Credit: Getty Images by Kevin C. Cox
By Kristina Stidham
Source: www.mytotalretail.com, December 2020

The Great American Outdoors Group has agreed to acquire Sportsman’s Warehouse, a leading outdoor specialty company based in the western U.S. with 112 store locations, according to a press release. The Great American Outdoors Group portfolio of brands includes Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, White River Marine Group, and a collection of nature-based resorts. The parties expect the deal to close in the second half of 2021, roughly three years after Bass Pro took over Cabela’s, bringing together two of the biggest names in the market.

Total Retail’s Take: Merging Sportsman’s Warehouse with Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops is going to create a giant in outdoor sports retail with a combined total of 169 stores nationwide. Johnny Morris, who founded Bass Pro and heads up the parent, Great American Outdoors Group, said in a press release that the aim of bringing the retailers together was to “give our customers a best-of-the-best experience while further uniting them to support conservation.” The deal would bring Bass Pro and Cabela’s product brands, including fishing and hunting gear, to Sportsman’s Warehouse, the companies said. With other outdoor retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods backing off from firearm sales, this merger could sway hunters and other outdoor sportsmen to look to the Great American Outdoors Group brands as leaders in the sector.

The timing of the merger can also be linked to the increased demand for outdoor gear during the COVID-19 pandemic, as activities like hiking, fishing, camping and fishing provide a reprieve for restless consumers. Outdoor retailers had a banner year amid the health crisis, not excluding Sportsman’s Warehouse, which experienced a year-over-year sales increase of more than 61 percent. The press release stated that uniting the brands represents an unprecedented “win-win” opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts, and the merger may prove to be a huge win for all parties involved.