Helly Hansen Newport
Big Weather Gear is a family-owned specialty retailer in Newport, Rhode Island, founded in 1985 by Jay Lasky, selling outdoor, marine, workwear apparel, footwear, and accessories through a single physical store, e-commerce site, and a Group & Corporate Sales outfitting department serving crews and organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersNewport, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Helly Hansen Newport does
Helly Hansen Newport, doing business as Big Weather Gear, is a family-owned specialty retailer of outdoor, marine, and workwear apparel, footwear, and accessories founded in 1985 by Jay Lasky in Newport, Rhode Island. The company operates a single physical storefront at 154 Thames Street in Newport's waterfront district, complemented by a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site at bigweathergear.com. It carries a curated portfolio of 13+ premium brands including Helly Hansen, Henri Lloyd, The North Face, Kuhl, Huk, Grundens, Musto, Stio, Outdoor Research, Smart Wool, Salty Crew, Free Fly, and OluKai, organized across men's, women's, and kids' outerwear, footwear, marine gear, lifestyle apparel, winter sports, workwear, and accessories.
Underlying technology is a standard WooCommerce/WordPress-based e-commerce platform with conventional catalog, search, shopping cart, and checkout functionality, accepting Visa, PayPal, Stripe, MasterCard, and Cash on Delivery. Free shipping is offered on orders over $150. There are no disclosed proprietary technology features, AI/ML systems, mobile applications, or integration APIs. The business targets four primary customer segments: active lifestyle consumers, marine and water sports enthusiasts, workwear/trades professionals, and corporate/group buyers. Customer segments are served through three channels: the e-commerce storefront, the physical Newport retail location, and a dedicated Group & Corporate Sales department that has been outfitting crews, yacht clubs, commercial fishing operations, and corporate teams since 1993.
Revenue is generated through one-time unit-product sales at price points ranging from approximately $22 for accessories to $400-$700 for premium outerwear, with no subscription, membership, or recurring pricing model observed. The Group & Corporate Sales channel provides a B2B bulk-order revenue stream layered on top of the predominantly DTC retail base. Operations are entirely owner-controlled by Jay Lasky with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, subsidiaries, funding history, or M&A activity, consistent with a traditional small independent specialty retail business.
Helly Hansen Newport firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Helly Hansen Newport
- Legal name
- Big Weather Gear
- Website
- https://bigweathergear.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Big Weather Gear is a family-owned specialty retailer in Newport, Rhode Island, founded in 1985 by Jay Lasky, selling outdoor, marine, workwear apparel, footwear, and accessories through a single physical store, e-commerce site, and a Group & Corporate Sales outfitting department serving crews and organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Helly Hansen Newport industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor and Marine Apparel Retail
- NAICS
- Shoe Retailers (4582), Shoe Retailers (45821)
- SIC
- Retail-Misc General Merchandise Stores (5399)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Apparel & Footwear Retail (Wetsuits, Rash Guards, Deck Shoes) (CRAMAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outdoor Clothing & Footwear Retail (Camping/Hiking/Climbing) (CRAMAMAK), Camping, Hiking & Backpacking Gear Retail (CRAMAMAA), Backpacking & Trekking Gear Retail (CRAMAAAA), High-Visibility, Rain & Thermal Riding Gear Retail (CRAMANAK), Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail (CRAMAAAI)
Keywords
Where Helly Hansen Newport is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newport
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Helly Hansen Newport business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Product Sales: Revenue generated from direct sales of outdoor apparel, footwear, and accessories through both physical retail location and e-commerce website. Products span multiple brands including Helly Hansen, Henri Lloyd, Kuhl, Huk, Grundens, Musto, The North Face, Stio, Outdoor Research, Smart Wool, Salty Crew, Free Fly, and OluKai. Category mix includes baselayer, lifestyle apparel, outerwear, footwear, marine gear, winter sports, workwear, and accessories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing with per-product pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Helly Hansen Newport product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Weather Gear (Helly Hansen Newport) is a multi-brand specialty retailer selling outdoor, marine, workwear, and lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories from brands such as Helly Hansen, Henri Lloyd, Musto, Grundens, The North Face, Kuhl, Huk, Stio, Outdoor Research, Smart Wool, Salty Crew, Free Fly, and OluKai. The company sells to individual consumers through a physical Newport, RI storefront and nationwide e-commerce site, and serves organizations through a dedicated group and corporate sales outfitting service operating since 1993.
Product overview
Big Weather Gear is an outdoor apparel and gear retail platform and physical store located in Newport, Rhode Island, operated by Jay Lasky since 1985. The company offers a curated selection of marine, outdoor, and lifestyle brands through both online e-commerce and brick-and-mortar channels at 154 Thames Street. Their product portfolio includes multiple brand sub-lines: Helly Hansen outdoor and maritime apparel, Henri Lloyd premium marine gear, Huk fishing and marine clothing, Grundens fishing and workwear, Stio outdoor apparel, The North Face snow sports gear, Outdoor Research technical outerwear, Kuhl outdoor clothing, Musto sailing apparel, Smart Wool base layers, Salty Crew marine lifestyle wear, and Free Fly bamboo-based apparel. The store also offers proprietary categories for men's, women's, and kids' outerwear, footwear (deck boots, boat shoes, sandals), marine/boating gear, workwear, and accessories. Additionally, they provide Group & Corporate Sales services for outfitting crews and organizations since 1993, featuring catalog downloads for Kuhl, Musto, Grundens, and The North Face.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Big Weather Gear Retail Storefront and E-commerce Platform Multi-brand outdoor and marine apparel, footwear, workwear, and accessories retail storefront at 154 Thames Street, Newport, RI 02840 (and nationwide e-commerce at bigweathergear.com), carrying Helly Hansen, Henri Lloyd, Musto, Grundens, The North Face, Kuhl, Huk, Stio, Outdoor Research, Smart Wool, Salty Crew, Free Fly, and OluKai. Operated by Jay Lasky since 1985.
