Prudential Unveils Northern Arizona Service Center

Prescott Valley, AZ - Officials and visitors recently celebrated the opening of a new Prudential Overall Supply distribution center amid calls for a team effort among Northern Arizona communities to spur economic growth.

“This is the time to start thinking big,” said Prescott Valley Town Council Member Harold Wise. “Great things can happen here. We are just getting started in creating a vibrant economy. One that will make our region a better place to live for generations to come.”

Echoing Wise’s spirit of common purpose, on April 30, Prudential opened the doors of its new 15,000-square-foot facility not only to customers, but also to the owners and managers of other manufacturing, retail, wholesale, hospitality and trade contractor businesses from across the region. The distribution center currently is servicing over 800 business accounts. Prudential built the facility with an eye toward a doubling of its volume over the next few years.

“This is a big day for our company,” said Tom Watts, president of Prudential, based in Irvine, CA. “We have built a lot of buildings, coast to coast. But none of the others can compare with this one. It’s like our youngest child. Of course, we’re really proud of our older ones. But we are especially excited about how this one will grow and serve you better as the years go by.”

Watts touched on the company’s history as well, noting how Prudential founder John D. Clark moved in 1932 from Iowa to Los Angeles and traded his Model A Ford sport roadster for a used truck. Clark began picking up soiled workwear from local companies and taking the goods to a family laundry. He returned them the following day. “Since then, our business has gotten a little more complicated,” Watts said. “But our chairman is Dan Clark, John’s son. And he carries on John’s philosophies. First and foremost, John wanted us to like our work. He wanted us to enjoy being with each other and with our customers.”

Other area dignitaries at the opening of the new service center included Vice Mayor Lora Lee Nye and state Rep. Andy Tobin (R), whose district includes Prescott Valley. Tobin, who also serves as House majority whip, praised Prudential for investing in the region and for its dedication to providing environmentally friendly reusable textiles to area businesses.

Steve Hernandez, branch manager for Prudential, added that, “I know I speak for our whole team when I say that we are all pleased to be part of this community. I’ve lived here for 14 years. This is a great place to be and it will get better. We think more people are going to move into the area. And that’s going to be good for a lot of businesses.”

Gary Marks of the Prescott Valley Economic Development Foundation estimates that the Prescott Valley area’s current population of roughly 145,000 will increase to 221,000 by 2030. Statewide growth in Arizona is expected to increase by 47% over the same period vs. nationwide growth estimates of 18%.

Prudential is ready to be a part of this growth. Its Prescott Valley service center features extra floor space and wider doors for easier loading and unloading than the building it replaced. Docks are double the width and depth as those in the predecessor facility.

Prudential currently operates 27 facilities in California, Massachusetts, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Virginia and Puerto Rico.

Release date: 05/10/2010

Contact: Jerry Martin, V.P. of Sales & Marketing (949) 996-8976

Source: Textile Rental Weekly - TRSA

By: Jerry Martin, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Prudential Overall Supply