Hot Market Production: How to Meet Skyrocketing Demand For Sports Apparel
Sports apparel scores big with fans, and that will never change!
In 2024, overall Super Bowl merchandise sales increased 18% from the previous year’s event, according to Sportcal.
Demand for sports keeps growing, but specifically in what’s called a hot market.
In the context of sports, these are time frames when fans are eager to buy new garments and accessories to support their favorite teams.
If you align your strategy with these periods of time, you can create huge cash injections for your apparel business.
However, meeting this demand requires a little bit of insight. You’ll need to understand:
- Which garments are selling
- Why they’re top sellers
- How to manufacture and fulfill orders quickly enough to capitalize on the demand
It’s called a “hot market” for a reason. If you don’t have your ducks in a row, you’ll miss the peak opportunity to sell your garments to the hot-and-ready-to-buy audience.
At Scrappy Apparel, we are experts in launching hot market drop campaigns. If you’re interested in using this strategy for your brand, keep reading because we’re about to share key insights from our experience working with these campaigns.
Execute a Successful Hot Market Drop Strategy with Scrappy Apparel
Why the Hot Market Drop Strategy Works for Sports Apparel
During big events, you’ll see fans rocking all kinds of sports-themed apparel, from jerseys and hats to elaborate costumes and accessories. If you’re a clothing brand, this is a golden opportunity to produce innovative, in-demand apparel.
However, the best moment to maximize your sales is during a hot market, when sports apparel inventory is relatively low compared to the skyrocketing demand.
If you execute this strategy correctly, your sales will explode.
How Hot Market Printing Works
Leading apparel manufacturers are tuned into the sporting events that bring the hottest markets for apparel in the U.S.
When we talk about major sporting events, we instantly think of the Super Bowl or NBA Championship.
However, there are others you should look into. Here are a few:
- MLB World Series: The annual final championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the U.S. and Canada.
- NCAA Championship Game: Single-elimination basketball tournament.
- Masters Tournament: Major championships in professional golf.
- Kentucky Derby: One of the most prestigious horse races in the U.S.
- PGA Championship: Annual golf tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America.
- U.S. Open: A hardcourt tennis tournament held annually in Queens, New York.
- World Cup: The premier international football tournament contested by the national teams of the member associations of FIFA. Although it’s a multinational event (not U.S. specific), it’s the perfect example of a hot market.
Anything that has a huge impact in a short period of time can be considered a hot market.
We’re focusing on sports apparel today, but keep in mind that there are many examples of hot markets outside of sporting events. For example:
- Blockbuster film releases (Ex. The Barbie film)
- eSports championships
- Video game releases
- Popular Netflix show releases
- Major music tours (Ex. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour)
If it’s a hot cultural moment, there’s an opportunity to make money from it.
The Future of the Sports Apparel Market
2023 data from Statista indicates a huge growth in the revenue of the global sports apparel market, from $213 billion to $293 billion.
Forecasted revenue of the global sports apparel market from 2023 to 2030, according to Statista.
Another report from GVR points out a compound annual growth rate of 4.9% from 2023 to 2030. But what does this immense and consistent growth actually mean for brands?
It’s important to learn how to become successful in the hot market and secure partnerships with other players in the industry. The brands that do this will have a solid foundation to maximize their sales at every major sports event—not only in 2024, but also in the future.
How to Execute a Successful Hot Market Drop Campaign
Launching a successful hot market drop campaign demands meticulous planning and operational precision.
Although you could manage this effort in-house, the level of agility and flexibility you’d need would be difficult to achieve on your own. We recommend working with an apparel partner that has manufacturing and fulfillment capabilities.
You’ll also want to choose a company that has experience launching hot market drop campaigns or similar initiatives.
Here are the key steps to follow:
- Preparedness and Organization: Assemble a skilled team that is well-organized and capable of meeting tight deadlines consistently. Ensure your manufacturing and inventory management processes are pre-set and ready for immediate action.
- Streamlined Processes: Keep your production line agile with pre-arranged plans for post-production tasks to minimize delays. Clearly labeled boxes and expertly managed pickups will ensure on-time deliveries and prevent mistakes.
- Quality Control: You’ll want a multi-step quality control process that involves checking artwork, raw materials, and garments for any issues. Always conduct a final inspection before packing orders and shipping them to customers.
- Timely Marketing: Time your marketing efforts to coincide with peak interest to capture and retain customer attention during critical moments. Remember, hot market drops are all about timing!
As you can probably tell, managing every aspect of production, printing, logistics, and marketing at the same time can be overwhelming.
Mistakes can happen when handling everything in-house, especially under the pressure of a hot market. You’re racing against the clock while avoiding bottlenecks and errors.
That’s why Scrappy Apparel developed a solution that simplifies this complex process, allowing you to hand off the entire manufacturing and fulfillment process to our team of experts.
All you need to do is focus on designing, marketing, and selling your apparel. We’ll take care of the rest!
Discover Scrappy Apparel’s Specialized Solutions for Hot Market Production
When time is of the essence and demand is high, you need a partner who excels in quick turnarounds and efficient operations.
Scrappy Apparel is ready to support your brand’s needs now and help you scale with the growing demands of the market.
End-to-End Manufacturing and Fulfillment Services
We offer a variety of manufacturing services, including:
- Screen Printing
- Sublimation
- Cut & Sew
…and more!
After producing your garments, we’ll organize and fulfill orders as part of our 3PL MGMT program.
We guarantee timely delivery of all orders, no matter the volume. Our services include inventory management, order processing, and hassle-free returns and exchanges.
When you launch a hot market drop campaign, you can never miss a beat. We’ll make sure every step of your supply chain is on point!
Scalability, Efficiency, and Reliability
Aiming to maximize sales from a surge in demand? We are equipped to handle large-scale orders without compromising on quality.
Our robust 3PL MGMT program, providing capabilities comparable to 4PL and 5PL solutions, is designed to adapt and grow alongside your business needs.
Focus on Brand Development
Free up your time to concentrate on what truly matters—your marketing and brand development.
By trusting us with your backend operations, you gain the freedom to craft impactful marketing strategies and enhance your brand’s presence in the market.
Both of those factors are crucial for a successful hot market drop strategy.
Capitalize on Every Hot Market Opportunity with Scrappy Apparel
We embody the essential attributes for your success—speed, efficiency, and reliability.
Trust us to provide rapid manufacturing and streamlined processes that ensure timely delivery and complete customer satisfaction.
