The weather is warming up and people around Australia are getting ready for another summer with sport and fitness-related purchases skyrocketing during the month of October.
In particular, purchases related to yoga and pilatesincreased 253.3% month-on-month (MoM) with pilates machines flexing the most, experiencing a 3,983% spike, more than any other purchase category in Australia.
Indoor equipment like spin exercise bikes and accessories such as yoga mat straps rose 159.3% and 114.7% respectively. Paddle ball sets surged by 245.1%, racquetball and squash balls bounced up 165%, while platform tennis balls increased 77.6%. For outdoor fun, badminton nets experienced a 109% increase while pickleball paddles weer up 44.5%.
Outside of the racket sport craze, fencing and lacrosse emerged as popular pastimes. Fencing weapons saw a 273.9% increase and other fencing-related purchases spiked 222.2%, while lacrosse sticks grew 220.6%.
Fashion took an interesting turn in October, with consumers taking inspiration from their grandma’s closet with eyewear chains on the rise (843.2%). Other popular fashion purchases include sweatpants (205.1%), cardigans (148.2%) and hoodies (50.7%), alongside jumpsuits and rompers (166.4%).
While grandma may have inspired accessories in October, health and beauty choices are about staying youthful with collagen and anti-aging skin care kits increasing 180.8% and 46.1% respectively.
In the lead up to Christmas, home and garden care are the priority for alfresco dining with sprinkler, booster and irrigation system pumps up 523.6% with wheelbarrow wheels rising 160.8%. Milter saws and panel saws skyrocketed 1,948.4% and 837.1% respectively.
Shopify Asia Pacific managing director, Shaun Broughton said, “Analysing shopping trends allows retailers to see not only what products are popular at a given moment but also understand the tactics, promotions, and marketing strategies that helped make these products trend in the first place.
“These insights are the golden ticket for retailers to prepare for high-traffic sales periods like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Boxing Day. By leveraging data retailers can optimise their campaigns and connect with customers in meaningful ways that drive engagement and boost sales.”