Industry spokesman: Currently, sales losses of up to 95 percent.
The extension of the corona lockdown affects the sporting goods trade at a time that is normally high in sales. Economically, it is an “absolute worst-case scenario”, especially for those businesses in tourist areas, said WKÖ industry spokesman Michael Nendwich to the APA. February is usually the strongest month, which this year will be almost completely canceled. “From a health policy point of view, however, the measures are absolutely understandable and necessary.”
According to industry estimates, the winter sports industry with 700 to 800 sporting goods stores – almost exclusively family businesses – in tourist regions achieved a turnover of 500 to 700 million euros with 6,500 employees. In addition, around 2,000 people are employed in Austria in the domestic ski industry, which is economically highly dependent on the tourist sports retail trade.
“We absolutely have to avoid a negative domino effect in the domestic winter sports economy. From today's perspective, this winter season will no longer be economically viable for the tourist sports retail trade,” said Nendwich. There are currently sales losses of up to 95 percent. “That goes to the business substance, so now rapid liquidity is most important for the dealers.”
Industry hopes for newly announced corona aid
The industry is hoping for quick support from the corona aid announced over the weekend. “To what extent this economic aid is really sufficient, we can not judge at this point in time because the exact guidelines have not yet been published,” said Nendwich. But if the implementation is as the previous statements would suggest, one speaks of “a clear improvement”, especially for small, tourist sporting goods retailers.
With the combination of sales replacement and fixed cost subsidy 2 as well as the sales loss bonus, the government has announced new measures that also include sporting goods rental.
The dealers are trying to counteract something with more online business and Click & Collect. “Under no circumstances can these models cushion the loss of sales in the stationary trade,” said the President of the Association of Sportswear Manufacturers and Sports Equipment Manufacturers, Gernot Kellermayr. The online share in the sporting goods industry has only increased slowly in recent years. “We have leveled off at around 15 to 20 percent – and here we see the upper limit in the medium term too,” says Kellermayr.
Even during the pandemic, there was only a single-digit percentage increase. “Sports goods are still products that require intensive advice, which is why personal and professional advice is valued and requested by people in Austria,” said the industry representative.
