Yeti Holdings

YETI Holdings, Inc. is an American brand of outdoor recreation products, headquartered in Austin, Texas, specializing in outdoor products such as ice chests, vacuum-insulated stainless-steel drinkware, soft coolers, dry bags, and related accessories.[2]

History

YETI was founded by Roy and Ryan Seiders in 2006. Their father Roger Seiders had designed a fishing rod epoxy.[3] Ryan graduated from Texas A&M University in 1996 and Roy graduated from Texas Tech University in 2000.[4]

In 2006, Ryan started Waterloo Rods[3] and sold the company nine years later.[5] Roy, an angler and hunter, began his career making custom boats designed for shallow-depth fishing off the Texas Gulf Coast.[3]

In June 2012, a two-thirds stake of the company was purchased by private equity firm Cortec Group for $67 million.[6][7]

In July 2016, the company filed with the Security and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering with plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the "YETI" symbol.[8] The company was seeking a valuation of $5 billion and hoped to raise $100 million, but retracted the IPO two years later, in March 2018, citing "market conditions".[9][10]

On February 23, 2017 YETI opened its first flagship store in Austin, Texas.[11] Today, YETI has opened over 20 stores across the United States.

As of January 8, 2018, YETI was a sponsor of the Professional Bull Riders[12] and the YETI "Built for the Wild" event.[13]

On October 25, 2018, YETI became a public company via an initial public offering of 16 million shares at a price of $18 per share.[14]

On November 4, 2020, YETI initiated a consumer product safety recall for over 240,000 Rambler mugs, manufactured in China, for what the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission described as "Injury and Burn Hazards". The commission explained that the magnetic slider on the lid could malfunction and hot contents could spill. The product was sold in stores and through the company's website during October that year.[15]

On February 2, 2024, YETI Holdings, Inc. completed the acquisition of Mystery Ranch, a Bozeman, Montana-based manufacturer of high-performance load-bearing backpacks, for approximately $36.2 million.[16][17]

Products

The company targets niche markets of high-end hunting and fishing enthusiasts, outdoorsmen, beach goers, and water enthusiasts.[18] YETI sponsored professional outdoors-men and hunting and fishing shows.

Coolers

The Tundra range can be locked with two padlocks, making it certified bear-resistant according to the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.[19]

YETI also makes soft-sided coolers called the "Hopper" series.[20]

Their most expensive one is 82 gallons and sells for $1,300. The brothers teamed up with a factory in the Philippines to create an "indestructible cooler", with superior ice retention.[21][22][23]

Other products

YETI also sells drinkware, apparel, bags, and miscellaneous outdoor gear. YETI sells drinkware products under the "Rambler" line ranging from 10 ounces to one gallon in size.[24] The company also makes an ice bucket called the "YETI Tank".[25]

Sales

YETI sells their products to various retailers such as Academy Sports and Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops,[3] and other retailers including Amazon Marketplace, West Marine, Cabela's, REI, Dicks Sporting Goods, and North 40 Outfitters.[26]

YETI's sales increased from $147.7 million in 2015 to $468.9 million in 2016.[9] YETI's earnings in 2015 were $14.2 million and in 2016 were $72.2 million.[27] YETI's DTC sales accounted for "30% of revenue in 2017".[28]

Accolades

Outside magazine calls Yeti's Rambler "the best mug ever made".[29] Field & Stream stated that the release of Yeti's Base Camp Chair officially declared the company's "dedication to a comfy derrière".[30] Business Insider calls them "a status symbol in the United States".[21]

