Kuiu sold?

[Jstumbaugh]

Dick's Sporting Goods shouldn't be included in any discussion of outdoor companies. They suck. The chain in upstate NY is now "Dicks House of Sport" and might have a few fishing poles left. There is nothing outside of the organized athletic sports supplies to be found there. Soccer balls and Yeti tumblers galore.

 

[Rolando]

^Joined Sunday

98% sure ChatGPT wrote that

 

[jmez]

Occam's razor. Yes they will change, yes they will be big box. Yes the CEO "staying on" will be gone in 2 years.

 

[SMOKYMTN]

Cox Enterprises Launches New Cox Outdoors Business Segment | Cox Enterprises

Cox Outdoors unites the company’s recent investments in outdoor-recreation businesses and expands its focus on conservation.

www.coxenterprises.com

 

[Alpine4x4]

He sounds like an insider but he’s right, likely the best outcome by miles. Kuiu was already owned by PE (Main Post) and they grew the Co. by making it more accessible, against Jason’s original wishes by making it for the average American, whitetail, waterfowl, etc. as long as they still make a core product for the western hunter and push innovation in materials I’ll be a buyer. Great transaction for all involved.

I was gonna say, this is just a sell to another PE, KUIU was already under PE control and it showed in the last couple years with the products they've been pushing out.

 

[SurfAMHuntPM]

FORLOH?

I made the mistake of checking out their instagram.

 

[chanson_roland]

FWIW I did some business with the Cox Enterprises folks when I lived in Atlanta. Not really a PE firm, they're a private family business (more like Mars, Cargill, Koch) that's diversifying beyond TV/Cable. Pretty straight shooters, and unlike a PE firm, not looking to flip businesses but own them long term.

That being said, I'm looking forward to the very interesting cross-selling with cable internet subscriptions and used trucks, since they own both Autotrader and Manheim....

 

[MT_Wyatt]

I was gonna say, this is just a sell to another PE, KUIU was already under PE control and it showed in the last couple years with the products they've been pushing out.

Very true. Seeing some of this with Sitka too (different ownership situation) and stone glacier (again different, but analogous).

With Sitka it’s been lifestyle blitz for years, now these “special edition” pieces, new good stuff with new features, but some inexplicable choices for materials in others. Trying 7 varieties of every product that sticks it seems.

SG suddenly everything is on sale, different catalogs, colors, huge expansion on skus but small development on “new” as well as a ton of black label products. For years their releases were at a distinct time (January).

All to say big money has consequences, some good, some bad. Hopefully this is a good change for KUIU.

 

[akhunter3]

Kuiu has been sliding downhill for awhile now, I imagine this will only increase that pace...

 

[gobblinglawyer]

Things were just way more simple when we all just threw on a set of Walls coveralls or a wool coat and hit the woods.

 

[MtnMuley]

Cox Enterprises is absolutely fine. I have zero issues with this and think it's a move in a positive direction.

 

[pacoalcracker]

No matter who bought them, there are going to be changes. period.

 

[SMOKYMTN]

Cox Enterprises is absolutely fine. I have zero issues with this and think it's a move in a positive direction.

Agreed, the right partnership has helped plenty of outdoor brands sustain long term success and sustainability. Obviously we all worry about profit-focused PE acquisitions that often come at the expense of the brand and it's reputation, but this doesn't sound like that. Or at least we hope. In a world of sellouts and/or complete collapses (BlackOvis), I applaud Kuiu's effort to partner with a company who has a common vision and purpose, and who can help Kuiu continue to provide quality gear for it's consumers.

 

[Yoder]

Maybe Dicks will buy them all out and they can be Dicks and Cox.

 

[glock233]

Don’t know anything about Cox Enterprises, but it’s usually not a good thing when hunting focused brands get bought out by investment groups. They are there to turn a profit as quickly as possible. Usually by making a cheaper, more generic product that can be sold at volume to retailers.

The Cox family owns Cox cable. Kuiu is screwed.