Bill D'Alessandro

Built & sold 8 DTC/SaaS companies. Pioneered the ecommerce aggregator model. Host the @acquanon podcast.

Now acquiring pet brands @ FoodScience/Morgan Stanley.

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

Here's my big personal news:

Natural Dog Company has been acquired by FoodScience, a Morgan Stanley Capital Partners portfolio company!

After 13 years, the journey that started with me quitting my job to go all-in on Elements Brands has officially come to an end.

What started as one guy in a rented office turned into $200M+ of sales and something much bigger.

We bought (and exited) 8 brands, from skincare to laundry detergent to pet wellness.

We pioneered the "ecommerce aggregator" model long before that was even a thing.

We built an incredible team with deep expertise across ecommerce, Amazon, retail, operations, and finance, all of whom are staying on to work on Natural Dog and FoodScience's other amazing brands.

And I'm not going anywhere.

I'm staying on as VP of Corporate Development for the combined platform, where I’ll be leading M&A - finding and acquiring the best pet brands in the world.

If you know me, you know I love this stuff. I can't wait to keep doing it with the firepower of FoodScience and Morgan Stanley behind me.

Huge thanks to everyone I've learned from here on Twitter/X, and especially the EcommerceFuel crew. Y'all have been my sounding board, my therapy sessions, and my second brain for the last decade. I've learned more from you than any MBA could've taught me. Thanks for being generous with your knowledge and support.

If you're running a pet brand and thinking about an exit - or know someone who is - DM me. We’re buying. I'd love to help you write your next chapter.

Press release is in the next tweet!

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@dave_stickland The “go home we’re full” headspace makes me so mad. We are so lucky to have the growth we have. My wife is from rural PA and I’ve seen that up close. You’re either growing or you’re dying and I know which I prefer!

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@blueprintsmb22 Because - LOC pay down?

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@dave_stickland 🥁

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@dave_stickland @CoryOnBrand I was going to say, I’ve heard this one before

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@thedanielbudai Can you please turn off the AI replies? It’s not improving your personal brand, I promise

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

A liquor store in Alaska that delivers whiskey by dog sled, has grown every single year, and has a cool scheme to create *recurring* revenue

[Acquisitions Anonymous Podcast @acquanon]

For sale: pirate-themed liquor store in Anchorage, Alaska.

All four of us LOVED it.

Also... can you spot the missing decimal?

Episode out now.

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@StrongpointRich @Slackwatercap Besides belief in astrology, other drama avoiding screeners learned through experience:

Is your hair dyed blue or pink?
Do you prominently feature pronouns on your resume, email signature, or social media bio?
Is there a political bumper sticker of any kind on your car?

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@eliweisss @jacob_posel It’s like Fermat but the merch is better

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

If I lived in an igloo in the middle of the tundra, I imagine having some friends over to sit around the fire and share some whiskey would be a pretty great community building thing? Heck I do that around my backyard fire pit - and yes, I buy that whiskey at a liquor store.

And dog sleds are a fundamental way (often the only way) of shipping all kinds of things (not just liquor) across tundra and deep snow. They’re working dogs, just like the thousands of working horses on farms everywhere.

Why must we always go to the most negative possible scenario?

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@andrew_dunn Oh ffs

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@MediaKing Honestly this is pretty good for Angellist

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@WilsonCompanies We just had our house painted

They texted me after and offered a $50 visa gift card if I’d post my experience with them in our neighborhood WhatsApp group “we had a great experience with these guys, give em a call if you need any painting”

Great growth hack

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@thesamparr @MediaKing The phrase “all real estate is local” really, really applies here

If you’re in a market that’s appreciating … well, you’re levered long an asset that’s going up. The math maths.

If your market is sideways to down … I’d rather own the S&P

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@cdolan92 My brother in law is a fireman in PA and he’s definitely not volunteer

Union and incredible bennies

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@seandsweeney I want to develop one of these in Charlotte.

I have the capital and like to think I’m not an idiot. What’s the best way to train up?

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

Why must everything have an “ah well ackschully…”?

There are liquor stores in every town globally. Alcohol brings joy to many and struggle to some. Would you say the same about someone who owns your local sports bar?

We actually addressed the nuance of alcoholism amongst native Alaskan tribes on the show. Obviously something to be aware of but in my opinion not worthy of a repulsed response about a business that is clearly a staple of their local community and brings a lot of positive vibes to many (listen to the episode!)

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@ringmybeller LFG Beller!

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

@MikeForan21 Queen Park Social in LoSo

[Bill D'Alessandro @BillDA]

This bar, arcade, and social club gave us 9 years of financials, revenue splits between beer, liquor, food and games - and full profitability detail.

Bonus - if you live in Charlotte, you definitely know which social club this is.

[Acquisitions Anonymous Podcast @acquanon]

Today's episode: @BillDA's local bowling alley is up for sale.

3 years of declining revenue, but great location.

And Bowlin' Bill has a scheme cooking.

@thegeneralmills and @endresenheather say go for it.

Listen now.