Iola Office Supplies doesn’t sell as many pen and pencil sets or briefcases as they once did for Christmas gifts. Instead, more substantial items such as office chairs are popular purchases.
“We have a good selection of chairs and reasonably priced,” said owner Ron Moore.
Iola Office Supplies is on the west side of Iola’s downtown business district, at 4 S. Washington, and is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“We still have pen and pencil sets and I ordered in briefcases that are on sale” for those who want such traditional gifts, Moore said, but he noted that information now kept on electronic devices had replaced the need of many for a briefcase to carry those things in hard copy.
THE BUSINESS has had several owners the past 40 years. Moore became involved in 1998 as a part-owner and has been the sole owner since Nov. 1. Moore is assisted by Sherry Barclay, who usually greets customers and handles parcel post deliveries.
The store, by Moore’s account, has everything needed for a modern office, from paper to envelopes to paper clips. “We also stock copiers and printers and have a wide variety of Hon and Lorell office furniture,” he said, adding, “Hon brand furniture is made in the U.S.” The store also has a Hon knockoff, Basic, that’s made in China.
Moore said area government and business offices depend on Iola Office Supplies for many of their daily needs and “we’re doing more with schools than we used to.”
He runs a daily delivery route that frequently has him driving to destinations up to 60 miles in every direction from Iola. “I’m often in Fredonia, Erie, LaCygne, Garnett and even Burlingame,” where Allen County Community College has a campus.
“We also sell supplies of all sorts to mom and pop stores in the area,” he said.
In addition to potential Christmas gifts, Iola Office Supplies has a good stock of Christmas wrapping paper and Hallmark stationery, Moore said, and he and Barclay can help get packages or greetings to friends and family anywhere through UPS and fax services.
The store’s telephone number is 365-7787.
