The SnowSports Industries America Aug.-Mar. studyfinds sales were $2.2 billion at retail this year against $2.1 billion prior.Driving the increase were sales in the specialty-store channel, which rose 7.1%to $1.71 billion from $1.60 billion, partially offset by a 5.1% decline in thechain-store channel to $487.6 million against $513.7 million last year. This isprobably more a geographic trend than anything. The East Coast is heavilydominated by independent specialty stores and had excellent snow this year. Inthe West, where chain stores like Gart are more of a factor, snow came late.

In the equipment segment, chain stores had a 10.7%increase this year to ... Log in to view full article.