The NPD Group reports that online sales accounted for about one-third of the growth of the French sports footwear and apparel market in value for the 12 months until the end of September 2012. Online sales expanded by 9 percent for the period, while sales in stores inched up by 1 percent. The consumer market research company estimates that online sales make up about 10 percent of the entire French sports market but that the share will rise to 11 percent this year. NPD refers to a phase of consolidation, in which it is becoming increasingly hard for online retailers to gain market share. Furthermore, the company observes that the brands that did well on the internet are those that also enjoyed a strong performance in other stores, leading NPD to conclude that the online market is becoming more clearly aligned with the overall market in terms of brand choices. It adds that the internet remains a particularly interesting retailing platform for smaller brands and for very specific products that do not sell out fast enough in small or mid-size stores.

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