In Their Own Words
Hear What Richard Saad Said About Their Experience
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Q1: What made you start thinking about selling?I'd been hit up every day for five years, which skews your brain a little. Am I missing out of something? I'm a growth guy, and I'd taken Nick's as far as I could without trading out high-level management. The timing was right for me to partner with someone like Southern.
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Q2: Why did you choose Southern?The only reason I went with Southern is because of the people and how they conducted themselves. They never wavered at all. In the year we got to know each other, they were steadfast and portrayed themselves exactly the way they were in real life.
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Q3: How smooth was the transition?Pre-close was very smooth. Post-close was rough but we had a goal: rip the band-aid off, get it done by December 31, and start flying January 1. We did exactly that.
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Q4: What were your biggest fears?The unknown. You put your blood, sweat and tears into building a business like this. It also has to do with age. I still feel too young to go out and I still got a lot of fight in me. I'd rather go out on top than coming out on the bottom.
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Q5: What surprised you most?How much corporate involvement comes after the sale. They are a very hands-on organization that prioritizes integration. There is no way to fully prep for that. Our RVP has been fantastic helping us learn the Southern way.
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Q6: Would you recommend Southern?I made a good decision and I'm not looking back. Plus, I never left. I’m still here in the office every day helping the GM where he needs it. I want my legacy to be, “dang, Nick's was the best one Southern ever bought.”
