Gifts / Sports & Toys

With the change of overseas epidemic prevention and control situation and the recovery of outdoor activities, the trend of online consumption has also changed. More people go out of their homes to participate in various sports activities, including camping, cycling, fishing and many other outdoor sports online purchase demand has risen strongly. Global market and consumer data show that the global bicycle and sports equipment market will exceed 230 billion US dollars in 2024. The outdoor sports category has become a popular search category for cross-border e-commerce platforms, and the market demand in North America, Europe and other economically developed regions is particularly strong.

China is a major manufacturer and exporter of sports and outdoor products. The sports and outdoor manufacturing industry is facing huge international trade market opportunities. According to the "Sailing Guide for Outdoor Sports" released by eBay recently, the international trade market of two-wheel sports such as bicycle and electric scooter, indoor fitness, camping and hiking, fishing and other sub-categories has great potential. The full range of Chinese outdoor sports products has a manufacturing cost advantage, and the supply side is strong. The appeal of Chinese brands is also growing day by day. At the same time, the vigorous development of cross-border e-commerce has injected new impetus into China's manufacturing industry.

As the main category of two-wheel sports, Statista predicts that the global market of bicycles, electric bicycles and electric scooters will exceed 100 billion dollars in five years. China is a major bicycle producer in the world, with its output value ranking first in the world for many years. In 2021, the sales of bicycle parts sold by Chinese sellers on the eBay platform increased by 60% over the same period in 2019, and the sales of electric bicycles increased by 67%. From complete vehicles to parts, there is a huge demand in the international trade market. Bicycles, electric bicycles and their brakes, chains, flywheels, wheel sets, etc. are all the hot development categories recommended by the Guide in 2022.

At the same time, global consumers have paid more attention to home exercise since the outbreak of COVID-19. It is predicted that the global indoor fitness market will exceed US $14 billion in 2025. In 2021, the sales of strength training equipment and aerobic training equipment of Chinese sellers on the eBay platform increased by 230% and 135% respectively compared with 2019. Strength training products, aerobic training equipment, yoga products and intelligent wear products received much attention, and popular development categories including treadmills, dumbbells, barbell pieces and sports bracelets were also widely favored.

In sports scenes, outdoor camping is also becoming a new type of leisure mode that is rapidly emerging. It is reported that the eBay platform sells 1 camping lamp every 13 seconds and 1 camping cooker every 20 seconds. The number of camping tables and chairs sold by Chinese sellers on eBay in 2021 increased by 85% compared with 2019. Considering that consumers will engage in other sports such as fishing while camping, eBay suggests that sellers combine scenarios and data to develop products, which is expected to bring more sales opportunities, including tents, thermal refrigerators, sleeping bags, camping stoves and other popular development categories.

In addition, as one of the first choice activities for families in Europe and the United States for leisure, fishing is in great demand all the year round. Allied Market Research, an American market research and consulting company, predicts that the global fishing market will reach 16.1 billion US dollars in 2027. China is a major fishing gear manufacturing and exporting country in the world. Nearly 80% of the global fishing supplies are "made in China". The mature industrial chain and supply chain are spread all over the country, and it is expected to enjoy the huge industrial dividends brought by cross-border e-commerce exports. Among them, fishing rods, fishing baits, fishing boxes, etc. are all hot development categories.

The development of cross-border e-commerce has opened up new channels for Chinese outdoor sports enterprises to expand their business overseas. How to build long-term competitiveness and sustainable development is a challenge for all Chinese enterprises. In this regard, the Guide also summarizes four major overseas strategies for Chinese outdoor sports enterprises and helps cross-border e-commerce enterprises to layout overseas markets.

First, based on the product, develop the scene in depth. Through in-depth insight into the consumption habits of the destination market, develop the product around the consumption scene and related scenes, occupy the consumer's mind, improve the customer experience and drive sales; The second is compliance operation. When expanding business, sellers need to comply with the product compliance requirements of the local government regulations where the cross-border e-commerce sites are located. The product compliance certification is not only the first step to establish a good trust relationship between buyers and sellers, but also the basis for sellers to establish a long-term reputation in the destination market; Third, the layout of overseas warehouses can help sellers better adapt to the strong seasonal characteristics of outdoor sports products, make timely delivery and improve the buyer's experience; Fourth, strengthen brand building. Relying on China's massive supply and the quality assurance of a large number of OEM manufacturing enterprises, Chinese sellers are experiencing an excellent opportunity period from low-cost export to upgrading products and creating brands. Sellers can use the international influence of cross-border e-commerce platforms to build enterprise brands into truly international brands, thus gaining long-term competitiveness and higher user loyalty.