30 Oct Matt Powell, sneaker industry analyst, moves to The NPD Group
Matt Powell, the oft-quoted sneaker industry analyst, has joined The NPD Group, the global information company announced Wednesday.
Powell, previously an analyst for SportsOneSource, will be NPD’s vice president of industry analysis for the firm’s sports and leisure trends business.
With over 40 years of experience in the retail and research industries, Powell has held positions both on the client and vendor sides of the business. On the client side, he has worked with retailers and e-tailers in sporting goods such as Modell’s Sporting Goods, Sneaker Stadium, and MVP.com.
On the vendor side, in addition to SportsOneSource, Powell has provided insight to many of the industries’ leading brands and retailers. He has been a regular visitor to Portland, with meetings at the Nike World Headquarters near Beaverton as well as at Adidas’ North American headquarters in Portland. Powell also writes the Sneakernomics blog on Forbes.com.
“NPD has the most robust information on the marketplace and relationships with some of the industry’s top players,” Powell said in statement. “I’m excited to be coming on board during a time of great change for the industry and for NPD as they continue to build their sports practice and introduce new business solutions.”
Last November, The NPD Group acquired Leisure Trends, a Boulder, Colo.-based market researcher for the sports and recreation industries. The combined businesses, NPD Sports and Leisure Trends, provide data and analysis on the sports, outdoor, and recreation marketplace, tracking retail sales and consumer trends across apparel, footwear, and equipment for running, outdoor, fitness, cycling, and snow sports categories.
— Allan Brettman