Cabela’s is a leading hunting, fishing, camping, and outdoor supplier. Cabela was launched out of Nebraska and ships mail-order catalogs to all 50 states and 125 countries. With over $3 billion in sales across America, Cabela represents a trusted name in the mail order industry.
The Cabelas.com Domain
The cabelas.com domain name was registered in August 1995 and will expire in 2022 unless renewed before then. The trademark for Cabelas.com was registered in 1996, with the first use in commerce taking place in 1997.
Company History
The company was founded in 1961 by Richard “Dick” Cabela, in partnership with his wife Mary, after he purchased $45 worth of fishing flies at a furniture expo in Chicago, which he then advertised for sale in a local newspaper advertisement. Receiving a limited response, he placed an ad in a national magazine (Sports Afield) which was more successful. Each order fulfilled had a copy of the Cabela’s catalog enclosed.
In 1963, the business had grown and relocated to Sidney, Nebraska from Chapelle, Nebraska.
In 2007 Cabela acquired the family-owned S.I.R. Warehouse Sports Store in Winnipeg. in 2010, the Canadian Head Office and Distribution Centre moved across the city, leaving the original location as only a retail store. In 2011 Cabela’s opened a 70,000 square-foot store in Edmonton, Alberta, and a 50,000 Square foot store opened in Saskatoon in 2012. They opened another 70,000 square-foot store in Calgary, Alberta, in 2015.
In early 2012, Cabela’s revealed a new retail initiative called Cabela’s Outpost stores. The first outpost store opened in Union Gap in the fall of 2012.
In July 2017, Cabela’s was acquired by Bass Pro Shops.
This has allowed both brands to grow exponentially to become North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company, leveraging their joint purchasing power to deliver better customer value.
Today, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s welcomes more than 200 million annual visitors to its 200 retail and marine center locations and has been voted one of America’s top employers while ranking among the most reputable retailers in all of North America.
The company promises to “do more than ever to advance conservation, celebrate our cherished outdoor traditions, and inspire everyone to enjoy love, and conserve the great outdoors.”
Related Domains & Trademarks
Cabelas.com is a longstanding, valuable trademark. Now, let’s look at related domains, brands, and trademarks owned by Cabela’s incorporated and Bass Pro Shops.
BassPro.com
Bass Pro Shops was founded in 1972 by avid angler Johnny Morris, the son of a WWII Veteran who enjoyed an intense love for the outdoors, fishing and hunting.
The company had humble beginnings, starting when Morris decided to sell tackle from eight square feet of shelf space in his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri. In 1981, Morris opened his first Bass Pro Store.
Bass Pro Shops opened Big Cedar Lodge on Table Rock Lake in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains in 1988; along with the lodge, the resort includes five golf courses, the Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve, in addition to the Lost Canyon Cave, the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, and Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, a 10,000-acre wilderness refuge dedicated to education in the preservation of wildlife.
In 2017 Cabela’s was acquired by Bass Pro Shops. Bass Pro Shops is a vast outdoor brand/company that employs over 40,000 people across its combined 160+ stores.
BassPro.com was first registered in 1995 and expires in 2031 unless renewed beforehand.
Cabela’s “Gun Dog”
Cabela’s gun dog range provides a range of dog accessories, from collars designed to train or control your dog while hunting to pet floatation devices that can keep your pets safe while you go fishing or on boat trips.
They filed for the “gun dog” trademark with the USPTO in 2018.
Cabela’s NTC National team championship
The Bass Pro Shops / Cabela’s National Team Championship results from partnerships formed with Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s, The Walleye Federation, Ranger Boats, Mercury Outboards, and walleye tournaments circuits and clubs across the nation. Anglers are welcome to compete for cash and other prizes.
The Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s National Team Championship continues the commitment to the sport of tournament walleye fishing by creating a true national championship that will allow grass-roots anglers to shine under the spotlight of national media attention and fish for their share of nearly 250,000 dollars in cash and prizes.
The trademark filing took place in 2011.
Uncle Bucks Grill
Uncle Bucks is a small restaurant chain owned by Bass Pro shops; they offer a casual all-you-can-eat casual dining experience alongside bowling, parties, and lunch & dinner service.
There are 12 uncle bucks grills’ with the restaurants in Texas and Florida proving to be particularly profitable.
The name has been trademarked since 2010.
Bass Pro Natural Reflections
Natural Reflections women’s clothing from Bass Pro Shops offers comfort and style in one. Tops, Pants, & Jeans offer everyday functionality and style. Natural Reflections’ Shoes & Accessories include scarves, hats, bags, and more designed to give you that fresh yet casual look.
The range is comfortable and functional, allowing women to enjoy the outdoors in comfort and style. Online reviewers praise the comfort and high quality of the materials used.
Natural reflections by Bass Pro became a registered trademark in 2004.
Cabela’s Polar Cap Cooler
Cabela’s Polar Cap Cooler is a high-strength cooler that promises to keep your drinks and refrigerator items cold, delivering the durability and performance that you need. All products are made in the U.S.A. to the highest standards.
Bass Pro Intellectual Property filed the trademark application in 2018.
Gear Guard
In 2009, Bass Pro L.L.C. filed for trademark registration of Gearguard.
Gearguard is the accident protection service or equipment warranty/insurance that Bass Pro offers alongside purchases (for an additional fee).
Gear Guard can provide an extended warranty on purchases that include camping gear, outdoor gear, accessories, hunting equipment, fishing tackle, marine articles, electronic devices, and any associated accessories.
Bass Pro Prowler
Prowler is a newer boat brand, created by Bass Pro and offering small boats for 1-2 people to use on short fishing trips. The vessels are so compact and light that you don’t even require a trailer bed to transport them – they will fit in most trucks and cars and usually feature removable seats to help with this, too. They are also very affordable compared to full-size angling boats.
They registered the trademark in 2006.
Wrapping Up
Bass Pro Intellectual property L.L.C. owns Cabela’s Inc and a wealth of intellectual property, too. Bass Pro is the trademark owner of several hundred different trademarks. Beyond being an effective branding and marketing tool, trademarks can be worth thousands of dollars for your business (or more), with some trademarks having an estimated value of billions. It’s ideal for protecting this. Thankfully, trademark law accounts for this area and will help you protect your business.
In terms of the law, copyright law gives you everything you need to protect your intellectual property. Still, you can only benefit from these critical legal protections by registering trademarks with the USPTO. If you fail to secure your trademark rights, you have no recourse if you’re a victim of (what would otherwise be considered) trademark infringement.
