At Your Service Environmental Solutions: Opportunities Through Change Keep Distributorship On Upward Trajectory

By Harrell Kerkhoff, Maintenance Sales News Editor

Shown inside the company’s showroom are President/Founder/Owner David Taylor and Operations Manager Jackie Welch. (Photo courtesy of At Your Service Environmental Solutions)

The successful metamorphosis of a business requires proper guidance, expertise, dedication — and perhaps most importunately — a lot of hard work. Case in point are the various changes that have taken place, within the nearly four past decades, involving At Your Service Environmental Solutions, a jan/san distributorship located in Magnolia, AR.

The origins of the distribution company began in April 1986, when President/Founder/Owner David Taylor started cleaning offices after-hours in addition to his full-time job at a local church. As his fledgling business grew, Taylor expanded with the purchase of a carpet cleaning business in 1989, and again in 1993, by acquiring a rival cleaning company.

Taylor solely focused on the cleaning service side of the industry during his company’s first decade. Then, he added distribution sales to his contract cleaning work, becoming a factory direct distributor of trash and lawn bags. Over time, Taylor increased the number of products his company sold and began new relationships with a growing supplier base.

Eventually, Taylor and his small staff focused entirely on distribution, and moved into a 20,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center in 2004. At first, they found it difficult to convince certain suppliers that the company was serious about being a distributor. The new facility, which included added warehouse space, convinced many of them that At Your Service Environmental Solutions was, indeed, a distributorship.

“Since that time, we have been growing our distribution capabilities — thanks to our existing knowledge of professional cleaning — to solve all sorts of problems for customers,” Taylor said. “We have also expanded since 2004 into the foodservice disposable supplies market. And, in 2024, we introduced our own private label Dāvō™ Brand Cleaner, with the aid of our virtual retail distribution outlet.

“That latter step, involving our private label product, was taken after participating in a market awareness program involving certain metropolitan areas. Prior to that, we spent several years developing the product and working with a manufacturer. We are soon expecting to greatly expand the availability of Dāvō™ Brand Cleaner to the world, although it is currently available on our web page.”

And the metamorphosis continues for At Your Service Environmental Solutions. Plans are in the works for the business to move into a larger facility by 2027, either in Magnolia or a nearby city.

“We are currently in negotiations for a new property, with the goal of being at the new location in two years,” Taylor said.

Magnolia, a city of approximately 11,000-plus residents, is located in southwestern Arkansas. The local service region for At Your Service Environmental Solutions is southern Arkansas, eastern Texas, and northern Louisiana. It is here that the company delivers its products via the distributorship’s own drivers and trucks. However, the company also utilizes 13 partner warehouses located across the United States.

“Those warehouses help us reach customers who can be found in all parts of the country,” Taylor said. “Our website also services the entire nation and is in constant development. Another plus to having access to such warehouses is that they allow us to reduce the amount of inventory we need at our Magnolia facility.”

Local Advantages Spur Growth Possibilities

Although considered a rural area by many, Taylor sees many benefits to being an independent distributorship located in southwestern Arkansas.

“We are in a small market, but it’s a growing market with many opportunities to expand,” he explained. “A lot of people felt, when we started in the distribution business, that we were in the ‘middle of nowhere’ — too far away from large population centers to be successful. However, when I looked at a map, I measured the distance between various large cities and our location and realized we were — and are — in the ‘middle of everywhere.’

“As a distributor, it also benefits us that we are located on the edge of different geographical markets maintained by several of our competitors. In other words, we are in a more expensive area for those competitors to service, due to the distance involved. That helped get our ‘foot in the door’ 25 to 30 years ago, when we decided to focus on distribution and were seeking customers.”

Taylor’s dedication and patience in his company’s home area is beginning to pay off in other ways as well. He noted development is taking place in southwestern Arkansas as it pertains to mining local lithium deposits. That is expected to bring added business activity to the region.

“It was also recently announced by Magnolia city officials their plans for a large housing development in the area,” Taylor said. “There continues to be a lot of optimism here for added economic and population growth in the coming years.”

Despite its current location in a more rural setting, there remain certain competitors for At Your Service Environmental Solutions to focus on, especially as it relates to big box stores. Taylor said his company counters such competition by focusing on each customer’s true needs when properly maintaining an away-from-home facility. That includes schools, factories, restaurants and various types of commercial buildings.

“Our focus has always been to do what needs to be done in order to satisfy each individual customer, and to do so as quickly as possible,” Taylor said.

Part of that focus is showcasing At Your Service Environmental Solutions’ various products — accomplished through the company’s website and its showroom at the Magnolia facility. The latter also serves as a retail outlet for area customers.

“Our showroom is a great place for people to walk through and browse. There are approximately 800 products on display at any given time,” Taylor said. “And since they are in one area of our facility, people don’t have to walk through a large, big box store to find what they need. They can locate, and purchase, better quality products while talking to our experts who are there to provide great advice.”

He added many people who live and work in the Magnolia area take advantage of the distributorship’s retail capabilities through its showroom. That includes customers who operate food trucks, those in charge of maintaining churches and small business facilities, and other often underserved people in the community.

“Such customers can easily be overlooked by large retailers and other suppliers of cleaning items, but they are able to receive personalized products and service from our own industry experts,” Taylor said. “One big reason for our growth, over the years, is world of mouth — one satisfied customer telling another person about our capabilities, products and service.

