Archway committed a $50 million asset-based credit facility for Mason Companies, a family-owned direct-to-consumer retailer headquartered in Chippewa Falls, WI. The transaction represents a refinancing and upsizing of Mason’s existing credit facilities at BMO to support the company’s continued growth.
The facility consists of a $110 million revolving line of credit and a $12 million real estate term loan. Archway is committing $50 million to the two-lender club transaction, providing flexible, asset-based capital structured as a mix of a traditional ABL and lender finance ABL facility to support Mason’s growth. BMO is the agent on the transaction and Archway served as co-documentation agent.
Founded in 1904 by father-and-son duo August and B.A. Mason, Mason Companies began as a boot maker for the lumberjacks who built Wisconsin’s timber industry. Over seven generations of family ownership and more than 120 years of continuous operation, the company has evolved into one of the largest direct-to-consumer footwear catalogers. Today, Mason operates a portfolio of retail brands — including ShoeMall, Stoneberry, Masseys, Mason Easy-Pay and Maryland Square — offering footwear, apparel and general merchandise nationwide through e-commerce platforms and direct mail catalogs.
“Helping a family-owned company with more than a century of history continue to thrive is exactly the kind of work we set out to do at Archway,” said Andy McGhee, CEO of Archway. “Mason Companies has reinvented itself generation after generation — from lumberjack boots to a national retail platform — and that entrepreneurial resilience is something we deeply respect. Providing the capital structure to support their next chapter of growth is what Archway is all about.”
Mason’s evolution from a regional shoe manufacturer to a multi-brand, multi-channel retail operation reflects the adaptability that has defined the family business across seven generations. With deep roots in the Chippewa Valley, including the only Mason Companies retail store in the world, located on Bridge Street in downtown Chippewa Falls, the company has maintained its commitment to community while scaling nationally.
“The team at Archway invested the time to fully understand our growth strategies and the unique nuances of our business. Archway’s deep experience was evident throughout the process. They recognized the value of the diversified assets on Mason Companies’ balance sheet and partnered with BMO to deliver a comprehensive funding solution that leverages these assets to support our growth objectives. We appreciate their support and look forward to a successful partnership,” said Brad Atkinson, President of Mason Companies.
The expanded facility will support Mason’s anticipated revenue growth and continued investment in its e-commerce platforms and fulfillment infrastructure. Mason has been a longstanding borrower with its lead bank for over 60 years, and this refinancing represents a transition into an asset-based lending structure better suited to the company’s evolving capital needs.
David Phillips, who originated the relationship with Mason Companies on behalf of Archway, emphasized the alignment between the two organizations: “Mason is a company that has thrived for over 120 years by staying true to its values while continuously innovating. That’s the kind of partnership Archway was built to support — providing flexible capital that adapts as the business evolves.”
