NASCAR Merchandise Showing Up Everywhere

After reading this article, to learn more about NASCAR Merchandise, visit www.NASCAR-THINGS.com

 

The NASCAR brand has become recognized around the world as a leading sports property. More Fortune 500 firms use investment in NASCAR racing than any other spectator sport. Landor Associates was cited in December 2004 as stating “NASCAR was the #6 brand in 2004 and is predicted to be the #2 brand in 2005, ahead of Google and iPod,”

The NASCAR recipe is one that no other spectator sport uses. Every week, the top teams (drivers) are battling directly against each other. Unlike, for instance the NFL, where you might have to wait weeks for that huge contest, at a NASCAR race, you can watch number 1 versus number 2 every week. It’s virtually like having the World Series of this sport every week.

From its modest origins in the South, NASCAR has risen to immense popularity across the entire USA in recent years. From the initial races started in 1948 to the current NEXTEL Cup and Busch series, NASCAR has become arguably the number one spectator sport in America, boasting 75 million rabid fans.

Those who report on the sport attribute several items to its’ success. Decades of history and a grass roots origin are some of the factors given for the sport’s popularity. The lineage of the sport in the “bootlegging” days and the humble background of numerous of it’s first aces seems to be a positive factor to buffs in this day of the spoiled, pampered, arrogant pro athlete.

Surprisingly, 40% of today’s race fans are women and 53% work in white-collar or skilled labor jobs. And even with this variety, the statistics continue to be solid; yearly attendance at raceways is above 7 million and over 275 million People watch on TV.

From small local race tracks in the Southland, NASCAR is very big business today. Including tV revenues, sponsorship money, and licensed product sales, NASCAR generates very big dollars today. NASCAR merchandise gross revenue now have risen to pass $2 billion annually and the markets continue to stay robust. This is built on a 250% gain from 1995 to 2004.

Race buffs seem to have a big desire for products that shows support for their favored driver, whether it is by getting into NASCAR apparel, grabbing accessories for their car or truck, or even decorating their home. NASCAR wall clocks, desk clocks, even throw blankets, bed sheets and wall tapestries are appearing in homes everywhere.

Apparel such as NASCAR jackets, t-shirts, and NASCAR jerseys appear to be flourishing in growth as makers release expanded merchandise and are even including more expensive products like leather jackets and specialty items like jewelry. The true fan can even dress the entire household with new introductions of complete NASCAR kids clothing and youth lines.

Even though the NASCAR diecast arena has weakened of late, it is still reasonable in size. As drivers change their paint schemes, it allows manufacturers to develop the products several times over in this segment and that helps keep sales moving.

Within the vast NASCAR wares market, substantial sub markets pop up. NASCAR collectibles have become large just by themselves. A diversity of things from plaques and autographed pics to diecast cars are gobbled up, partly due to growth, but also in hope of appreciation in value for the collectibles market.

Where will it all end? I don’t think we know, but when I see corporate secretaries wearing NASCAR hats and white collar managers putting on NASCAR shirts with pictures of “Junior” plastered on them, I wonder if there is a limit to this market.<