Topic: Cleveland: Office Max News & Info

[KJP]

Push Underway To Keep OfficeMax In Town     
05-27-2005 6:42 AM

(Cleveland, OH) -- Northeast Ohio leaders are trying to craft proposals to keep OfficeMax's local headquarters open. The office supply company has been based in Shaker Heights, but could leave the region in a consolidation with parent company Boise Cascade. Cleveland city officials say possible sites for the combined companies' headquarters are in Ohio and Illinois, where Boise is based. They're supporting Shaker Heights' push to keep the existing 600 jobs, with the possibility of another 500 to 600 workers moving to the area. Boise Cascade officials say there are no immediate plans to consolidate its corporate jobs, but a streamlining process is necessary to shore up the bottom line.

For more info, click the link
Copyright 2005 Metro Networks Communications Inc., A Westwood One Company 

[Oldmanladyluck]

We'll see what comes of this... hopefully our elected officials will be able to come up with something, and hopefully Office Max'll stay in Shaker.

[the pope]

anyone know who the CEO or COO is right now?

[Jeff]

I had no idea Officemax was HQed in Cleveland!

[mrnyc]

^jeff it was a cleveland area company, but it got bought out. thus this inevitable "bottom line" hq battle. ugh.

[zaceman]

NE Ohio offering OfficeMax HQ sites
Friday, June 24, 2005
Henry J. Gomez
Plain Dealer Reporter

Two downtown Cleveland sites are in the mix to be the next corporate home of OfficeMax Inc., the office supply retailer looking to consolidate its global headquarters in either Northeast Ohio or suburban Chicago.

For more info, click the link
www.plaindealer.com

[Oldmanladyluck]

We have to keep them here.  Cleveland dosen't need another company leaving.

[MyTwoSense]

500+ downtown would be great!

they would just be riding the rapid in a different direction!!

[AtlantaMan]

From the business section of the 7/27/05 edition of the Chicago Tribune

Illinois trying to stave off OfficeMax move to Cleveland

THOMAS A. CORFMAN
Published July 27, 2005


The Illinois economic development agency is in talks with Itasca-based OfficeMax Inc. about financial incentives that could stave off a headquarters move to the Cleveland area.

For more info, click the link
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0507270035jul27,1,718298.story?coll=chi-business-hed

[mrnyc]

very good staubach is doing this decision, they "lean" cleveland!

also, if office max has had corruption problems, chicago is the last place you would want to be located in -- hehe!

[sooner]

There was an open letter from Jane Campbell in this morning Plain Dealer.  Sorry I don't have it to post...but it was a discussion of the regional cooperative effort to keep office max and the DFAS jobs in the region.  In short, Saker and Cleveland cooperated to either locate the offices in Shaker or downtown, with a plan to re-develope the shaker campus if Office Max moved downtown.  Of course it's an election year, but it is good to see some regional cooperation...and it would be great to get Office Max in the Higbee bldg.
Regarding the DFAS jobs, more hearings have exposed Defense Dept bias against the Cleveland office.  The good news is that it is a very transparent and lame effort which has been recognised by the right people.

[MyTwoSense]

There was an open letter from Jane Campbell in this morning Plain Dealer.  Sorry I don't have it to post...

Here is the letter

More cooperation, creativity and jobs
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Judy Rawson and Jane Campbell

Recently the leaders of our region worked together to retain 1,200 Defense Finance and Accounting Service jobs. Our combined efforts resulted in the demand for a complete review of the DFAS consolidation process and analyses in Washington, D.C., which should lead to retention of these critically important jobs. Leadership from multiple governments and representatives from the region's private sector joined to make this happen.

For more info, click the link
www.plaindealer.com

[MayDay]

THIS is exactly why I am glad that Mike White isn't in office. There has never been this level of cooperation, especially concerning economic development between Cleveland and its suburbs.

[KJP]

Campbell ought to be careful. She's gonna get herself re-elected by forging partnerships like that. If Office Max and DFAS both stay, it's a cinch.

KJP

[punch]

Her administration took a huge turn for the better once Roynanne (?sp) became chief of staff.  I am proud she is mayor right now.

[pcforsgren]

she has made a remarkable turnaround since Ronayne came on board.  The amount of projects announced in the last few months has been pretty spectacular.  If this keeps up, she deserves another term to see what else she can do.

