Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/1059224
OWN IT | AD Today 2018 | 83 John Diaz VP Sales & Business Development - SE Region Stellar Industrial Supply, Inc. Diaz, now Vice President of Sales and Business Development - SE Region for Stellar Industrial Supply. "I'd looked into acquisition opportunities but saw nothing I felt comfortable with." After meeting Stellar Industrial Supply President & CEO John Wiborg through the AD Network, however, "we began talking and realized that Stellar had no real presence east of the Mississippi and that we were strictly focused on the Florida market, so it was a good fit," Diaz said. In the three years since Impact Industrial has been part of Stellar Industrial Supply, "we now appeal to customers of all sizes, including larger, multi-location accounts, and can go to market with the scale and capacity to compete against anyone," Diaz said. "Before, we didn't have the resources to take advantage of good opportunities and only had one bullet in our gun; now we're fully loaded and it's been invigorating to know that we have the ability to pursue and follow through on great opportunities and improve our customers' profitability." THE BUYERS' PERSPECTIVE François Deschênes, President & CEO of Deschênes et Fils Ltée, which most recently acquired fellow AD member Ontario- based Ideal Supply in 2016, agreed that mergers between AD independents benefit from Franklin M. Bell III Branch Manager BPS Supply Group many synergies. "One advantage of acquiring another AD member is that we personally know the owners and/or the management team running the company, which increases confidence in the way the business is led and run, both for the company getting acquired as well as for the acquirer," Deschênes said. "Another important advantage is that both parties have knowledge of the buying group's operations; with volume rebates being an important part of our profitability, it's easier to understand, monitor, and consolidate rebates, earnings, and the programs themselves during the transition period following acquisition of another member," he said. "This important Continued from page 81 "Knowing that our company's legacy could and would continue helped ease some of the angst of letting go of a 60-year-old family tradition." – Franklin M. Bell, BPS Supply Group challenge can be easily and rapidly ticked off the checklist and is also less disruptive for suppliers." For VP Supply Corporation in Rochester, NY, acquisition of fellow AD independent and longtime neighbor and partner Maynards Electric in October 2016 opened the door to an expanded product line and a bright new future. VP Supply President & CEO Gary Curwin shared that "the purchase of AD member Maynards Electric will help us to remain independent by giving us the complete mechanical package – plumbing, heating, and electrical. Based on the orders we now get and the Continued on page 84 Ke epin g I n d ep en d en t s I n d ep en d en t MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS