Pearlman Group Acquires CleanSource

NORCROSS, Ga.—March 31, 2022—Pearlman Group, a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC, recently acquired CleanSource, Inc., a distributor of professional cleaning and restoration supplies to the Carolinas. Pearlman Group is a multi-channel developer and specialty distributor of supplies, tools, and equipment used in the fabrication, maintenance, cleaning, and restoration of surfaces for residential, commercial, and industrial end-markets.

“We are thrilled to expand our team and capabilities in the cleaning and restoration market with the addition of CleanSource, a respected and successful specialty distributor,” said Pearlman CEO Scott McLendon.

Based in Columbia, S.C. with a second location in Charlotte, N.C., CleanSource is a distributor of professional cleaning and restoration supplies to the Carolinas. In addition to consumables and supplies, CleanSource offers a full suite of service, education, and rental to its contractor customers. Founded by Herb and Susan Stutts in 1997, CleanSource has grown under the leadership of their son Jonathan Stutts who, along with the entire CleanSource team, will continue to operate the business in partnership with Pearlman.

“We are thankful the Stutts family has entrusted Pearlman to be a good steward of the business and team they have grown, and we are excited to work with Jonathan and the team on the next phase of growth for CleanSource,” said McLendon.

Grant Jones, a managing director at The Stephens Group added, “The CleanSource transaction demonstrates Pearlman’s differentiated, partnership-based approach to acquisitions and ability to scale in new adjacencies at pace. We continue to support the Pearlman and the newly expanded team in creating an industry-leading specialty distribution platform with strong value proposition across a diverse set of adjacencies.”

“After decades of hard work and dedication by our team, it was extremely important for our family to find a partner who shared similar values and would support the continued success, growth, and legacy of the business we had the fortune to grow as a family,” said Herb Stutts. “Pearlman’s partnership approach and desire to invest in the growth of our team is an important differentiator that will allow us to continue to support our loyal customer base,” added Jonathan Stutts. “I am excited to join the Pearlman team to drive growth strategies in our current markets and beyond,” continued Stutts.