Swimming with the Sharks: The Leslie’s Pool Mart Cautionary Tale

In Episode 38 of the Private Equity Experience, hosts Ed Barton, Rory Leaphart, and Emily Sander break down the cautionary tale of Leslie's Pool Mart. They dive into an Inc. Magazine feature detailing how a successful regional brand expanded nationwide through the classic private equity playbook, only to find itself mired in debt as market conditions shifted. The crew uses this real-world case study to unpack critical financial concepts, including the dangerous intersection of high operating ...