“That includes some of our large national accounts, where one person within a company will tell another person from a different department of that company about our service. The result is being able to conduct business with a different part of that customer’s operation.”

Beyond sales, good service can come from other parts of a distributorship. Taylor, for example, points to his company’s trusted and experienced delivery drivers who often are the most familiar employees representing At Your Service Environmental Solutions among various customers.

“A good driver is not only service oriented but will notice — while making deliveries — when certain changes have taken place at one, or more, of our customers’ facilities. Such information might help our company better serve our customers going forward,” Taylor explained.

Focusing On An Ever-Changing World

Being able to adapt and pivot in the wake of national and global challenges beyond any one person’s or company’s control is key to maintaining a level of business that allows for growth. Such “tests” have been passed by Taylor and his employees time and time again since the start of the 21^st century. That includes economic disruptions brought about by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Great Recession of late 2007 to mid-2009, and the COVID pandemic a few years ago. Today, concerns surrounding tariffs are taking center stage.

Despite such events, Taylor said his company has been able to weather various storms by staying true to its core belief of putting customers first. One example was the recent pandemic.

“We never did shut our retail or distribution operation down. Instead, we did our best to take care of our customers’ needs during such a difficult time,” Taylor said. “Through hard work and focusing on our solid supplier relationships that were already in place, we did not run out of such items as toilet paper and hand sanitizer during the pandemic. In fact, we were able to procure 800-pound totes of hand sanitizer to help many of our customers who were in a bind for such products. It was a matter of having people at our company remain dedicated and make sure certain needs were being met by attaining hard-to-secure products.”

He added working with responsive suppliers is extremely advantageous, especially during such challenging times as the pandemic, when various supply chains were greatly strained.

“We also look for suppliers who can help us solve customer needs during more normal business times — and to do so in a timely fashion,” Taylor said.

As for sharing advice on how to successfully conduct business in an often-unpredictable world, Taylor explained it’s best to have good plans in place that are understood by everyone involved within an organization.

“It’s also good to be very fluid, highly adaptable and responsive to change as evolving business needs appear,” Taylor said. “For example, I see great potential in AI and robotics — providing big changes for a lot of companies involved in distribution. I think we (At Your Service Environmental Solutions) are in as good of a position as larger companies to capitalize on such emerging technologies, helping further our growth.”

Other ways the distributorship continues to find growth is by helping those customers who seek more sustainable/environmentally friendly products and cleaning systems, as well as being a go-to equipment repair service. The latter includes employing a service technician who works on such items as floor equipment — either at a customer’s location or at the distributorship’s facility.

At Your Service Environmental Solutions’ small staff also includes the aforementioned delivery drivers as well as those who work in sales.

“We have been very fortunate, over the years, to employ wonderful people who were, and are, dedicated to the company and our customers. Many members of our current staff have been with us for several years, adding to our company’s overall experience within the cleaning industry,” Taylor said.

Despite such experience, Taylor makes sure his employees — and customers — continue to receive the training they need to succeed.

“For example, when it comes to selling a specialized chemical, it’s important to take extra time to explain that product’s proper use and capabilities,” he said. “As a distributor, we try not to compete too much on price but rather focus more on the ‘service after the sale.’ That allows for a better chance of repeat business.”

He explained there is a lot to know when it comes to properly maintaining a facility. Therefore, proper training is always critical.

“The cleaning industry changes very fast, from one year to the next, as it pertains to new products and procedures. There is a lot of keep up with. That is why we continue to train not only customers, but our employees as well,” Taylor said. “Keeping up with such changes is one of the most challenging aspects to working in the jan/san distribution business.”

Despite that and other challenges, Taylor is very optimistic about the future as he looks forward to moving into a new facility and expanding his company’s private label endeavor.

“I have also found, over the years, that if we continue to take care of customers and market our products and services properly, that business has a tendency to become self-perpetuating,” Taylor said. “I’m excited about our growth possibilities moving forward. As I like to tell people, ‘If it is doable, we shall do it.’”

For Taylor, another benefit to the distribution business is that it can provide good careers for people who are dedicated and willing to work hard.

“It can especially be rewarding for those looking for good growth potential, and there’s no telling what added growth will develop from the next round of technology,” he said. “Like anything worthwhile in life, however, it takes hard work and a strong focus on customer service.”

As a local business owner, Taylor is also a big proponent to giving back to the community. For example, as a past membership chair of the Magnolia Leadership Alumni Board, Taylor has been pivotal in fostering connections among leaders in the community.  His commitment to workforce development is exemplified by his tenure as chairman and board member of the Workforce Alliance for Growth in Economy (WAGE), where he championed programs aimed at enhancing job opportunities and skills training for residents.

Taylor’s local leadership extends in other ways, having served as president of the Kiwanis Club, where he focused on initiatives that supported children and families in need. He also held the role of chairman of the Columbia TEA Coalition, advocating for educational improvements and resources within the community. And, as an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce, Taylor has served as an ambassador, promoting business growth and networking opportunities. Meanwhile, his involvement in the Rotary Club, including 10 years as sergeant at arms, reflected his commitment to service above self, working alongside fellow members to address pressing community needs.

Taylor has been honored over the years in several ways for his community contributions. That includes being named the Columbia County (AR) Adult Education Volunteer Of The Year, highlighting his commitment to education and personal growth, and named the Columbia County Business Leader Of The Year, a testament to his influence and dedication to fostering a thriving business environment.

Visit atyourservicestore.com.