Bearcub Outfitters
Bearcub Outfitters is a family-owned specialty outdoor apparel and gear retailer founded in 1999 in Petoskey, Michigan, serving families and outdoor enthusiasts through one restored downtown storefront and a Shopify e-commerce site carrying Patagonia, Smartwool, The North Face, and similar premium brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersPetoskey, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bearcub Outfitters does
Bearcub Outfitters is a privately held, family-owned outdoor apparel and gear retailer founded in 1999 in Petoskey, Michigan, and operating under the "The Family Outfitter" positioning for 27 years as of 2026. The business serves families and outdoor enthusiasts in northern Michigan through a single brick-and-mortar store at 336 E. Lake St. in a restored historic downtown building, complemented by a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront that supports ship-to-me fulfillment, in-store pickup, and free returns and exchanges. The founders are Becky Philipp-Kranig (owner) and B.J. Shawn (co-owner).
The product mix spans women's, men's, kids, and infant apparel, footwear, accessories, and outdoor gear — including technical baselayers, backpacks, camping equipment, and strollers — sold under a curated portfolio of premium third-party brands (Patagonia, L.L. Bean, The North Face, Smartwool, KUHL, Osprey, Salomon, Keen, Cotopaxi, Free Fly, Hanna Andersson, Hatley) alongside a private-label Bearcub brand. Pricing follows unit economics across a wide range, from approximately $4.59 sale items to $499 premium jackets, with digital and physical gift cards as an additional revenue mechanic.
The company operates a multi-channel direct-to-consumer go-to-market combining local retail, e-commerce, and organic social (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) plus monthly email newsletters and regional content marketing tied to Petoskey-area outdoor recreation. The technology stack is a Shopify e-commerce platform with an integrated retail POS system; there is no disclosed mobile app, API surface, AI/ML capability, or proprietary technology. The company has been recognized as one of Michigan's Best Small Businesses by the Michigan Small Business Development Center.
Bearcub Outfitters firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bearcub Outfitters
- Legal name
- Bearcub Outfitters
- Website
- https://bearcuboutfitters.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bearcub Outfitters is a family-owned specialty outdoor apparel and gear retailer founded in 1999 in Petoskey, Michigan, serving families and outdoor enthusiasts through one restored downtown storefront and a Shopify e-commerce site carrying Patagonia, Smartwool, The North Face, and similar premium brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bearcub Outfitters industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Apparel Retail
- NAICS
- Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (45811), Shoe Retailers (45821), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Family Clothing Stores (5651), Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor Clothing & Footwear Retail (Camping/Hiking/Climbing) (CRAMAMAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Camping, Hiking & Backpacking Gear Retail (CRAMAMAA), Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail (CRAMAAAI)
Keywords
Where Bearcub Outfitters is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Petoskey
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bearcub Outfitters business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Product Sales: Revenue generated from selling outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories, and gear through both physical retail store and e-commerce channels. Carries wide range of outdoor and family-oriented brands across multiple categories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual product pricing ranging from budget to premium outdoor gear |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Bearcub Outfitters product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bearcub Outfitters is a family-focused outdoor apparel and gear retailer operating a brick-and-mortar store in downtown Petoskey, Michigan, alongside a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront. The company sells curated multi-brand outdoor clothing, footwear, accessories, and gear for men, women, children, and infants, along with digital gift cards redeemable online or in-store.
Product overview
Bearcub Outfitters is a family outdoor recreation retailer operating both physical retail locations in Petoskey, Michigan and an e-commerce platform. The company has been outfitting families for 27 years and offers a curated selection of outdoor clothing, footwear, accessories, and gear for men, women, children, and infants. Their product portfolio includes their own private-label Bearcub brand alongside third-party outdoor brands such as Patagonia, L.L. Bean, KUHL, Smartwool, The North Face, and many others. The core e-commerce platform enables online shopping with digital gift cards as an add-on feature. Product categories span women's, men's, and children's apparel, footwear, accessories, outdoor gear including bags and camping equipment, and specialized baselayer and underwear collections. The company has been recognized as one of Michigan's Best Small Businesses by the Michigan Small Business Development Center.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Brick-and-Mortar Retail Store
- E-commerce Online Storefront
- Digital Gift Cards
Companies that use Bearcub Outfitters
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bearcub Outfitters technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bearcub Outfitters partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PatagoniacorePremier outdoor apparel and gear brand carried in-store and online. Products include Capilene baselayers, Nano Puff jackets, Black Hole bags, and children's apparel.
- L.L. BeancoreClassic outdoor brand carried including No Fly Zone jackets and pants, baselayers, and children's clothing.
- The North FacecorePremium outdoor brand with products including jackets, backpacks, and children's outdoor wear.
- SmartwoolcoreMerino wool baselayer and underwear specialist carried across men's and women's baselayers, boxers, and socks.
- KUHLcoreOutdoor apparel brand carried including Rydr pants, Fugitive flannel, and Skandal bikini.
- OspreycoreBackpack and travel gear specialist with wide range of packs, hydration systems, and travel bags.
