BPSA: First Quarter Sales Down 10%

PHILDELPHIA, PA (BRAIN)—The Bicycle Product Suppliers Association (BPSA) reports that dollar sales of its members to dealers were down 10 percent compared with the same quarter last year. Unit shipments were down 18 percent over the same period.

The drop for March on March sales was 15 percent in dollars and 22 percent in units, suggesting that a late start to the season due to cold and wet weather was a big contributor to the quarter’s poor performance.

Only two bicycle categories posted positive dollar sales growth, with rigid mountain bikes and 24-inch juvenile up 52 and 18 percent respectively. The comfort and 20-inch juvenile categories posted the greatest drop, falling 23 and 21 percent respectively. The two largest sales categories for suppliers remain road and front suspension mountain bikes, down 6 and 11 percent respectively.

In spite of slowing sales, inventory across all categories dropped 24 percent in dollars and 21 percent in units, suggesting that there may be product shortages as the season heats up. The only category where suppliers have more inventory on hand than last year were rigid mountain bikes, up 359 percent in units.

—Matt Wiebe