Outdoors Inc.

Outdoors Inc. was founded in 1974 when Joe Royer and Lawrence Migliara combined their two paddling businesses, West Tennessee White Water Supply and South Central Canoe Base, into The Great Outdoors. At the time, Joe and Lawrence were avid paddlers and racers who could not find performance outdoor equipment in Memphis. The first retail location opened in the spring of 1974. During the first few years of business, Joe and Lawrence concentrated on selling performance paddling equipment.