Wrestling Toys and Video Games Body Slam the Competition, Reports NPD.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 1999--

Wrestling-related toys and video games are selling at a blistering pace, according to The NPD Group, Inc. Although retail sales of traditional toys were up only 2% in 1998, sales of wrestling toy products grew 169% for the year. Growth has continued in 1999 with wrestling toy sales up 386% through May 1999 over the same period a year ago. Video game wrestling products also experienced strong growth, with 1998 sales up 472% and sales through May 1999 up an additional 23%.

"Despite the launch of Star Wars in May, wrestling-related merchandise will likely be among the industry's best sellers when final numbers are released at year end," confirmed Ed Roth, president of NPD Leisure Activities. "As the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) leagues are the primary contenders in the wrestling toy and video game markets, both should benefit from sales significantly above the 1998 retail dollar volume of $119 million for wrestling toys and $233 million for wrestling video games."

Sales through May 1999 show WWF leading in market share for toys, while WCW is leading in video games. WWF captured 55% of wrestling toy sales to WCW's 45% retail share for the first five months of this year. In wrestling video games sales, WCW secured 79% of the market and WWF obtained 21%.

While most wrestling toys and video games are purchased by or for children, individuals over age 18 do account for a significant share of wrestling video game sales, NPD reported. In 1998, 30% of wrestling video games went to individuals who were over age 18. By comparison, consumers over 18 accounted for only 8% of wrestling toy sales.

NPD data also show wrestling toys are appealing to a broader household income audience, with more affluent households accounting for a greater percentage of purchases. In 1997, only 20% of wrestling toys were sold to households with annual incomes over $50,000. Last year, households earning over $50,000 made 35% of wrestling toy purchases.

Despite the growing appeal of wrestling-related toys among higher income levels, wrestling toy purchasers tend to be less educated than the typical toy purchaser. Sixty-three percent of all toy purchasers have attended college, while only 39% of consumers who buy wrestling toy merchandise have attended college.

About The NPD Group

The NPD Group is an international marketing information company headquartered in Port Washington, NY. Founded in 1953, the firm specializes in providing consumer and retail sales tracking and custom research for a wide range of industries and is the founder of Media Metrix, Inc., the PC Meter(R). company. NPD is the tenth largest market research firm in the U.S. based upon 1998 revenues, according to the American Marketing Association's Honomichl 50. NPD has offices and affiliations in 36 countries, covering North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

http://www.npd.com