According to the largest online stores, the continuing Covid-19 pandemic spurs on the demand for outdoor goods in Russia.
During the past several years, the demand for outdoor goods has always been high during the summer season. However, this year was truly exceptional, said Maria Salnikova, director of the sporting division of the Russian major online marketplace Ozon.
“Due to travel restrictions, a huge number of Russians have reoriented to domestic tourism, and the Russian south’s crowded beaches have forced many to turn to hiking,” she said.
Against this background, sales of tents and awnings in May-July rose by 50 percent compared to the same period last year, with the demand for four-person tents being exceptionally high. Sales of sleeping bags doubled, while the demand for travel accessories rose by 64 percent.
Also, the sales of fishing rods and spinning rods in May-July increased by 40 percent compared to last year, Salnikova estimated.
Other companies are also experiencing increasing demand. For example, Russia’s largest online retailer Wildberries has reported a doubling of sales of camping goods, with demand for tents alone up 79 percent. From May to July, Wildberries managed to sell 17 times more outdoor showers, eight times more camping stoves, and 82 percent more gas burners. Wildberries’ analytical department suggested that many travelers went to the mountains in the country’s north in July, and the sales of pants, thermosets, and thermal long-sleeves were also significantly up during this period.
According to another Russian online marketplace, Avito, the demand for tents among Moscow-based customers increased 2.5 times in July compared to last year. The demand for backpacks increased by 27 percent, for sleeping bags by 35 percent. A similar dynamic was observed in St. Petersburg: According to Avito, the demand for tents and sleeping bags increased by a good 110 percent, and for tourist backpacks, by 35 percent.
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