Leslie Office Supply Store Joins Chain

Leslie Office Supply store joins chain

By RUSSELL GRANTHAM

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

The store's new parent company, U.S. Office Products, has annual sales of about $3 billion.

Leslie Office Supply Inc., a 35-year-old Ann Arbor retailer, became the latest independently owned office supply store to join the swelling ranks of office supply superstores and chain-owned operations.

DBI Business Interiors, a Lansing-based subsidiary of U.S. Office Products, has acquired the family-owned store at 2231 W. Liberty "St., said Dale Leslie, president of the company. His parents, Richard and Grace Leslie, founded the store in 1961.

Leslie said such acquisitions have become commonplace as stiff competition with office supply superstore chains such Office Max and Office Depot have dramatically cut into the market of independently-owned stores over the past 10 years.

“I can tell you that it’s certainly not unique,” said Leslie, adding that he has been happy with March 27 sale to U.S. Office Products because the company agreed to retain the store’s six employees and current name.

“We are pleased with our acquisition by U.S. Office Pro-ducts/DBI,” he said. “They can offer a broader product mix at a more competitive price than we were able to market.”

Leslie, who no longer works at the store, said he will seek other employment in the area. “My career options are before me. I haven’t made any firm plans,” he said.

A manager at Leslie Office Supply said the store’s new parent company, U.S. Office Products, has annual sales of about $3 billion. She referred other questions to DBI’s Lansing office, where an official could not be reached for comment.

The acquisition leaves the Ann Arbor area, which already has an Office Max and an Office Depot, with few independently owned office supply stores. A handful also remain in other towns in the area, such as Ypsilanti and Chelsea. Several other stores sell office furniture or also sell office supplies but concentrate on textbooks or art supplies.