–– Mark Finstad, Executive Vice President of Finance
Logistics & Distribution | ERP Upgrade
Legacy to Leading-Edge: A Successful ERP Transformation
Fast Facts
Aging ERP System Hinders Agility
Ewing Outdoor Supply, the largest family-owned distributor of landscape and irrigation products in the U.S.,1 faced challenges with their outdated AS400 ERP system. The system required specialized in-house programming skills that were quickly becoming obsolete, and its inefficiency led to delays and limited the company's ability to respond swiftly to market changes.
Realizing that an ERP upgrade was necessary for continued growth, Ewing faced a significant funding gap. Their bank was only willing to finance a portion of the project, leaving them to find a solution that wouldn’t disrupt their ongoing operations. With growth at the forefront, securing full financing for the upgrade was crucial to maintaining their competitive advantage.
“FAEF has been able to fulfill some financing needs that our traditional bank has not. It's been a great relationship and look forward to it continuing.”
– Mark Finstad, Executive Vice President of Finance
First American’s involvement added a level of experience and organization, planting the seeds for a successful project.
Full-Solution Financing Drives ERP Upgrade
First American provided a custom, tax-efficient financing solution that covered all expenses for Ewing’s ERP upgrade, including soft costs. This enabled Ewing to complete their critical ERP transformation without diverting resources from other strategic priorities. Ewing initially facilitated $3.5MM in vendor payments, which First American promptly reimbursed through a sale leaseback to help optimize cash flow during the ERP integration.
With First American’s consultative approach, the complex ERP project remained on track, with each milestone achieved on time. The financing solution also diversified Ewing’s funding sources, complementing their primary lender’s support for inventory and product lines. This strategic approach to financing provided Ewing with the flexibility needed to pursue expansion while supporting their long-term growth objectives.
Seamless ERP Integration Keeps Ewing's Growth in Bloom
First American’s comprehensive financing solution enabled Ewing Outdoor Supply to seamlessly transition to a modern ERP system, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and data accessibility. As one executive noted, "You can get any kind of information you want. So it's really enhanced our ability to get data more timely, more efficiently, and help make, hopefully, better decisions."
This upgrade has allowed Ewing to remain competitive and expand into new markets, such as Ohio and Western New York, totaling over 250 locations nationwide. The ERP system has also provided the flexibility to offer a broader range of products and services, enabling Ewing to meet evolving customer needs and support continued growth.
“Everything fit into the puzzle. First American was able to come in and find a solution. Often times, you kind of make concessions: we can do this, but you have to give up this—And we didn't really have any concessions in this deal, which was really nice.”
– Mark Finstad, Executive Vice President of Finance
Aging ERP System Hinders Agility
Ewing Outdoor Supply, the largest family-owned distributor of landscape and irrigation products in the U.S.,1 faced challenges with their outdated AS400 ERP system. The system required specialized in-house programming skills that were quickly becoming obsolete, and its inefficiency led to delays and limited the company's ability to respond swiftly to market changes.
Realizing that an ERP upgrade was necessary for continued growth, Ewing faced a significant funding gap. Their bank was only willing to finance a portion of the project, leaving them to find a solution that wouldn’t disrupt their ongoing operations. With growth at the forefront, securing full financing for the upgrade was crucial to maintaining their competitive advantage.
“FAEF has been able to fulfill some financing needs that our traditional bank has not. It's been a great relationship and look forward to it continuing.”
Full-Solution Financing Drives ERP Upgrade
First American provided a custom, tax-efficient financing solution that covered all expenses for Ewing’s ERP upgrade, including soft costs. This enabled Ewing to complete their critical ERP transformation without diverting resources from other strategic priorities. Ewing initially facilitated $3.5MM in vendor payments, which First American promptly reimbursed through a sale leaseback to help optimize cash flow during the ERP integration.
With First American’s consultative approach, the complex ERP project remained on track, with each milestone achieved on time. The financing solution also diversified Ewing’s funding sources, complementing their primary lender’s support for inventory and product lines. This strategic approach to financing provided Ewing with the flexibility needed to pursue expansion while supporting their long-term growth objectives.
First American’s involvement added a level of experience and organization, planting the seeds for a successful project.
Seamless ERP Integration Keeps Ewing's Growth in Bloom
First American’s comprehensive financing solution enabled Ewing Outdoor Supply to seamlessly transition to a modern ERP system, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and data accessibility. As one executive noted, "You can get any kind of information you want. So it's really enhanced our ability to get data more timely, more efficiently, and help make, hopefully, better decisions."
This upgrade has allowed Ewing to remain competitive and expand into new markets, such as Ohio and Western New York, totaling over 250 locations nationwide. The ERP system has also provided the flexibility to offer a broader range of products and services, enabling Ewing to meet evolving customer needs and support continued growth.
“Everything fit into the puzzle. First American was able to come in and find a solution. Often times, you kind of make concessions: we can do this, but you have to give up this—And we didn't really have any concessions in this deal, which was really nice.”
–– Mark Finstad, Executive Vice President of Finance
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