“ Pile drivers are kind of a unique business for us in that they
buy a hose that is very specific to their industry. Not all hose
distributors can work with the pile drivers…We understand the
critical nature of the hose and what they’re really looking for.”
– J. Palmer Clarkson, Bridgestone HosePower
“We’ve been expanding into areas where we’ve not had a lot of
experience or customers so it has helped us to have our reputation
spread,” he said. “By being a member of the organization…it helps
us to gain business in those new areas.”
Bridgestone HosePower is headquartered in Orange Park, Fla.,
a bedroom community located just outside of Jacksonville. It also
has five regional hub distribution centers in Florida, New Jersey,
Texas, Nevada and Washington. The company’s branch locations
extend all the way from Seattle to Boston and it currently employs
about 650 people across the country.
Clarkson says his company’s purchase by Bridgestone was
the natural evolution of a longstanding and strong relationship
between the two businesses and will help ensure its longterm
viability.
“In 2014, there was a tremendous wave of private equity
companies buying up distributors in our industry. I felt it would
HYDRAULIC • INDUSTRIAL • MOBILE SERVICE • OEM CENTERS • COUNTER SERVICE
Bridgestone HosePower has bundles in stock to any
combination of sizes, pressures and lengths - 100’, 150’, 200’.
Custom bundles are also available to any requirement.
Single line 50’ assemblies in stock and ready to go
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Also in stock are all the high pressure quick disconnects
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www.bridgestonehosepower.com
be a much better long-term deal for our employees to sell to
Bridgestone rather than a private equity company that would
resell the business five to eight years later,” he said. “Bridgestone
is a hose manufacturer but clearly understands that the future is
not just in the manufacturing of hoses but also service and the
after-service market.”
The parent company has some ambitious expansion plans as
it prepares for that future. It is looking to add between 50 and
80 new branches to its existing network of 48 existing locations.
In the past year alone, it has added five new locations and 100
employees and expects to continue adding more as its expansion
plans move forward.
“I tell folks we’re really in the people business,” said Clarkson,
laughing. “That’s probably my biggest challenge operating this
business right now, is hiring and training the number of people we
need to meet our goals.” t
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126 | EDITION 3 2019 www.piledrivers.org
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