What does REI stand for? The outdoor retailer's letters come from Recreational Equipment, Inc., a plain description of what it sells: gear for hiking, camping, climbing, cycling, paddling and other outdoor activities. REI began in Seattle in 1938 as a small cooperative that bought climbing equipment for its members.
That co-op setup still shapes the company. REI is a consumer cooperative, which means it is owned by its members, the shoppers who join, rather than by outside shareholders. Most people simply call it by the three letters.
Quick facts
Stands for
Recreational Equipment, Inc.Type
Initialism used as a brand nameHow to say it
R E IStarted
1938, Seattle, as a co-opBusiness model
Consumer cooperative owned by membersOther meaning
Real estate investing or investor
What does REI stand for, and why those words?
| Initial | Full word | Meaning for the business |
|---|---|---|
| R | Recreational | The focus is outdoor play and sport, not work gear |
| E | Equipment | It sells the tools and clothing for those activities |
| I | Inc. | Short for Incorporated, the legal form of the business |
So REI stands for three words, and the final letter is the same Inc. you see after many company names. Unusually, the I in REI comes from that legal ending rather than from a descriptive word. Speakers sound out each letter, "R E I," which makes the name an initialism.
How the co-op began
The business started in 1938 when a group of climbers in the Seattle area, led by Lloyd and Mary Anderson, decided to buy quality climbing gear together. Importing equipment as a group made it easier to get, and sharing the savings among members was the reason for forming a cooperative.
The early name used the word cooperative. The company later took the name Recreational Equipment, Inc., and the short form REI became the name most people know. It has grown from a mail order and small shop operation into a national chain of stores, while keeping its member owned structure.
What a member owned business means
In a consumer cooperative, the customers who join are the owners. At REI, members pay a one time fee to join. In return they can receive a yearly share of the co-op's results, often called a member reward or dividend, based on what they bought. Members also have a say in electing the board of directors.
At the register: "Are you an REI member? Can I have your member number?" The cashier is asking so that your purchase counts toward your yearly member reward.
Anyone can shop there without joining. Membership mainly affects the rewards and a few member only events and services. Rules and benefits can change, so the co-op itself is the place to check current details.
REI in other settings
Outside of outdoor gear, the same three letters have a few other uses. Context makes the meaning clear.
| Field | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate | Real estate investing, or a real estate investor | "She joined a local REI club to learn about rental properties." |
| Names | Rei, a given name in Japanese and other languages | Written in mixed case, Rei, as a person's name |
| Business shorthand | Other organizations' own initials | Check the full name the first time it appears |
If someone mentions REI along with a trail, a tent or a member reward, they mean the co-op. If they mention rental units and financing, they are talking about real estate investing.
Saying and writing REI
Say it letter by letter: "R E I." It is printed in capitals, no periods. Since R is said "ar," which begins with a vowel sound, the correct article is an: "an REI store," "an REI member." You will also see "a REI" in casual writing, but "an" matches how the letters sound.
- "We picked up a new camp stove at REI."
- "He has been an REI member for years."
- "The REI near my office runs free map reading classes."
- "Is REI open on holidays?"
Questions people ask
What does REI stand for in the outdoor store name?
It stands for Recreational Equipment, Inc. The name describes the outdoor gear the co-op sells, and Inc. shows it is incorporated.
Is REI a cooperative?
Yes. It is a consumer cooperative owned by its members, the shoppers who choose to join. Non members can still shop there.
When and where did REI start?
It started in 1938 in the Seattle area, when a group of climbers formed a co-op to buy quality climbing gear together.
Do you say a REI or an REI?
"An REI" matches how the letters sound, since R is said "ar." You will see both in casual writing.
What does REI mean in real estate?
In real estate talk, REI usually means real estate investing or a real estate investor. The outdoor co-op is not involved in that sense.