to FPS.
