The transformation of retail business services over the past decade has largely resulted in the slow death of the little guy as big box competitors swamped the market.
Jason Reid sees a different story. His Camas-based operation, Reid Business Services, is doing well thanks to a market strategy based on personalized local service and prices that meet or beat the big guys.
Reid, 44, was already established in the Southwest Washington market, having worked for Southwest Office Systems in Vancouver for 14 years.
Just over two years ago, Reid left to start his own business with the backing of two partners, Bill Sturgill and John Mohr, who operate PEI Manufacturing in Portland.
“I already had relationships in the region,” Reid said. “With our online presence, we see strong growth potential because people like doing business with a company based in Clark County and are often using their mobile devices doing orders on the fly.”
At the company’s Camas office and its website, www.reidbiz.com, shoppers may select from a long list of furniture, copiers, printers and office supplies as well as ink cartridges and huge array of paper products. Reid says he almost always can promise same day delivery, if an order comes in before noon.
As for furniture, he can get it here in three to five business days rather than the weeks it might take through a larger retailer or warehouse supplier.
“That turnaround and our ability to match or beat competitor prices gives us advantages,” Reid said.
Even big box competitors such as Office Depot and Staples may only have 12,000 items on their store shelves while in reality a business owner or office manager may want to choose from one of the 85,000 office items available by direct order or from a wholesaler. Reid Business Services offers that selection.
Nevertheless, competition in the office supply industry remains stiff with narrow profit margins and competition from online operators, warehouse clubs and discount stores.
Staples and Office Depot accounted for 76 percent of total office supply revenue last year, reported IBISWorld, an industry market research firm. Much of the rest of the industry is fragmented with some 7,700 smaller businesses such as Reid Business Services competing for customers. Many smaller suppliers are even without hired employees.
But with gross sales already up 200 percent over last year, Reid hopes to continue to add sales and services staff to his operation, which now employs six people. A year from now, he hopes to have eight to 10 people on board.
Reid’s personalized touch means a face-to-face client meeting that includes an inventory office supply needs. Reid then puts together an order list with custom pricing.
“We are hopeful that long-term we will be well-known in Southwest Washington and the Portland area as a one-stop shop for commercial office furniture, printers and copiers as well as office supplies including paper,” he said.
Part of Reid’s confidence to grow the business stems from the backing of PEI Manufacturing where he shares warehouse space.
PEI makes components for a variety of industries. Among its diverse products are protective cases for delicate dental and medical tools, exhaust traps on tanker truck hoses that supply retail gasoline stations and components for Insitu, the drone aircraft manufacturer in Bingen.
“Bill and John have done something similar with their company to what I am doing,” Reid said. “We are looking for strategic growth at every opportunity.”
Reid Business Services
2848 N.W. 11th Ave., Camas Six employees Founded 2014
