Under intense pressure by competition, customers and economic issues, today’s jan/san distributors are shedding their strictly jan/san product shells and are venturing out into new product categories to not only stay competitive but also to survive in what has become a tough jan/san marketplace.

Pushed by customers to become the desired “one-stop shop,” jan/san distributors are finding that taking on more product lines helps generate additional revenue for their companies as well as strengthen their relationships with customers.

Louie Davis Jr. is a 25-year veteran of the jan/san business, having worked on the manufacturing and distribution sides. He is currently a sales representative for Central Paper Co., in Birmingham, Ala

posted on 3/11/2008