Main Post Partners, a leading private equity investment firm with experience partnering with high-growth enthusiast brands, has completed the sale of Kuiu, LLC to an investor group comprised of conservation-minded families and businesses, including Cox Enterprises.
Kuiu, the direct-to-consumer technical hunting apparel and gear brand known for ultralight, performance products, was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Dixon, CA.
Main Post first invested in Kuiu in January 2017. Since then, the firm noted that the brand has delivered profitable growth while executing a multi-year value-creation plan that expanded its reach beyond its “Western Mountain sheep roots into every day and workwear to ‘own the hunter’s closet,’ upgraded core systems and data capabilities and built on its digital capability by opening with high-profile retail stores.”
In addition to its e-commerce platform and sales to retailers, Kuiu also operates a retail store in Dixon, California, and three additional stores in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, Texas. The brand also has a pop-up store at Molly’s Place in Easton, Maryland.
The investment is expected to support KUIU’s expansion of its brick-and-mortar retail presence, offering more in-person shopping experiences for its customers across the U.S. The long-term brand strategy includes domestic and international growth through expanding retail, e-commerce, and exclusive partnerships.
“Since partnering with Jason and Kirstyn Hairston and management in 2017, we’ve been privileged to support Kuiu’s evolution from a founder-led, digitally native enthusiast brand to the scaled, omni-channel leader serving the demanding performance and innovation needs of hunters,” said Jeff Mills, managing partner at Main Post Partners.
“The team, led by CEO Melissa Woolf, has done exceptional work growing the business nearly 10x over the last seven-plus years, and the company continues to have significant growth ahead as it develops into a globally recognized brand,” said Josh McDowell, partner at Main Post Partners.
“We are thrilled that a long-term, conservation-focused investor group will steward Kuiu’s next chapter. Kuiu Nation has always been committed to supporting the guide and outfitter community and future generations through the first-of-its-kind Kuiu Conservation Direct initiative,” said Matt Short, partner at Main Post Partners.
Under its new ownership, Kuiu will remain a privately-held, independently-operated brand. CEO Melissa Woolf will continue to lead the business, and the existing organizational and operational structure will remain in place. The investor group “brings a long-term orientation and deep commitment to conservation.”
“The investing families are more than just customers; they are passionate supporters and generous contributors to causes they believe in,” stated Woolf. “In fact, Cox Enterprises and the James M. Cox Foundation have contributed over $325 million to environmental and conservation efforts. We look forward to working with Cox on expanding our Conservation Direct initiative.”
“Main Post has been an exceptional partner as we scaled Kuiu,” Woolf continued. “They helped us professionalize and build the organization, supported our efforts to expand east of the Rockies and broaden our product line while always protecting the core innovative & performance DNA that makes this brand unique. Just as importantly, they respected our team, guides and customers, allowing us to remain true to serving the Kuiu nation. We are excited to enter this next phase of growth with a group of investors who are not only passionate Kuiu customers, but also deeply committed to conservation and maintaining all that makes Kuiu special.”
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Morrison & Foerster provided legal counsel to Main Post Partners on the transaction; Dorsey & Whitney provided legal counsel to Kuiu.
Image courtesy Kuiu
