Demographics ■ There is an almost equal ratio between male and female users. ■ Ages 13–46, with 48% clustering around ages 23–34. The recreational users tend to cover the widest age range, including young users through active adults. The fitness users tend to be ages 20–40. The speed users tend to be in their late twenties and early thirties. The hockey players are generally in their teens through their early twenties. The extreme segment is of similar age to the hockey players. ■ Of the users who are over 20, 65% have an undergraduate degree or substantial undergraduate coursework. ■ The adult users have a median personal income of $47,000.
Behavior Factors ■ Users enjoy fitness activities not as a means for a healthy life, but as an intrinsically enjoyable activity in itself. ■ Users spend money on gear, typically sports equipment. ■ Users have active lifestyles that include some sort of recreation at least two to three times a week.
2.1.2 Market Needs Pegasus is providing the skating community with a wide range of accessories for all variations of skating. The company seeks to fulfill the following benefits that are important to its customers: ■ Quality craftsmanship. The customers work hard for their money and do not enjoy spending it on disposable products that work for only a year or two. ■ Well-thought-out designs. The skating market has not been addressed by well-thought-out products that serve skaters’ needs. Pegasus’ industry experience and personal dedication to the sport will provide it with the needed information to produce insightfully designed products. ■ Customer service. Exemplary service is required to build a sustainable business that has a loyal customer base.
2.1.3 Market Trends Pegasus will distinguish itself by marketing products not previously available to skaters. The emphasis in the past has been to sell skates and very few replacement parts. The number of skaters is not restricted to any one single country, continent, or age group, so there is a world market. Pegasus has products for virtually every group of skaters. The fastest-growing segment of this sport is the fitness skater. Therefore, the marketing is being directed toward this group. BladeBoots will enable users to enter establishments without having to remove their skates. BladeBoots will be aimed at the recreational skater, the largest segment. SkateAids, on the other hand, are great for everyone. The sport of skating will also grow through SkateSailing. This sport is primarily for the medium-to-advanced skater, and its growth potential is tremendous. The sails that Pegasus has manufactured have been sold in Europe, following a pattern similar to windsurfing. Windsailing originated in Santa Monica but did not take off until it had already grown big in Europe.