NPD research: Snow blowers surge in 2010

A series of snowstorms in early 2010 boosted snow blower/throwers sales past every other category of outdoor power equipment, according to research released by The NPD Group, a market research firm based in Port Washington, N.Y.

In the 12 months ending November 2010, $5.5 billion worth of outdoor power equipment items and 38 million units were sold in retail, according to NPD’s Consumer Tracking Service. These include chain saws, trimmers, mowers (walk-behind & riding), leaf blowers, pressure washers and snow throwers/blowers.

Among these product categories, snow throwers/blowers were the number one growing item, up 24% in units, and 14% in dollars, in the 12 months ending November 2010, compared to the same time the previous year.

The East/South Central region of the U.S. showed four times the sales of snow throwers/blowers during the 12-month period compared to the corresponding period ending November 2009. The West North Central, South Atlantic, Middle Atlantic, and New England regions all experienced double-digit growth in snow thrower/blower sales.

“Much of the snowfall of the early part of 2010 came unexpectedly, and seemed constant in some places, driving consumers to get that snow blower they had been putting off, particularly the aging boomer population.  With storm after storm, there’s only so much shoveling and back pain we can endure,” said Peter Goldman, president of NPD’s home division.