Rays (retailer)

Last updated
Ray's Outdoors
Industry Retail
Founded1958;65 years ago (1958)
Geelong, Australia
Defunct2018;5 years ago (2018)
FateMerged with Macpac
Successor Macpac
Headquarters
Owner Super Retail Group Limited
Website raysoutdoors.com.au

Rays, originally called Ray's Tent City and then, Ray's Outdoors, was an Australian chain of retail stores in 40 locations across Australia, selling camping, hiking and kayaking equipment, as well as outdoor clothing and footwear.

It was founded in Geelong in 1958 by Ray Frost, as a single camping and army disposals store. [1] [2] The chain was acquired by the Super Retail Group in 2010, which said 12 of the 38 former Ray's Outdoors outlets would be re-branded as BCF (Boating Camping and Fishing) stores, an existing Super Retail Group business, and 15 would be converted to a new Rays brand. [3]

Beginning in about April 2018, several Rays stores were closed, with the profitable ones becoming Macpac Adventure Hubs, using the name of the New Zealand chain recently acquired by the Super Retail Group. [4] Unlike Macpac stores, Adventure Hubs stocked brands Ray's Outdoors was renowned for selling. They combined the Macpac range of technical outdoor gear, with a selection of apparel, equipment and accessories from some of the world's leading brands: Patagonia, Columbia, Keen, Sea to Summit, Yeti, Scarpa, Coleman, Weber and Wanderer.

Related Research Articles

Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. is a Canadian retail pharmacy chain based in Toronto, Ontario. It has more than 1,300 stores in ten provinces and two territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woolworths Group (Australia)</span> Australian retail company

Woolworths Group Limited is an Australian retail company headquartered in Bella Vista, Sydney, with extensive operations throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is the largest company in Australia by revenue and the second-largest in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">REI</span> American consumer cooperative

Recreational Equipment, Inc., doing business as REI, is an American retail and outdoor recreation services corporation. It is organized as a consumers' co-operative. REI sells camping gear, hiking, climbing, cycling, water, running, fitness, snow, travel equipment, and men, women and kids clothing. It also offers services such as outdoor-oriented vacations and courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Warehouse Group</span> New Zealand retail group

The Warehouse Group (TWG) was founded by Stephen Tindall in 1982, and is the largest retail group operating in New Zealand. It is a corporate group that consists of The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Torpedo7, Noel Leeming, 1-day and TheMarket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Mountain Sports</span>

Eastern Mountain Sports is an outdoor clothing and equipment retailer in the Northeastern United States headquartered in Meriden, Connecticut.

SuperValu, Inc. was an American wholesaler and retailer of grocery products. The company, formerly headquartered in the Minneapolis suburb of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, had been in business since 1926. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Natural Foods (UNFI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kmart Australia</span> Australian retail store chain

Kmart Australia Limited is an Australian chain of retail department stores owned by the Kmart Group division of Wesfarmers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain Designs</span>

Mountain Designs is an outdoor clothing and equipment business based in Australia. They sell hiking, rockclimbing and general outdoor and recreational equipment. The company stocks a variety of international and local brands, as well as their own brands of clothing, accessories, sleepwear and bags.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports Authority</span> Defunct American sporting goods retailer

Sports Authority, Inc. was an American sports retailer. At its peak, Sports Authority operated 463 stores in 45 States and Puerto Rico. The company's website was on the GSI Commerce platform and supported the retail stores as well as other multi-channel programs. A joint venture with ÆON Co., Ltd., operates "Sports Authority" stores in Japan under a licensing agreement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotswold Outdoor</span> British retail chain

Cotswold Outdoor is a trading brand of Outdoor and Cycle Concepts Limited, who also own the Snow and Rock, Cycle Surgery and Runners Need chains of shops. An outdoor recreation retailer in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMD Brands</span> New Zealand retailer

KMD Brands, formerly Kathmandu Holdings, is a global outdoor, lifestyle and sports company consisting of three brands: Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz.

Macpac Wilderness Equipment is a brand specialising in outdoor recreational equipment. It is best known for camping and travel equipment including backpacks, sleeping bags and technical clothing. Macpac was originally a New Zealand company, but is now owned by the Australian company Super Retail Group. Macpac was founded by Bruce McIntyre in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regatta (clothing)</span> English outdoor equipment and clothing retailer

Regatta is a global brand and part of The Regatta Group, which is privately owned. It consists of Regatta Great Outdoors, Craghoppers, Dare2b, and Regatta Professional. The brand sells through major outdoor retail chains, through its own stores and concessions, and through e-commerce. The company is based in Manchester.

Blacks Outdoor Retail Ltd. is a British retailer, headquartered in Bury, Greater Manchester the United Kingdom which owns the British outdoor retailers Blacks, Millets and Ultimate Outdoors. Blacks is the largest outdoor retailer in the UK with stores nationwide.

Glentel is a Canadian telecommunications retailer based in Burnaby, British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain Warehouse</span> British outdoor sports retailer

Mountain Warehouse is a British outdoor retailer selling equipment for hiking, camping, skiing, cycling, running and fitness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan Cameron</span> New Zealand-Australian businesswoman

Jan Cameron is a New Zealand-Australian businesswoman and formerly Australia's fourth-richest woman. She made her fortune as the founder of the Kathmandu clothing and outdoor equipment company. She currently lives in Bicheno, Tasmania. She runs various companies and business interests, which together span Britain, New Zealand and Australia. She is a philanthropist and supporter of animal welfare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boating Camping and Fishing</span>

Boating Camping and Fishing or BCF, owned by Super Retail Group, is a transnational chain of retail stores, selling a wide range of outdoor clothing and equipment. According to Super Retail Group, with over 148 stores across Australia, BCF "continues to be the largest outdoor retailer in the country."

Super Retail Group Limited is an Australian-based company which owns and operates a portfolio of retail brands across Australia and New Zealand. The brands include automotive retailer Supercheap Auto, outdoor and leisure retailers Macpac and BCF and sporting retailer Rebel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evo (company)</span>

Evo is an American sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It is led by founder and chief executive officer Bryce Phillips.

References

  1. "Super Cheap to buy Ray's Outdoors". Sydney Morning Herald. 2010-04-27. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  2. http://www.superretailgroup.com.au/about-us/our-journey/
  3. "Refreshed Super Retail lifts FY profit 62%". SBS News. 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  4. "Ray's Outdoors has a 60-year history, but its closing in Ballarat". Ballarat Courier. 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2019-07-28.