Purpose-driven M&A for wood product craftspeople

We acquire founder-owned millwork, cabinetry, and furniture businesses via non-traditional M&A that ensures your legacy is Built to Last.

Our Process

A one-of-a-kind platform purpose-built to transfer ownership to employees. For owners who value legacy over leverage, our anti-PE model is uniquely suited to ensure your life’s work is Built to Last.

1

Buy

We buy your profitable, legacy manufacturing business the old fashioned way via a quick transaction structured to provide flexibility and upside.

2

Grow

Brands continue to operate independently under existing management. We’ll work together on operational improvements and growth.

3

Scale

We build a portfolio of independently operating, profitable legacy businesses. Together we achieve the stability and scale necessary to unlock employee ownership.

4

Empower

We sell the platform back to employees at no cost to them via an ESOP. Who better to safeguard your legacy than the people who’ve helped build it.

Why it works

It’s not charity, it’s strategy. A simple solution for real problems faced by sellers, employees, and investors.

A Win for Sellers

✔ Faster access to liquidity via traditional sale process

✔ Freedom to operate independently

✔ Join a leading coalition of manufacturers

✔ Unlock employee ownership without the hassle

✔ Powerful solutions for legacy preservation that no other form of traditional M&A can provide

A Win for Employees

✔ A path to true ownership in the business they helped build

✔ Ownership in a more stable and diversified platform

✔ Proven path to more long-term wealth at no additional cost

✔ Employment at a faster growing enterprise

✔ Improved job satisfaction via economic empowerment

A Win for Investors

✔ Competitive returns

✔ Access to the highest quality deals

✔ Better mechanisms to control risk

✔ Participate in purpose-driven M&A

✔ Unique tax benefits

The opportunity in wood product manufacturing

A fragmented, durable industry with thousands of legacy-minded owners approaching retirement

  • Large & Stable Market

    Every home and business has some form of wood products (e.g., cabinetry, furniture, millwork). It’s no wonder that cabinet and millwork manufacturing alone is a $50B market.

  • Highly Fragmented

    Despite large scaled players the market remains highly fragmented with ~21,000 cabinet, vanity, millwork, and wood product manufacturers in the US.

  • Enduring Businesses

    Cabinetry, woodworking, and furniture making are time-honored American trades. These SMBs often have multi-decade track records with strong local reputations. Today’s businesses have survived major industry disruption over the past decade and are resistant to AI disruption.

  • Barriers to Entry

    Although anyone with a saw can build cabinets and furniture, meaningful businesses require 6 -7 figure investments in capital equipment and building improvements, plus significant engineering and craftmanship skill.

  • Economic Benefit

    Supports domestic manufacturing and skilled trades jobs creation.

  • Management Layer

    Cabinet and wood product shops are frequently built and led by successful craftspeople who may benefit from partnering with professional management teams & investors.

  • Legacy Preservation

    Because up to 1/3 of SMB owners are planning to retire in the next 5 years; thousands of owners in this industry are seeking transition.

Leadership

David brings strategic and operational experience from top firms, combined with a passion for mission-driven businesses.

  • BCG: Growth strategy for Fortune 500 companies

  • Hershey: Enterprise & supply chain transformation at iconic manufacturer

  • NYC Reconstruction: $100M+ public infrastructure projects

  • MBA + Master's in Sustainability

  • Passion for woodworking, analytics, and SMB investing

picture of founder with link to linkedin page

Anonymous feedback from a career leading diverse teams across high-impact projects

“David was fantastic to work...he led by example on numerous occasions”

“His patience helped me learn and grow”

“David provides tangible and actionable coaching”

“He was excellent at teaching us how to be effective”

“I always felt psychologically safe on his team”

Criteria

Our criteria for assessing potential acquisitions. Character and culture matter as much as cash flow.

  • ✔ Cabinet, millwork, and furniture manufacturers with a 20+ year track record

    ✔ Owners ~3-5 years from retirement

    ✔ Sterling reputation for integrity among all stakeholders

    ✔ $1M - $3M annual cash flow

    ✔ Stable top line & margins

    ✔ Repeat customers

    ✔ Outstanding products or service

    ✔ Strong culture & management team

    ✔ Limited customer concentration

    ✔ Limited exposure to new construction

  • ✔ Geographic preference for East Coast and Mid-Atlantic

    ✔ Stock & assets sales

    ✔ 2-4x EBITDA

    ✔ Option to acquire business real estate

Contact

Email me directly if you’d like to invest or apply for a leadership role at a portfolio company

Phone
(301) 664 4191

Location
Mid-Atlantic