The outlook for the global sports equipment industry after the Corona crisis

The coronavirus is now worldwide. This has an undeniable impact on the conditions of various businesses. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been constantly hearing ups and downs from different businesses. Undoubtedly, few companies are ready to face a crisis with these dimensions. Big brands like Google and Facebook have canceled their main conferences in the new year. This is a good indication of the seriousness and risk-taking nature of the brand. No doubt more business events will be canceled in the coming days. This is not limited to business. Sports competitions have also been canceled around the world.

Many businesses are currently in a state of uncertainty. This makes it difficult to plan for success. When we have an uncertain situation in our field of work, how can we expect customers to improve and attract us?

In these days when the world is plagued by the coronavirus and many countries are facing economic constraints due to its problems, it is necessary to use modern methods to communicate properly with the audience and stay in this situation. On the other hand, forecasts show that after the Corona crisis is resolved, many economic relations and interactions between the suppliers of goods and services and the recipients of these products will be transformed.

Customer experience in critical situations

Talking about the needs and wants of customers, how to manage the customer experience in such a situation? How can we continue to move towards customer orientation despite rapid and widespread changes in the business environment? What should be done in the field of customer service in the Corona virus crisis? Isn’t it time to reconsider our marketing strategies?

Just a week ago, the news of the recruitment of 2,000 new personnel in the warehousing, logistics and shipping department of Digi Kala was announced. Conditions are changing rapidly.

If we look at people’s restrictions on commuting and compulsory quarantine as an opportunity, it is clear that the demand for online shopping has risen sharply.

Many people who have never trusted the online stores are experiencing it for the first time to meet their most basic needs. Yes, that’s the decent thing to do. strong barrier of mistrust of this segment of customers has been broken and this group is experiencing different shopping experiences.

The conditions of the sports industry after the crisis of Corona:

Studies by the World Federation of sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) show that the sports industry and people’s trends will undergo a major transformation after emerging from the crisis, Which are mentioned below :

1.People’s tendency to individual sports, preferably at home

 With the end of the Corona Crisis, people’s propensity for individual sports in the home environment is increasing, and many sports are less popular, including team sports. The chart below shows the type of people’s inclination to different sports after leaving the crisis

 2.Increase online sales

These days, due to Corona sales, including Digi Kala, Snap Market and. . . They have grown sharply. Online stores are an example of businesses that not only have not seen a decrease in sales, but have also seen a significant increase in sales. Of course, this sudden increase in sales is temporary, and it is likely that sales will return to normal after the Corona crisis is over. But think about how many new customers the same crisis has caused, some of which will definitely continue to buy from these online stores.

3.Decrease people’s purchasing power

Given that the recession caused by the crisis is expected to continue for several months, people’s purchasing power will decline. Sports experts predict that as a result of this crisis, the sale of sports equipment will be greatly reduced, which will further include higher-priced items.

4.Severe decrease in sales of sports equipment in stores

Since most sports stores were closed during the crisis, customers had to buy sports goods from online stores. Many of these people are expected to continue buying from these online stores due to health issues and less traffic in urban environments, and as a result, the number of customers in physical stores will decrease significantly.

 

5.Increase the use of smart sports equipment

Due to the high risk of crowded environments, after the end of this crisis, the trend towards individual sports will continue to be high, and athletes will use smart devices such as health wristbands or smartwatches to measure their physical fitness, and the market for these devices will Experience the high levels.

Presented by Tanin Peak sabalan R&D Unit