Pacific Outfitters

What Pacific Outfitters does

Pacific Outfitters is a privately held specialty outdoor retailer headquartered in Eureka, California, serving outdoor enthusiasts in Humboldt and Mendocino counties. The company operates two physical retail locations (Eureka and Ukiah) and an e-commerce webstore, stocking a broad assortment across apparel, footwear, camping, backpacking, kayaking, surfing, diving, fishing, hunting, firearms, archery, snow sports, disc golf, and bicycling. The company traces its origins to Pacific Marine Engineering, a commercial diving operation founded in 1968 by Humboldt State University students, and rebranded to the unified Pacific Outfitters brand in 2010.

The business generates revenue through three primary streams: direct retail merchandise sales (one-time transactions, with 0% financing for up to 12 months on select products), a subscription-style membership program offering 2% store credit rewards and member benefits, and professional/adventure services delivered through wholly owned subsidiaries. These service subsidiaries include Bigfoot Adventure Academy (guided Redwood hikes, kayak tours, surfing lessons), Bigfoot Firearms Training (California CCW classes and firearms training), Pacific Outfitters Adventures (travel packages), and PacOut Green Team (environmental stewardship). The company carries multiple recognized outdoor brands and emphasizes a sustainable-brands assortment as part of its positioning.

The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across physical retail and e-commerce, targeting active outdoor recreationists in Northern California. Distribution is concentrated in a single domestic region with no global footprint. The company is independently owned, with Aaron Ostrom identified as the owner of the Eureka location and Elizabeth Shepherd as Manager of Operations for the northern region; no venture capital, private equity, or parent company affiliations are disclosed. Marketing relies on organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube across both Pacific Outfitters and PacHuntAndFish brands), community events such as the annual Trinidad Rockfish Wars fishing tournament, in-store promotions, content marketing, and environmental stewardship activities.

Name

Pacific Outfitters

Legal name

Pacific Outfitters

Website

https://pacificoutfitters.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pacific Outfitters is a privately held specialty outdoor retailer operating two physical stores in Eureka and Ukiah, California, plus an e-commerce webstore, serving outdoor enthusiasts in Humboldt and Mendocino counties with apparel, gear, and experiential services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation Retail

NAICS

Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Camping, Hiking & Climbing Specialty Retail (CRAMABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Camping, Hiking & Backpacking Gear Retail (CRAMAMAA), Outdoor Clothing & Footwear Retail (Camping/Hiking/Climbing) (CRAMAMAK), Marine Apparel & Footwear Retail (Wetsuits, Rash Guards, Deck Shoes) (CRAMAIAJ), Sporting Goods & Outdoor Inventory-led Online Retailers (CRAFADAJ), Equipment Rental & Outfitter Services (Camping Gear, Boats, Bikes, Mobility Aids) (THAAAGAG)

Keywords

• Outdoor recreation retail
• Sporting goods store
• Camping equipment
• Firearms and hunting gear
• Guided outdoor adventures

Headquarters

HQ city

Eureka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail merchandise sales: Pacific Outfitters generates revenue through direct retail sales of outdoor gear, apparel, footwear, camping equipment, water sports equipment, firearms, and fishing gear from their physical store locations and online webstore. The company also offers 0% financing for up to 12 months on select products.
2. Membership program: The company operates a membership program where members earn 2% store credit on every purchase, receive exclusive member-only deals, 30-day returns, 30-day layaways, package pricing, and price-match guarantees.
3. Adventure experiences and training: Bigfoot Adventure Academy provides guided outdoor experiences including kayaking tours, redwood hikes, and surfing lessons. Bigfoot Firearms Training offers California CCW classes and firearms training courses. Bigfoot Adventure Academy also provides kayak and hiking guide services for Humboldt County tourism.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pacific Outfitters is a multi-department outdoor recreation retailer operating two physical store locations in Eureka and Ukiah, California, plus an online webstore. The company sells apparel, footwear, and equipment for camping, backpacking, kayaking, surfing, diving, fishing, hunting, firearms, bicycles, disc golf, archery, and snow sports, and offers supplementary services including guided outdoor tours, firearms training, equipment rentals, and technical service departments.

