Running Industry Alliance (RIA) has called for wide support of Sports Marketing Surveys’ (SMS) Running Retail Audit.
RIA leadership noted the value of the monthly service for both brands and retailers as well as SMS’ experience and expertise in operating sports retail audits.
“Insights into the running industry are a key element to help advance the sector in an ever-changing landscape, and Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS), the Official Insights Partner of Running Industry Alliance, will be launching the Running Retail Audit which will be a vital contributor towards understanding the value of the Retail sector.
This exciting initiative will provide a monthly measurement of running product sold at brand and model level detailing the sales value, volume and stock in the market across the key running categories – footwear, apparel, wearable tech and accessories. The service is being funded by running equipment manufacturers and is supported by many of the leading specialty running retailers in the UK and also by Running Industry Alliance. Plans to extend this to Ireland are being considered as part of the longer-term strategy.
SMS is currently inviting selected specialist running retailers who are able to provide their data through their EPOS systems to be part of this important project. In return for providing their monthly sales and stock data, the running retailers will benefit from free access to national monthly sales information, which will be delivered via a user-friendly, password-protected interactive dashboard.
Jonathan Midwood, Co-Lead of Running Industry Alliance, commented:“SMS has a proven track record of operating retail audits for the sports industry and understands the value it can bring to retailers. Having worked in the specialty running retail market myself as the General Manager of Up & Running for over 20 years, I know the importance of understanding your sales and being able to access key market data to benchmark and see how you are doing. Insights are very important for the Running Retail sector to understand the true value or the sector.
“It will be great to get as many running retailers as possible involved in the Running Retail Audit, which will help reflect the true value and worth of the running retail sector through insight, which is why we at RIA are fully supportive of the project.”
For more information on the service, please contact SMS
About RIA
The Running Industry Alliance (RIA UK & Ireland) is an organisation operating to bring together many of the sectors that form the Running Industry. Built with a not-for-profit membership and not-for-profit ‘The Gathering Conference’ (11th to 13th September 2022), RIA UK & Ireland has a clearly defined purpose; to galvanise and align the running industry and collaboratively build on the great work already being undertaken.
Following its launch in January 2022 the Running Industry Alliance (RIA) has been going from strength to strength with a large number of high-profile Foundation Members and Alliance Partners confirmed over the last few weeks.
The Running Industry Alliance is Co-Lead by Rebecca Richardson and Jonathan Midwood for the UK & Ireland and launched on 17th January 2022.
Go to www.runningindustryalliance.com for further details.
It will be great to get as many running retailers as possible involved in the Running Retail Audit, which will help reflect the true value and worth of the running retail sector through insight, which is why we at RIA are fully supportive of the project
