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Fire & Water Restoration
ServiceMaster was founded in 1929 by Marion E. Wade. After a near-death experience,
Marion decided he would spend the rest of his life in service to the Lord. He wanted to
take his personal beliefs into the business world. He saw potential in everyone, believing that each person had been made in God’s image. Today, the company maintains
those same guiding principles:
• Honor God in all you do.
• Help people develop.
• Excel with customers.
• Grow profitably.
Years later, Bruce Boyd, a graduate of College of Charleston with a degree in Business Administration, envisioned his future in retail grocery. He initially worked with
Earth Fare in Mt. Pleasant, progressing rapidly up to management. After about a year,
he was offered an opportunity to work for a relative’s restoration business in Greenville
(his home town). He moved to the upstate to be near his family, because his mother was
terminally ill at the time. “Little did I know that would be the decision that changed my
life. I [soon] realized I was doing exactly what I always wanted, helping people when
they needed it the most and showing them how to start rebuilding their lives after disaster had struck.”
Later, he started looking for an opportunity to get back to the Low Country and took
another “get your foot in the door” opportunity with ServiceMaster of Charleston (the
18th largest franchise in the country), where he became a coordinator and managed the
schedules for the technicians. Again, he quickly climbed the responsibility ladder and
was soon offered the Fire Division Manager position. After several years (and now having
a wife and two children), Bruce decided it was again time for a challenge. He explored
the Florence market (his wife’s hometown), knowing it was available and under-served
by local businesses in the industry. Most of the fire and water restoration work in the area
was being handled by out-of-town companies from major metropolitan areas. His wife
encouraged him to go for it, along with his boss in Charleston. So, he purchased the Florence franchise for ServiceMaster Fire & Water Restoration in 2011, opening in November
of that year. “Besides marrying Crystal, it’s definitely the best decision I’ve ever made.”
A full-service Fire and Water Disaster Restoration business, ServiceMaster offers
around-the-clock emergency repair and cleaning services for homes, businesses, and
properties with damage from numerous circumstances like fire, wind, or water. They
work directly with their customers to handle all disaster needs - such as water removal,
drying, pack-up inventory and the cleaning of belongings, storage, odor removal, or reconstruction - while coordinating the process with each individual customer’s insurance
carrier. They also offer top-of-the-line carpet, upholstery, and floor maintenance cleaning, both residentially and commercially. “It’s not clean unless it’s ServiceMaster clean!”
In times of economic hardship, the carpet, upholstery, and floor-care divisions of
ServiceMaster take a hit, but their disaster restoration division tends to be consistent.
Sometimes, it even grows, since people are forced to make insurance claims for things
they otherwise may have covered out-of-pocket.
Bruce is competitive by nature, since he w as the youngest (by seven years) of four
children. He wants to be the best at whatever he does. In a little more than two years,
he and his employees have grown to the ninth largest ServiceMaster in the southeast
and are in the top 130 overall (out of over 3,300) ServiceMaster franchises. He wants to
continue to grow locally and possibly expand to other markets through local, smaller
satellite operations. His home and home office will always be Florence and the Pee Dee,
hopefully returning some of the revenues lost in the past to out-of-the-area businesses.
48
June 2014
with Bruce Boyd, Owner
Always having a strong work ethic, he had a small lawn care business for seven neighborhood yards by
age 12. And, his yard was cut for free, just for the privilege of using his parents’ lawnmower! He worked
full-time in construction as a laborer digging ditches during school breaks from age 16 until college graduation. “There were lots of people along the way - coaches, teachers, supervisors, and managers - who
taught me not to waste my time but to use it efficiently, doing my best at the task at hand. Most of all, the
principles and values my father exemplified while growing up in a ‘Citadel household’ (not to lie, cheat,
or steal) were imprinted on me from a young age. My mother taught me compassion for all those around
me and to treat everyone with the respect and dignity they deserve, no matter their situation. We are all
people and capable of the same love, compassion, and understanding for one another.” Those remain
the guiding principles in Bruce’s business and family. “When times are busy,” he continues, “I’m lucky to
have my loving wife and boys, Walker and Austin, who help support me. They know our customers never
want emergencies. But, when they happen, we are there to help no matter when or where. Sometimes
the balance is not as good as I or they would like it due to professional demands, but we all eventually find
time to be together.”
Bruce concludes, “If you have had your carpet or upholstery cleaned, and one or two months later it
looks as bad as or worse than before, give us a try. I assure you, you will not be disappointed! ‘You’re in
Luck when you Call the Yellow Truck!’”
ServiceMaster of Florence is located at 1212 North Cashua Drive. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM;
however, the office phone line (843.665.7475) is open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week for all emergencies. Anyone who answers
can assist you in meeting your needs.
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