sportstyle

A s we head into the new year, I'd like to reflect on sportstyle magazine's mission to report on business trends and new product developments that are important to the specialty markets that we cover. In the eighteen months since we've launched, we've enhanced our reporting and added two print editions (May and November). Readers continue to see ideas, challenges and inspirations from other markets similar to their own, bringing back the true nature of a horizontal b2b publication. We also tap into the design community, giving insight into the latest developments in the materials that are incorporated into the products sold in your stores. The pandemic has, and will continue to impact our businesses on many levels. But we continue to see opportunities in the changing markets in running, outdoors, footwear, sporting goods and team sports. In this issue of sportstyle, here are some of the key issues and trends we explore: • Consumers continue to take on new fitness routines including indoor running or at home workouts during cold weather months. They are purchasing apparel and footwear with a specific indoor activity in mind. • There is a shift in who is participating in outdoor recreation. 7.1 million more Americans took part in outdoor recreation in 2020 then the previous year according to the Outdoor Foundation, with a widening base of skill and interest levels. There continue to be gaps, however, in the outdoor participation along with a desire by brands to invite a more diverse population to participate. But that also comes with more voices calling for a greater scrutiny on the industry's impact on the planet. • We have learned from the NSGA that Gen Z, a group that makes up a quarter of the population, prefers the in-store shopping experience when it comes to sporting goods. Let me repeat that… they prefer the in-store shopping experience. That usually leads to unintended purchases influenced by eye-catching displays/ads, and give retailers the opportunity to move beyond transactional and into the personal. Gen Z is very "in the moment" and can be influenced by what retailers have to offer. • In footwear, comfort continues to go the distance, where style is as important as ever. Comfort brands have packed smart construction, technical materials and clever design into clogs, boots and slip-ons. We also looked into our footwear crystal ball to forecast five key trends and stories to watch in 2022. • The design community is looking at new ideas to transform how the industry connects with brands and the end use consumer. With sustainability being at the root of modern-day marketing decisions, advances in technology can also provide big experiences for brands with a small carbon footprint. • In team sports, football returned to fields across America. But many dealers had to adjust their game plans where supply chain issues lingered for months. Do keep your eye on flag football as this sport continues to make strides in terms of popularity and participation. It has emerged as a varsity sport at the NAIA and the NFL is a big supporter. We conclude this issue with "Broken Chain," a special report, a look at how the supply chain disruptions impact all of us. While we look at it from a team sports and sporting goods perspective, it affects all the markets and channels we cover in many of the same ways. It's been hinted that the disruptions could come to an end in the back half of 2022. And that's a trend we'd all like to see. Jeff Nott CEO & Publisher 4 • January/February 2022 sportstyle • sportstylemag.com WHAT'S TRENDING IN SPORTS AND STYLE? ON THE HORIZON The pandemic has, and will continue to impact our businesses on many levels. But we continue to see opportunities in the changing markets in running, outdoors, footwear, sporting goods and team sports.

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