Sealing the Deal: Miles Crowe on the Art of Business Acquisition

Cadence Bank Podcast: In Good Companies

Acquisitions are a major tool to grow your business; but for leaders, they can feel like a daunting leap. So how do you gain the confidence in your company to make that jump? What are the key steps to consider before sealing the deal? And once you’ve successfully expanded your ventures, how do you do it again?

For our next season six episode, we bring in co-founder and business leader Miles Crowe for a story that is nothing short of inspirational. His company Crowe Custom Countertops is one of the leading granite fabrication firms in the southeast U.S. Through strategic acquisitions and a commitment to teamwork, Miles has expanded his business to five locations along with international reach.

With our host Ari Marin, Miles discusses how he found his footing in business and established a strong foundation before pursuing acquisitions. He breaks down how he made the most of his opportunities for expansion; from assessing other companies critically, to planning for integration and strengthening his business model. There are many lessons to be learned.

From a humble two-person operation, to a multi-location enterprise generating millions in revenue, tune in for a story from a small business guy who’s done well – just as we like them on In Good Companies.

Highlights:

  • Introducing Miles Crowe (1:23)
  • How Miles launched into business by accident (3:21)
  • “The two-man days”: starting Crowe Custom Countertops (5:02)
  • The first growth spurt: overcoming challenges and finding your foundation (7:00)
  • How the recession helped Miles find his business model (10:01)
  • First acquisition: becoming a distributor (13:14)
  • Navigating authority and the emotional load of business expansion (15:30)
  • Second acquisition: expanding to Chattanooga (19:19)
  • Third acquisition: Nashville during the Covid-19 pandemic (22:32)
  • Latest acquisition: return to the Atlanta market (25:14)
  • Aligning your business goals to the future of your industry (25:52)

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If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, [email protected] or [email protected].

 

Read the full show transcript.

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Meet the Host

Ari Marin Ari Marin, SVP, Family Enterprise Advisor, Cadence Asset Management & Trust and the new host of Cadence Bank’s In Good Companies (IGC) podcast, says his idea of “good company” is being around creative, insightful people who enjoy sharing personal stories about the things that helped make them successful.

From 9 to 5, Marin is a Cadence Bank senior vice president and family wealth strategist, whose specialty is consulting with family-owned and small businesses. Now, he’s squeezing in IGC hosting duties, bringing in a new voice and fresh perspectives.

As a lawyer with a master’s in taxation from Villanova, Marin holds his own in the business world. But hosting IGC gives him a new way of engaging with entrepreneurs and experts to learn smart ideas and new ways of doing things.

Outside the office, Marin is a history fan and podcast aficionado who loves reading and exercising with his two dogs: Friday–aka “the angel”--and Mahla, the stubborn Shih Tzu with selective hearing.

 


Meet the Speaker

Miles Crowe

Miles Crowe is the President and Co-founder of Crowe Custom Countertops, Inc, a countertop production and installation company based out of Acworth, Georgia. Miles founded the company with his brother in 2003 as a two-person operation and has grown the company to a team of more than 120 employees with five locations throughout the southeast United States.

Crowe Custom Countertops is an industry leader in supply chain integration, end user retail sales, and online marketing. Miles and his team have grown Crowe Custom Countertops to be one of the largest countertop companies in the U.S.

Prior to founding his countertop business, Miles worked as a field measurement technician and then in sales for Atlanta area countertop fabricators. He and his brother started the company with no business background and no business plan but were determined to succeed.

Miles graduated from Kennesaw State University in 1988 with a degree in Criminal Justice.



 

 

 

 

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