Company History

Shortly after World War II, Henry DeSantis founded a company to supply cleaning products and sanitary items to commercial establishments. He would say later how he “fell into the business.” He was selling laundry bleach to housewives and restaurants who used the bleach for cleaning and disinfecting. One of his restaurant customers asked Henry if he could get some insecticide for a “roach problem.” In the course of his search for an insecticide manufacturer, he happened on manufacturers of all cleaning supplies for any type of soil problem. “Well, why not sell all these products in combination with the homemade bleach?” So it was that DeSantis Janitor Supply was born—with a whimper rather than a bang.

The business operated as a one-man show for many, many years until Gary, Henry’s son, joined the business after graduating from college in 1970. This was to be a very “temporary” stay, marking time until leaving for graduate school. The temporary stay became permanent, and Kathy, Gary’s wife, soon joined the company doing accounts payable, receivable, and some purchasing. Henry did purchasing and made “killer fried egg sandwiches for breakfast,” and Gary did the selling and delivering.

By 1973, DeSantis added its first employee as a warehouse/delivery person, which freed Gary to sell exclusively. Slowly with some pain, the company grew and, by 1978, made its third move to a new building at 100 Mead Avenue in downtown Meadville, Pa.

In 1990, a party and gift supply store was added, as well as a 40% increase in warehouse floor space. Staff was added slowly to accommodate the increased business. In 1990, a branch office and retail store was built in Erie, Pa. Throughout all these expansions, family members have staffed some of the positions. In all, 14 family members have worked for the company. This reality adds credibility to the slogan “Our family serving your supply needs for over 60 years.”

To date, DeSantis has 25 employees and has been joined by Kathy and Gary’s daughters, Camrie and Shannon. Until her untimely and sudden death, Camrie was supervising purchasing and inside operations—Shannon was responsible for outside sales. Camrie’s death has been devastating to family and non-family members at DeSantis, but all have dedicated their performance to her memory and to the success of the company, which she deeply loved. A third generation has taken its place in DeSantis company management.

Organic and slow-growth will be the constant for a company born quite by accident—by a guy looking to kill a roach.