Local Crafts Group, a portfolio holding company of Blue Point Capital Partners, has acquired Jimmy Beans Wool, a specialty crafts retailer and distributor.
Jimmy Beans Wool is a U.S. and international direct-to-consumer and wholesale seller of yarn, knitting and crochet tools, patterns, and accessories. Customers of the company include hobbyists, local yarn stores, independent designers, and fiber artists. The company’s products include premium yarns from its owned and distributed brands such as Madelinetosh, della Q, Dream in Color, Jamieson’s of Shetland, and its own sustainable brand Yarn Citizen.
Jimmy Beans was founded in 2002 as a brick-and-mortar yarn shop by Laura and Doug Zander. Today, the company operates a combined retail and distribution center at its headquarters in Reno, Nevada, and a production facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
Post-closing, Laura Zander continues to lead the company as CEO, and she has been named as the Chief Brand Officer of Local Crafts Group.
“Joining the Local Crafts platform marks an amazing new chapter for Jimmy Beans Wool and the incredible community of knitters and makers we’re honored to serve,” said Ms. Zander. “This partnership brings together our shared passion for creativity and innovation in the fiber arts. We’re truly excited to grow together and continue inspiring and supporting makers everywhere.”
In 2014, Blue Point Capital Partners’ third fund formed Local Crafts Group (then Premier Needle Arts) to acquire Handi Quilter, a Utah-based seller of branded and private label longarm quilting machines, from High Road Capital Partners. In June 2022, Handi Quilter was sold to Branford Castle.
Excluding the purchase of Handi Quilter, the acquisition of Jimmy Beans by Local Crafts Group is the fifth acquisition the holding company has made under Blue Point ownership. The four earlier buys were Superior Threads, a Utah-based supplier of premium threads used in quilting and sewing (April 2016); Quilt Pro Systems, a Texas-based provider of digital products used by quilters to digitally and electronically design and audition their projects (December 2016); Crafts Americana Group, a Washington-based supplier of knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing, and other hobbyist products (February 2017); and Berroco, a Rhode Island-based supplier of knitting and crochet yarns and patterns (October 2021).
“Crafting, its heritage and overall positive benefits have never felt more important than in today’s ever-changing digital world,” said Veronica Collins, the CEO of Local Crafts Group. “Our brands have always been rooted in the community of crafters we serve, and for decades, our goal has been to design, manufacture and source yarns, tools, fabrics and accessories our crafters truly love. We’re thrilled to welcome Jimmy Beans into the Local Crafts family — its passionate customer base, diverse offerings and long-standing commitment to the crafting community make it an ideal fit. We’re equally excited to welcome Laura Zander to our executive team as Chief Brand Officer, whose love for the fiber arts and visionary leadership will help us grow while honoring what makes this industry so special.”
“This is a transformative moment for the business — we’re excited to support Local Crafts and Jimmy Beans in their next phase of growth, delivering even more value to those who craft and create,” said Sean Ward, a partner at Blue Point.
Blue Point Capital Partners invests in companies active in the industrial, business services, consumer, and value-added distribution sectors, with revenues between $30 million and $300 million and EBITDA greater than $7 million. The firm is currently investing through its 2022 vintage $700 million fifth fund. Founded in 2000, Blue Point has offices in Cleveland, Charlotte, Seattle, and Shanghai.
© 2025 Private Equity Professional | April 23, 2025
