Kuiu
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hunting |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Jason Hairston |
| Headquarters | Dixon, California, USA |
| Products | Hunting gear |
| Website | kuiu |
KUIU (pronounced 'koo-you')[1] is an American hunting gear and apparel brand that sells direct to consumers.[2] It was founded by Jason Hairston in 2011.[3][4]
In 2017, San Francisco-based Main Post Partners invested $50 million in the company.[5] In October 2023, two years before opening a store in Dallas,[6] it opened a retail store in San Antonio, Texas, which the firm said was the start of a market expansion.[7]
In December 2025, Main Post Partners sold KUIU to a fellow private investor group including Cox Enterprises.[8][9]
History
KUIU was founded in 2011 by Jason Hairston, who previously co-founded Sitka Gear. With a background as a hunter and former NFL player, Hairston set KUIU as a source for high-performance, ultralight hunting apparel and gear, particularly for mountain and expedition-style pursuits.[1]
The company applied a direct-to-consumer model from the outset and generated about $500,000 in sales on its first day, reaching break-even by its second year. KUIU remained profitable and had projected sales of around $50 million by 2016.[2][1]
After Hairston's death in 2018, KUIU continued operations per his vision.[10][11] In 2020, for example, the company expanded its philanthropic and conservation initiatives, launching the Conservation Direct program to fund and execute on-the-ground wildlife projects.[12]
In 2023, the company entered brick-and-mortar retail with its first store opening in San Antonio, Texas,[7] followed by a flagship store in Dallas in 2024.[6] In December 2025, ownership changed when Main Post Partners sold KUIU to a private investor group that included Cox Enterprises and several conservation-minded families.[8][9]
References
- ^ a b c Rocco, Matthew (2016-03-18). "Second Half: After Football, Jason Hairston Built a Hunting Empire". FOXBusiness. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ a b Clash, Jim (March 18, 2017). "Former NFL Linebacker Jason Hairston Has Built Outdoor Apparel Firm KUIU To $50 Million In 5 Years". Forbes. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ^ Belanger, Lydia (August 25, 2016). "This Company Rakes in Millions and Still Handwrites Thank-Yous Every Day". Entrepreneur. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ^ Britton, Bianca (February 8, 2017). "Meet the ex-NFL player dressing Trump's sons for hunting". CNNMoney. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017.
- ^ Marinova, Polina (April 20, 2017). "One of the Hottest Brands In Hunting Raises $50 Million to Fuel Expansion". Fortune. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ^ a b Halkias, Maria (September 7, 2023). "Kuiu premium hunting apparel and gear brand to open in North Dallas". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- ^ a b "Kuiu Continues Retail Store Expansion in Texas". SGB Update. July 1, 2025. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
- ^ a b "Main Post Partners Announces Sale of KUIU to Conservation-Focused Investor Group" (Press release). Main Post Partners. PR Newswire. December 8, 2025. Retrieved December 15, 2025 – via WIAT.
- ^ a b "Kuiu Sold to Conservation-Minded Investor Group". SGB Update. December 8, 2025. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ^ Caron, Emily (2018-09-07). "Former 49ers Linebacker, KUIU Hunting Gear Founder Jason Hairston Dead By Suicide". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ Davidson, Joe; Schultz, Jon (2021-01-22). "Jason Hairston, hunting gear giant and former UC Davis star, died of suicide, company says". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
- ^ Staff, GOHUNT (2020-02-27). "KUIU launches their Conservation Direct initiative // GOHUNT. The Hunting Company". www.gohunt.com. Retrieved 2025-12-29.