Four Decades of Serving
Central Minnesota Businesses
Some businesses start with a big vision and a big budget. Ours started with 400 square feet and a commitment to taking care of people. Since 1983, The Office Shop has grown from a small storefront in downtown Aitkin into a two-location operation serving businesses across central and northern Minnesota — and we're just getting started.
From a Storefront in Aitkin to
Central Minnesota's Go-To Office Source
1983
A 400-square-foot start.
Scott and Jodie Johnson opened The Office Shop in January of 1983 in a tiny storefront in downtown Aitkin — built on one idea big-box stores couldn't copy: know your customers by name, and actually care about their business.
Soon After
Outgrowing the first four walls.
Word got around. Demand grew faster than the shelves could hold, so the shop expanded into a 5,000-square-foot building — more room for supplies, furniture, and the customers who kept coming back.
1995
A second home in Brainerd.
In 1995, The Office Shop opened an 18,000-square-foot location in Brainerd — cementing its place as the go-to office resource for the entire Brainerd Lakes area.
Today
Still the same shop at heart.
Today, 21 people across both stores carry on what Scott and Jodie started — deep experience in supplies, furniture, equipment, and service, and the same goal every single day: take great care of every customer.
A NEW CHAPTER
Backed by Advanced
Business Methods
In March 2024, The Office Shop joined the Advanced Business Methods (ABM) family, a West Fargo–based office products and solutions company. The move was years in the making, with planning that began in spring 2023 and the announcement made that March. For customers, it means more resources and broader product access without losing the local feel that's defined us from the start.
What makes it especially meaningful is the people. Through ABM's Employee Stock Ownership Program, our team are now owners, keeping the business genuinely local and giving everyone a real stake in its future.
"Scott and Jodie Johnson have formed a great locally owned and operated organization with a great staff, and we hope to continue that same path by providing exceptional sales, service, and products that all The Office Shop customers have become accustomed to."
— Jeff Ellingson, President, Advanced Business Methods
WHO WE ARE TODAY
Locally Owned, Employee-Driven.
More than 40 years in, The Office Shop is still the same business at heart — just bigger,
better-resourced, and more connected than ever. Here's what defines us today.
Two Locations,
One Team
Brainerd and Aitkin, staffed
by the same great people
who have served this
community for years.
21 Employees &
Growing
Decades of combined
experience in office supplies,
furniture, copiers, and
customer service.
Employee-Owned
Through ESOP
Our staff aren’t just
employees — they’re owners,
with a personal investment
in doing right by you.
Deep Community
Roots
Part of the Brainerd and
Aitkin business communities
for over four decades — and
we don’t take that lightly.
Ready to Get Started?
Stock up on supplies, explore furniture, get a copier quote, or open a business account — we're here to help. Pick what you're interested in and your message routes straight to the right team.