Minneapolis, MN (August, 2016) – Innovative Office Solutions, one of the largest providers of Office Productivity Supplies & Services in the country, has acquired the Office Supplies, Point of Sale Supplies & Furniture division of North Country Business Products, a large POS solutions provider, based in Bemidji, Minnesota.
Jennifer Smith, the CEO and founder of Innovative Office Solutions, started her office supply company in 2001 and has led its growth to revenues in excess of $100M by investing in staff, technology and new business categories. Her strong leadership has set the tone for growth as the company has evolved from an office supply company to one with a broad portfolio of products & services designed to empower organizations nationwide to reach their goals. Grounded with a “Relationships Matter” belief system, Innovative provides its clients with the capability and benefits of a large national company, combined with the service and feel of a local Minnesota business.
On the heels of the acquisition of S&T Office Products in 2015, this acquisition further demonstrates Innovative’s commitment to growth and bringing its unique approach to customers throughout the Upper Midwest.
North Country Business Products is one of the largest POS solutions providers in the country. For almost 70 years North Country has provided Minnesota businesses with office supplies, point of sale (POS) supplies, furniture, and POS solutions. The sale of the supplies and furniture division is part of a strategic realignment for North Country Business Products who plans to expand its grocery, hospitality and C-Store Point-of-Sale (POS) solutions as well as POS security systems throughout the United States.
The addition of the Office Supplies, Point of Sale Supplies & Furniture division of North Country Business Products is a perfect complement to the Innovative Office Solutions brand and growth strategy. It strengthens Innovative’s position in northwestern Minnesota, allowing Innovative to better service existing customers in the region while bringing new tools and opportunities to customers of North Country.
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. A culture focused on relationships, bringing the best service to its customers, helping employees attain their goals, and being a good partner to suppliers.
“When we started Innovative, it was to fill a gap in the market where service was suffering in the industry. We brought service back through our Relationships Matter belief system, and combined that with the technology and partnerships necessary to compete in the marketplace,” Smith said. “We’ve created a growth culture, but kept it a fun and rewarding place to work and that attitude has resonated with our customers.”
Innovative Office Solutions has landed on the MN Business 100 Best Places to Work list for four 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.
Moving Forward
“This acquisition provides the opportunity to strengthen our position in northwestern Minnesota and gain the expertise of a strong local company. Additionally, it allows us to bring more local representation to our customers in the region, and new services, technology and expertise to customers of North Country Business Products”, said Smith.
This acquisition will bring the Office Supplies and Furniture division of North Country Business Products into the Innovative Office Solutions brand while North Country Business Products focuses on its Point-of-Sale (POS) solutions. It will provide customers of North Country Business Products access to a significantly deeper portfolio of products & services, combined with the same local representation and service they’re used to.
“I am pleased that we were able to find a great home for the Office Supplies, Point of Sale Supplies and Furniture business with Innovative Office Solutions. With similar core values and focus on customer satisfaction, we are confident that our customers will be well cared for. This divesture enables NCBP to focus on supporting and expanding out POS business. We are excited about the future possibilities for providing optimal products, services, and support in the grocery and hospitality markets, “ said Kris Rydberg President and CEO of North Country Business Products.
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 focus on 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 US Bank Stadium and the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx, St. Paul Saints, and Minnesota United FC. Innovative partners with each of these professional sports teams to give back to the community through a variety of sports-themed initiatives. Additionally, Innovative operates its InSports Foundation with the goal of helping 10,000 kids experience the life lessons associated with sports.
* Minnesota Businesses 100 Best Places to Work Award for four straight years.
* 2014 Women’s Presidents’ Organization, 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies for the fourth consecutive year.
* Ranked in the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States for eight years.
* CEO Smith has been featured in Forbes magazine and was the cover story for Upsize Magazine in January, 2010.
* CEO Smith was a finalist for the 2014 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Midwest.
* In 2010 Smith was recognized as WBE of the Year, presented by Women’s Business Development Center of Minnesota.
About North Country Business Products
NCBP is one of the largest POS solution providers in the United States, partnering with such leading technology companies as: Toshiba, LOC, HP, Datalogic, and Oracle Hospitality. NCBP specializes in the sale, deployment, training, hosting and 24×7 support of POS solutions. NCBP currently has 18 locations and does business in over 20 states. NCBP is a 100% Employee Owned Company. For more information, please visit ncbpinc.com.
Contacts:
For more information please contact:
Jason Player, Innovative Office Solutions at 952-698-9200, [email protected]
Ana Versaggi, North Country Business Products at 763-509-6025, [email protected]
