Darrin Shillair: Inside a Self-Funded Acquisition

In this episode of The Close M&A Podcast, host Craig Castelli interviews Darrin Shillair, owner of Specialty Sales, an industrial distribution business in Chicago's western suburbs. Darrin shares his journey from leaving his position at Guggenheim in 2018 to pursue business ownership, driven by his desire for autonomy and control over his work and schedule. As a solo buyer competing against well-funded private equity firms, Darrin discusses how he differentiated himself by emphasizing his personal commitment to preserving business legacies and protecting employees. He also highlights the importance of face-to-face networking and relationship building during his search process. Explore our full episode page to watch a video or read a transcript of the full interview.

Chapters

• 0:00 Decision to Leave Corporate Life
• 1:54 Stranding Out as an Individual Buyer
• 7:34 Finding the Right Business Fit
• 15:53 Growth Strategy Post-Acquisition
• 20:29 Managing Impatience and Entrepreneur's Optimism
• 26:01 Exit Planning
• 29:04 Advice for Business Owners