Mintel estimates that spending on sports goods increased to £4,480 million in 2003. The market is driven by consumers’ appropriation of sports clothing and footwear as general casualwear, and major sports brands such as Nike, adidas and Reebok are worn by a wide cross-section of the population. The cult celebrity surrounding football in the UK also boosts sales of these brands and drives sales of replica shirts.

Three-quarters of UK sales are through specialist sports shops with the top five companies accounting for most of this revenue. Multiple chains dominate the British market – the market leaders include JJB Sports, Sports World, John David Group, Blacks Leisure and Allsports.

Mintel’s research investigates the operating strengths and weaknesses of all the major retailers, as well as the market’s trends, driving forces, size and structure. In common with other Mintel series, this report now offers an extensive and intensive section of consumer research and in-depth analysis, exploring the profiles of visitors to sports clothing retailers and integrating this with qualitative research (attitudes to sports clothing retailers).

Who are the new entrants to the market threatening your market share?

How can you target your products more effectively at the older generation?

Which different advertising methods should you employ to maximise sales?

Where are the best retail outlets for your products?

This report answers these questions and many more – enabling you to focus on your business, safe in the knowledge that you have all the information at your fingertips.

Sports Goods Retailing in the UK is part of Mintel’s Sports Goods Retailing in Europe title. Should you wish to purchase more than one market report within this title, we recommend that you contact our Information team on +44 (0)20 606 6000 to discuss multi-purchase discounts.

In addition, ‘Sports Goods Retailing in the UK’ is also part of the Mintel Retail Intelligence series.