Sporting Goods, Snowsports Sales Snowball with Shopatron

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., Jan. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Call it the snowball effect.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101109/SHOPATRONLOGO)

As more shoppers become comfortable buying sporting goods on the web, and more brands take advantage of retail-integrated eCommerce, online sales in the sporting goods industry continue to grow.

In the fourth quarter of 2010, for example, sporting goods brands saw same-store sales grow 32% year over year on the Shopatron network. Snowsports brands alone enjoyed Q4 same-store sales growth of 59% using Shopatron's retail-integrated eCommerce system.

"The sporting goods and snowsports industries are passionate about selling online, and they're doing it the right way without undercutting their trusted dealers," said Ed Stevens, Founder and CEO of Shopatron. "Using a retail-integrated system gives their shoppers the best of both worlds: quality sporting goods from the branded websites they trust, and expert service and fulfillment from their hometown dealers."

More than 250 sporting goods brands have online stores powered by Shopatron. They work with more than 5,000 sporting goods retailers to fulfill orders using a wide variety of delivery methods, including in-store pickup and installation.

Shopatron has provided eCommerce to top sporting goods brands since 2001, including multi-language, multi-currency operations for Never Summer, K2 and Rossignol. Recent brands to launch stores with Shopatron include Velocity, Salomon Snowboards and Mervin Manufacturing, with many more set to launch in 2011.

"We believe Shopatron is an excellent resource to provide our consumers nationwide access to our product, while driving sales to support our specialty retail distribution philosophy," said Doug Saunders, President of CSNA/Powderhorn USA, which recently signed with Shopatron and will launch a retail-integrated store later this year. "Our customer expects and deserves top notch service when they shop, and specialty retailers not only provide this but they also add to the overall brand experience."

Many of Shopatron's sporting goods and snowsports clients will be on hand at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market Jan. 20-23 in Salt Lake City, and the SnowSports Industries America (SIA) Snow Show Jan. 27-30 in Denver. Anyone interested in speaking with a Shopatron representative at the shows can set up an appointment by calling 1-866-625-5050. Dealers are encouraged to stop by and speak with their brands or contact Shopatron to find out how they can gain incremental sales through the Shopatron exchange.

ABOUT SHOPATRON

Founded in 2001 in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Shopatron is the No. 1 retail-integrated eCommerce solution for branded manufacturers, distributors and multi-channel retailers. Working with more than 800 manufacturers and 12,000 retail partners across 35 industries, Shopatron meets the unique eCommerce needs of branded manufacturers and multi-channel retailers.

Shopatron clients include top brands such as Callaway Golf, Suzuki, Polaroid, Mizuno, Ducati, JL Audio and Sport Chalet. For more information, call 866-625-5050 or visit ecommerce.shopatron.com.

SOURCE Shopatron