PenCarrie, the family-owned UK distributor of unprinted clothing and accessories, has bought The Outdoors Company, a Congleton, Cheshire business that supplies premium outdoor and lifestyle brands to the corporate clothing market. The deal was reported by the PSI Network on 28 October 2026 and by Images magazine on 29 October 2026. The financial terms have not been disclosed.
What The Outdoors Company does
The Outdoors Company was founded in 2007 and, according to the PSI report, supplies more than 700 customers in the UK and Europe. Its range covers brands such as The North Face, Columbia, Rab, Patagonia and Helly Hansen, and its own site also lists Berghaus, Dryrobe and Rains. It runs its own embroidery and printing, so garments, bags and accessories can be branded before they go out. The PSI report says promotional products distributors and textile finishers are the ones who stand to gain, through wider access to premium outdoor brands with branding done in one place.
What changes for buyers
Not much in the short term. The Outdoors Company will keep trading under its own name from its existing Cheshire site, managed by directors Mark Dix and Paul Morley-Smith with the current team, and its contact details and services stay the same. PenCarrie stocks more than 3,700 items from 75 brands and says it sees room to grow both businesses in the UK and Europe.
If you are buying branded outerwear or bags for staff or events, our categories for branded jackets and fleeces, embroidery and branded clothing list UK businesses that can quote for this kind of work.
This item is based on desk research of the published trade reports and The Outdoors Company’s own website. We have not spoken to either company.
Sources
- PSI Network, PenCarrie acquires outdoor specialist, 28 October 2026, checked 30 October 2026.
- Images magazine, PenCarrie acquires The Outdoors Company, 29 October 2026, checked 30 October 2026.
- The Outdoors Company, theoutdoorscompany.co.uk, checked 30 October 2026.