Walmart is selling outdoor e-tailer Moosejaw to Dick’s Sporting Goods after buying it six years ago. Financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close in March, were not disclosed. Walmart acquired Moosejaw for $51 million in February 2017 to bolster its e-commerce offering. At the time, the deal was seen as another entry point into apparel for Walmart.
The Michigan-based outdoor retailer was founded in 1992 and operates an e-commerce platform that sells outdoor apparel and gear. Moosejaw also operates physical locations in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan and Missouri.
By acquiring Moosejaw, Dick’s Sports Goods will likely look to grow its e-commerce channels while gaining access to a loyal customer base.
“We admire what Moosejaw has accomplished over the past 30 years as a leader in the outdoor industry and look forward to the opportunity to share knowledge and learn from each other,” said Todd Spaletto, President of Public Lands and Senior Vice President at Dick’s. , in a press release. “We believe there is potential to grow Moosejaw and provide a compelling experience and expanded product portfolio to its millions of loyal customers.”
Root Devices has reached out to Walmart for comment.
When Walmart bought Moosejaw in 2017, it was looking to grow its portfolio of digital brands under Marc Lore and embarked on a series of mergers and acquisitions. The sale suggests Walmart may be struggling to integrate direct-to-consumer brands into its larger business.
It’s worth noting that Moosejaw isn’t the first e-commerce brand that Walmart has bought and then sold. In 2017, the company acquired women’s clothing company ModCloth and then sold it to investment firm Go Global in 2019. Around the same time, Walmart bought underwear retailer Bare Necessities and then sold it to global manufacturer and marketer Delta Galil in 2020. The company also bought online shoe store ShoeBuy in 2017 and then sold it to private equity firm CriticalPoint Capital in 2020.
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