Camping World is upping its e-commerce game by scooping up St. Paul, Minnesota-based outdoor gear site TheHouse.com.
Lincolnshire-based Camping World, owned by Chicago entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis, announced that it has agreed to acquire TheHouse.com for an undisclosed amount. Lemonis is also host of CNBC’s reality show “The Profit.”
Camping World, a seller of RVs and other outdoor equipment with more than 100 retail locations in the US, said the acquisition will fuel its e-commerce growth by expanding its customer reach and adding new products. The two companies will maintain distinct brands.
TheHouse.com acquisition comes on the heels of Camping World’s purchase of Gander Mountain, a hunting, fishing and outdoor gear retailer it bought in April for about $390 million in a bankruptcy auction. That purchase also included Gander Mountain’s Overton’s boating business.
“This new acquisition, coupled with Overtons.com and GanderOutdoors.com, continues our effort to grow our understanding of the outdoor enthusiast and furthers our strategy of continuing to diversify both in activity and demographic of our Good Sam Club member,” Lemonis said in a statement.
TheHouse.com launched in 1982 and has become one of the world’s largest outdoor gear retailers. It sells bikes, skateboards, wakeboards, snowboards and other gear, and it has 200,000 square feet of warehouse and office space in its three Minnesota buildings.
“The management team (at TheHouse.com) not only possess a strong knowledge of the active sports market but also has a keen eye for the development and invention of products,” Lemonis added. “This vertical strategy not only provides for a nice bolt on to the company but enhances the renewed strategy behind the new Gander Outdoors model.”
Photo credit: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
