Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1492878
In January, e NPD Group announced the winners of its third annual Outdoor Sports Retail Performance Awards. e awards acknowledge the fastest-growing brands in the U.S. outdoor and snow specialty retail markets based on in-store and e-commerce sales revenue, according to NPD Retail Tracking Service data. NPD also reported that the outdoor specialty market generated $7.9 billion in U.S. retail sales in the 12 months ending November 2022, an increase of 7% over the prior year. e snow specialty market brought in an additional $1.7 billion season-to-date, from August through November 2022. THE FASTEST-GROWING BRANDS IN THE U.S. OUTDOOR SPECIALTY MARKET 34 • Winter 2023 NPD Group's US Outdoor Sports Retail Performance Award Winners. OUTDOOR INSIGHT / NPD WINNERS LIQUIDLOGIC e brand tells us that the primary area that led to growth for the company in 2022 was product development. Liquidlogic is focusing on developing "the right product at the right price points" for its customers. e brand has offerings in both the recre- ational and whitewater space. Getting the product dialed has allowed Liquidlogic to increase distribution in the U.S. specialty market. "We want to continue to grow our outdoor specialty retailers as we feel like we can provide outstanding service and products for their customer base." A product standout from the brand is the new Liquidlogic Kiawah 10.5. The Liquidlogic Kiawah series has an innovative new sit-on-top hull shape that offers excel- lent efficiency along with superior tracking and stability. Made in Fletcher, NC, it fea- tures hand-sewn in the USA seating, and offers the ability to add dog traction pads up in the bow. It has a wheel on the stern and a dry pod for phone/key/gear storage in front of the paddler. Acknowledging that there are "a lot of unknowns in the paddlesports industry in 2023," the Liquidlogic team tells us they are "keeping the pedal to the floor." Look for new kayaks on the way in the brand's whitewater and recreational product lines. Liquidlogic is also developing new ways to market and support retailers with the aim of becoming "the best kayak supplier in the business." n 2022 WINNERS OF THE NPD U.S. OUTDOOR SPORTS RETAIL PERFORMANCE AWARDS CATEGORY WINNER ACCESSORIES THULE APPAREL PICTURE ORGANIC CAMPING RUMPL EQUIPMENT ACCESSORIES STANLEY FOOTWEAR ON SNOW SPORTS EQUIPMENT* K2 WATER SPORTS LIQUIDLOGIC Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S. Outdoor Specialty and Sport Specialty E-commerce, dollar sales, 12 months ending November 2022 *Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S. Snow Specialty and Snow Internet, dollar sales, August—November 2022. Among brands that comprise the top 80% of category dollar volume INSIGHT FROM A FEW OF THE WINNING BRANDS Liquidlogic's Kiawah 10.5 offers innovation at a good price. Outdoor Insight • outdoorisightmag.com