# Zumiez

Zumiez is an Asset Manager based in Lynnwood, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Asset Manager
- **Headquarters:** Lynnwood, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Lynnwood, WA, United States
- **Founded:** 1978
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** zumiez.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/zumiez

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Tom Campion and Gary Haakenson founded Zumiez in 1978 as a single store in Seattle’s Northgate Mall, catering to skateboarders and snowboarders. The company went public on the NASDAQ in 2005 and has since grown into a global retailer approaching $1 billion in annual revenues, anchored by the deep authenticity of its action-sports heritage. Richard Brooks, a former CFO who became CEO in 2000, runs the daily operations. Zumiez deploys capital across three main fronts: brick-and-mortar expansion, e-commerce infrastructure, and private-label brand development. The retail footprint spans the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia through wholly owned subsidiaries including Blue Tomato in Europe and Fast Times in Australia. While Zumiez is a retailer — not an investment fund — its capital allocation strategy functions like a private equity operator in the apparel space, rolling up niche brands and running them under a centralized distribution and sourcing model. Confirmed private-label brands include Empyre, Free World, and Confusion. The company operates over 700 stores and employs thousands seasonally, with a lean corporate headquarters in Lynnwood, Washington. European operations run through Graz, Austria, following the Blue Tomato acquisition. Campion has served as Chairman since June 2000. Zumiez’s structural differentiator is its 'Blue Tomato' operating model — acquiring local-market leaders in action sports retail and leaving their branding intact while folding them into Zumiez’s global supply chain. This creates a network of culturally authentic storefronts that masquerade as independents, insulating the parent company from the homogenization that kills mall-based specialty retail. Founders still hold significant board seats and voting power, making the company founder-controlled despite its public listing.

## Sectors

- Luxury
- Media & Entertainment

## People

- Thomas D. Campion — Co-Founder & Chairman
- Gary Haakenson — Co-Founder
- Richard M. Brooks — Chief Executive Officer

## Questions

### Who makes capital allocation decisions at Zumiez?

Capital allocation is principally driven by CEO Richard Brooks and the board of directors, which Tom Campion chairs. The company has deployed capital primarily toward organic store openings, acquisitions like Blue Tomato (Europe) and Fast Times (Australia), and private-label brand development. As a public company, major allocation shifts are disclosed in earnings calls and 10-K filings.

### Does Zumiez operate its own brands?

Yes, private-label brands form a growing portion of revenue. Confirmed Zumiez house brands include Empyre, Free World, and Confusion. The company does not separately break out private-label revenue, but management has consistently emphasized margin benefits from this vertical integration strategy.

### What global markets does Zumiez operate in?

Zumiez operates physical stores in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. European operations are run through the wholly owned Blue Tomato subsidiary based in Graz, Austria, while Australia is covered by the Fast Times brand. The company has reduced its international footprint selectively — it exited the Zumiez-branded European stores but retained Blue Tomato.

## Related profiles

- [North American Construction Group](https://altss.com/profile/north-american-construction-group-ltd)
- [BlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund](https://altss.com/profile/blackrock-floating-rate-income-strategies-fund-inc)

---

Last updated: 2026-06-28T02:00:10.762Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/zumiez-inc

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology