The Golfalot.com Price Index enjoyed another month of stability in January with virtually no change as the affects of the traditional winter sales in some categories were offset by the arrival of new product lines elsewhere.
The Golf Clubs sector felt the chill with a fall of -1.3%, but this masked some wide variations between categories.
The biggest drop, of -8.5%, was posted in the Putters category where large discounts were seen across a range of high end products including some Callaway Odyssey models, TaylorMade’s Monza Spider range and certain Titleist Scotty Cameron putters.
Irons fell by just under 2% with consumers no doubt excited to see discounts across the Ping range. Wedges fell by 1.7% to join the in the slight downturn in the Clubs sector.
With a rise of 3%, the Drivers sector offered a welcome glimpse of optimism. The jump was fuelled by the entrance into the index of new models from manufacturers including Adams, Callaway, MD Golf and Srixon.
The Fairway Woods sector also picked up some ground with a small rise of 0.7% as models from both MD Golf and Yonex debuted for the first time. Utility Clubs held steady on their December position with the lifting of some December reductions offset by small drops elsewhere.
If the Golf Clubs sector offered mixed results the picture could not have been more different in the Accessories sector where every category posted a welcome increase on December’s figures.
Golf Shoes led the way with a strong rise of 5.6%. Again the benefits of new products reaching the shops was evident as the new FootJoy MyJoy Icon and Nike’s Air Zoom TW 2010 entered the Index and acted as the catalyst for the increase.
The Golf Bags sector also felt the benefit of new products reaching the shops in time for the New Year as new models from both Ping and Nike saw it post a increase of 2.8%.
In a month of growth across the Accessories sector the Trolleys category rose by 2.3% and the Golf Balls category saw a 1.7% growth to give the sector as a whole 2.9%.
The continued stability of the Golfalot.com Price Index is heartening news against the backdrop of wintry weather keeping golfers away from their favourite pursuit.
Although individual categories enjoyed mixed fortunes there are many reasons to be cheerful as 2010 stretches out ahead of us.
It seems clear that some retailers dropped prices in the Accessories sector before Christmas to attract customers seeking smaller gifts for loved ones. With the festivities complete retailers have now shifted their attention to golfers themselves with reductions across the more expensive Clubs sector during the post-Christmas sales period.
As those sales run their course and manufacturers release their 2010 products for sale we can expect the Clubs sector to follow the example of Accessories and post some welcome increases as the prospect of spring golf replaces the thoughts of snow and ice.
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