With families spending over $2,400 per child annually on team sports, understanding what drives equipment purchases has never been more critical for retailers and manufacturers.
But are we measuring the right factors?
SFIA’s new Team Sports Parents’ Insights report surveyed 500+ families to cut through assumptions and identify what actually moves the needle when parents decide what to buy, when to buy it, and where to make the purchase.
When parents choose between brands, one factor dominates. But it’s not the one most product strategies optimize for. The full study reveals the precise hierarchy of decision factors, and why the second and third place considerations might matter more than you think for your category.
Why do baseball families replace equipment at 3-4x the rate of basketball families? The answer isn’t just about the sport. The complete data uncovers patterns in durability expectations, growth rates, and usage that should fundamentally reshape product development timelines and retail inventory strategies.
The shopping behavior data contradicts the digital-first narrative. Despite robust e-commerce infrastructure, the vast majority of parents refuse to purchase exclusively online. What exactly are they looking for in physical retail? The study identifies the specific elements of the in-store experience that drive hybrid shopping behavior.
And then there’s the barrier. When 90% of parents identify the same obstacle to purchasing, it reveals both an industry-wide challenge and a significant white space opportunity. The report details what parents actually need (versus what we assume they need) to simplify their buying process.
The gap between what drives behavior and what we think drives behavior determines whether product and retail strategies succeed or miss the mark.
Want to know what’s actually influencing purchase decisions in your category… view the full report in the link below.
2025 Team Sports Parents’ Insights: Understanding Key Factors That Go Into Equipment Purchase Decisions for Parents
YSBR readers receive 25% off the complete Team Sports Parents’ Insights report with code “ParentsSFIA” (enter on the final checkout page)
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