Pierre Gallant, vice-president of sales, said the expansion is due to increased customer demand in the province’s capital.
“We are in the area two to three days a week, sometimes more,” said Gallant. “We just felt if we had a spot where they could come and we could show them ergonomic chairs and keyboard trays it would make it easier for them.”
Office ergonomic supplies and furniture are largely what the Summerside business is supplying to businesses outside of the western city.
“Sometimes they know exactly what they want in a chair or we recommend something to them,” said Gallant. “I will go down and measure the office up and see what they need and give them a quote and we will go back and install it.”
The Charlottetown office will, coincidentally, be located on that city’s Water Street — at 91 Water at The Spot.
Gallant said the Charlottetown location, for the time being, would not be a full-service store that offers the same range of products available at the Summerside location at 291 Water St.
“The spot that we have will just be an office for the ergonomics furniture supplies that we provide. We would love to have a full retail store, if demand is there,” he added. “Right now, the couriers pick up here three or four times a day as far as our shipments go.”
In Summerside, HMS Office Supplies, which opened in 1982, carries a wide variety of office supplies and furniture and, last year, added LEGO, which has brought more “foot traffic” to the store, said Gallant.
“It does bring people through the doors. We have attracted new customers because of it,” he said, adding there is no current plan to expand the flagship store.
The Charlottetown office is expected to be open in early October.
