Into the Wind
Into the Wind is a Boulder, Colorado-based kite and toy retailer founded in 1980, operating a Pearl Street Mall storefront and a worldwide e-commerce site selling kites, wind art, and novelty toys to individual consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersBoulder, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Into the Wind does
Into the Wind is a privately held, family-owned kite and toy retailer founded circa 1980 in Boulder, Colorado, and operating continuously for over 45 years. The company runs a flagship physical storefront at 1408 Pearl Street on the Pearl Street Mall alongside a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site (intothewind.com) that ships worldwide to more than 30 countries. Its core product set spans kites — single-line, stunt, delta/DC, foil and sled, box, diamond, dragon, glider, plus repair and kitemaking supplies — together with wind art and decor (windsocks, flags, lawn spinners, chimes) and a broad assortment of toys, crafts, games, puzzles, science kits, and novelty items. The catalog mixes house-branded ITW products with third-party brands such as Prism, Premier, HQ, Brasington, Carsten Domann, and Gayla.
The business model is straightforward retail: one-time transactional sales at fixed unit prices ranging from roughly $10 entry-level kites to ~$564 premium parafoils, with free standard domestic shipping over $200 and express options available. The customer base is almost entirely individual consumers — hobbyists, families, children, and gift buyers — with no enterprise or wholesale concentration disclosed. Marketing runs through organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok) plus the e-commerce site's SEO and educational content (e.g., Kite 101 guides), and a strong review base (309 verified reviews, 4.75 stars) signals healthy repeat-customer behavior.
The company is small (1–10 employees, single retail location, no parent or subsidiary relationships), faces 7–10% input cost pressure on China-manufactured goods tied to tariff policy, and discloses no venture or institutional capital. Its structural advantages sit in brand longevity, niche-category depth, and dual physical/digital distribution rather than in technology, AI, or scale economics.
Into the Wind firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Into the Wind
- Legal name
- Into The Wind
- Website
- https://intothewind.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Into the Wind is a Boulder, Colorado-based kite and toy retailer founded in 1980, operating a Pearl Street Mall storefront and a worldwide e-commerce site selling kites, wind art, and novelty toys to individual consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Into the Wind industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Hobby Retail
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor & Ride-On Toys Retail (CRALAFAC)
Keywords
Where Into the Wind is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boulder
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Into the Wind business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Retail Product Sales: Into the Wind generates revenue through direct retail sales of kites, wind art and decor, toys, and novelty items to consumers. Products are sold at fixed prices through both online and physical storefront channels. Revenue is one-time transactional, with no subscription component.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single product purchases at fixed retail prices |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Into the Wind product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Into The Wind is a specialty hobby retailer that sells kites, wind art and decor, toys, and novelty items through an e-commerce website (intothewind.com) and a flagship physical store on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado. The catalog spans single line kites, stunt kites, delta/DC kites, foil and sled kites, kite line/accessories, kite-making and repair supplies, windsocks, flags, spinners, wind chimes, and a broad assortment of toys including arts and crafts, games, puzzles, outdoor play items, and skill toys. The company ships worldwide and serves both beginner and advanced kite enthusiasts as well as gift buyers and families.
Product overview
Into the Wind is a brick-and-mortar and e-commerce retailer specializing in kites and novelty toys, operating from Boulder, Colorado since its founding over 45 years ago. The company offers a curated portfolio organized across three main categories: Kites (including Single Line Kites, Stunt Kites, Delta & DC Kites, Foil & Sled Kites, Box Kites, Diamond Kites, Dragon Style & Octopus Kites, Glider Kites, Line & Accessories, and Repairs & Kitemaking Supplies), Wind Art & Decor (including Windsocks, Flags & Banners, Lawn Spinners, Wind Chimes, and decorative items), and Toys (spanning Arts & Crafts, Baby & Toddler, Books, Building & Model Kits, Classic & Retro Toys, Fidget & Sensory Play, Games, Puzzles, Outdoor Play, Science & Discovery, and more). The product lineup includes both in-house branded kites (ITW Kid's Delta Kite, ITW Alpine DC Kite) and partner brands (Prism, Premier, Carsten Domann, Gayla). The company operates a physical retail store on Pearl Street in Boulder alongside its Shopify-powered e-commerce platform, offering worldwide shipping with a satisfaction guarantee.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Delta & DC Kites
Companies that use Into the Wind
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Into the Wind technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Into the Wind partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Into the Wind competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hobby Lobby: Hobby Lobby is the largest US privately held arts-and-crafts and hobby retailer with broad product assortment including toys, games, and seasonal items. While it does not specialize in kites, it competes with Into the Wind on toys, novelty, and gift categories.
