Acquiring Minds Started Mid-Career, Grew to $38m in 3 Years
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Oct 30, 2025 Shaun Stimpson, a former wealth manager turned mid-career acquirer, shares his journey of growing his industrial distribution business to $38M in just three years. He discusses the power of cold calling, revealing how he reached out to 1,200 businesses during his search. Shaun dives into his strategic decision to focus on a long-term ownership model and the diverse nature of industrial distribution. He also emphasizes the importance of his professional network for securing investors and the surprising benefits of switching careers at mid-life.
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Use Professors As Trusted Advisors
- Lean on professors and experienced advisors; their mentorship is high-value and practical.
- Shaun credits Babson professors with critical advisory support during his search.
Value-Add Scale Across Industries
- Value-add distribution spreads across many end industries because the product knowledge applies broadly.
- Shaun focuses on advisory, hose assembly, and light manufacturing, not pure commodity resale.
Distribution Shows High Recurrence
- Industrial distribution has very high repeat purchase rates because customers return for quality and speed.
- Shaun cites repeat-customer rates of 81–85% at his companies over five years.