Andy Gump – Celebrates 60 Years In Business

 After three generations of innovation and 60 years in business, Andy Gump has another trick up its sleeve.  Now a common household name, Andy Gump once started humbly with some hard work, forward thinking and a drive to put food on the table.  Today, the family-owned company has grown to provide a varied list of services – topping the list with the new VIP Portables – while still maintaining the same family-run feel and commitment to honest, quality service.
“My father and grandfather wanted to work for a company that had integrity – an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.  So they built one,” said current owner Nancy Gump of the two generations of leaders before her.  “I don’t think they ever dreamed we’d be where we are today.”
Before he founded a hugely successful portable sanitation company, Massena “Andy” Gump worked for his father’s gas station in Springfield, Colorado, off Route 66 in the middle of the Dust Bowl.  Looking for more work to feed his family, Andy and his family moved to California.  He picked up miscellaneous work, often trucking goods like dirt, gravel and Christmas trees up and down the state.
“Any way he could make money for his family,” Nancy explained of her grandfather’s work ethic.
In the 1940s, the Gump’s settled in the San Fernando Valley, and Andy bought a septic tank business for $300.  As the valley’s orchards gave way to subdivisions during the boom years after World War II, Andy branched out.  A new ordinance required portable restrooms on construction sites, and Andy saw an opportunity.  With the help of sons Barry and Bill, Andy fashioned scrap plywood into portable restrooms in the garage of their Mission Hills home.  His wife, Irma, and daughter, Cherilyn, began taking orders and typing invoices.
“Because he had a truck, he could take on these types of jobs,” Nancy said.  “And when he built things, he built them to last.”
At the urging of a friend, Larry Fontana, the Gump’s decided to brand the company.
“Why don’t you consider putting your name on the side of the portable restroom,” Nancy recalled of Larry’s suggestion.  Just over the name Andy Gump, Larry then put the word “Another”, helping to make Andy Gump a generic term for portable restrooms in Southern California.
Andy Gump never developed a marketing plan.  He never enlisted flashy advertising campaigns.  Andy Gump’s only plan was to put food on the table and help his team do the same thing.
“They never had a commission-based sales force,” Nancy explained.  “We truly believe in helping people, and that has stayed with us through every stage of growth.”
Eventually, Andy’s son Barry stepped up to take on the next generation of leadership.  A true entrepreneurial spirit, Barry took the company to new heights.  Barry never found a challenge he didn’t like, and with each one came new growth for the company.
The following decade saw the advent of the company’s Special Events Division after Barry led a Los Angeles group of sanitation companies in providing portable restrooms for the 1984 Olympics.
“This was a huge turning point for the company,” Nancy explained.  “They wanted hand-wash units when no one had them.  We said we’ll make them, and we won the bid.  That’s the entrepreneurial spirit that built our company.  We had close to 1,000 units at the Olympics that year, and we were very successful.”
Shortly after, Andy Gump moved the company headquarters to Santa Clarita, continued building and adding services, increased service areas and ushered in the third generation.  Nancy studied under her father for five years, sharing an office and learning the business.
“I learned about marketing and helping people,” Nancy recalled.  “Today, we truly believe we have raised the bar in portable sanitation.” Since then, Andy Gump has opened five facilities servicing Antelope Valley to San Diego, and everywhere in between.
Andy Gump is a leader in construction and special event services, offering portable restrooms, temporary fence, temporary power, luxury portables and more.  One specialty of Andy Gump’s is the single VIP (Very Impressive Portable) unit which comes complete with a self-contained flushing system, hand-wash sink, mirror and interior lighting.  Andy Gump’s luxury restroom trailers feature sleek and modern interiors, and have served glamorous events such as the Academy Awards.
“My father and grandfather have taught me to earn my success,” Nancy said.
For more information about Andy Gump’s temporary site or special event services, please visit www.andygump.com. 

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