Shopify Masters What Helped Wild Rye Land 100+ Retailers and Raise $1 Million
Jan 29, 2026
Cassie Abel, founder and CEO of Wild Rye, builds stylish, high-performance outdoor gear with a purpose-driven, women-led approach. She talks product stumbles, the four-year journey to a ski line, switching manufacturing overseas, and how community fundraising and focused retail hustle helped land 100+ retailers and raise nearly $1M.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Reworking The First Run
- Wild Rye's first season returned two flawed pieces that required third-party seamstresses to unpick and resew every garment.
- That early failure forced them to rethink manufacturing and wholesale strategy to survive.
Growth With Purpose
- Wild Rye balances growth with purpose and careful resource management rather than pursuit of growth-at-all-costs.
- The brand targets steady revenue increases and operational improvements while protecting long-term values.
Brand And Community Drive Resilience
- Brand strength, community, and values drove sustained post-COVID growth and customer loyalty.
- Wild Rye connects purpose, durable product, and resale options to keep customers engaged.