From Deseret News archives:

Kaysville-based ABC Office celebrates 25th anniversary

Big-box stores have not hurt sales of business products

Published: Tuesday, April 5, 2005 1:37 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Paper shredders, collators, staplers and office furniture aren't limited to big-box stores like OfficeMax and Staples.

Kaysville-based ABC Office has reached a 25-year milestone in selling office supplies. And according to David Stuart, marketing supervisor for the company, the big-box stores have not dampened sales.

"One of the things that we've found is that they sell more pens, fax machines, computers, paper, envelopes," Stuart said. "We sell more of the high-end specialized equipment."

That high-end equipment includes paper folder inserters, shredders, paper cutters and roll laminators.

"Every once in a while," Stuart said, "we'll actually get a call from some OfficeDepot or OfficeMax, and they'll actually buy stuff from us when they do get a request for some odd stuff like that."

ABC Office began when William Barlow started it as a Bountiful home-business in 1980. It soon moved into Bountiful's business district, catering to print shops and copy centers.

By the 1990s, the company took advantage of the Internet, launching a Web site. Calls and orders soon started coming in from around the world.

Story continues below
The existing Bountiful location was quickly outgrown. Calvin and Brent Barlow, current owners and sons of William Barlow, built a new 27,000-square-foot display floor and warehouse in Kaysville.

Today, the company ships its products throughout North America and Asia, as well as to Europe and the Middle East. The company employs 30 people, many of them working in sales and in the company's Web department.

The company's product line also has expanded to include security equipment, display racks and photo identification equipment. Paper shredders are one of the most popular products sold.

"ABC Office is a true realization of the American Dream," according to a prepared statement by the company. "In only 25 years, ABC Office has gone from a door-to-door, home-based business to an international leader in high-end office equipment, accessories and supplies."


E-mail: danderton@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image

Calvin Barlow, left, and Brent Barlow at their Kaysville building.

previousnext

Latest comments

Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?

if U fails to respond but not if the Y stays above the fray. UHypocritesU

This issue is tiresome. Can we move on. Who really cares? There are issues...

Galen, Ice core analysis has shown that the atmospheric CO2 level has...

Religion in politics is tiresome

The LDS scriptures have a verse specifically for this very topic. D&C...

Teen girl killed in Kaysville crash

That HORRIBLE intersection has had full engineering plans in-place for many...

Lori, we are so happy and proud you are Ms. Volleyball this year! You deserve...

Darts shake off rust for win

We are looking forward to hosting you on Friday night. See you at the...

MWC awaits bowl destinations

Just heard on 1280 the Zone: BYU likely headed to San Diego to play USC in...

Time to move on and get on with life. I am a big BYU fan but have never...

Most Utahns unhappy with Obama

"This is great news. Utah is a back water of conservative zombies marching...

Advertisements