OfficeWorks Back to the 80's

OfficeWorks started in 1984 after a conversation between Tom O'Neil and a former Xerox colleague, now a Territory Manager for Herman Miller. Despite modest initial sales of $392, the company grew rapidly, reaching $10.8M by the end of the 1980s.

OfficeWorks Back to the 1980s
OfficeWorks Founder Tom O'Neil

Back to the 1980's

"The whole concept of what was to become Officeworks started with a discussion in late 1983 with a former colleague from my sales team at Xerox. He had left Xerox a year after I had and his new role was the Territory Manager for Herman Miller. His top objective was to find a new dealer for the Central Indiana market. Despite being two years into a new career in commercial real estate with the FC Tucker company, I agreed to explore the opportunity. After researching Herman Miller and the contract furniture industry, I saw the potential for a $3 - $5M business. Following several recruiting visits to Herman Miller's HQ in Michigan, we agreed with a handshake to become the new Herman Miller dealer in Indianapolis.

The following six months were a whirlwind of activity, involving the creation of a new company, building and furnishing a showroom, hiring team members, and creating the first business plan. On October 1, 1984, Officeworks opened in a vacant office in Merchants Plaza with borrowed and broken furniture. Sales for that year were a modest $392.00. However, by 1986, sales grew to $2.1M, and Officeworks became one of the five original Office Pavilions in the country, a new distribution concept from Herman Miller. Leveraging Herman Miller's strong resources and assembling a talented and engaged team, Officeworks experienced a growth track of over 500% in the next three years, reaching $10.8M in sales by the end of the decade. I recall those early years as a time of excitement, anticipation, fear, and "now what?" As with most small businesses, the team wore many hats, including unloading 18-wheelers on the loading dock at both Merchants and Castleton."

OfficeWorks in the 80s

Office Works Decade 80s 1984

1984

As a response to Herman Miller’s desire to create a more holistic approach to the work environment in Central Indiana, our CEO, Tom O’Neil, founded OfficeWorks along with executives from FC Tucker commercial real estate.

OfficeWorks Back to the 1980s

1985:

Herman Miller introduces Ethospace, a revolutionary frame and tile design for systems furniture that brought enhanced aesthetics and flexibility to the work environment.

OfficeWorks Back to the 1980s

1986:

OfficeWorks becomes one of the five original Office Pavilions, a designation from Herman Miller. This partnership provided OfficeWorks with significant brand recognition and access to a curated collection of high-quality office furniture.

OfficeWorks Back to the 1980s

1987:

OfficeWorks moves to a larger showroom in the Capital Center and opens a branch office in Lafayette, IN

OfficeWorks Back to the 1980s

1988:

OfficeWorks celebrates the opening of the new Indianapolis Zoo with a series of ads incorporating a playful combination of wild animals and iconic Herman Miller products

Creating great places to work, learn, and heal since 1984.

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