Advanced Business Methods (ABM), an office products and solutions company headquartered in West Fargo, North Dakota, has acquired The Office Shop, a Brainerd and Aitkin, Minnesota-based office equipment, furniture, and supply source. The official announcement was made in Brainerd on Wednesday, March 13. The move to acquire The Office Shop began in Spring of 2023.
“We are excited to be partnering with a great local organization with deep roots in the communities,” said Jeff Ellingson, president of ABM. “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 too. We are also thrilled that the local ownership will remain in these communities as The Office Shop employees are becoming owners of The Office Shop through our ESOP (employee stock ownership program), which will help continue the local hometown feel that The Office Shop is known for.”
The acquisition of The Office Shop continues ABM’s mission and growth strategy. With the addition of The Office Shop, ABM will be able to add a central Minnesota location. ABM will expand its offerings in these communities to include locally delivered supplies as well as office furniture, which has been a staple of The Office Shop business.
According to Scott Johnson, the president of The Office Shop., “When Jodie and I started our company over 41 years ago, we built our business by taking exceptional care of our customers and our employees. Joining the ABM team, we know that our customers will continue to have that same exceptional service and support they have always had. We are very excited to continue to be providing service to our local communities and to be part of an employee-owned business.”
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About Advanced Business Methods
Advanced Business Methods (ABM), a North Dakota Company, has been in the office machines business for 53 years representing its product lines from Canon, Ricoh/Savin, Kyocera, Lexmark, and HP. ABM currently has additional offices in West Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Dickinson, and Minot, North Dakota; and resident technicians located in Williston, Devils Lake, Wahpeton North Dakota, and Bemidji, Minnesota.
ABM is a 100% employee-owned company (ESOP). Currently, there are approximately 90 owners/employees on staff providing services and support. ABM owns and operates its own leasing company, thus not having the lease contract sold through a third party. The ABM ESOP also owns and operates an IT services division. ABM services all of North Dakota, Northern South Dakota, as well as Eastern Montana and Western Minnesota and now Central Minnesota. This number does not reflect the hundreds more supported throughout the United States with their many National Account customers.
