Amazon China and Mafengwo Release the 2017 Outdoor Sports Map

Lightweight, international, and intelligent products become new highlights in outdoor sports consumption

Amazon China and Mafengwo release2017the Outdoor Sports Map

Over60million SKUs,500more than 500 international brands have entered the Amazon International Outdoor Gear Store

 2017In5the24of Beijing——With the peak outdoor sports season approaching, Amazon China has released the2017Outdoor Sports Map. Combining data from Mafengwo, China’s leading free independent travel service platform, the map offers an in-depth analysis of emerging trends in outdoor sports from multiple perspectives, including online shopping trends for outdoor gear, popular categories and products, travel destinations, and peak travel periods. The data shows that outdoor sports have become a new growth driver in online consumption, mainly reflecting three major consumer trends: the rise of the lightweight outdoor gear concept; the shift toward internationalization and professionalism in outdoor spending; and the emergence of intelligent technology as a new trend in outdoor activities. Additionally, the top ten cities in terms of purchasing power for outdoor sports products are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Tianjin, and Suzhou. The peak sales period for major outdoor products lasts from every4to the following1. To align with this trend and continually meet the diverse needs of outdoor enthusiasts, the Amazon International Outdoor Gear Store (z.cn/outdoor) has also made its debut, featuring strong support from over500top international brands from more than ten countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, and Canada. With more than60high-quality products on offer, the store comprehensively covers popular outdoor activities such as mountaineering, hiking, cycling, diving, skiing, and trail running. Exclusive brands making their début include the Swiss professional mountaineering brandMammutMammut, the European premium outdoor brandHaglofs, the American ultralight nylon hammock manufacturerGrand Trunk, and the renowned North American sleeping bag makerKLYMIT, allowing consumers to enjoy the latest global outdoor trends as soon as they hit the market.

l  Lightweight Outdoor Gear Concept Gains Popularity:Carrying heavy loads during long hikes or climbs can easily lead to waist and knee injuries. In recent years, the “lightweight” approach to gear has gained increasing recognition among professional outdoor enthusiasts. According to data from Amazon China, sales of outdoor products labeled as “lightweight” or “ultra-lightweight” have seen rapid growth. Notably, ultra-light outdoor tents saw year-on-year sales growth of nearly2017times in5, while ultra-light trekking poles achieved nearly3times growth, and professional lightweight trail running shoes also recorded a60%increase in sales. Consumer demand is gradually shifting toward products that combine both lightweight design and functionality, with aesthetics, comfort, and convenience also receiving significant attention.

l  International Brands Account for Over 90% of Sales as Outdoor Consumption Becomes More Professional:Data from Amazon China shows that over 90% of outdoor sports product sales come from international brands. Well-known international brandsGarminGarmin,Osprey,MarmotMarmot,PatagoniaPatagonia,GregoryGregory,Black Diamond,SalomonSalomon,The North Face,FjallravenFjällräven,Outdoor Researchrank among the top ten best-selling outdoor sports brands on Amazon China. In addition, Chinese consumers are clearly advancing toward more specialized outdoor activities, with protein powder, durable outdoor footwear and apparel, and trekking poles becoming the top three most frequently repurchased outdoor items.

l  Sports watches hold the greatest growth potential, with smart technology leading the new trend in outdoor sports:As consumer demands upgrade,GPSmultifunctional wearable electronic devices featuring positioning, heart rate health monitoring, and voice entertainment have become a new trend. According to Amazon China data, sports watches, smart bracelets, and action cameras have entered the list of the top ten best-selling outdoor sports categories. Among them,GPSsports watches have the greatest growth potential, with their sales increasing nearly threefold2017years ago5months year-over-year. Meanwhile, sales of sports headphone products also saw nearly2017year year-over-year.40%growth in the first quarter of

 In addition, by combining authoritative data from Mafengwo, Amazon China further revealed regional and seasonal characteristics of outdoor sports, including some interesting findings. According to Amazon China data, the top ten cities with the highest purchasing power for outdoor sports products are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Tianjin, and Suzhou, with southern cities occupying eight of the spots. At the same time, Mafengwo's free-travel big data also shows that users in southern cities pay more attention to outdoor activities compared to those in northern cities. The southern climate and natural conditions are more favorable, which has fostered southerners' enthusiasm for outdoor sports. Furthermore, according to Mafengwo data, outdoor tourism shows distinct seasonality: mountaineering, hiking, and cycling are mainly concentrated in3-10, such as climbing Huangshan Mountain (3-5,9-10), trekking in Daocheng (9-10), and cycling around Qinghai Lake (7-8); while diving and skiing are primarily concentrated from11to4of the following year, such as diving in Palau (11,-4) and skiing in Changbai Mountain (11,-3). Amazon China data shows that the peak sales period for major outdoor products begins every year from4from one month to the next1, during which the popularity of ice and snow sports continues to rise, with significant growth in ski equipment sales. In just2016winter alone, ski product sales doubled year-on-year.

With a deep understanding of outdoor consumer needs and in line withthe trends of the outdoor sports market, Amazon China has launched its International Outdoor Store, featuring overGPSproduct categories including outdoor apparel and accessories, backpacks, footwear, camping gear,40watches, cycling equipment, sports tech, diving gear, and sports nutrition. The store encompasses popular international brands such as the U.S. lightweight trekking pole manufacturerBlack Diamond, the North American professional backpack brandOspreyOsprey, the trendy American backpack brandJansportJanSport, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of sports measurement equipmentSuunto, the top-tier gradient compression gear brand from AustraliaSKINS,odlo, the Swiss cycling equipment brandCompressport, the professional sports water bottle brandStanley, and other best-selling star brands. Among them are numerous internationally renowned outdoor sports brands introduced to the Chinese market via Amazon Global and direct import, includingJack Wolfskin,Montrail,Helly HansenHelly Hansen,Kelty,Captain Stag,Teton Sports, and more. In addition, a range of flagship products includingOspreythe Sunlight Sports Backpack,Black Diamondthe Ultra-light Aluminum Alloy Folding Trekking Pole,BigAgnesthe Big Agnes Ultra-light Double-wall Camping Tent, and others will be exclusively launched on Amazon International Outdoor Store for the first time. This allows outdoor enthusiasts with diverse needs to easily shop for everything in one place and enjoy exciting outdoor adventures.

 Product display area at the Amazon International Outdoor Store media briefing

The vision of Amazon China’s e-commerce is: any Chinese consumer can easily access high-quality products from around the world through Amazon China anytime, anywhere; any Chinese business can go global and build a worldwide brand through Amazon’s global resources and sites. Leveraging Amazon’s global14marketplaces, supplier resources, and cross-border logistics system, Amazon China launched the world’s first localized global store———Amazon Global Store—and has established itself as a trusted destination for Chinese consumers seeking premium international products.For more information, please visit:Z.cn, www.amazon.cn.