Prudential Overall Supply makes an acquisition

Back to Work Means More Work

A year ago, John Clark had just taken over the CEO role at Prudential Overall Supply, which his grandfather John D. Clark had begun in 1932, when the pandemic struck, causing a decline in sales.

“We’re doing well,” Clark told the Business Journal last week.

“We’re doing our best to reengage customers who had to shut down or reduce demand for our products and services.

“We’re trying to take advantage of the positive swing in the economy. We’re seeing a very healthy rebound in the Orange County economy.”

Clark, who took the top executive position from his father Dan Clark, said his employee count has remained steady at around 1,900 with annual revenue about $200 million. Because of that endurance, Prudential Overall Supply last year won the Business Journal’s annual award for longevity.

Prudential provides over 28,000 customers with uniform rental services and related supplies through a network of 35 operating locations throughout the United States. About 200 of its employees work in its Irvine facilities. The Prudential roster includes more than 300 customers that have utilized the company’s services for more than 35 years.

It’s kept on growing, in March announcing it’s acquired the customer accounts of Stevenson Uniform Service Inc. of Norfolk, Va.

“We are always interested in looking at acquisition opportunities and organic growth,” he said. “We absolutely have been hiring. We’ve found the market challenging, but we are persistent.”

In July, Prudential ranked No. 4 on the Selling Power 50 Best Companies to Sell for 2021 List. Selling Power, a magazine for sales managers, says the companies on the list “have truly world-class sales organizations.”

Prudential said it has been certified as a Green Business by the City of Irvine’s Green Business Program. In June, it began partnering with Ambercycle to recycle uniforms.

Said Clark: “We’re proud to be a part of the Orange County community and hope that Orange County companies would like to partner with a fellow Orange County business for uniforms and laundry and rentals.”