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This article is about the retail store. For the city in Saskatchewan, see Moose Jaw.
Moosejaw.com
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRetail
Founded1992; 32 years ago (1992)
Founders
  • Robert Wolfe
  • David Jaffe
Defunct2024; 0 years ago (2024)
Fateacquired by Dick's Sporting Goods and merged with Public Lands
HeadquartersMadison Heights, Michigan, U.S.
Number of locations
0
Key people
Eoin Comerford (CEO)
ProductsOutdoor gear
Number of employees
About 350 (2017)[1]
ParentDick's Sporting Goods (2023–present)
Websitemoosejaw.com

Moosejaw.com is a defunct online and brick and mortar retailer that specialized in outdoor recreation apparel and gear for snowboarding, rock climbing, hiking, and camping. The company was founded in 1992 by Robert Wolfe and David Jaffe, two longtime friends who chose to sell camping equipment instead of becoming wilderness guides.[2] Moosejaw was known for its nonsensical marketing called "Moosejaw Madness".

Parallel Investment Partners, a private equity firm based in Dallas, acquired a majority stake in Moosejaw in 2007 on undisclosed terms.[3] Glencoe Capital, a private equity firm, acquired a stake in Moosejaw in 2009 on undisclosed terms.[4] W Capital Partners, a private equity firm, acquired a stake in Moosejaw in 2013 on undisclosed terms.[5] On February 15, 2017, retailer Walmart acquired Moosejaw for $51 million in cash.[2][6] In February 2023, Dick's Sporting Goods agreed to buy Moosejaw from Walmart for an undisclosed amount.[7][6]

In September 2023, Dick's announced that it will be closing down all but 3 Moosejaw stores along with the headquarters in Madison Heights, MI.[6] All operations will be moved to Pittsburgh effective February 2024.[8]

In August 2024, the remaining three stores announced their closure and the Moosejaw website was shut down. Moosejaw.com now redirects to Publiclands.com, another subsidiary of Dick's Sporting Goods launched in 2021. [9] [10]

Overview

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Moosejaw.com was named a Top 50 retailer by Internet Retailer (2007),[11] Top 50 retailer by Bizrate (2006), Best of the Web by Forbes magazine,[12] and a Top 500 Retailer by Internet Retailer.[13] Moosejaw has been recognized as a leader in online marketing by The New York Times,[14] Outside magazine,[15] and Chain Store Age magazine.[16]

Moosejaw's official name, as it appears on their corporate charter, is Moosejaw Mountaineering and Backcountry Travel, Inc. In 2021, the store had twelve locations which include eight in Michigan, one in Arkansas, one in Illinois, one in Colorado, one in Missouri, and one in Kansas.[17]

According to its website history, the first store opened in 1992 in Keego Harbor, Michigan. In November 2011, Moosejaw released an augmented reality app designed by Marxent Labs which allows shoppers to hold their mobile device over the Moosejaw catalog and view images of the models in their underwear.[18] On September 1, 2012, Moosejaw Mountaineering opened a store in Kansas City, Missouri. The new store is located in the Country Club Plaza; an upscale retail/dining district located south of downtown Kansas City. Moosejaw's annual revenue neared $100 million in 2014 and was growing roughly 25% per year at that time.[19] A new store opened in 2020 in Olathe, Kansas, and was associated with local rock-climbing gym ROKC, however, the store closed in 2024.[20] In 2021, they opened a new store in Bentonville, Arkansas.[21] As of 2023, only three stores remain; one in Birmingham, one in Salt Lake City, and one in Bentonville, Arkansas.[6]

In August 2024, all remaining stores were closed and the Moosejaw website was shut down.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Walmart buys quirky outdoor retailer Moosejaw to boost online sales". USA Today.
  2. ^ a b Witsil, Frank (2017-02-15). "Walmart buys quirky outdoor retailer Moosejaw to boost online sales". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  3. ^ Duggan, Daniel (2009-03-08). "Moosejaw founder's new gig: Building brands into cults". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  4. ^ Stambor, Zak (2009-12-17). "Moosejaw gets money from an investment fund focused on Michigan". Internet Retailer. Archived from the original on 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  5. ^ "Parallel Investment Partners - 2013 Year in Review". parallelip.com. Archived from the original on 2016-10-16. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  6. ^ a b c d Ramirez, Charles E. "All but 3 Moosejaw stores to close, new owner says". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  7. ^ Fonrouge, Gabrielle (2023-02-22). "Dick's Sporting Goods to buy e-commerce outdoor retailer Moosejaw from Walmart". CNBC.
  8. ^ "Dick's closing all but three Moosejaw stores amid integration with Public Lands". Chain Store Age. 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  9. ^ "Last remaining Moosejaw stores to close, marking end for Michigan-born outdoor retailer". Detroit Free Press. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  10. ^ "This Iconic Michigan-Born Business Has Quietly Shutdown". WGRD 97.9. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  11. ^ Internet Retailer 2007 Top 50
  12. ^ "Forbes magazine article". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
  13. ^ Internet Retailer top 500
  14. ^ "New York Times article" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  15. ^ "Outside magazine article" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  16. ^ "Chain Store Age magazine article" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  17. ^ "Moosejaw Find A Shop". Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  18. ^ Schechter, Sonia (13 December 2011). "Moosejaw 'Sweaty & Wet' Augmented Reality app launches". Marxent Labs. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  19. ^ Levy, Ari (2014-11-18). "How this company is 98% sure you want that parka". CNBC. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  20. ^ Thompson, Jenna (9 February 2024). "Johnson County outdoor retailer just closed. Here's what's planning to move in soon". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Moosejaw store to open in Bentonville | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette". www.nwaonline.com. 2021-05-22. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
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