See also

  • Vacuum flask

Further reading

References

  1. 2024 Annual Report YETI Holdings Inc., February 24, 2025, retrieved November 27, 2025^
  2. Speaking of YETI Angling Trade, July 30, 2015, retrieved July 30, 2015^
  3. Loren Steffy. The Pot of Cold Texas Monthly, December 2016, retrieved July 22, 2019^
  4. Bill Saporito. How Two Brothers Turned a $300 Cooler Into a $450 Million Cult Brand Inc., February 2016, retrieved November 18, 2016^
  5. Keenan Mayo. The Most Expensive, Bear-Proof, Thief-Baiting Way to Keep Your Beer Cold Bloomberg, October 24, 2013, retrieved July 3, 2019^
  6. Matt Jarzemsky. Yeti: How a $67 Million Investment Became a $3.3 Billion Windfall The Wall Street Journal, September 24, 2016, retrieved May 8, 2018^
  7. Christopher Calnan. Funding details on Yeti Coolers acquisition disclosed Austin Business Journal, June 22, 2012, retrieved May 8, 2018^
  8. YETI Holdings (YETI) Files for $100M IPO StreetInsider.com, July 1, 2016, retrieved May 3, 2018^
  9. Ariella Gintzler. Yeti Coolers Withdraws Its IPO Outside, March 27, 2018, retrieved May 3, 2018^
  10. Maureen Farrell, Matt Jarzemsky. Yeti May Delay IPO and Bring In More Private Money The Wall Street Journal, October 26, 2016, retrieved May 3, 2018^
  11. Inside Yeti's New and Unbelievably Cool(er) Flagship Store retrieved 24 April 2024^
  12. Samuel Hine. The Biggest Belts, Hats, and Logos We Saw at MSG's Bull-Riding Rodeo GQ, January 8, 2018, retrieved July 3, 2019^
  13. Professional Bull Riders ride into Gila River Arena The Glendale Star, March 29, 2018, retrieved July 3, 2019^
  14. Tyler Clifford. Yeti CEO shrugs off his IPO's drop and defends the high prices of his premium coolers CNBC, October 25, 2018, retrieved July 23, 2019^
  15. YETI Recalls Rambler Travel Mugs with Stronghold Lid Due to Injury and Burn Hazards Nov 4, 2020, retrieved Jan 1, 2021^
  16. YETI® Acquires MYSTERY RANCH® investors.yeti.com, retrieved 2026-02-17^
  17. Mystery Ranch Acquisition www.yeti.com, retrieved 2026-02-17^
  18. Ashley Rodriguez. How YETI Made a Cooler an Aspirational Brand Ad Age, October 6, 2014, retrieved July 5, 2019^
  19. Ashton Goggans. Yeti's Crazy Coolers Surfer, July 2, 2016, retrieved November 18, 2016^
  20. Nate Mitka. YETI Hopper 30: A Good Cooler Gets Better gearjunkie.com, April 4, 2017, retrieved April 30, 2019^
  21. Graham Flanagan. How popular brand YETI made their expensive coolers a status symbol in America Business Insider, February 13, 2019, retrieved July 17, 2019^
  22. Problems With Yeti Coolers - Are They Worth The Money? thecoolerbox.com, 2016-07-20, retrieved 2019-11-10^
  23. Yeti Cooler Review thecoolerzone.com, 2019-06-16, retrieved 2019-11-11^
  24. Patrick Michels. A Brief History of Yeti Coolers Men's Journal, retrieved November 18, 2016^
  25. Steven Kurutz. Can a $300 Cooler Unite America? The New York Times, September 28, 2017, retrieved July 5, 2019^
  26. North 40 Outfitters. New Yeti Products Arriving at North40 Fly shop November 30, 2024, retrieved October 11, 2025^
  27. Ezequiel Minaya. Yeti, maker of coolers and Rambler mug, files for IPO The Wall Street Journal, July 1, 2016, retrieved July 5, 2019^
  28. David Trainer. Will Yeti Holding's IPO Stay Cool Like Its Coolers? Forbes, October 25, 2018, retrieved July 5, 2019^
  29. Will Egensteiner. The Yeti Rambler Is the Best Mug Ever Made Outside, February 14, 2019, retrieved July 27, 2019^
  30. Kelly Bastone. Gear Review: The Yeti Hondo Base Camp Chair Field & Stream, March 5, 2018, retrieved July 27, 2019^