Retail sales of hand-held massagers have soared the past two years as more consumers have turned to the products to relieve stress from exercise, sports and other muscle workouts, according to The NPD Group.
Units sales of hand-held massagers were up 60% last year versus the prior year, when the units sales of the devices were ahead year over year by 43%, according to NPD retail sales tracking.
The most popular type of hand-held massager based on unit sales, according to NPD, is a percussive tapper, which repeatedly impacts the soft tissue and decreases tight muscle tissue. More than 2.8 million tapper-style hand-held massagers were sold in 2021, up 95% from the prior year, when units were ahead year over year by140%, NPD reported.
Women purchasers represented 56% and men represented 44% of hand-held dollar sales last year, according to NPD. Hand-held massagers appeal to a broad range of ages, with adults 25-44 holding the most significant dollar share, according to NPD tracking. Two-person households tend to buy more hand-held massagers than other household sizes, NPD reported.
“Hand-held massagers are another great example of the home industry solving a problem for consumers,” said Joe Derochowski, NPD Home industry analyst. “Everyone has sore, tight muscles from time to time, and a massage therapist isn’t always accessible. Hand-held massagers provide a convenient solution, and the devices’ tremendous growth over the last two years proves it.”
