Compass: Charting the Evolution of Outdoor Gear

Nau History

        Home Brands History Firsts Classics Logos Links Books News Action About

Profile

Images

2003

Aug

Eric Reynolds (co-founder of Marmot - 1974) conceives new corporately responsible business model

gives it working moniker of "Unfuck The World”, a phrase from Michael Franti of cause-oriented band Spearhead

2004

Jun

Eric Reynolds approaches Mark Galbraith of Patagonia to join 'UTW'

Sep

Chris Van Dyke meets with Eric Reynolds

Dec

Chris Van Dyke signs on to 'UTW'

raise $2 million from angel investors (Stephen Gomez, ex Nike executive, and Peter Metcalf, CEO of Black Diamond)

2005

Feb

Reynolds trademarked the name ‘Webfront’ for the Nau retail store format

Mar

UTW Inc. was registered to Chris Van Dyke, who was then listed as company president.

May

Chris Van Dyke and Ian Yolles negotiate $5 million USD from a a billion-dollar hedge fund

2006

Jan

Founder Eric Reynolds steps down as Chairman of Nau

May

Nau has raised $14 million USD, but still needs another $17 million

Jul

Establish a teaser website saying that Nau has three guiding principles: Performance, Beauty and Sustainability

Oct

Mark Galbraith previews Nau's launch collection to the likes of Esquire and Men's Vogue

Nov

complete a two part. in-depth interview with www.treehugger.com

launch a blog (The Thought Kitchen), and a collection of stories about athletes, artists and activists (The Collective)

Dec

send aspiring customers their first electronic newsletter - Off The Grid

2007

Jan

post teaser images the upcoming debut clothing collection with online photo album, Flickr

Spring

CEO, Chris Van Dyke, secures $10 million in funding from Tudor Investment Corporation

Feb

begin selling clothes from their 120-piece spring line, via the Nau online store

27 of the company's 30 fabrics in the line were developed exclusively for Nau, including corn-based PLA (Ingeo)

in-depth article of company's growing pains published in Outside magazine

Mar

open Webfront Store in Boulder (customers receive 10% discount if product is home delivered)

Apr

open Webfront Store in Portland and Chicago

May

Cleanline Jacket (100% recycled polyester) wins Outside magazine's "Green Gear of the Year" award

Quintessenshell jacket scores Outside magazine's Killer Value nomination in 2007 Buyers Guide for Jackets

Aug

Time Magazine lists Nau among 25 Style & Design Visionaries, alongside likes of Norman Foster and Philippe Starck

2008

Feb

announce distribution of $161,000 USD in customer directed corporate donations to Partners for Change NGOs

announce plans for 10 more webfront retail locations during 2008

Apr

Preview Party announced for 5 May to showcase the Fall 2008 line

Nau Board decides to suspend operations on 24 April, as external funding dries up

30 April 2008 - official store opening party for Nau webfront in Los Angeles

May

2 May 2008 - Announcement made to 95 members of staff that Nau is closing

hold online sale with all goods at 50% off. More than double previous best sales day, as collectors items are snapped up

Jun

small team of now ex-Nau staff work through various rescue options to revive the brand

Gordon Seabury, CEO of outdoor lifestyle clothing company, Horny Toad, is approached, amongst many others

Horny Toad’s offer outbids buyout offers by Chris Van Dyke and others

co-founder Chris Van Dyke bows out of the revival process

Nau's assets are acquired by Horny Toad, who retain 10 or so of the original Nau staff of 60

Jolie Giese starts at new General Manager

Aug

Nau 2.0 re-launches (without the Webfront stores, and with Partners for Change donation scaled back from 5% to 2%)

Oct

begin selling clothing again, although line is reduced from 170 styles down to 69

2009

Feb

further fiscal pressure from the global financial crisis see another co-founder, Ian Yolles, leave the team

Jul

announce $10,000 Grant4Change program, for artists, activists or athletes nominated, in part, by Nau customers

Aug

Jolie Giese becomes chief merchandising officer for Horny Toad, Nau and the Lizard Lounge

Mark Galbraith takes over as General Manager

begin selling a line of luggage-like bags and accessories from organic cotton and recycled polyester

Nau now