Side By Side Stuff has grown from a small Missouri powersports business into a major online retailer of aftermarket UTV parts and accessories. Founded in 2006, the company built its reputation around broad product selection, vehicle-specific shopping and customer support from people familiar with side-by-sides.
That growth attracted the attention of Nivel Parts & Manufacturing, which acquired Side By Side Stuff in 2020 as part of its expansion into the ATV and UTV aftermarket.
Side By Side Stuff Opens in 2006
Side By Side Stuff opened its doors in 2006 with an initial focus on vehicle maintenance and service. Based in Drexel, Missouri, the company developed a loyal customer base through hands-on work, customer service and an enthusiasm for the rapidly growing side-by-side market.
The company later applied that experience to SideBySideStuff.com, creating an online store where UTV owners could find parts organized by vehicle make, model and product category.
This fitment-driven approach became increasingly valuable as the UTV market expanded. Polaris, Can-Am, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki and other manufacturers introduced more models, configurations and generations, making it harder for owners to determine which aftermarket products would fit their machines.
A Multibrand UTV Parts Retailer
Unlike a manufacturer selling primarily its own products, Side By Side Stuff developed as a multibrand retailer. Its catalog gives customers access to products from numerous aftermarket manufacturers covering recreational, performance and utility UTVs.
Major product categories include:
- Windshields, roofs, doors and cab enclosures
- Bumpers, skid plates and vehicle protection
- Lift kits, suspension components and portal gear lifts
- Axles, drive belts and other drivetrain parts
- Tires, wheels and pre-mounted combinations
- Seats, harnesses and interior accessories
- Lighting, mirrors and street-legal equipment
- Winches, storage systems and work accessories
- Audio systems and electronic accessories
- Maintenance and replacement parts
The store covers popular machines such as the Polaris RZR, RANGER, GENERAL and XPEDITION; the Can-Am Maverick, Defender and Commander; the Honda Pioneer and Talon; the Kawasaki MULE, Teryx and Teryx KRX; and Yamaha Wolverine and Viking models.
It also supports discontinued and less common UTVs that may no longer receive the same level of attention from manufacturers or larger retailers. That broad coverage can be especially helpful for owners trying to maintain or upgrade an older machine.
Side By Side Stuff Makes the Inc. 500
By 2015, Side By Side Stuff had become one of the country’s fastest-growing private companies. The company ranked No. 314 on the 34th annual Inc. 500 list after reporting three-year revenue growth of 1,587 percent.
The recognition demonstrated how quickly the UTV aftermarket and Side By Side Stuff’s online retail business were expanding. What began as a Missouri maintenance and service operation had developed into a nationally recognized source for side-by-side parts and accessories less than a decade after opening.
Nivel Acquires Side By Side Stuff
In 2020, Nivel Parts & Manufacturing acquired Side By Side Stuff and its subsidiary, Octane Ridge. The purchase represented Nivel’s entry into the growing UTV parts and accessories market.
Nivel brought extensive sourcing, distribution and specialty-vehicle aftermarket experience to the business. Side By Side Stuff added an established e-commerce platform, a recognizable retail brand and direct access to UTV customers.
At the time of the acquisition, Side By Side Stuff founder and CEO Scott Harper said he was looking forward to the company’s next stage of growth. The business was expected to continue operating independently within Nivel’s Specialty Vehicles division, with Harper remaining involved as general manager.
The acquisition also provided Nivel with an established way to observe what UTV owners were purchasing across multiple manufacturers and product categories. That retail insight could help identify new-product opportunities, underserved vehicle applications and changing customer preferences.
How Side By Side Stuff Fit Nivel’s UTV Strategy
Side By Side Stuff became an important foundation for Nivel’s expansion into the off-road vehicle market. Rather than entering the industry solely as a product manufacturer, Nivel gained an established retail channel with an existing customer base and relationships with numerous aftermarket brands.
Nivel subsequently expanded its off-road portfolio with companies and brands serving different areas of the market. High Lifter brought mud-oriented performance products and strong ATV recognition, while Falcon Ridge focused on practical UTV products such as windshields, doors and cab enclosures.
Side By Side Stuff could merchandise those products alongside equipment from independent manufacturers, giving customers the ability to compare solutions and assemble complete accessory packages for their vehicles.
Why the Multibrand Model Matters
The UTV aftermarket is highly fragmented. One manufacturer may specialize in suspension, another in cab enclosures and another in electronics or storage. Building a complete machine often requires purchasing products from several companies.
A multibrand retailer can simplify that process by organizing products around the customer’s vehicle instead of requiring the customer to search each manufacturer separately. It can also help owners compare price, construction, features and intended use before making a purchase.
That model is particularly useful for customers outfitting machines for a specific purpose, including:
- Farm and ranch work
- Hunting and property access
- Mud riding
- Trail recreation
- Rock crawling
- Dune riding
- Cold-weather use
- Street-legal operation where permitted
From Local Service Business to National UTV Retailer
Side By Side Stuff’s growth reflects the larger development of the UTV aftermarket. As side-by-sides became more specialized, owners wanted accessories tailored to individual models and riding styles. The number of available products increased, but so did the challenge of identifying compatible parts.
By combining extensive vehicle coverage with multibrand selection and customer support, Side By Side Stuff developed from a Missouri maintenance and service business into a nationally recognized online source for UTV parts and accessories.
Visit Side By Side Stuff to view its current selection of aftermarket UTV products.
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