Outer

Outer is a Santa Monica, California-based outdoor furniture company that designs and sells patio and backyard furnishings directly to consumers through its own e-commerce site. Its catalog spans outdoor sofas and sectionals, dining tables and sets, chaise lounges, Adirondack chairs, fire pits, coffee and side tables, small-space furniture, and accessories including all-weather covers, rugs, throw pillows and bug-repellent blankets. Products are offered across material lines including aluminum, teak, all-weather wicker, concrete and a stone-inspired OuterStone line, with certain teak items listed as FSC certified.

The company positions itself as an alternative to "fast furniture," emphasizing durability, longevity and sustainable materials and practices, and states that its products are designed to encourage people to spend more time outdoors. Purchases are supported by limited warranties that vary by product, ranging from one year on covers and accessories to ten years on aluminum and teak sofa and table frames and five years on wicker frames, cushions and Adirondack chairs. Outer also offers free one-on-one design consultations and free fabric swatch kits to prospective customers.

Founding story

Outer was launched in 2019 by co-founders Jiake Liu and Terry Lin. Liu, who serves as Co-Founder and CEO, came from a tech and software background and has family ties to outdoor furniture manufacturing; he previously co-founded ProspectWise, a venture-backed startup helping small businesses adopt software, where the emphasis on in-person human touch informed his later Neighborhood Showroom concept. His co-founder was previously Head of Furniture Design at Pottery Barn. The pair set out to reimagine outdoor furniture through material and design innovation while rethinking the home-goods shopping experience.

Business model

Outer sells its own branded outdoor furniture and accessories directly to consumers online, with pricing at the premium end (best-selling sofa and sectional sets listed between roughly $2,400 and $10,500 at promotional prices). Sales are supported by promotional events and bundled gift sets, free design consultation services, and free fabric swatch kits.

Revenue comes from direct sales of outdoor furniture, cushions, covers and accessories, with design services and fabric swatches offered free as sales support.

Traction

The company markets a broad product line with multiple best-selling sofa, sectional and dining configurations and publishes customer testimonials on its site; it cites recognition from Architectural Digest as the top outdoor furniture brand.