What the Latest Merger Means for CSC Members (And Why Independence Still Matters)

The (marketing) landscape serving the uniform and linen rental industry just shifted, again. Here's what smart business owners need to know—and do—about it.

Another merger announcement. This time with competitors to become one entity and work to control all aspects from lead to cash, along with operations. 

You’ve seen it all before in this industry, usually with competitors. This is another "bigger is better" story in the marketing and software world. 3 companies that have been serving the commercial laundry and uniform rental industry have combined forces, promising "expanded capabilities" and "enhanced service offerings."

As a CSC Network member, you've probably seen the official announcement by now. Maybe you've even gotten the reassuring phone call about "business as usual" and how this merger will "benefit your account."

But here's what those calls won't tell you: This changes everything.

The Impact of Mergers In Your Industry

When marketing agencies merge with operations technology companies, the immediate focus is always on integration—new systems, consolidated teams, streamlined processes. What often gets lost in that shuffle? The client relationship. You may have noticed it in the first round of private equity acquisitions.

I was talking with another industry technology leader who also competes with the merged entities. They shared: "We see this all the time. Companies get bigger, but they don't get better for their customers. They get better for their shareholders."

Sound familiar? It should. It's the same challenge CSC members face when competing against national uniform chains. The difference is, you chose to stay independent because you knew you could serve your customers better. Your marketing agency should operate with the same philosophy.

What We’ve Heard from Members Like You

In conversations at recent CSC events and in separate conversations, we've heard consistent frustrations about marketing partnerships:

• "They do the same thing for everyone" – Generic strategies that don't account for the unique challenges of your company, your geographic locations, your brand or your sales goals.
• "We can never get straight answers about ROI" – Marketing activities that don't clearly tie to business results, but you get reports so you have some basic data
• "It takes forever to get anything done" – Lack of ownership from an agency contact and processes that slow down simple website updates, campaign launches and strategy pivots
• “They’re a great local company, but don’t get the industry” - Local agencies know your geography and your community. We know there is a lot of talent there, too. Still, having a partner who can take the best ideas and campaign results from one company and adapt them for another can give you a competitive advantage.

This recent announcement could amplify these issues, not solve them.

The Independence Advantage: Why Smaller Often Means Smarter

Just as independent uniform and linen companies outshine national chains with superior service, our dedication to delivering exceptional results as an independent marketing agency drives us every single day.

Direct Accountability

Everyone you talk to on our team is empowered to take care of our clients. You're talking to decision-makers, account managers, not a customer service person who takes all calls. When you have concerns or need strategic changes, you get answers from the people who can actually make things happen.

When Clients Win, We Win

We succeed and grow when clients win. No distant shareholders are demanding quarterly growth at the expense of client results. We invest in our people, in our tools and training so we’re adding value every single month.

Speed and Agility

You want a marketing partner that can pivot strategies, launch campaigns, and implement changes in days or weeks, not months. When market conditions shift or opportunities arise, you need a partner who can move at the speed of your business.

Industry Understanding + Cross-Pollination

We’ve been a CSC Supplier for years, but we also work with many other B2B companies. We’ve worked with CSC members for 12+ years. This deep industry knowledge is combined with fresh perspectives from other B2B and B2C sectors. We understand your challenges while bringing innovations from outside your industry.

The Questions We Think Every CSC Member Should Ask Their Marketing Agency

Whether you're working with the newly merged entity or any marketing agency, these questions will reveal whether you have a true strategic partner:

About Results and Accountability:

• "How do you measure the ROI of our marketing investment?"
• "Can you show me exactly how many leads your efforts generated last quarter?"
• "What specific business metrics improved because of your marketing campaigns?"

About Industry Understanding:

• "How many uniform and linen companies do you currently serve?"
• "What do you know about our typical sales cycle and buyers?"
• "How do you handle marketing for companies with route-based service models?"

About Responsiveness and Flexibility:

• "Who will I be talking to when I need strategy changes or something done?"
• "How quickly can you pivot a campaign if market conditions change?"
• "What's your process for implementing new marketing initiatives?"

About Strategic Sales & Marketing Alignment”

• "How do you align marketing goals with our sales and service objectives?"
• "Do you provide strategic guidance or just execute tactics?"
• "How do you stay current with industry trends and challenges?"

If you're not getting clear, confident answers to these questions, it's time to evaluate your options.

What to Look for in Your Next Marketing Partnership

The best marketing agencies for CSC members operate like CSC members themselves: independently, strategically, and with their clients' success (and loyalty) as the primary objective.

Look for agencies that:

Think Like Business Partners, Not Vendors

• They ask about your revenue goals, not just your marketing budget
• They understand your competition and market positioning
• They align marketing metrics with business outcomes
• They participate in strategic planning, not just campaign execution

Demonstrate Industry Knowledge + Outside Perspective

• They know the challenges of service businesses
• They understand long B2B sales cycles
• They bring fresh ideas from other industries
• They speak your language while challenging your thinking

Prove Their Value with Data

• They show you exactly what marketing activities drive leads
• They calculate how many prospects you need to hit revenue goals
• They track conversion rates at every stage of your sales funnel
• They adjust strategies based on performance data, not gut feelings

Operate with Speed and Transparency

• You know who's working on your account
• You can reach decision-makers when needed
• Changes happen quickly, not after committee meetings
• Communication is direct and frequent
• Response times and answers in hours, not weeks