Riordan Lewis & Haden is going shopping, and they’re taking Jim Morley with them.

The California-based private equity firm has partnered with Morley, a veteran in the consumer durables sector, to seek portfolio buys for the PE shop. Specifically, Morley and RLH managing director Michel Glouchevitch will evaluate businesses across sub-sectors including: home improvement, lawn and garden, storage, sporting goods, luggage and pet products. The two will seek out businesses with revenues of up to $400 million selling retail products with price points less than $250.

Morley has worked with Igloo Products, where he managed the installation of the company’s IT systems, and Enviroworks, a lawn and garden services company.

RLH had invested in both companies Morley had previously worked with.

Private equity, notably in the middle market, has eyed roll-up strategies as a means of reducing costs at a time when managerial expertise is perhaps most essential to fund performance during the lagging economic downturn.

GenNx360 Capital Partners and GTCR launched separate roll-up plays; the former focusing on chemical companies and the latter working on government services deals.

Some of the sub-sectors being rolled up by RLH, like home improvement and luggage, have been hard-hit by the recession and many companies in the space have yet to recover from the economic downturn. In fact, there have been few deals to speak of.

Other sectors have seen attractive valuations. Roark Capital Group recently spent about $120 million to buy Canadian pet products retailer Pet Valu and last year Henry Schein Inc., the listed, New York-based maker of healthcare products, bought the majority stake of Butler Animal Health Supply from its private owners, Oak Hill Capital Partners and the Ashkin Family Group.

Sporting goods has yet to fully recover as an industry; many of its deals are taking place through the bankruptcy process.

True Temper Sports Inc. completed its restructuring and welcomed Newport Global Advisors and Providence Equity Partners to its shareholder base as majority owners. Also, Falconhead Capital led a three-way merger with GPS Industries Inc. and ProLink Systems to form a holding company with pro golf legend Greg Norman.

Calls seeking comment were not acknowledged by press time.

Career moves