Whether it's paper clips and toner cartridges, desks and chairs, or computers and printers, local office supply and furniture companies are ready to work with area businesses to meet these varied needs. These office specialists all view their customers as partners and strive to assess their particular needs and then offer the solutions that are best suited to those identified needs.
From personalized inventory systems to workspace planning and computerized networking, these local companies have each found their niche in serving the local business community. As a result of their various specializations, these local businesses continue to maintain and grow their business even as national retail office chains have opened for business during the past several years.
Business Furniture Outlet
Jim and Lona Antil opened Business Furniture Outlet 11 years ago to provide customers with quality office furniture and readily-available supplies. Today, that original focus continues, says Jim, "enhanced by our knowledgeable employees, good reputation and continued emphasis on service and quality."
"Having the large office supply superstores in our market has forced each of us to find our own niche," Jim adds. "At Business Furniture Outlet, ours is high quality, middle price range office furniture and a full line of office products available overnight."
Customers are often confused about quality and pricing, and Business Furniture Outlet helps them distinguish between commercial and consumer goods and the various durabilities of each, Lona Antil says. For that reason, the Antils carry furniture they would want in their own offices and say they have found that their customers are looking for the same quality and value they are.
"We know people want to be able to see, touch and sit on the furniture they are considering far their offices, so we have expanded our showroom to 7,500 square feet," says Jim. "And, because of our wholesale relationships, the furniture can be ordered and often delivered within days after our customers have made their selections."
In addition to working with customers to regularly fill their office supply needs with immediate delivery, when furniture is being considered, Tim, Lona and the Business Furniture Outlet staff will help the customer plan the work space to best fit the needs. When office machines or computers are needed, Jim says, "we will research the need and then refer our customers to the most appropriate supplier, because we have not expanded our services to meet that very specialized need."
The future looks good for local office supply and furniture businesses, according to the Antils, because customers appreciate the higher service they can provide and the local aspect of their business.
"We know we have to earn our customers' business," says Jim, "and we continue to work to meet our customers' needs. We stress, too, that we are locally owned and that we are using local services for our own business needs, too."
Cheers
What started in 1976 as a specialty business with a larger focus on gift and entertainment needs has evolved to a business primarily focused on office furniture, especially the home office market.
"As a local office furniture option, we are able to provide an exclusive furniture product line that, in addition to function and durability, offers a specialized design option," says John Hoffman, Cheers president. "Our TechLine furniture can work as an accent to an office, complementing the surroundings, whether within a business or home environment. Because Cheers' furniture is more durable than the lower quality offered by the chains, the Cheers' customer will get a more creative design with superior quality."
While there is no "typical" Cheers business customer, many are small businesses and families who have offices and computer rooms within their homes. Customers visiting Cheers can see a variety of office furniture components, and the Cheers staff is always available to go to the customer's office to plan the space and furniture needs.
"Our business has really been fueled by the explosion in computer sales," says Hoffman. "Our customers want quality office furniture designed to hold a full computer system and all the accessories. To accommodate those needs, we work with our customers to design a component system specifically for them."
Hoffman also believes the future is positive for local office furniture stores, as customers continue to look for quality and durability at an affordable price.
"Our niche is to provide quality components through a mid-range furniture line that has high style but not high prices," Hoffman says. "We know we will continue to see changes in the customers' needs and by changing with the customers, local office furniture stores like Cheers will thrive."
Duffy's Office Products
Duffy's Office Products is a local retailer that has grown since opening in 1954 as a calculator and typewriter supplier. Today, Duffy's Office Products is a full-service supplier of office supplies, furniture, machines and computers, with stores in both Fort Wayne and Decatur.
"Through our two stores, we offer a full line of office supplies and furniture in addition to imaging products such as printers, copiers, computers and computer networks," says Kirk Gumpp, president. "Our Decatur store is a more traditional office supply store with large inventory, while our Fort Wayne store has less physical inventory but immediate accessibility to all products."
The niche that Duffy's Office Products believes it fills as it competes with he national retailers is serving customers who value their time, Gumpp says.
