Office Interiors Group

If you're a business looking for a company that can outfit you from top to bottom, look no further than Office Interiors. Flooring, window coverings, custom work stations, boardroom tables, photocopiers, and printers are just some of the equipment and services that this unique Maritime institution can create and install for you.

Created in 1991 by Jim Mills and two other partners, Office Interiors began as a small business start-up that quickly expanded. "By the end of the first year, we had about a dozen people working," says Mills, President and CEO. Office furniture was the only product they offered back then and they only had one office in Halifax. "Since that time it’s been a story of growth - in top line revenue, as well as in product and service offerings."

By 1994, they had expanded to New Brunswick. By 1996, they'd bought out Woodcraft, a custom wood working company. And by 1998, they had expanded their line of products to include office and imaging equipment. Today, they are an extremely profitable company with offices in Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, Charlottetown, Halifax and Sydney.

Over these last 17 years, Office Interiors has created a stir in the awards corner as well, being selected for three years running as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies. Jim Mills himself has also brought in a few accolades, including being named to the Top 40 Under 40 list in 1999. As CEO, he's also been inducted into Atlantic Business Magazine's Top 50 CEO Hall of Fame.

Mills actually started out in the health care business, working for Johnson & Johnson for nine years. It's where he says he learned about good business practices including being governed by a credo of values. "They are one of the great private sector companies in the world and their performance over decades really has stood the test of time," he says. "They respect their customers, they are ethical, and they're involved in community. It was a fantastic training ground for me."

Mills took his learning to heart, founding his company with four core values: customers, employees, community and environment. The "green" piece isn't something they've just come up with to look good either. Mills says they've been committed to sustainable environmental practices for years. "We took the view from early on that we would do everything we could to be environmentally responsible," says Mills. This includes selecting companies with the most environmentally-friendly products to partner with. "We literally select our manufacturers based on their environmental performance and their record."

The company also does more than its fair share of product recycling. "We strip down old work stations and refurbish them, instead of sending them to the landfill." Mills and his colleagues actually did the same with a large building – an abandoned warehouse – in Dartmouth. The space is now the company's showroom and their “tidying up” work garnered them some special recognition from the Eco-Efficiency Centre at Dalhousie University in 2002.

In Mills' opinion, this type of recycling can actually be more cost-effective. Contrary to what many in the business world fear, he finds that going green can be cost-neutral or even save money. "What we've found is that you can be green and it doesn’t have to cost you more."

This innovative thinking isn't the only thing that sets the company apart. Office Interiors also prides themselves on giving back to the communities where they work. "One nice thing about being a CEO and owning your own business in the private sector is you get to decide what kind of business you’re going to have," says Mills. "I decided literally right out of the gate that I wanted to build a business that worked to give back to the community."

Mills has demonstrated this commitment from the top down. He has chaired a diverse range of community organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, Feed Nova Scotia, Neptune Theatre, and the IWK. "From a purely selfish perspective, it's been a phenomenal learning experience." Mills has found that the old cliché about giving as a way of getting back is absolutely true. "What I have gotten back over the course of time – the return to me – has been incredible."

This role modeling has had an effect on the entire organization and the company has become well known for its contributions to community. "We do a lot of community work whether it's taking a leadership role in community organizations, providing in-kind donations, or lending financial support." Mills acknowledges that giving back also has a positive appeal for the public. "Our customers believe that we are a company that cares."

Judging from the letters, emails, and phone calls that the company receives, its customers also believe the company provides outstanding levels of service. "We have people writing and calling all the time, expressing how pleased they are with the work we did for them." Bragging about his 150 employees and their "awesome work" comes easily to Mills. He's especially proud of the fact that seven out of his first 10 hires are still employed 17 years later. "I’ve seen a lot of people in my business grow as individuals, mature, and then give back to the community. It's a real thrill to see that unfold over time."

The community that Mills speaks of is truly a regional one, with Office Interiors locations dotting the Maritime region. He doesn't need to be convinced that he works in one of the best places in the world. Mills believes that we've been brewing an excellent recipe for business and personal success for years. "The great thing about doing business in the Maritimes is that relationships count," he says. "That’s the big differentiator between us and other parts of Canada and certainly the States. It's not just about who is five cents cheaper. Relationships really count here and that makes doing business much more enjoyable."