In the Mind of a Distributor
No one teaches you how to run a distribution business. There’s no playbook for navigating shifting markets, growing sales, or making the right bets on technology. The best distributors figure it out by talking to the right people and learning from experience.
That’s what In the Mind of a Distributor is all about. Each month, Benj Cohen—founder of Proton, the CRM built for distributors—sits down with industry leaders, from owners to operators to sales pros, to break down what’s working, what’s not, and where the industry is headed.
If all goes well, listeners will leave each episode a little sharper, a little more informed, and a step ahead of the competition.
In the Mind of a Distributor
Navigating private equity partnerships | Larry Stoddard
In this episode, Benj talks with Larry Stoddard, a distribution industry veteran who's led companies through massive growth phases at Ferguson, Bradco, and RelaDyne.
Larry pulls back the curtain on what private equity partnerships actually look like in distribution: from why PE firms are drawn to distributors, to the real operational challenges of integrating multiple company cultures.
He also debunks the biggest myth about private equity (spoiler: they don't come in swinging axes), explains the "house flipper" mentality that drives PE strategy, and shares how a compressed 5-year timeline creates both breakthrough moments and sleepless nights.
Whether you're a family business considering your exit options or an executive navigating PE ownership, Larry offers some important truths about what really happens when financial partners get involved.