Quill Corporation
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Office supplies retail |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Founder | Jack Miller |
| Fate | Acquired by Staples, Inc. in 1998 |
| Headquarters | Lincolnshire , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Mark Roszkowski (President) |
| Products | Office supplies, technology products, cleaning and breakroom essentials, furniture, safety equipment, professional medical supplies |
| Owner | Staples, Inc. |
Number of employees | 500 ((approximate, date not specified)) |
| Parent | Staples, Inc. |
| Website | www |
Quill Corporation is a U.S.-based office supply retailer established in 1956, with its headquarters situated in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Since 1998, it has operated as a fully owned subsidiary of Staples, catering to more than one million small and medium-sized businesses across the United States, offering access to an inventory exceeding one million items.
The majority of Quill’s revenue—over 70%—originates from online sales, supported by mail-order and direct selling channels. Although office supplies remain the core focus, the company also provides technology products, cleaning and breakroom essentials, furniture, safety equipment, and professional medical supplies through its Quill Healthcare division. Between 1998 and 2009, Quill’s annual revenue surged from $500 million to beyond $1 billion. The organization employs roughly 500 staff members and manages twelve distribution centers nationwide. Mark Roszkowski serves as president of this Staples subsidiary.
History
Entrepreneur Jack Miller founded Quill in 1956 with an initial $2,000 loan from his father-in-law. The business began operations from the rear of Miller’s father’s poultry store located in Chicago. Initially dependent on direct sales efforts, Jack and his brother Harvey expanded the company’s reach by introducing mail-order campaigns featuring discounted pricing and complimentary shipping, positioning Quill as one of America’s pioneering mail-order enterprises.
By 1974, the company achieved annual revenues of $3.5 million, which expanded dramatically to $180 million by 1986. The mail-order segment flourished, distributing over 40 million catalogs annually to approximately 600,000 customers and showcasing a product range exceeding 9,000 items. In 1996, Quill launched its online platform at Quill.com. Two years later, in 1998, Staples acquired Quill for around $685 million. After the acquisition, Jack Miller founded the Jack Miller Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting education on the founding principles of America.
Online
By 2008, Quill.com attracted upwards of one million visitors each year, underscoring its robust market presence. In 2014, Quill Corporation bolstered customer interaction through the introduction of a dedicated coupons page alongside the Cafe Quill blog, which provides small and mid-sized businesses with insights on leadership in the workplace, productivity enhancement, and community involvement. That same year saw the launch of Quill Ideas, a platform designed to gather customer feedback and refine the user experience. In 2016, Quill broadened its offerings by unveiling QuillPlus, a loyalty program featuring two membership levels—blue and gold—aimed at fostering customer retention and supporting business expansion.
Community
Since 2010, Quill has actively engaged in community initiatives such as participating in Chicago’s WGN-TV Back-to-School Kids Fair, where it distributed 1,500 backpacks filled with school supplies to students. Beginning in 2014, Quill partnered with the Orlando Magic to support educational programs by awarding $10,000 in Quill cash to the Magic Educator of the Year and providing $500 monthly prizes to outstanding teachers. This collaboration extended in 2015 with efforts to renovate a computer lab at the James R. Smith Community Center in Orlando by supplying updated technology and furniture—demonstrating Quill’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and strengthening its brand influence within the market.
Dunder Mifflin campaign
In 2011, Quill introduced a copy paper line branded as Dunder Mifflin, drawing inspiration from the well-known NBC comedy series, The Office. By 2012, this product became one of the top five bestsellers. Building on this momentum, Quill broadened the Dunder Mifflin collection to incorporate sticky notes, notepads, and storage containers—many showcasing distinctive features such as notepads designed to indicate coworkers’ availability. This initiative consistently generated double-digit annual growth. NBC retains a 6% share of revenue from Dunder Mifflin merchandise.
Acquisitions
On April 7, 1998, Staples, Inc. declared its intention to acquire Quill Corporation for $685 million through a combination of fixed and variable stock payments. This move enhanced Staples’ foothold in the office products sector, particularly boosting its business sales segment, which had previously contributed only about 20% of its roughly $1 billion revenue in 1997. Following the acquisition, Quill preserved its Lincolnshire, Illinois headquarters along with its brand identity and leadership team.
In July 2002, Staples purchased Medical Arts Press, based in Minneapolis, for $385 million, integrating it as a Quill subsidiary. Founded in 1950, Medical Arts Press specializes in front-office supplies tailored for healthcare providers. Its offerings include specialized filing solutions, government-compliant forms, office furniture, patient communication tools, ink and toner cartridges, and breakroom essentials.
Quill further expanded by acquiring SmileMakers and Hayes Marketing Inc. (HMI), both known for creative promotional items such as giveaway products and marketing postcards aimed at boosting patient engagement and practice promotion.
Tagline
In 2014, Quill unveiled the branding slogan "A small part of your job is 100% of ours," reflecting its broadened product portfolio. This campaign highlights Quill’s role as a versatile supplier serving various industries including retail, foodservice, education, industrial sectors, and hospitality.
Timeline
- 1956 — Jack Miller establishes Quill in Chicago, Illinois
- 1957 — Opens initial office and warehouse facilities
- 1963 — Debuts first extensive mail-order catalog
- 1974 — Achieves $3.5 million in yearly sales
- 1986 — Reaches $180 million in annual revenue
- 1992 — Participates in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota Supreme Court case regarding tax collection authority (decision reversed in 2018)
- 1995 — Adds school supplies for elementary and secondary education to product line
- 1996 — Launches e-commerce site Quill.com
- 1998 — Acquired by Staples, Inc.
- 2000 — Larry Morse named president
- July 2002 — Medical Arts Press incorporated as subsidiary
- 2004 — Earns BizRate.com "Circle of Excellence" Platinum Award for customer service
- 2006 — Introduces "So fast, so simple" branding; debuts mascot "Clips" celebrating 50 years
- June 23, 2006 — Marks company’s 50th anniversary
- 2007 — Receives J.D. Power recognition for exceptional customer service; expands to twelve distribution centers; online sales constitute 70% of total revenue
- 2008 — Launches Green Scene initiative promoting eco-friendly products and practices; again honored by J.D. Power
- 2009 — Reduces workforce at ARDC; rebrands as Quill.com with new tagline "Best experience in office products"; establishes presence on Facebook and Twitter
- 2014 — Debuts "A small part of your job is 100% of our job." advertising campaign
- 2023 — Introduces "the rewarding workplace" branding campaign along with updated website design and new rewards program
External links
- Articles with short description
- Staples Inc.
- American companies founded in 1956
- Retail businesses established in 1956
- Mergers and acquisitions in 1998
- Formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange
- Office supply retailers in the United States
- Lincolnshire, Illinois
- Companies headquartered in Lake County, Illinois
- Establishments in Illinois in 1956
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
- American companies established in 1956