Roscoe, the “Chicago Uniform Company” prides itself on being a third-generation family owned business since its inception in 1921.
For 93 years, Roscoe has supplied and maintained quality uniforms, floor mats, industrial towels, mops, linens and restroom hygiene products. It has been able to do so because it was built on innovation, experimentation, strong leadership, extensive planning and sacrifice for the good of the organization.
The Roscoe mat rental company is also vested in the community it serves. We have been at our current location in the Lawndale community since 1926 and have provided good paying jobs through hard economic times in the community. Besides being family-owned, the uniform company fosters a multi-generational environment from the plant floor to leadership roles that has seen mothers, fathers, daughters and sons work side by side. Roscoe has a strong belief in promoting from within and evidence of that creed can be found in every area of the company. Team members, who were hired for entry level positions, today are in critical customer service and leadership roles, including our Operations Team Leader who hung shirts when she was hired.
Family Businesses are Economic Powerhouses
In addition to being critical to the local community a family business serves in, family businesses are the fabric of the American economy. Consider the following statistics:
- Family businesses generate 60% of the country’s employment and 78% of all new job creation
- 35% of Fortune 500 companies are family companies and represent the full spectrum from small business to major corporations
- The average life span of a family-owned business is 24 years
- Research shows that family businesses are less likely to lay off employees regardless of financial performance
- The number of family businesses run by women have grown 37% in the past five years.
- Family businesses comprise 80 to 90 percent of all business enterprises in North America
- Only 40% of family owned businesses survive to the second generation, 12% to the third, and 3% to the fourth
The Chicago Mat Rental Company is a Member of the Chicago Family Business Council
The last statistic is worrisome for the uniform rental company. Luckily, there are organizations around like the Chicago Family Business Council (CFBC) that exists as a peer support system to help family businesses achieve their business goals through forums, presentations and workshops and other related educational programs intended to provide growth strategies and share a wealth of information. Currently, there are 153 individuals from 88 companies in a variety of industries that represent over 1.5 billion dollars in revenue. Roscoe is delighted to have been a member since 1996, just two years shy of the 20 years the CFBC has been in existence.
Most family owned businesses do not make it past the first generation because it does not have a succession plan, and apart of attending the forums and events, the Chicago mat company relies on CFBC to provide strategic planning on the possibility of future generations joining Roscoe.
Contact a Roscoe Representative to Work With a Family-Owned Business
The uniform rental company is humbled that we are in the 12% of family businesses that have entered their third-generation of ownership and are extremely thankful for the support we have received from our team members, our customers, our community and worthy organizations like the Chicago Family Business Council. Congratulations on 20 years and many more of providing stability, strength, knowledge, and a great network of peers.
Contact a representative of the Roscoe Company to set up a tour to see what makes our facility so great and work with a family-owned business.
Contact us to learn more about Roscoe: The Chicago Work Uniform Company
