2 Kayak Store Success Stories [2026]
Kayaking has shown steady growth in the last decade. According to data, touring kayaks anticipate revenue growth in the coming year. The demand for kayaks is attributed to increased awareness about fitness & health. Kayaking and rafting are effective cardiovascular workouts, and people across the globe are increasingly taking an interest in these sports.
If you love watersports, you can start a kayak store. Your business can focus on renting kayaks to water sports tourists or manufacturing and selling kayaks at wholesale and retail prices.
In this list, you'll find real-world kayak store success stories and very profitable examples of starting a kayak store that makes money.
1. Oru Kayak ($4.8M/year)
Anton Willis came up with the idea for Oru Kayak while in graduate school for architecture. After reading a magazine article about origami, he had the crazy idea to make a kayak that could fold up like a piece of paper. He started with prototypes made out of printer paper and eventually launched a Kickstarter campaign that raised almost half a million dollars, making it the most successful outdoor product in the crowdfunding space.
How much money it makes: $4.8M/year
How many people on the team: 10
Oru Kayak's founder Anton Willis discusses how he turned a passion for kayaking and design into a $5 million per year business selling origami folding kayaks, discussing their launch on Kickstarter, and how they have built and retained a passionate customer base.
2. Bay Sports ($1.2M/year)
Founded by Hamish, Bay Sports started as an idea when his business partner purchased a kayak at a fraction of the price in a retail store. Recognizing the demand for affordable and high-quality water sports products, Hamish and his partner decided to launch an online store, offering a wide range of kayaks, SUP boards, and more. With the growth of online shopping and the use of platforms like Shopify, Bay Sports has become one of the largest online water sports businesses in Australia.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How many people on the team: 1
Bay Sports, an online water sports business, started with just kayaks and now offers a wide range of products, able to offer competitive prices due to being primarily online, with over 70% of customers shopping on mobile devices, emphasizing the importance of a strong online presence.
