As spring turns into summer, people and their scooters are coming out to enjoy the fine weather. We are seeing more scooters than ever this year and have begun to notice an associated trend—accessories customized for kick scooter users.

Having spotted the first wave of (sometimes home-made or improvised) scooter accessories, we can draw a parallel to the snowboard phenomenon. When snowboards began to proliferate in the late 80s and early 90s, snowboarders often adapted ski gear and accessories, climbing equipment and standard winter attire to serve the needs of their sport. Then over time, re-purposed gear was no longer good enough and designers and manufacturers created numerous and creative products to fill the demands of a burgeoning market. Today snowboard accessories are a multi-billion dollar business, often on the cutting-edge of fashion and technology, comprising everything from racks and bags to clothing and technical outer wear to high-end eye-wear and personal sound equipment to special binding-adjustment multi-tools.

As with snowboarders, scooter entrepreneurs and designers are beginning to develop specialized accessories to suit their demands and desires. People are using these accessories for various reasons ranging from practicality and utility, safety and customization of what is, so far, a fairly basic-looking product. A few new accessories we have noticed include bags and carry-bags, carry-straps, helmets and body armor (adapted from biking and skateboarding), lights and fenders. There is room for so much more!

We are looking forward to innovation and growth in this sector as scooter usage grows and the industry matures. Just a few of the products waiting to be developed could include: custom hand grips, custom deck grips, shoes, gloves, custom brakelines, custom decks, specialized backpacks (like those for carrying skateboards and snowboards), special wheels and adhesive colors for the steering column—to name a few! We are excited about the possibilities and can't wait to see what rolls out over the next few months and years.

Not too long ago, in an earlier Blog entry, we took a look at the sector name, "adult kick scooter".  It is unappealing sector name when compared to "in-line skates", "skate boarding", "snow boarding", "biking", etc.  Adult Kick Scooter simply suggests and conjures up the image of an adult riding a child's toy.

As a result, we attempted to dream, and challenge those who follow this blog, to come up with a better sector name.  Our first suggestion was to utilize the "Roller Blade" example. Let's call the sector by the dominate adult kick scooter brand, the Xootr.  "Let's go Xootring!"  Furthermore, let's keep that name until such a time when, for example, "in-line-skating" trumps "roller blading", after roller blading hit the inflection point of adoption in the early 1990's.  

Personally, I would much rather take my Xootr out to go Xootring versus take my scooter out to go scootering.  Or ask the question, "Do you have a Xootr" versus "Do you have an adult kick scooter"?  You know, Adult Kick Scooter almost sounds like the Depends of the scooter industry.

I had my first indication of "Xootring" the other day, well almost.  In the store walks a lady who told me that her kids have been asking her when she was going to get a "Mootr".  "A Mootr?", I said.  "You mean a Xootr!".  "No", the lady replied, "a Mootr; a scooter for Moms. That's what my kids call it." After having confided some concerns about how she may be perceived riding a scooter, she purchased a Street and went on her way.  

If you speak with Xootr, one of their largest demographic of buyers are women between the agesof 30-45.  So, it is no surprise that she was a buyer.  But noteworthy nonetheless is the fact that she was compelled to buy one because other area Moms were riding the Xootr.  

Moreover,  she was directly compelled by her kids who renamed it a "Mootr".

Oh - times, they are a-changing in the adult kick scooter sector.  It won't be long before we are all Xootring, or possibly Mootring.  Honestly, though, I can't say that I take to kindly to "Dootring".

If you live in NYC, watch that daily Xootr count.  It climbs higher and higher!    

As detailed in our first blog entry, SkootNation is predicting the inflection point for mass adoption of the adult kick scooter.  With Spring on the horizon, will we see 2010 as being a pivotal year.  Yes! We think so.   

The adult kick scooter sector has grown year after year since the sector launch in the late 1990s. Our estimate, with support from industry sources, is a 15-20% CAGR for the past 10 years.  Well, SkootNation believes that that rate may kick up to 40-50% beginning this year.  What is driving this growth rate?  - upcoming mass adoption.  The 2010 Inflection

If you live in New York City, take a walk around.  Play a game of SPUD with adult kick scooters. You will easily see more than a 1-2 in during your walk a 30 min, some ridden by adults, and some by children / pre-teens - and this is during the winter months.  When spring arrives, SkootNation predicts that number will kick up to a dozen or more.

Today, adult kick scooters are not only just being sold in urban areas of the US, but also in rural states such as Oklahoma and Nebraska.  In addition, overseas buyers are quickly emerging from Japan to Norway.

Xootr continues to lead the adult kick scooter industry.  But, watch out for the adult users of the Razor A-Lux 5.  With bigger, "almost Xootr-like" wheels than a typical razor, it provides for a nice ride at a substantially reduced price to other adult kick scooter models.  But, the deck is shorter and narrower, and the difference is very noticeable to most Xootr users, and may not be worth the price differential.  Nevertheless, the fact that Razor is making a move in this sector is certainly emblematic.

Follow the growth.  Follow the blog.  More to come...