Retail soft as year ends

SANDY PARKER REPORT, VOL. 30, ISSUE 43, JAN. 8, 2007
The following extract is reproduced with permission from Sandy Parker Reports, Weekly International Fur News. Sandy Parker has been covering the fur industry for more than four decades. For most of that time he has published a weekly newsletter, detailing results of international pelt auctions, wholesale price trends, business developments and movements in the trade, as well as economic and political activities that may impact on it.
Subscribe now and receive all the latest news, either in print or electronically. Just $150 a year for 48 issues! Sandy Parker Reports, 21219 Lago Circle, Boca Raton, FL 33433; Tel: (561) 477-3764; Fax: (561) 862-7052; SParker@SandyParker.com; www.sandyparker.com
International Fur News
with Sandy Parker
Retail soft as year ends
THE YEAR 2006 WAS A MIXED BAG: a year of strong demand that resulted in record high prices for fur skins, but one in which a fickle mother nature failed to deliver seasonable weather on a consistent basis. While she provided the proper conditions for ranchers and trappers to bring their products to a waiting market, she merely teased the retail sector with occasional cold snaps that brought consumers in for short periods, but caused many others to postpone their buying plans. However, although the mostly mild December ended disappointingly, there was still the prospect that – with the greater part of the winter still ahead – better conditions would combine with fur’s fashion standing to give the season a strong windup.
At the retail level, the year got off to a slower start than had been expected, largely attributed to above-normal temperatures in many parts of the world. Retailers reported that they did business every day, but that the traffic was nothing near what it should have been for that time of the year. According to the U.S. Weather Service, it was an exceptionally mild January for most of the country, with temperatures ranging to as much as 20 degrees above normal in some regions. This was in sharp contrast to the frigid readings in Russia, Northern China and elsewhere, where fur sales were booming. But much of Western Europe also was experiencing a mild January and fur sales suffered there as well.
February also proved to be a disappointing month for most, again inconsistent weather. February ranks about the fourth biggest month for fur sales and is therefore a major contributor to the year’s volume. The November-to-February period typically accounts for 80% to 90% of the 12-month total. In that period of 2005-06, only December – which started out slow – turned out to be a winner.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Retail Soft as Year Ends…
…but Skin Prices Hit Peaks
Mink, Fox Crops Set Records
China, Russia Still Set Pace
Prices No Bar to Consumers
For extracts from back issues of Sandy Parker Reports see News Index. Subscribers can access an archive of complete issues at www.sandyparker.com.
-
For further information contact Fur Commission USA.
Home
© 1998-2011 Fur Commission USA