PEO P L E FI R ST / /
Peer Profile
Remodeling’s Longevity
JOHN DUPUY
CEO, Renovo Home Partners
BY ANASTASIA DONDE
W
hen Audax Private Equity brought John Dupuy into its fold, it was to execute on a thesis the firm had already developed—that home remodeling would see lasting interest from consumers for some time to come. Dupuy joined in August to launch a buy-and-build strategy in the sector. He had previously worked as an operating partner at several other private equity firms and as a CEO of PE-backed companies. In the next several months, Audax went on to acquire three brands in the home remodeling category: Dreamstyle, Remodel USA and Alure Home Improvements. In January, the firm announced the launch of Renovo Home Partners, a Dallas-based direct-to-consumer provider of repair and remodeling services focused on bath, window, siding, roofing and other areas. The three brands will now operate under the Renovo umbrella with Dupuy at the helm as its CEO. The business is looking to acquire similar
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companies around the country to expand its geographic footprint.
An Ongoing Trend
Home remodeling became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic when many office workers spent more time at home and decided to spruce up their surroundings. Now that most COVID restrictions are gone and offices are open again, it seems questionable whether remodeling will continue to be popular, but Dupuy and Audax are betting that it will. Most workers haven’t gone back to the office full-time and many companies are adopting remote or hybrid models, prompting people to continue to spend more time at home than they had pre-pandemic. “As a result of COVID, we’ve rediscovered our homes for both work and leisure,” says Dupuy. “People want to age in their home. With home prices rising, many people would rather upgrade than buy new.”
