
Generational Group Advises Heartland Woodcraft in Sale to DGS Retail
By Generational Group
04/02/2019
Generational Group, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Heartland Woodcraft Inc., to DGS Retail LLC. The acquisition closed November 30, 2018.
Heartland Woodcraft had its humble beginning at a small woodshop in 1996. It has since grown to a sprawling 105,000-square-foot facility located in West Bend, Wisconsin. Heartland’s highly skilled craftspeople manufacture top-quality products, building custom fixtures and displays for the nation’s top retailers.
With a business that focuses on store displays, end caps and signage, DGS Retail is comprised of more than 1,000 individuals who pride themselves on innovation, speed, service and mission. With headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, it operates manufacturing locations and distribution centers across the U.S. and has a sourcing office in Asia.
Heartland complements DGS Retail’s current operations, which specialize in store décor and graphics, as well as imported fixtures and merchandising solutions.
“Heartland offers DGS Retail an exciting opportunity to expand our core offerings,” said Tom Vogt, DGS Retail’s Corporate President. “Adding domestic wood manufacturing makes DGS a true one-stop shop for our customers and strengthens our position within a very competitive marketplace.”
Generational Group Senior Managing Director Doug Smith’s team, led by trusted affiliate Stephen Dinehart and assisted by Senior VP Ryan Johnson, successfully closed the deal.
“Heartland Woodcraft’s acquisition by DGS Retail is a great example of a win-win deal,” said Dinehart. “Not only does DGS Retail expand their in-house production capabilities, deepen their customer base and add fantastic human capital in both leadership and production; but our client has the opportunity to realize significant additional financial rewards while continuing to grow and expand the business they founded.”
About Generational
Generational Group, headquartered in Dallas, TX, is a leading, award winning full-service M&A advisory firm. Generational has over 300 professionals across 16 offices in North America. The firm empowers business owners to unlock the full value of their companies through a comprehensive suite of services—including strategic growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A advisory, digital solutions, and wealth management.
Celebrating its 20th year, Generational has successfully closed over 1,700 transactions and has ranked #1 or #2 in all LSEG league tables for deals valued between $25 million and $500 million in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
The firm was named 2024 USA Investment Banking Firm of the Year by the Global M&A Network and recognized as Investment Banking Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor in both 2024 and 2022.