Brand Control in Action: Yakima’s Path to Higher BSR and Marketplace Growth

How Yakima removed unauthorized sellers and improved overall BSR 28% year-over-year.

Inventory Management
Brand Protection
Overview
Yakima partnered with Spreetail in September 2023 to bring order to a “wild west” Amazon presence plagued by unauthorized sellers and inconsistent inventory.

Yakima began as a small machine shop in Washington before being redefined in 1979 when outdoor enthusiasts Steve Cole and Don Banducci took the helm. By 1984, Yakima had made its mark at the Summer Olympics, outfitting every race vehicle with aerodynamic fairings. Blending heritage, safety, and innovative design, their products transform the way people travel, empowering them to roam freely.

Results
Unauthorized Sellers Removed
From 5.4% to 9% within 30-days
Improved BSR Performance
28% YoY improvement across 243 ASINs.
Strong Product Ratings
4.4-star average from 59,700+ reviews.
Above-Benchmark Conversions
3.05% conversion rate vs. 2% industry benchmark.
Reduced Stockouts
32% YoY decrease in out-of-stock rate.
Automotive Market Growth
100% YoY monthly average increase in market share.
Bicycle Rack Market Share
55.2% YoY monthly average growth in Sports & Outdoors category.
Ski Rack Market Share
29.95% YoY monthly average growth in Sports & Outdoors category.
The Challenge
Previously, Yakima described their Amazon presence as a "wild west" scenario due to limited control over who sold their products and how inventory was sourced. Due to these circumstances, they continuously struggled with:
Limited Marketplace Reach
Primarily selling on Amazon with no presence on emerging marketplaces.
Fulfillment Limitations
Lacked a partner capable of handling oversized or hard-to-ship items.
Operational Inefficiencies
No streamlined system for managing ecommerce fulfillment.
Lack of Brand Control
Struggled with unauthorized sellers and inconsistent retail pricing.
Our Strategy
We quickly took over, identified areas of need, and exceeded expectations:
  • Handled SKU-intensive catalog without hesitation.
  • Fast-tracked content optimization for improved brand visibility.
  • Logged timely purchase orders to re-establish Yakima’s presence on Amazon.
  • Dedicated support to reinforce premium positioning, especially for cargo boxes.
  • Connected with leading brand control firm to implement extensive brand control measures against unauthorized sellers
  • Maintained brand control and consistent retails through ecommerce exclusivity.
The Bigger Impact

Spreetail’s strategic partnership with Yakima has delivered lasting improvements in brand integrity and marketplace performance. By acting as Yakima’s sole Prime seller and reinforcing strict brand control measures, we helped eliminate targeted unauthorized Amazon sellers. As a result we’re positioned to extend Yakima’s momentum not only across Amazon, but also into new markets throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.