James Poen’s Journey with Richardson Saw & Lawn Mower: From Family Business to Private Equity

About this episode

James Poen shares his journey of transforming his family business into a successful enterprise and navigating the complexities of private equity.

In this episode, Henry sits down with long-time friend and fellow EO Forum member James Poen, President and part-owner of Richardson Saw & Lawn Mower. James shares his remarkable story of taking over his family’s outdoor power equipment dealership, growing it into a thriving business, and eventually partnering with Graycliff Partners, a New York–based private equity firm, to launch a multi-store acquisition strategy. From early days working alongside his father, to navigating manufacturer changes, to managing the complexities of a nine-month equity sale process, James offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at running — and selling — a successful family business. He discusses how he learned financial discipline, implemented systems and processes to scale, balanced customer service with operational efficiency, and now helps other dealership owners explore selling while staying involved in their businesses. This conversation is packed with lessons for entrepreneurs considering succession planning, private equity partnerships, or simply looking to run a tighter ship. Key Takeaways Family Business Legacy: How Richardson Saw evolved from a small Garland, TX shop into a premier…

People in this episode

Host: Henry Harrison

Guest: James Poen

Topics covered

• family business
• private equity
• entrepreneurship
• business growth
• operational efficiency
• succession planning

Keywords

• family business
• private equity
• business growth
• operational efficiency
• succession planning
• outdoor power equipment
• financial discipline

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Richardson Saw & Lawn Mower, Graycliff Partners

Places: Garland, TX, Dallas Texas

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