WGSN, the leading global authority on consumer and design trends, will be launching its new personalised product for the Sports & Outdoor industry, available to clients from July 2024. Debuting the world’s first specialised trend forecasting platform for this market, it will provide data and expert insights into the most important trends across the bike, camp, hike, snow, water sports and fitness categories.
The world of sports has increased its appeal to consumers since the pandemic. Statista predicts the sports equipment market will grow 4.75% from 2023 to 2027, with a projected market size of $203bn. To support brands on what will be a high-velocity moment of growth, WGSN is bringing its expertise to the industry as the only dedicated platform to specialise in trend forecasting for this market.
Keeping up with consumer trends can be challenging in today’s world. WGSN’s forecasts blend quantitative and qualitative data with extensive cross-industry knowledge, focusing global macro shifts through the Sports & Outdoor market lens. WGSN’s long-view forecasts (2-10 years) will be a game changer for new product development, providing strategic and data-driven forecasts, insight and validation when brands need it most.
Why is trend forecasting so important for Sports & Outdoor brands?
WGSN’s globally regarded STEPIC ™ methodology will allow brands, manufacturers and retailers to identify the global signals of change and know the trends that will impact both the market and the consumer. WGSN cuts out irrelevance and makes sense of data, covering form and function, colour, material, finish, graphics, sourcing and sustainability. This provides clients with a clear design direction for new product development in equipment and gear.
The new Sports & Outdoor platform will be led by Content Director Jon Takao, based in Washington, who has over 15 years of experience as an industrial designer in the cycling, snowboard, and skate industries, with renowned brands such as Trek, Specialized, ThirtyTwo, and Etnies.
Jon Takao commented on the upcoming launch: “WGSN has been tracking the Outdoor Boom since early 2015 and forecasted a significant rise in consumers taking up sports and outdoor activities, amplified further by the Covid-19 pandemic. As consumers adopt activities that boost their physical and mental wellness, brands must stay ahead of the macro shifts driving the industry in this competitive space. We’re excited to bring our expertise, knowledge, and data to the sports and outdoor industry to help brands develop best-in-class and the most sought-after products for future consumers.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
To get access to quotes and interviews with WGSN’s Sports & Outdoor experts, please contact press@wgsn.com.
ABOUT WGSN SPORTS & OUTDOOR
WGSN Sports & Outdoor enables brands to beat the competition by knowing the key trends impacting the industry and how to implement them for new product development in equipment and gear, making their products the most desirable to future consumers.
ABOUT WGSN
WGSN is the global authority on consumer, lifestyle and product design trends, helping brands around the world create the right products at the right time for tomorrow’s consumer. WGSN has been successfully forecasting trends for 25 years and is relied upon by the most valuable brands to provide the strategic foresight needed to future-proof products.
WGSN’s trusted consumer and design forecasts power outstanding product design, enabling our customers to create a better future. Our services cover consumer insights, beauty, consumer tech, fashion, interiors, lifestyle, food and drink forecasting, data analytics and advisory. Visit wgsn.com