Sport Product Development Career Outlook

Job prospects for Sport Product Management graduates are promising. According to Glassdoor, product manager salaries nationally average $108,659 (minimum 55k to 160k) and in Buffalo, NY average $85,344 (minimum 53K to 118K).   

Program graduates are prepared to enter the following types of positions in the sport product industry:

Product Line Management- the process of using consumer insights and market research to build and manage a product line. Once a product line is built other factors must be considered including pricing, forecasting, marketing, sales and retail.

Product Development- the complete process of bringing a new product to life. This includes idea generation, market research and analysis, as well as product design, engineering, materials, costing and manufacturing prototypes for consumer testing.

Product Merchandising- how a product is presented at retail to make it more appealing to the target consumer.  This can include both brick-and-mortar and online retail environments.

Product Innovation Management- the creation and introduction into the market of a product that is either new or improved.  An emphasis is on new and innovative ways to create and /or introduce the product to market.

Materials Management- decisions related to the selection and utilization of materials used in the product creation process.

Product Engineering- sport products engineers work with design and marketing to engineer and test prototypes that meet the performance needs of athlete.

Demand Planning- a business planning process that results in a product demand forecast. Understanding product demand aids in the planning of production, inventory, sales and service needs.

Product Sourcing- the procurement practices aimed at finding, evaluating, and engaging suppliers of products and materials.

Product Costing- the process of determining a product's cost for purposes of pricing and product line profitability.

Retail Management- the business of day-to-day retail store operation involving product management, product merchandising, human resources, store operations and customer service.

Brand Management- a marketing function that looks at how a brand is positioned in the market and how to best connect with the brand’s target consumer.

Operations- overseeing, designing, and controlling the process of goods production.  Utilizing lean manufacturing to ensure optimal efficiency in terms of how inputs (materials, labor, energy) are converted to outputs (goods).

Sustainable Supply Chain Management- a focus on optimization of limited resources such as water and energy, as well as, the reduction of waste in the product supply chain.