# 2025: A Year of Resilience & Real Momentum | Wild Rye

- Canonical URL: https://wefunder.com/feed/258746
- Entity ID: wefunder:feed_item:258746
- Published at: 2026-02-13 19:37:25 UTC
- Updated at: 2026-02-13 19:38:06 UTC

## Author
Cassie Abel

## Subject
Wild Rye

## Content
2025 tested us — but it also strengthened us.We successfully launched our first ski outerwear collection, and it exceeded expectations. Outerwear immediately increased AOV (up 40% since launch), drove our biggest holiday season ever (+109% YoY), and positioned Wild Rye as a premium technical brand from day one. DTC revenue grew 41% year over year, our returning customer rate climbed to 42.6%, and specialty wholesale revenue more than tripled as we added 37 new retail partners.While wholesale softness at REI and ongoing tariff volatility kept overall revenue relatively flat, we improved what matters most: margins and fundamentals. Gross margin increased to 46% (up from 42%), inventory health improved, and we built stronger systems and infrastructure to support scale. We also raised $1.2M through this community — 530 of you are now owners — which has been both a financial and emotional boost during a volatile year.Looking Ahead to 2026We enter 2026 stronger.We’ve streamlined the team following natural turnover, combining roles and increasing experience across key functions to drive better execution. Outerwear is now a core growth driver. Specialty is expanding. REI is returning to a growth posture. And we continue to advocate nationally for fair tariff policy, earning coverage across ABC, BBC, NPR, and USA Today while standing up for small brandslike ours.2025 was about resilience.2026 is about disciplined growth.Thank you for being part of this journey — and if you believe in what we’re building, we’d love your continued support as inch closer to closing this round.