[WoollyBear]

Let's get it done!


Taking it to the max for OfficeMax
Area leaders make 'best and final offer' to lure retailer
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Henry J. Gomez and Joan Mazzolini
Plain Dealer Reporters

Worried that Northeast Ohio will lose its battle with suburban Chicago to become OfficeMax Inc.'s permanent corporate home, regional leaders are working to improve their offer.

For more info, click the link
www.plaindealer.com

[pcforsgren]

TRUE Regionalism at work here, finally! This is something northeast ohio has needed for a long time.  Cleveland and a prominent suburb working together to keep a major company here, locate it downtown, and share tax revenue... unbelievable.  If this sort of thing becomes a trend, we may be on our way to a healthier, successful in the 21st century Cleveland metro area.

 

[J. Dub]

^ That is so true!  I hope we see more of this kind of regional thinking in the future.  In order for Greater Cleveland area to once again be prominent, there must be more cooperation of this kind between the city of Cleveland and the suburbs.

I really do hope that they choose to consolidate in the Cleveland area; N.E. Ohio really can't afford to lose another major corporation.

[MayDay]

OfficeMax to leave Shaker Heights

SHAKER HEIGHTS – OfficeMax announced Monday that it will move its retail headquarters to Illinois.

The company had operated two headquarters, one in Itasca, Illinois, since Boise Cascade purchased the office supply company in December, 2003.

The company plans to leave Shaker Heights in 2006.

More at http://www.cleveland.com

[the pope]

say "hi" to TRW on the way there!

[pcforsgren]

damn, i was hoping against hope that they would consolidate here.  Well on the upside, Cleveland and Shaker showed promise of working together and regionalism, which WILL pay off in the future if we keep it up.

[zaceman]

well sh!t... i guess the up side is that we cant blame it on lack of cooperation?

as soon as i read that the CEO *lives* in suburban Chicago heh i kinda thought we didnt have a snowballs chance in hell

[pcforsgren]

yeah it was basically a done deal that they'd move to chicago.  The cool thing is that we were able to make it a two horse race, which shows we can compete with any region when we work together... Cleveland and SH need to work together to convince a company to replace OfficeMax.

[pcforsgren]

on that note,  the worst thing we could do is chalk this up as a failure and not try again.  The region has had some success with cooperation, we just need to land that one big fish to prove we can compete as well as anyone.  I am hopeful that will be the case.

[mrnyc]

OfficeMax values the support that we have received in Ohio throughout the development and growth of our company and we remain committed to Ohio in our retail and contract businesses."

errr, despite your corporate-speak twisting that was our company not yours. was. whatev....dont let the door smak you in the azz on the way out guy.

sigh. so how many jobs go with it this time???

[clvlndr]

They say a "hundreds" of jobs, which isn't a city killer.  But it is a serious kick in our pride.  We've suffered so many losses and few (if any victories) corporate-wise recently.  Plus OfficeMax is a high-profile, national company.  And OfficeMax was a homegrown company (like Standard Oil was, of course), right there in it's Shaker Hts HQ. 

We really need to come together as a city/metro area an assess what we are doing/not doing to create this horrible atmosphere we have toward business.  It's not enough to simply keep leaning on the "its a bad economy" excuse, because other regional cities are either thriving (Chicago) or doing fine (Cincinnati).  Unlike other large cities that dominate the state, we can forget any assistance from the Statehouse.  Unlike the friendly downstate posters on this board, legislators and others downstate hate our guts and are probably chuckling about the OfficeMax move -- there's a real unhealthy rivalry in this state and it stinks.  So we Clevealnders really need to look w/in ourselves and pressure our leaders, who I think leave A LOT TO BE DESIRED.   

This nonsense has got to stop.

[KJP]

on that note,  the worst thing we could do is chalk this up as a failure and not try again.  The region has had some success with cooperation, we just need to land that one big fish to prove we can compete as well as anyone.  I am hopeful that will be the case.

You sure are hopeful, and I so am I, but how can losing another large corporation to another city be considered as anything other than a failure??? Yes, we saw Cleveland and a suburb cooperate in an unprecedented manner. We saw us standing in the tall grass with a big dog and competed with him. That's all very nice. But there's something you're forgetting....

