SSG Capital Advisors, LLC served as the investment banker to Art Supply Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a MacPherson’s Art Supply in the sale of all inventory and intellectual property assets to Blick Art Materials, LLC. The transaction was effectuated pursuant to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code and closed in May 2025.
MacPherson’s is the largest provider of art and creative materials in North America. The Company offers a broad product suite sourced from hundreds of vendors worldwide. MacPherson’s owns several proprietary brands, including Art Alternatives, Fredrix, and Hello, Artist!, and provides premium brand management and product development services.
The Company’s product suite, service offerings and distribution capabilities have positioned MacPherson’s as a preferred partner to vendors, brands, and retailers in the art materials industry for over 40 years. However, the Company has faced challenges in recent years due to rising freight costs, supply chain disruptions, and liquidity constraints that have impacted its ability to invest in new inventory and product lines.
SSG Capital Advisors was retained by MacPherson’s in March 2025 to explore the Company’s strategic alternatives. SSG conducted a comprehensive marketing process that attracted interest from both strategic and financial parties, who engaged in a thorough review of the business and proprietary brand portfolio. Blick provided the best solution by acquiring the remaining inventory and select intellectual property assets through a private UCC sale. SSG’s experience in the consumer products industry and its ability to manage complex stakeholder dynamics enabled the Company to maximize the value of its assets in an expedited timeframe.
Family-owned and serving artists since 1911, Blick Art Materials is the largest provider of art supplies in the United States. The company is headquartered in Highland Park, Illinois, and operates over 60 retail stores nationwide. This strategic acquisition marks Blick’s formal entry into the wholesale distribution channel and includes the launch of an independent platform to serve former MacPherson’s customers and vendors.
Other professionals who worked on the transaction include:
- Baker A. Smith, Chief Restructuring Officer of MacPherson’s, James Schwarz, Anthony Del Piano, Adam Kaplan and Bowen Smith of BDO USA, LLP, financial advisor to MacPherson’s Art Supply;
- Rachel E. Albanese, Thomas E. Gaynor, Steve Reil, David M. Riley and Sterling Chan of DLA Piper LLP, counsel to MacPherson’s Art Supply;
- Alan D. Leib, Aaron L. Hammer, Keith H. Berk and Lauren E. Pierotti of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, counsel to Blick Art Materials; and
- Jordan Klein, James Waters, Gregory Gartland and Amila Golic of Winston & Strawn LLP, counsel to the senior secured lender.
