Sports Insight

I n a no-frills, get-down-to-business event that some attendees said had similarities to the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect Show for outdoor specialty retailers, 24 key running brands and 65 to 70 key U.S. running shop owners and staff convened in Denver last week on the eve of Global Running Day for the inaugural KICK Show from the Running Industry Association. RIA Executive Director Terry Schalow said the organization will assess feedback from all participants before deciding when and where the next KICK Show will take place. e event's immediate focus centered on previews of Spring/Summer 2020 product lines, a steady exchange of ideas for the category and the cultivation of stronger connections between senior company exec- utives and store owners. Rebate incentives were offered to attending retailers for writing certain orders during the four-day event. Broader concerns and issues in the in- dustry were also a talking point. Namely, the need for cohesive strategies by vendors and specialty stores alike. Key among them: increasing store traffic flows in the wake of more options than ever for runners to purchase products and sparking broader consumer interest in the physical activity and athletic shoe silhouette that has his- torically set the pace for the performance athletic segment. While still the largest athletic footwear category, wholesale running shoe sales rose a meager 1.6 percent in 2018 to $4.71 billion, according to the 2019 SFIA Manufacturers' Sales by Category Report, compared to 10 percent annual growth for the Classics/ Originals segment, 18 percent expansion for Skate/Surf shoes and a 12.5 percent increase for Casual/Fashion styles to more than $991 million wholesale. Meanwhile, while casual running participation (1-49x annually) has risen more than 3 percent over the last three years to nearly 24.4 million; CORE (50+x annually) dipped 6.4 percent in 2018, according to SFIA data to almost 25.1 million and is down 3.3 percent since 2013. First quarter retail sales of running shoes were down in the mid-single digits, according to NPD Group data. Nonetheless, KICK attendees were over- whelmingly positive about running's future prospects and the show's ability to wring new strategies out of sessions among its most ardent participants. RIA members voted on what brands they wanted to see at the event, divided into the two-day "Anchor Brand" track and single-day "Growth Brand" track. Participating "Anchor" brands included: ASICS, Brooks, Hoka One One, Mizuno, Nike, New Balance, On, Saucony, Superfeet, Feetures, Altra, Nathan, AerShokz and 361. IN THE MARKET B Y B O B M C G E E Reporting Back from the Inaugural RIA KICK Show in Denver. New Summit Sparks Greater Focus on Crucial Running Segment RIA KICK Show panel discussion. 14 • Sports Insight May/June 2019 sportsinsightmag.com PODCAST To listen to a Sports Insight Extra podcast from the RIA Kick Show, visit our podcast page on sportsinsighextra.com

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