Duncan Enterprises dba iLOVEtoCREATE Acquired by Plaid, a Portfolio Co. of Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corp.
Fresno, CA — Duncan Enterprises (“Duncan” or the “Company”), a leading arts and crafts company, has been acquired by The Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation (“DKM”), a private investment company. FocalPoint Partners (“FocalPoint”) served as exclusive financial advisor to Duncan Enterprises.
The business, which has been rebranded to “iLoveToCreate”, is located in Fresno, California. iLoveToCreate is the leader in do-it-yourself crafting for tie-dye, fabric paint, adhesives, and spray paint projects with brand names such as Tulip, Aleene’s, ColorShot, Scribbles, and Puffy. iLoveToCreate products are available in big box retailers such as Walmart and Target, craft retail chains such as Michaels, JOANN, and Hobby Lobby, and online at Amazon.com and Walmart.com. iLoveToCreate was established in 1946 and has evolved into one of the major suppliers to the craft industry creating products for crafters worldwide.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for iLoveToCreate to continue its leadership position in the industry and, with the resources of DKM, to bring new and exciting creative lifestyle products for the whole family to enjoy,” said President and CEO Larry Hermansen, who will continue to lead the Company.
Rob Dyson, Chairman and CEO of DKM, said, “Along with Plaid Enterprises (“Plaid”), a long time holding of DKM, the acquisition of iLoveToCreate extends our commitment to the craft industry. With their iconic brands, both companies have consistently created products and projects that are easy to use and fun to make for people of all ages. We look forward to assisting Larry and his team in taking iLoveToCreate to the next level.”
Duane Stullich, Co-founder and Managing Partner at FocalPoint, said, “We are thrilled to have assisted the Duncan family in this transaction with DKM. We are excited to see the continued growth of iLoveToCreate and its portfolio of brands under new ownership, with many exciting initiatives on the horizon.”
About iLoveToCreate
What began in 1946 as a small startup in the Duncan family’s garage is today a thriving international business with the same close-knit, family-owned vibes the Company was founded on. iLoveToCreate’s dedication to our team and our adaptability to change has evolved the Company from the garage to selling creative lifestyle products in every state in the U.S. and 35 other countries. Today iLoveToCreate is one of the largest providers of crafting adhesives and fashion art in the world with its ongoing reputation for excellence in product development, quality, education, and health and safety. To learn more, visit www.ilovetocreate.com.
About Plaid
In 1976, Plaid founder David Cunningham set out to “create a diversified, yet synergistic company that would provide the most complete, comprehensive programs available to market and sell craft products.” Today, Plaid is the industry’s leading small batch paint manufacturer, producing all USA-made paint in facilities located outside of Atlanta, Georgia. The company continued to evolve with the craft industry, developing products in tune with trends—stenciling, faux finishes, fashion, glass crafts—and reaching out to new artists and markets, including home improvement. Notable brands in Plaid’s portfolio include FolkArt, Gallery Glass, One Stroke, and one of the industry’s best known, Mod Podge, a favorite since 1967. In 1996, Bucilla, the nation’s needlecrafts leader, was added to the Plaid portfolio. To learn more, visit www.plaidonline.com.
About The Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation
DKM has holdings in the craft, aluminum, semiconductor and recreational vehicle industries. DKM’s strength is developing family businesses, with solid entrepreneurial management teams, into powerhouse competitors in their field of expertise through a concentration on customer service, product innovation, improved productivity, and strategically deployed capital. To learn more, visit www.dkmcorp.com.
About FocalPoint Partners
FocalPoint is an independent investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions, private placements (both debt and equity), financial restructurings, and special situation transactions. With offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, New York, and Shanghai, the firm provides financial advisory services to middle market clients and has a dedicated Consumer practice. For more information, please visit https://focalpointllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Please contact Duane Stullich, Managing Partner, at 310-405-7070 or Shahriar Attaie, Director, at 310-405-7045 for more information regarding this transaction.