Building on an economics Ph.D. from Duke University to fuel a 30-year career helping companies adapt to changing economic conditions, Bill Conerly’s view of trends guides companies in every industry. Still, looking to 2019, his advice seems particularly pertinent to linen, uniform and facility services companies.

“Assess your own vulnerability,” advises Conerly, who writes for Forbes. “Some industries are always very cyclical, such as construction and capital goods production, while others are fairly stable, such as healthcare and many other services.”

Our linen, uniform and facility services industry likely falls into the latter category. It has a long history of ...