Dick’s Snaps up Walmart’s Moosejaw to Expand Outdoor Offerings

Dick’s Sporting Goods says it is buying Walmart-owned outdoor retailer Moosejaw.

The acquisition will allow Dick’s to expand its outdoor offerings and “reaffirm its commitment to the long-term business opportunity in the growing multibillion-dollar outdoor category,” the company said in a Wednesday (Feb. 22) news release.

Moosejaw, founded in Michigan in 1992, “operates a highly successful e-commerce platform, has a loyal customer base, strong vendor relationships with leading outdoor brands and a passionate workforce,” the release said.

In addition to its eCommerce business, Moosejaw has 12 physical stores in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan and Missouri. The retailer sells jackets, footwear and other clothing, along with equipment for biking, hiking and camping.

“We admire what Moosejaw has accomplished over the past 30 years as leaders in the outdoor industry and look forward to the opportunity to share insights and learn from one another,” said Todd Spaletto, president of Dick’s Public Lands brand. “We believe there’s potential to grow the Moosejaw business and provide compelling experiences and an expanded product assortment to its millions of loyal customers.”

The deal, expected to close next month, follows what Dick’s Sporting Goods has called a “transformational” period in which the retailer focused on experiential, omnichannel offerings.

The past few years have seen the Pittsburgh-based company launch Public Lands, a retail concept that features experiential elements like a climbing wall, along with “Dick’s House Of Sports,” a concept store that includes indoor and outdoor play spaces that allow for experiential shopping, with features such as a batting cage and playfield.

Last year also saw the company begin a partnership with Peloton, which aimed to launch 100 branded store-in-store locations with the connected exercise company.

Around the same time, Dick’s also teamed up with DoorDash for a program that offers consumers access to same-day delivery. It also debuted DSG Ventures, a $50 million venture capital fund aimed at companies with a focus on athletes and their communities.

The company did not release the terms of the purchase. Walmart bought Moosejaw for $51 million in 2017 as it looked to expand its eCommerce offerings.

Walmart said earlier this week that its eCommerce business had grown by 17% in its most recent quarter, leading CEO Doug McMillon to say the retailer had transformed itself into what he called a “people-led, tech-powered, omnichannel retailer.”