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Sporting Equipment Retailing in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2029)

Jonas Kao Jonas Kao London, United Kingdom Last Updated: June 2025 SIC UK-G4763

Revenue

£98.7bn

2025-26

£104.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

509k

Businesses

98,454

Wages

£X.Xbn

Sporting Equipment Retailing in the UK industry analysis

The Sporting Equipment Retailing industry’s revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 3.6% over the five years through 2025 to €98.7 billion, including an estimated rise of 2% in 2025. A recent surge in health and body consciousness across Europe has driven up demand for sporting equipment. Countries such as Belgium and Finland have seen a spike in sports participation, creating a greater need for sporting equipment and offering retailers an opportunity to capitalise on a widening market. At the same time, major sports events (like the 2024 Paris Olympics and the European Championships) and regional football leagues like France's Ligue 1 and the UK’s Premier League continue to spark consumer interest in sports merchandise, despite recent cost-of-living pressures inflation.

Trends and Insights

  • Increasing health consciousness pushes up sporting equipment sales. Europeans are becoming more active, encouraged by major sports events, while digitalisation and direct-to-consumer sales are further boosting revenue.
  • Rising disposable incomes drive a surge in sporting goods sales. People with higher spending power prove more willing to take up sports, boosting sales of equipment.
  • Small retailers struggle as brands control product supply. When sports brands limit stock, small retailers lose access to key items and sales fall. Many switch to selling directly to consumers online for better profit and stability.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Sporting Equipment Retailing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Sporting Equipment Retailing industry in the United Kingdom is £98.7bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Sporting Equipment Retailing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 98,454 businesses in the Sporting Equipment Retailing industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.9 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Sporting Equipment Retailing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Sporting Equipment Retailing industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 4.8 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Sporting Equipment Retailing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Sporting Equipment Retailing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Sporting Equipment Retailing industry in the United Kingdom include?

Sporting goods and Bicycles and accessories are part of the Sporting Equipment Retailing industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Sporting Equipment Retailing industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Sporting Equipment Retailing industry in the United Kingdom.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Table of Contents

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

Regulation mostly relates to health and safety. Sporting equipment retailers have to ensure that their products don’t jeopardise customer health and are required to disclose any potential risks.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Sporting Equipment Retailing in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Online competition drives retailers to reduce prices, eating into profit. Changing consumer demands are driving a digital shift, hiking up price competition, given how easy it is to compare prices online.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Sporting Equipment Retailing in the UK industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and bottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2025)
  • Business Growth (2025)
  • Job Growth (2025)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2025)
  • Imports/Demand (2025)
  • Exports/Revenue (2025)
  • Revenue per Employee (2025)
  • Wages/Revenue (2025)
  • Employees per Establishment (2025)
  • Average Wage (2025)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

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