Minneapolis, MN (January, 2018) – Innovative Office Solutions has acquired Brown & Saenger, marking Innovative’s first geographical expansion beyond the borders of Minnesota. The company will continue to operate under the Innovative Office Solutions brand and have locations throughout Minnesota, South Dakota & North Dakota.
Jennifer Smith, the CEO and founder of Innovative Office Solutions, started her business products company in 2001, and has navigated its continued growth through two recessions by investing in staff, technology and new business categories. The combined company will employ almost 300 people in 12 locations.
Brown and Saenger was established in 1889 and for the most recent 30 years has been owned and led by president and industry veteran Lyle D. Dabbert. Lyle first worked at Brown & Saenger at the age of 14 and in 1991 became President. Providing Business Products, Office Furniture, Printing, Embroidery and Screen Printing, Brown & Saenger has a long history as a highly respected organization throughout South Dakota and North Dakota.
This move comes on the heels of Innovative being awarded the office supply contracts for both the State of South Dakota and the State of North Dakota. It signals a continued commitment to growth for Innovative and establishes a presence to provide more localized support to customers in South Dakota and North Dakota.
Representing another huge step forward for one of Minnesota’s most dynamic and progressive companies, Innovative Office Solutions strives to bring national capabilities and service to customers at a local level. Innovative provides a single source, solution-based approach with an emphasis on workplace productivity. The addition of Brown & Saenger not only brings new locations and extensive industry experience, but also deeper expertise in categories that are growing quickly for Innovative, such as Promotional Products with in-house embroidery and screen printing.
A Winning Culture
Throughout its growth, Innovative Office Solutions has made it a priority to maintain the culture that made it successful in the first place. “Our culture has always been a source of pride for me” Smith said. “We’ve created a culture of growth and empowered our employees to take care of our customers through a clearly defined set of core values and brand promise. It’s allowed us to
grow rapidly while maintaining clear expectations and keeping Innovative a fun and rewarding place to work.”
Innovative Office Solutions has landed on the MN Business 100 Best Places to Work list for six consecutive years by offering a health friendly workplace with initiatives such as sit-stand desks, daily workouts and health-based incentives.
That winning culture has given Innovative a unique spot in the marketplace as a business that deftly combines their large-scale technology and supplier partnerships with the touch and feel of a small company.
Simply put, Innovative Office Solutions provides the customized solutions and services you expect from smaller local organizations with all the capabilities, resources, products, services and technology a larger company offers. This model has proven to be successful as businesses flock to the personalized service offered by Innovative.
Moving Forward
“This acquisition will combine two of the strongest independent dealers in the Upper Midwest and will enable us to provide even more services and solutions to our customers, and new opportunities for our employees and supplier partners,” said Smith.
Lyle D. Dabbert, the President of Brown & Saenger, weighed in, “Brown & Saenger has had a long history of taking care of the needs of our clients with quality products and exceptional service. We know that with us being a part of Innovative Office Solutions our clients will continue to enjoy these same values as they always have. Equally important, our team members will continue to enjoy the benefits of being with an Independent Office Products Dealership.”
This is a collaborative acquisition that will bring both companies together under a single brand. Innovative Office Solutions will inherit the people and services of Brown & Saenger, thus allowing customers to maintain continuity with their existing relationships, while adding expanded capabilities to the customers of both organizations. Lyle D. Dabbert will continue on as President of the newly expanded region.
The combined talents, technology and expertise of the two companies will bring more options to clients of both organizations and continue to deliver flexible solutions to their clients through a model of personalized local support.
In Tune with Today’s Ever-Evolving Workplace
Trends like digitization, mobility and millennials entering the workforce have all had a huge impact on how businesses operate and the types of solutions they need. This acquisition allows Innovative Office Solutions to take advantage of the strengths and experience of both organizations to deliver forward-looking, up-to-date solutions that align with customer needs. With a foundation of experience, combined with fresh ideas, more flexibility and technology, the organization is set up better than ever to serve the needs of today’s workplace.
About Innovative Office Solutions
Founded in 2001 by CEO Jennifer Smith, Innovative Office Solutions is a progressive, independent provider of office productivity solutions with a vision towards making the workplace more productive. The products & services offered by Innovative include office supplies, furniture & design, cleaning supplies, breakroom products, promotional products, technology solutions, print & graphic design. This full portfolio is delivered in a personalized, relationship focused, approach designed to deliver the right solution to meet the unique needs of any organization.
Clients include the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Wild, St. Paul Saints, and Minnesota United FC. Innovative partners with each of these professional sports teams to give back to the community through its InSports Foundation and a variety of sports-themed initiatives.
- CEO Jennifer Smith recognized as 100 People to Know in 2018 by Twin Cities Business.
- Placed #22 on the 2017 Fast 50 presented by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
- Smith awarded 2017 Upper Midwest Entrepreneur of the Year by EY.
- Minnesota Businesses 100 Best Places to Work Award for six straight years.
- 2017 Boldest of the Bold Award by Association for Corporate Growth Minnesota.
- Ranked in the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States for nine
years. - In 2017 Smith was recognized in The (Real) Power 50 by Minnesota Business Magazine.
About Brown & Saenger
With a 128-year-strong history, Brown & Saenger has been a fixture in communities throughout South Dakota and North Dakota. Providing a unique blend of products and services to meet the needs of today’s business, including Business Products, Office Furniture and Printing & Promotional Products. Brown & Saenger has 88 employees in nine locations.
Contacts:
For more information please contact Jason Player, Chief Marketing Officer, at 952-698-9200.