WE LOST

Are we getting desensitized to losing? Are we so accustomed to losing that all have to hang on to are moral victories? You know what stops a losing streak?

A VICTORY

I'm still waiting, and yes, still hopeful we will win one. Otherwise I would have moved out long ago.

But let's be brutally realistic here. Let's bag the koom-baya, let's-blow-some-sunshine-up-our-sore-asses charade. It's time to start getting pissed off, not pissed on.

Were the odds against us? Probably. So you offer a better deal to beat your competition. So what if the CEO was from Chicago? He's a BUSINESSMAN. Offer him a better deal and, if he doesn't take it, he's got some explaining to do to his shareholders. He doesn't have a loyalty to Chicago. He has a loyatly to his company's bottom line. Sometimes I think we Clevelanders think if we wave our museums, our orchestra, our Metroparks and a few incentives in front of these rootless CEOs, they would keep their companies here. It's as if they'd be doing themselves a favor by staying in the city where their company has been since the beginning. This is the cold, unemotional business world. Stop pretending they're some family member you can guilt into staying put.

So, why, please, did our local officials forfeit the game a couple of weeks ago by tendering their "final offer" to Office Max??? What the hell was that? The only time a final offer is made is when you win, or the other team flat-out beats you. Why state at all that you've given a final offer? What kind of negotiating is that???

If you want to stop a losing streak, you have to go the extra mile to turn the losing culture around. Punch the other guy right in the nose and let him know you're through  getting pissed on. Do whatever you have to do in order to get a win. It's time to change the culture of losing around here.

There is no nobility in losing, just as there is none in poverty. Both of those seem to be in awful abundance around these parts. If the losing streak doesn't stop, then it's time to bench the quarterback, fire the coach, replace the owner, whatever it takes. Because, sooner or later, no one's going to be left to watch the game and the team will fold.

Demand more from your leaders, people! If you don't, then less is exactly what you'll get.

KJP

[CMH_Downtown]

Unlike other large cities that dominate the state, we can forget any assistance from the Statehouse.  Unlike the friendly downstate posters on this board, legislators and others downstate hate our guts and are probably chuckling about the OfficeMax move -- there's a real unhealthy rivalry in this state and it stinks.

 :lol:Oh you have GOT to be kidding me!

This little "we used to be the top banana and now we're playing second fiddle to the little cowtown in the center of the state because it's the capital" is cutely amuzing at best. Clevelanders can keep crying and saying it's Columbus' fault, or they can put on their big girl panties and play some hardball in the real world. (By the way, the Cleveland-Shaker Heights partnership is a great start. You're on the Huggies Pull-Ups Cleveland, now shoot for the big-boy undies!)

[CMH_Downtown]

Well said, KJP! You graduate!

[KJP]

^I agree. Cleveland's problems are Cleveland's fault. No one is out to get us. They don't have to. We do a better job of knocking our own legs out from under us, better than anyone else.

KJP

[bizbiz]

Well, KJP, I'm with you, and I am verrrrrryyyy pissed off that Cleveland took this sort of loss.. I kinda had some high hopes for seeing new faces downtown.

But, it's time for me to turn my cheek and look at how lousy the company is actually doing. I don't think the company has a bright future, at least not from the stores I have been inside. I was inside the Parmatown location today and a) the parking lot was empty and I was the only customer in the store at 3pm; b) everything is overpriced and undesirable when places like Staples, Wal-Mart, and Target offer it for 9 times out of 10, much cheaper; and c) the only reason I even went to Office Max was because I got a coupon in the mail for 10 dollars off a purchase of 10 dollars or more, meaning I got a 50 pack of CDR's for free - why else would they send me and my girlfriend these coupons at least 4 times a year if they weren't in desperate need of customers? My girlfriend is the one who said that they are pathetic sending us these coupons and she hasn't the faintest about the company's financials or consolidation process.

