The History of Prudential Overall Supply

Founded in 1932, Prudential Overall Supply has provided first-rate work uniforms and textile products to thousands of organizations in many industries. In addition to renting, leasing, and selling highquality uniforms, the company has also earned a reputation for its commitment to advanced cleanroom laundering techniques and eco-friendly business practices. Let’s take a look at the proud history of this venerable company.

• Prudential was established on April 11, 1932, in Los Angeles, California. The owner, John D. Clark, recognized the business potential of a laundry service aimed at busy workmen who needed help washing and maintaining their uniforms. In the beginning, the company was known as “Prudential Laundry.”

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The founding of Prudential came at a time when trends in the business world indicated growing interest in the various benefits of work uniforms.

Founder John D. Clark on right, circa 1932

Founder John D. Clark, pictured far right, attending a tradeshow in 1948 with his brother Frank Clark, second from left, and John's brother-in-law Wally Shoberg, pictured next to John.

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By 1939, Clark had managed to move Prudential from a tiny shed into a 22,000-square-foot building.

The company became a family affair, as Clark’s siblings and parents relocated all the way from Iowa to help him run the business. Members of the Clark family would hold important positions at Prudential for decades to come.

• In 1943, Prudential expanded its business operations to include renting uniforms to companies. This was a gamble for the Prudential team, as uniform rental was a relatively new and unproven industry, but eventually the rental program would constitute 95% of the company’s income.

• Entire Prudential Laundry fleet of 15 trucks at Slauson Ave. Plant, Los Angeles, CA in 1949.

Prudential also earned wide praise for offering its cleaning services to the U.S. military during World War II. As a result, the company’s public profile was significantly enhanced.

• Prudential continued to expand its operations across the state of California. • In 1952, the company reached $1,200,000 in revenues. During the same year, Prudential opened a new facility, in Los Angeles.

Prudential Overall Supply begins service to the Riverside, CA market area in 1956.

• The year 1957 was a milestone for the Prudential team, as they celebrated their 25th anniversary in the industry.

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Don Clark, brother of president John D. Clark, left his position as head coach of the University of Southern California football squad in 1960 and joined the family business. Don would later become company president in 1972, then chairman in 1984, holding the latter position until his death in 1989.

In 1960, the company established a “cleanroom” garment service, which provided careful cleaning, sterilizing, and decontaminating of uniforms used in sensitive environments, such as biomedical laboratories and paint-spraying facilities.

In 1984, John D. Clark was named Chairman Emeritus, Don R. Clark named Chairman of the Board, and Dan Clark named President.

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In 1978, the Prudential team decided to expand its operations beyond the state of California. The company launched this expansion program by opening a facility—Prudential’s ninth—in Arizona. When this venture proved successful, Prudential branched out into other regions across the U.S. and even overseas during the next few decades.

Prudential reached revenues of $35 million in 1982, the company’s 50th anniversary.

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Prudential’s revenues hit the $100 million mark in 1996. Ten years later, the company posted $127 million in revenues as it steadily pushed into new territories.

Prudential became ISO certified in the year 2000.

It was featured on a 2003 episode of the TV series American Medical Review, hosted by Morley Safer.

• Prudential Overall Supply’s 27 locations provide services to more than 25,000 organizations, including 110 Fortune 500 companies. • Prudential has earned the honor of being the first major industrial laundry company to receive the Clean Green certification from the Textile Rental Service Association (TRSA). This certification recognizes the organization's commitment to environmentally friendly operations.

Prudential Overall Supply has been supplying reusable work uniforms and other textile products to businesses for over 80 years. With 27 locations in nine U.S. states, Prudential Uniforms services over 25,000 businesses. It is the first industrial laundry chain in the world to earn a Clean Green certificate through the TRSA, which recognized its “conscientiousness about natural resources and a commitment to sustainability.�

For more details, visit www.prudentialuniforms.com.