- Group & Corporate Sales Outfitting Service Dedicated B2B outfitting service that supplies bulk apparel orders to yacht clubs, commercial fishing operations, corporate teams, and production organizations, including corporate jackets and movie production gear orders. Contact via [email protected] and phone 401-849-6666 ext. 4.
Companies that use Helly Hansen Newport
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Helly Hansen Newport technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Helly Hansen Newport partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Helly Hansen Newport competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- REI Co-op: REI is the dominant US outdoor specialty co-op retailer, carrying Helly Hansen, TNF, and similar brands with extensive apparel, footwear, and gear assortments. A broader incumbent operating across all outdoor categories rather than marine-focused, but overlapping significantly in target customer and product selection.
- Bass Pro Shops / Cabela's: Bass Pro Shops / Cabela's is the dominant US specialty outdoor retailer with deep assortment in fishing, marine, and outdoor apparel/footwear from brands like Grundens. Overlaps with Big Weather Gear on fishing rainwear, deck boots, and marine apparel at significantly greater scale.
- L.L.Bean: L.L.Bean is an established outdoor apparel and footwear retailer with strong heritage in New England, similar omnichannel retail model, and overlapping brand portfolio (outerwear, footwear, marine). Comparable in heritage positioning and Northeast customer base though much larger scale.
- Patagonia: Patagonia is a major outdoor apparel brand with its own retail stores and wholesale distribution. A supplier/competitor overlap given Patagonia products sit in the same category mix as Big Weather Gear's assortment.
Direct peers
- West Marine: West Marine is the largest US specialty retailer of marine supplies and apparel, with a similar product mix in foul weather gear, deck boots, sailing apparel, and marine accessories. Directly comparable in target customer (boaters/sailors) and core category focus, though at far greater scale and with national store footprint.
- Filson: Filson is a heritage outdoor and marine apparel brand/retailer with flagship stores and e-commerce. Comparable heritage positioning (multi-generational brand), premium price points, and overlap on outdoor/marine outerwear.
- Orvis: Orvis is a multi-channel specialty retailer of outdoor, fly-fishing, and country apparel/footwear with both physical stores and a strong e-commerce operation. Comparable in carrying premium outdoor/marine brands, B2B outfitting heritage, and serving enthusiast consumers willing to pay for quality.
- Backcountry.com: Backcountry.com is a leading online specialty outdoor retailer carrying TNF, Outdoor Research, Smartwool, Kuhl, and similar premium brands. Comparable premium-brand assortment and target consumer, though purely digital with no physical retail.
Others
- Musto: Musto is a UK-based premium sailing and marine apparel brand carried by Big Weather Gear. It is a supplier rather than direct competitor, but indicative of the niche peer set in marine apparel retail Musto serves globally.
- Helly Hansen (Corporate):
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Helly Hansen Newport social profiles
Digital presenceHelly Hansen Newport financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Helly Hansen Newport leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Helly Hansen Newport funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Helly Hansen Newport 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 Helly Hansen Newport
What does Helly Hansen Newport do?
Big Weather Gear (Helly Hansen Newport) is a multi-brand specialty retailer selling outdoor, marine, workwear, and lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories from brands such as Helly Hansen, Henri Lloyd, Musto, Grundens, The North Face, Kuhl, Huk, Stio, Outdoor Research, Smart Wool, Salty Crew, Free Fly, and OluKai. The company sells to individual consumers through a physical Newport, RI storefront and nationwide e-commerce site, and serves organizations through a dedicated group and corporate sales outfitting service operating since 1993.
Is Helly Hansen Newport a public or private company?
Helly Hansen Newport is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Helly Hansen Newport founded?
Helly Hansen Newport was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Helly Hansen Newport based?
Helly Hansen Newport is headquartered in Newport, United States, in the North America region.
How does Helly Hansen Newport make money?
One revenue line is on record: retail Product Sales.
Who are Helly Hansen Newport's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are REI Co-op, Bass Pro Shops / Cabela's, L.L.Bean and Patagonia. Direct peers are West Marine, Filson, Orvis and Backcountry.com. Others are Musto and Helly Hansen (Corporate).
Does Helly Hansen Newport have an API?
No public API is recorded for Helly Hansen Newport.
What industry is Helly Hansen Newport in?
Helly Hansen Newport's product category is Outdoor and Marine Apparel Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAIAJ, Marine Apparel & Footwear Retail (Wetsuits, Rash Guards, Deck Shoes), with a secondary code of CRAMAMAK, Outdoor Clothing & Footwear Retail (Camping/Hiking/Climbing). Its NAICS code is 4582 and its SIC code is 5399.