Product overview

Pacific Outfitters is a multi-location outdoor recreation retail store with two physical locations in Eureka and Ukiah, California. The company operates a brick-and-mortar retail business offering outdoor gear across multiple categories including camping, backpacking, kayaking, surfing, diving, fishing, firearms, hunting, bicycling, disc golf, and snow sports. In addition to retail, the company offers experiential services through Bigfoot Adventure Academy (guided Redwood hikes, kayak tours, and surfing lessons), Bigfoot Firearms Training (CCW classes and training), and technical services for firearms, dive, and snow equipment. The company also operates an online e-commerce store. Pacific Outfitters was founded in 1968 and positions itself around environmental stewardship and community engagement, carrying numerous sustainable brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outdoor Apparel & Footwear Technical and lifestyle outdoor clothing and footwear from leading brands for outdoor activities including hiking, hunting, fishing, water sports, and snow sports.
• Camping & Backpacking Equipment Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, backpacks, and supplies for car camping and multi-day backcountry trips.
• Kayaking Equipment Kayaks, paddles, and accessories for rivers, lakes, and ocean kayaking.
• Surfing Gear Surfboards, wetsuits, and accessories for ocean surfing.
• Dive Equipment Scuba diving gear including regulators, masks, fins, and wetsuits.
• Fishing Equipment Rods, reels, bait, and accessories for freshwater and saltwater fishing.
• Firearms & Ammunition Rifles, shotguns, handguns, and ammunition for hunting and sport shooting.
• Hunting Gear Specialized equipment and apparel for big game and upland hunting.
• Archery Equipment Bows, arrows, and accessories for bowhunting and target archery.
• Disc Golf Equipment Discs, bags, and accessories for the sport of disc golf.
• Bicycle Department Bicycles, helmets, and cycling accessories from brands including Giant, Cannondale, and Haro.
• Snow Sports Equipment Ski and snowboard equipment and accessories.
• Bigfoot Adventure Academy Guided Tours Educational guided outdoor experiences including Redwood forest hikes and Humboldt Bay kayak tours for visitors to Humboldt County.
• Bigfoot Adventure Academy Surfing Lessons Surf instruction services for beginners to intermediate surfers.
• Bigfoot Firearms Training - California CCW Classes California concealed carry weapon certification classes and firearms training courses.
• Firearms Tech Services Gunsmithing and technical support for firearms, including Estate Firearm Management (appraisals, transfers, sales facilitation, and secure storage).
• Dive Tech Services Technical services and maintenance for scuba diving equipment.
• Snow Tech Services Technical services and maintenance for ski and snowboard equipment.
• Equipment Rentals Rental equipment available for kayaks, surfboards, and other outdoor gear.
• Online Store (Webstore) E-commerce storefront for purchasing products online with local store integration.
• Estate Firearm Management Comprehensive services for managing estate firearms including appraisals, transfers, sales facilitation, and secure storage.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2% store credit earned on every purchase through membership
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Native WatercraftminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 August 2018Donated a kayak as a raffle prize for the Trinidad Rockfish Wars 8 tournament. The partnership involves product donations for community events.
• Lost Coast BreweryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 August 2018Donated a keg of Great White, Revenant IPA and Root Beer for the Trinidad Rockfish Wars 8 tournament event, supporting local community engagement.
• Ocean KayakminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 August 2018Has been donating kayaks for the Trinidad Rockfish Wars tournament since the first year, supporting community fishing events.
• Lowrance FishfindersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 August 2018Sponsor of Trinidad Rockfish Wars tournament, providing product prizes for participants.
• Blue Lake CasinominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 August 2018Sponsor of Trinidad Rockfish Wars tournament, providing vacation packages, restaurant gift certificates, and casino cash as prizes.
• Bending BranchesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 August 2017Sponsor of Trinidad Rockfish Wars tournament, donating paddles as prizes for participants.
• AquaglideminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 August 2017Donated a BlackFoot XL inflatable fishing kayak for the raffle at Trinidad Rockfish Wars 7, supporting PacOut Green Team fundraising.
• Emerald ForestminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 August 2017Host venue for Trinidad Rockfish Wars tournament post-event potluck, providing facilities for community gathering.
• Local Charities and Community OrganizationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPacific Outfitters supports local charities and community organizations through a donation request program, providing items for fundraising events and community causes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Sierra (TJX): Off-price online and physical outdoor and active apparel retailer owned by TJX. Comparable to Pacific Outfitters' apparel and outdoor assortment as a discount channel competing for value-oriented outdoor shoppers.
• Patagonia: Outdoor apparel and gear brand with strong direct-to-consumer retail and environmental stewardship positioning. Comparable to Pacific Outfitters in environmental mission alignment and outdoor apparel/footwear assortment, though Patagonia is brand-owned rather than a multi-brand retailer.

Broad incumbents

• Cabela's: Outdoor retailer specializing in hunting, fishing, camping, and marine recreation, now part of Bass Pro. Comparable to Pacific Outfitters across hunting, fishing, firearms, and outdoor categories but operates at destination-store scale.
• REI Co-op: The largest U.S. outdoor recreation co-op retailer, offering apparel, footwear, and gear across camping, hiking, kayaking, cycling, and snow sports. Closely comparable to Pacific Outfitters in product breadth and the membership/co-op model with dividend rewards, but operates at vastly greater national scale.
• Bass Pro Shops: National outdoor retailer specializing in fishing, hunting, camping, boating, and firearms with large destination-store formats. Comparable to Pacific Outfitters across the hunting, fishing, and firearms categories but operates at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Dick's Sporting Goods: Largest U.S. sporting goods retailer with full-line assortment across outdoor, fitness, team sports, and footwear. Comparable to Pacific Outfitters in product breadth but operates at national scale with significant pricing power and online reach.

Direct peers

• Sportsman's Warehouse: Specialty outdoor retailer focused on hunting, fishing, camping, and shooting sports with a regional-store footprint. Most directly comparable to Pacific Outfitters' firearms, hunting, fishing, and camping mix, particularly in its expert-staff specialty-store positioning.
• Backcountry.com: Online outdoor specialty retailer offering curated apparel, gear, and equipment for camping, hiking, climbing, kayaking, and snow sports. Comparable to Pacific Outfitters' curated outdoor assortment but operates exclusively online with national reach.
• NRS (Northwest River Supplies): Specialty retailer and manufacturer of paddlesports, rafting, kayaking, and water safety equipment. Comparable to Pacific Outfitters' kayaking and water sports departments, with deeper category expertise but narrower assortment overall.
• Big 5 Sporting Goods: Regional sporting goods chain carrying outdoor apparel, footwear, hunting, fishing, camping, and team sports equipment. Comparable to Pacific Outfitters in carrying a broad assortment across categories at value price points, though with a less curated, more generalist positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pacoutfitters
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCz4yHoj-CZsdiZlPfMrw0zw/videos?shelf_id=0&sort=dd&view=0
• Facebookfacebook.com/pacificoutfitters
• Instagraminstagram.com/pacificoutfitters
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacific-outfitters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacific Outfitters