At Oak Patch Gifts we believe that value is created through great products, hard work, and hands-on operational improvement rather than a short-term, built-to-flip approach. Successful partnerships require tremendous attention to detail and a high level of synchronicity between buyer and seller, not only with respect to the purchase but also with respect to what happens in the days, months, and years after the purchase is complete. This is particularly true in the gift industry, where so much of a line’s success depends on the product development talents of a founder or key designer.

We look for acquisitions where we can solve a problem for the seller, remove an obstacle to growth, or both. In some cases, as a business grows the details and hassles of business administration can surpass the “fun” parts of entrepreneurship, such as product development and design. In other cases, a major, unforeseen challenge such as the loss of a major customer or an unanticipated obstacle to obtaining bank financing can cause an otherwise healthy business to stumble. At Oak Patch Gifts, we will consider almost any situation as long as the business meets our basic criteria, the key designers want to stay and build the business, and the difficulties are not caused by the lack of consumer demand for the product line itself. Our basic criteria are outlined below:

We will not consider companies that are losing revenue due to the lack of demand for a core product line. Additionally, unless there is a clear and proven succession plan, we will not consider situations where an owner or key designer wants to retire and exit the business.

We are happy to work with investment bankers and business intermediaries and we do consider buy-side fees when appropriate. All inquiries are handled in the strictest confidence.