- Target: Target is a national general merchandise retailer with broad toy, outdoor play, and seasonal assortments including kites and novelty items. While not a specialty kite retailer, it competes for casual gift-buyers and parents seeking outdoor play items.
- REI: REI is a national sporting goods and outdoor recreation co-op retailer that carries a small selection of kites and outdoor toys. While not a kite specialist, it overlaps with Into the Wind in outdoor recreation and sporting goods retail.
- Big 5 Sporting Goods: Big 5 Sporting Goods is a US sporting goods chain that sells outdoor play equipment, kites (seasonally), and outdoor toys. It overlaps with Into the Wind on outdoor play items and budget-priced sporting goods categories.
Direct peers
- HQ Kites: HQ Kites is a kite manufacturer and online retailer specializing in power kites, sport kites, and stunt kites. It competes directly with Into the Wind in the e-commerce kite retail channel and serves a similar hobbyist/enthusiast customer base.
- In the Breeze: In the Breeze is a manufacturer and online retailer of windsocks, flags, banners, lawn spinners, and wind decor — product categories overlapping directly with Into the Wind's Wind Art & Decor assortment.
- Premier Kites: Premier Kites Unlimited is a kite manufacturer that produces parafoil, delta, and diamond kites — many of which Into the Wind resells. It also operates direct-to-consumer online sales, making it both a partner brand and a competing retailer in the kite category.
- Prism Kites (Prism Designs): Prism Designs is a leading manufacturer of sport kites, stunt kites, and recreational kites whose products are prominently carried by Into the Wind. Prism also sells direct to consumers, overlapping with Into the Wind on the premium stunt and recreational kite segments.
- Gayla: Gayla is a budget-friendly kite manufacturer whose products (e.g., Trendsetter Delta) are stocked by Into the Wind. It targets the entry-level consumer and gift-buying segments that overlap with Into the Wind's lower price-point offerings.
- Carsten Domann Kites: Carsten Domann is a designer kite maker whose artisan kites (e.g., Starlight Kite) are sold by Into the Wind. As a designer-brand manufacturer with direct sales, it competes in the high-end, collectible kite segment where Into the Wind also operates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Into the Wind social profiles
Digital presenceInto the Wind financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Into the Wind leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Into the Wind funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Into the Wind 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 Into the Wind
What does Into the Wind do?
Into The Wind is a specialty hobby retailer that sells kites, wind art and decor, toys, and novelty items through an e-commerce website (intothewind.com) and a flagship physical store on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado. The catalog spans single line kites, stunt kites, delta/DC kites, foil and sled kites, kite line/accessories, kite-making and repair supplies, windsocks, flags, spinners, wind chimes, and a broad assortment of toys including arts and crafts, games, puzzles, outdoor play items, and skill toys. The company ships worldwide and serves both beginner and advanced kite enthusiasts as well as gift buyers and families.
Is Into the Wind a public or private company?
Into the Wind is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Into the Wind founded?
Into the Wind was founded in 1980. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Into the Wind based?
Into the Wind is headquartered in Boulder, United States, in the North America region.
How does Into the Wind make money?
One revenue line is on record: retail Product Sales.
Who are Into the Wind's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hobby Lobby, Target, REI and Big 5 Sporting Goods. Direct peers are HQ Kites, In the Breeze, Premier Kites, Prism Kites (Prism Designs), Gayla and Carsten Domann Kites.
Does Into the Wind have an API?
No public API is recorded for Into the Wind.
What industry is Into the Wind in?
Into the Wind's product category is Specialty Hobby Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAFAC, Outdoor & Ride-On Toys Retail. Its NAICS code is 45912 and its SIC code is 5945.