Coozie Outdoors Transforms a Retail-Driven Industry into an Experience-Based Market
The innovative platform democratizes access to the outdoors with a tailored gear rental model that promotes sustainable outdoor recreation and reduces the burden of ownership.
Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+.
April 9, 2019 – Santa Monica, CA – Coozie Outdoors today announced the launch of its premium outdoor gear rental platform coozieoutdoors.com, the most convenient, sustainable and cost-effective way to experience the outdoors. With the launch, Coozie Outdoors will fundamentally transform the $184B outdoor gear and services industry into an experience-driven market.
The platform allows customers to rent premium outdoor gear online from top brands starting at 15% the retail price, making outdoor adventures more accessible than ever. Coozie Outdoors delivers everywhere in the continental U.S., and each rental includes a free return label to make returns easy. It also offers one-on-one customer support to help select gear, offer packing tips and even find the perfect destination, making them a trusted outdoor advisor.
New research indicates that consumers now prefer spending their money on experiences rather than ownership. With more than 100 products from 40 brands featured on the Coozie Outdoors platform, it provides an opportunity for premium brands to compete in the experience-driven economy and promote a sustainable, cost-effective option for customers to easily try their products.
Coozie Outdoors guides novice and experienced adventurers alike with a concierge-style search that recommends gear based on key data such as travel dates, destination, activity type and the number of travelers. With this data Coozie Outdoors seamlessly delivers tailored product recommendations to each customer that then arrive at the customer’s doorstep.
“We make it incredibly simple for our customer to know what gear they need for their trip,” says co-founder Rachelle Snyder. “And by providing our customers one-on-one support and resources, we’re helping them focus on the experience of the outdoors rather than the hassle of gear ownership.”
The model comes from co-founders Rachelle Snyder and Ross Richmond who started Coozie Outdoors after they grew frustrated with the lack of alternatives to gear ownership and the hyper-specialized gear industry that ultimately limits access to the outdoors by demanding consumers dedicate money, time and storage space to gear that will likely be used sporadically.
“We founded Coozie Outdoors to make it easy to get outside without having to worry about whether you’ll use your gear enough to justify the purchase financially or sustainably,” says co-founder Ross Richmond.
Coozie Outdoors is partnering with Santa Monica-based venture firm and incubator, Science Inc. The combination of Coozie Outdoors’ unique direct-to-consumer model, data-enabled recommendation tool, and an entrenched industry ready for disruption brought Science to the table as the first investor.
“Coozie Outdoors is paving a new way for people to experience the outdoors,” says Mike Jones, co-founder and CEO of Science Inc. “Its rental model democratizes access to otherwise expensive gear while supporting sustainability. They are positioned to disrupt the massive outdoor gear and services market with an approach that captures a commitment-conscious consumer looking for new experiences.”
Coozie Outdoors is shifting the traditional retail-driven industry into an experience-first model, ultimately expanding access to the world’s leading brands and the great outdoors. For more information visit coozieoutdoors.com.
About Coozie Outdoors Inc.
Coozie Outdoors is an outdoor experience company with a mission to create a world where you can experience the outdoors sustainably and without the need to own outdoor gear. Coozie Outdoors provides a convenient and cost-effective alternative to buying, maintaining and storing gear. Coozie Outdoors is transforming the $184B outdoor gear and services market by partnering with premium outdoor brands to provide gear for rent with delivery available anywhere in the continental United States. To learn more about Coozie Outdoors or to rent gear for your next outdoor experience, visit coozieoutdoors.com.
About Science Inc.
Science Inc. is a Los Angeles-based incubator and venture fund focused on technology and internet companies that tap into societal shifts and disrupt entrenched markets. They do this by partnering with early-stage entrepreneurs and working daily with them in their Santa Monica offices, guiding them from inception to consumer scale, investing deeply into the best companies that come out of the incubator. Founded in 2011, Science’s portfolio has seen $1.3 billion in exits including Dollar Shave Club (acquired by Unilever). It built two of the first & largest influencer networks on YouTube and Pinterest: FameBit (acquired by Google) and HelloSociety (acquired by New York Times).
–
Media Contact: Bubba Gramkow | Bubba@bevelpr.com
–