- SalomoncoreTrail running and hiking footwear and apparel brand including Genesis trail shoes and CROSSTRAK boots.
- KeencoreOutdoor footwear brand carried including Newport H2 sandals, hiking shoes, and children's footwear.
- Hanna AnderssoncoreChildren's and baby clothing brand specializing in quality everyday and outdoor play clothes.
- HatleycoreChildren's clothing brand carried including baby sleepers, girls' and boys' sportswear, and outerwear.
- CamelbakminorHydration systems and packs brand with products including Lobo packs, Hydrobak, and replacement parts.
- CotopaximinorSustainable outdoor gear brand with unique deadstock fabric products including Allpa and Batac packs.
- Gregory PacksminorPremium backpacks and hiking gear including Nano, Arrio, and youth-specific Wander series.
- Outdoor ResearchminorTechnical outdoor apparel and accessories brand carried including gloves and hats.
- Free FlyminorBamboo-based outdoor apparel brand with products including bamboo fleece hoodies and bamboo northcoast anoraks.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Bearcub Outfitters competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- L.L.Bean: Iconic family-oriented outdoor retailer selling apparel, footwear, and gear across the same categories as Bearcub, including core outerwear, baselayers, and children's outdoor clothing. Notably, L.L. Bean is also one of Bearcub's key wholesale brand partners, making it both supplier and competitor for multi-channel outdoor customers.
- Patagonia: Premium outdoor apparel and gear brand whose products Bearcub resells. Patagonia's growing direct-to-consumer retail strategy—including flagship stores and strong e-commerce—makes it both a critical wholesale partner and a direct competitor for outdoor apparel and baselayer dollars.
- Backcountry: Online-led specialty outdoor retailer offering apparel, footwear, and gear from the same premium brands Bearcub carries (Patagonia, The North Face, Smartwool, Salomon). Represents the digital scale and assortment pressure that regional outfitters like Bearcub must compete against online.
- Eddie Bauer: Multi-channel family outdoor apparel and gear retailer with both physical stores and e-commerce across the same outerwear, baselayer, and family-oriented categories Bearcub competes in.
- Sun & Ski Sports: Multi-store outdoor and athletic specialty retailer offering apparel, footwear, and gear across hiking, camping, skiing, and running—directly overlapping Bearcub's category mix with broader geographic footprint.
- Moosejaw: Outdoor specialty retailer (online-led, owned by Walmart) carrying Patagonia, The North Face, Smartwool, Keen, and similar brands—directly competing with Bearcub's online assortment and price positioning.
- Orvis: Multi-channel outdoor lifestyle retailer with apparel, gear, and curated brands in fly fishing, hunting, hiking, and travel—competing for the same affluent outdoor-family customer profile.
Broad incumbents
- REI Co-op: Nationwide outdoor retail cooperative offering apparel, footwear, and gear across the same brand portfolio Bearcub carries (Patagonia, Smartwool, The North Face). Competes with Bearcub both in-store regionally and online nationally with far broader assortment and member-driven loyalty economics.
- Scheels: Large regional sporting goods and outdoor retailer with broad assortment in apparel, footwear, hunting, camping, and outdoor recreation. Operates destination superstores that compete for the same outdoor-family customers Bearcub serves in the Midwest.
- Bass Pro Shops: Massive outdoor and sporting goods retailer offering apparel, footwear, camping gear, and family outdoor products. Operates destination stores that compete with regional outfitters like Bearcub for family outdoor dollars, particularly through Cabela's-branded locations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bearcub Outfitters social profiles
Digital presenceBearcub Outfitters financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bearcub Outfitters leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Bearcub Outfitters funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bearcub Outfitters M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bearcub Outfitters
What does Bearcub Outfitters do?
Bearcub Outfitters is a family-focused outdoor apparel and gear retailer operating a brick-and-mortar store in downtown Petoskey, Michigan, alongside a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront. The company sells curated multi-brand outdoor clothing, footwear, accessories, and gear for men, women, children, and infants, along with digital gift cards redeemable online or in-store.
Is Bearcub Outfitters a public or private company?
Bearcub Outfitters is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Bearcub Outfitters founded?
Bearcub Outfitters was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bearcub Outfitters based?
Bearcub Outfitters is headquartered in Petoskey, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bearcub Outfitters make money?
One revenue line is on record: retail Product Sales.
Who are Bearcub Outfitters's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are L.L.Bean, Patagonia, Backcountry, Eddie Bauer, Sun & Ski Sports, Moosejaw and Orvis. Broad incumbents are REI Co-op, Scheels and Bass Pro Shops.
Does Bearcub Outfitters have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bearcub Outfitters.
What industry is Bearcub Outfitters in?
Bearcub Outfitters's product category is Outdoor Apparel Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAMAK, Outdoor Clothing & Footwear Retail (Camping/Hiking/Climbing), with a secondary code of CRAMAMAA, Camping, Hiking & Backpacking Gear Retail. Its NAICS code is 45811 and its SIC code is 5600.