Outdoor Living Supply Taps $2B Exec to Supercharge Its Next Growth Phase

FRANKLIN, TN – June 29, 2026 – Outdoor Living Supply (“OLS”), a private equity-backed distributor that has charted a meteoric rise since its 2020 inception, has signaled a clear intent to accelerate its national expansion by appointing John Merritt as its new Chief Executive Officer. The move, effective July 13, 2026, is a textbook example of a growth-focused company shifting gears, bringing in a seasoned operator to build upon the foundational success established by its founder.

Merritt, a high-profile leader from building products giant US LBM, will take the operational reins from Founder Brian Price. In a move that ensures strategic continuity, Price will transition to the role of Founder & Chair of the Board. This calculated leadership evolution underscores a pivotal moment for OLS as it leverages its partnership with private equity firm Trilantic North America to cement its position in the booming outdoor living products market.

An Architect of Scale Takes the Helm

The selection of John Merritt is far from a routine executive appointment; it is a strategic acquisition of talent purpose-built for OLS's next chapter. Merritt joins the company from US LBM, where he served as Vice President of Operations for the Southeast Region, a division generating approximately $2 billion in annual revenue. His experience is not just in managing large-scale operations but in driving growth within them. At US LBM, he was instrumental in strategic planning and analysis, supporting the expansion of the company's numerous operating divisions.

Critically, Merritt possesses deep experience in integrating acquired companies, a core component of the OLS growth model. He joined US LBM following its 2021 acquisition of Professional Builders Supply, where he had served as President of its commercial division. This background demonstrates a proven ability to manage the complexities of a roll-up strategy, merging different company cultures and systems to create a cohesive, efficient, and larger entity. For a company like OLS, which explicitly seeks to partner with and acquire founder-led businesses, this skillset is invaluable. It suggests a future where acquisitions are not just added but are seamlessly woven into a national platform, maximizing synergy and operational leverage.

"I am honored to join Outdoor Living Supply and grateful for the confidence Brian, the Board, and Trilantic have placed in me," Merritt said in the company's official announcement. "What attracted me to OLS is the combination of a strong culture, outstanding people, and tremendous opportunity ahead. I look forward to working alongside the team to continue strengthening the business and creating value for all of our stakeholders."

The Founder's Pivot: From Operations to Grand Strategy

While a new CEO takes the helm, the influence of OLS's founder is set to remain a guiding force. Brian Price's transition to Founder & Chair of the Board is a strategic pivot, allowing him to focus his energy on long-term vision, key industry relationships, and growth initiatives. This model allows the company to benefit from two distinct leadership strengths: Merritt's operational and scaling expertise, and Price's entrepreneurial spirit and deep market knowledge.

Since founding the company in 2020, Price has overseen its rapid transformation from a startup concept into one of the nation's largest distributors in its niche. By establishing a strong reputation for customer service and a distinct "FORTITUDE culture," he built the foundation that made OLS an attractive platform for both acquisition targets and institutional investment. His continued, active involvement ensures that as OLS professionalizes its operations, it will not lose the entrepreneurial DNA that fueled its initial success.

"OLS has reached an exciting point in its evolution," Price stated. "Over the past several years, we have built an exceptional team and expanded our footprint, to create a strong foundation for the future. As the company enters its next phase of growth, John brings the leadership experience needed to build on that momentum and strengthen our operational excellence. I could not be prouder to welcome him to the team."

The Private Equity Playbook in Action

The leadership change at OLS is a classic maneuver from the growth-focused private equity playbook. Trilantic North America, which invested in OLS in late 2020, is now facilitating the company's transition from a founder-led enterprise to a professionally managed corporation poised for exponential growth. This phase often involves bringing in executives with experience in running billion-dollar operations to implement the systems and processes necessary to scale effectively.

Trilantic's strategy with OLS appears focused on consolidating the fragmented market for outdoor living products. By providing the capital for a series of strategic acquisitions, the firm has helped OLS build a national footprint. The appointment of Merritt is the next logical step: installing a leader who can optimize this newly enlarged network and execute an even more aggressive growth plan. This move is designed to create significant value ahead of an eventual exit, which could take the form of a sale to a larger strategic buyer or even an initial public offering.

Charles Fleischmann, a Partner at Trilantic North America and an OLS Board member, reinforced this perspective. "John is a proven leader with deep building products experience and a strong track record of leading complex organizations," he noted. "We are excited to partner with him as OLS continues to execute its strategy and pursue its significant growth opportunities." This endorsement highlights the deep alignment between the company's management, its founder, and its financial backers.

Capitalizing on the 'Outdoor Renaissance'

This strategic reshuffling is occurring against the backdrop of a sustained boom in the outdoor living sector. The pandemic era dramatically shifted consumer focus toward home improvement, with a particular emphasis on creating functional and aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces. This "outdoor renaissance" has fueled robust demand for the very products OLS distributes: hardscapes, outdoor lighting, landscape accessories, and bulk materials. OLS is strategically positioned to ride this powerful consumer wave.

By consolidating regional distributors, OLS offers a one-stop-shop solution for contractors and dealers, streamlining a previously fragmented supply chain. With a national platform, it can leverage economies of scale in purchasing, logistics, and technology—advantages that smaller, independent players struggle to match. Merritt's arrival is expected to accelerate the implementation of these efficiencies across the network. His mandate will likely include optimizing inventory management, enhancing digital tools for customers, and strengthening relationships with key suppliers to secure OLS's competitive advantage in a thriving but increasingly competitive market.