The truth of it is, with Wal-Mart and Target slowly becoming colossal monopolists in society, they will continue to lower their prices (the more they sell, the cheaper they sell it for). And places like Staples are popping up everywhere.. when I go inside a Staples store, I feel like I am in Office Max, still a fairly sh!tty place, but they are doing something different, because their stores usually consist of at least as many customers as employees at any given time, whereas Office Max usually has 1-2 people in the store with 10+ employees standing around doing little or nothing at all. With Internet shopping becoming easier than ever, not only through mature competition, but also through high speed Internet access, the entire process of online shopping has become so damn simple that places like Office Max and K-Mart won't last much longer. I wouldn't be surprised if all the big box stores say that their websites account for more sales than their brick and mortar stores do. So, with that said, maybe Office Max is consolidating to one location because the future is bleak at best. The company has definately had its up's and down's, but this is by far the biggest down, and that's not just from a pissed off Clevelander's standpoint. I recall at least 3-4 years ago when I was very skeptical of the company when some friends discussed buying OMX shares. I can't recall the story with Office Max at the time, but I could swear they almost went under at least once in the new millenium already.

So, in the end, I do feel it's a big loss for Cleveland, but then again, if and when they do go under it really won't matter anyways.. If MBNA, Progressive or Marc Glassman Inc. (which is definately a NE Ohio company on the up and about) went under then I'd be concerned, but Office Max??? **** 'em!

[J. Dub]

It's as if they'd be doing themselves a favor by staying in the city where their company has been since the beginning. This is the cold, unemotional business world. Stop pretending they're some family member you can guilt into staying put.

Couldn't have said it better.  Look how quickly both B.F. Goodrich and Firestone left Akron.  Both were HQ'd here for nearly a century before uprooting to greener pastures (Goodrich, 1870; Firestone, 1900).  Community loyalty means little to nothing in the business world, it's all about $$$$.

I found a listing to the remaining Fortune 500 companies in the Cleveland/Akron area:

- Goodyear
- FirstEnergy
- Progressive
- National City
- Eaton
- Parker-Hannifin
- KeyCorp
- Sherwin-Williams

This list is looking mighty thin when you think of the number of major companies that once called N.E. Ohio home.

[pcforsgren]

agreed, KJP.  i too am tired of the moral victories.  My point was not to overlook the fact we lost, but merely to state that if the region cooperated like this more often, we would have a few more victories to talk about. 

That being said, this sucks, and I realize it.  This area is still bleeding jobs nonstop, like it has ever since the manufacturing era died, and it just never seems to stop.  We hear one piece of good news and then "oh look, 2,000 jobs are leaving tommorow! happy day".  Until the city and area gets their head out of their ass, this will continue.  Until we are willing to stop wallowing in self-pity, pining for the industrial past, and wake up for the future, Cleveland will continue heading down the Youngstown path, and perhaps further into destruction.  Honestly, Cleveland is reaching its final point.  Will this city let its job, population, and influence bleed away for good, or does it finally take this as a wake up call to stop crying, shake off the dirt, and fix these damn problems once and for all.  Time will tell, and for northeast ohio's sake, I hope they choose the latter.

[CMH_Downtown]

Look, Cleveland needs to stop solely looking at what's left and feverishly clinging on to it. Cleveland needs to do three things:

1. Pursue

While they may not be headquartered in Cleveland, several large companies have equally large investments in the Cleveland area. Pander to them, make them realize the benefits of doing business in Cleveland. Show them that this an area on the move, where business should expand and evolve. If one of these companies has a small intention of possibly leaving its home turf, throw your hat in the ring! It couldn't hurt, if anything it could lead to a better relationship and a better understand to what the business world wants and needs.

2. Create

I think Cleveland is hoping on this bandwagon, mainly due to its powerhouse medical and educational facilities. The need is out there for research and development, why not continue to showcase Northeast Ohio as the premier region for medical breakthroughs and technology. Cleveland needs to find a sector (preferably one that's growing) and actively pursue business associated with it. I think Cleveland could be a huge research magnet for many industries, not just medicine, and benefit from all the white collar jobs associated with them.

3. Diversify

While Cleveland has done a good job shrugging off the steel mills, much more still needs to be done. While easier said than done, I believe actively implementing the first two idea will lead to an economy that's driven on a variety of different sectors. Banking, education, and health care already have solid roots in Northeast Ohio, now look at other sectors.

I don't think Cleveland will go down the Youngstown road, it's prominance is too great for such a thing to happen. But a different mindset needs to take place in the city. One that's not so horribly engrossed in clutching to the old, but willing to dable in the new. I'm not saying that the city should completely shed it's history, that's a large part of what makes Cleveland great, but the region needs to be more willing to try new things.