"Because of the presence of national retail chains competing with us for business, we have focused our business on the customer who can use their time more efficiently by allowing us to service their office needs with customized inventory systems, furniture designs and computer systems."
To offer the customer more time to conduct his or her business, Duffy's staff provide computerized connections to customers, allowing supply orders and updates to be transmitted electronically. They are also installing digital office equipment which works with computers and computer networks to provide the customer with even greater efficiencies of time.
"Our customers are cost conscious, but in addition to looking at the bottom line cost of our individual products, they are calculating the time savings we provide," says Gumpp. "And, by saving them and their employees time, we are saving them dollars because that time is now available for working, not ordering supplies and managing paperwork."
In addition to office supplies, Duffy's provides its customers with office furniture and machines, working with them to assess the needs, design the layout and potential equipment connections, and then set up and deliver the furniture and machinery.
"We really provide our customers with full-service office needs and act as a consultant to them," Gumpp says. "We want to be a long-term partner, working with our customers and designing solutions. That is what saves them time and allows them to focus on the growth and development of their business while we take care of their operational needs."
As the future unfolds for the businesses of tomorrow, Duffy's Office Products sees a positive future for local office supply and furniture stores. "Just as the national retailers have forced us to look at the way we do business and the services we provide, the on-going changes in technology and business needs will continue to do that as well," says Gumpp.
O'Reilly's Office Plus
Since 1923, O'Reilly's Office Plus has been providing its customers with the office supplies and furniture they need to operate large and small businesses alike. And today, through an affiliation with a large national network of more than 400 retailers like themselves, the cost benefits of cooperative purchasing power brings cost savings to the O'Reilly's customer.
"We are in a position to be as competitive as any other business supply and furniture retailer," says Tom O'Reilly Jr., vice president. "We work to keep our costs in line and are able to pass those savings on to our customers who want the best value for their dollar."
Through catalogs guaranteeing low prices to salespeople who provide the customer service O'Reilly's believes in, "the customer is the one who benefits," says O'Reilly. "And our next day delivery and set-up enhances that service for the customer."
From custom inventory and ordering programs for customers to furniture and workspace design, O'Reilly's works with its customers to meet their specific needs and budgets. Similar to other local business furniture retailers, O'Reilly's also encourages customers to select effective designs for work areas using quality furniture and accessories.
"In competing with the national retailers in our area, we are proud of our history of local ownership," says O'Reilly. "We have continued to support the community while providing a higher degree of service and turn-around time than I believe the larger corporate retailer can provide. And, because of a knowledgeable staff who have, in some cases been employees for more than 30 years, we know our customers and their needs, and can continue to service them well."
Workspace Solutions
Throughout its 24 years in business, Workspace Solutions has also adapted to meet the changing needs of its customers. Starting as a used office furniture and store fixtures business, Workspace Solutions has developed into a full-service office furniture and store fixtures retailer.
"As the national retail chains came into this market, we recognized that they were catering more to the home office and those who needed to purchase a less expensive product," says co-owner Brent Stoller. "We are focusing on the customer who wants a long-term relationship with their supplier and wants a higher quality and level of service."
Stoller also has seen an increase in the number of customers who want furniture for home-based computer workstations. Stoller and two full-time sales people work with these customers and other business office customers to plan the workspace and look for the furniture solutions that will fit the individual needs. Workspace Solutions has added a staff person who can serve the repair needs of customers, from touch-ups to helping the available used furniture look even better, too.
Store fixture sales are a niche filled by Workspace Solutions for the customer who needs display cases, shelving and grid wall components.
"We are a local source for these items within our region," says Stoller, "and that is a growing segment of our business. As a result, we have recently expanded our showroom to accommodate more products that allow the customer to see the options they have."
One service niche Stoller feels Workspace Solutions offers is the continuity of its efforts with the customer. Because the staff member who talks with the customer initially is the same one who designs the layouts and does the ordering and final coordinations, customers can be sure they are getting the best service.
"We spend considerable time with each customer to determine their needs and that consistency with the same person throughout the process is what I believe sets us apart," Stoller says. "In contrast to mail order, which is another competitor of us local retailers, we offer the ability for customers to see what they are getting and plan how a piece of furniture or a store fixture will fit in advance."
