Leekes' fitness and leisure success

As the current climate continues to make trading difficult for retailers across the nation, Leekes, the award-winning independent retailer, has bucked the trend for decline by reporting significant sales growth within its Fitness and Leisure business sector.

The fitness and leisure industry reported a growth of 2.6% in 2007 with the market currently worth an estimated £3.7 billion*; a trend which is certainly reflected in Leekes’ fitness and leisure sales growth. Pre-Christmas sales of fitness equipment were particularly encouraging in 2008 with overall sales within the department up by 15% compared to the same period last year and an increase of 33% during the winter sale to date.

Newly appointed Fitness and Leisure Category Manager, Carla Treece, says “These are exciting times for the fitness and leisure sector of our business, as the trend for health and well-being products is stronger than ever before. We are able to provide a comprehensive range of products from fitness equipment for the body-conscious to funky leisure and street-wear for those customers who want to keep their finger on the fashion pulse.”

Leekes’ fitness and leisure department has undergone a number of changes in recent years, with the introduction of leading leisure and street-wear names including Rip Curl, Animal, Quiksilver, Weird Fish and more recently, Swedish brand, Casall. Three well-known concessions have also been added to Leekes’ portfolio of brands, O’Neill, Hi-Tec and outdoor and adventure-wear specialists, Craghoppers. Leekes’ partnership with such brand names has allowed it to strengthen its product offering and kept abreast of the latest trends within a growing market.

Carla says, “We’re already seeing encouraging figures from sales of our brand new collection of ladies performance-wear from female sportswear specialist, Casall. Within the first week, sales had exceeded the target set due to the quality of the product, enthusiasm of the staff and strong merchandising. The range combines function and durability with high fashion detailing and has been designed with women firmly in mind; tops are longer and cut to flatter all body shapes and many products are made using organic cotton.”

“The sales growth we’re currently experiencing just goes to show that despite the Credit Crunch, fitness and leisure is a sector of the retail market that continues to flourish.”