Alicja Turczyniewicz-Gorczyca and Kamil Szabłowski OLX
Sleds proved to be the undisputed leader of this trend. In the first week of January, interest in this category was over 1000% higher than in the first week of December.
We waited until the last minute to buy winter equipment
Although long-term weather forecasts predicted a frosty and snowy winter, as can be concluded from OLX data, we waited to buy skis, snowboards, jackets, and sleds until these forecasts began to materialize. As a result, in the first week of January this year, the service recorded a real siege of people interested in buying winter equipment. During this period, compared to the first week of December, the frequency of typing
– Mild winters in recent years have led many of us to give up owning typical winter equipment, postponing purchasing decisions
Sleds – a winter classic returns to favor
This year’s sled boom exceeded all expectations. This winter equipment, which just a dozen years ago was a basic item in almost every home, today has become an object of true desire. Year-on-year, sleds recorded the largest increase in interest among all winter equipment categories (89%). But the true scale of the return to this winter classic was shown by data from the first week of January this year – compared to the first week of December, the increase in interest in buying sleds on OLX was 1030%!
Frosty winter favors the market
Recent years have not encouraged spending on winter sports equipment. Short and unstable winters have led Poles to give up owning their own winter equipment, postponing purchases or using rentals. As a result, the market for such goods recorded moderate growth. This year’s scale and dynamics of increased interest in winter equipment significantly deviate from the trends observed in previous years. Thus, it can be expected to bring a market revival. Nevertheless, an analysis of consumer behavior shows that the current increase in interest is a reactive, weather-driven purchasing boom that may reverse with a change in weather. Therefore, sellers are trying to make the best use of conditions favorable to the development of their business. This is confirmed by OLX data, which shows that year-on-year, the number of entities offering sports equipment through the platform increased by 52%.
