Larned area residents and Office Products Inc. (OPI) employees demonstrated their mutual appreciation for one another recently at two local chamber of commerce events.
And now, OPI’s owners have recognized the 25-year-old business with a certificate of appreciation for its employees. It states: “For dedication and outstanding commitment in assisting our customers for the past 25 years.”
This year marks the 25thbirthday of OPI in Larned, 516 Broadway.
“Our business is unique to Larned,” said Cory Stelter, account executive. “If you are out of office supplies and products, you don’t have to drive to a bigger town in the area.
“This concern for our customers is the reason for OPI’s longevity here,” Stelter added. “It is something the Vink family is known for. Kenny, Terry and Craig Vink treat their customers and employees as family. They know the right thing to do and they do it.”
Stelter is in his 10thyear at OPI; his colleagues in Larned are Manager Craig Vink; and Duane Fogo, account executive, who has been there 16 years. Gentry McLeland recently came on board to help with customer service.
“This is a tight-knit, cohesive group,” Stelter commented. “We all work well together and know what each other is doing. This is a tremendous help to our customers when they have questions about our inventory or printing projects.”
The individual service includes personal visits from Stelter and Fogo at many area businesses. They travel to several communities including Macksville, Lewis, Kinsley, Offerle, Rozel, Burdett, Rush Center, La Crosse and Ness City.
“We pride ourselves on meeting with customers throughout the area face-to-face each week,” Stelter said. “We can deliver items and take orders, and make arrangements to handle their equipment maintenance concerns.
“It is also good to have the personal touch when it comes to special printing projects,” he continued. “Customers can explain what they want and we can suggest ideas, with the support of our graphic artists on staff.”
Stelter noted he learned about printing from the recently retired Donnie Kazmaier, who ran the offset press operation in Larned over the years. Now OPI works directly with Golden Belt Printing II in Great Bend, which is co-owned by Kenny and Terry Vink.
The other OPI locations are 1204 Main in Great Bend and 724 N. Main in Russell.
With all these resources, Stelter said, OPI offers office supplies, equipment, furniture, shredders, printers and Canon copiers for any sized office.
OPI is a Registered Brother Service Dealer and a Canon Full Line Sales and Service Dealer. “We can service most anything and maintain any model of computer and computer networks,” Stelter said. “You would be hard pressed to find a better service-department staff anywhere.”
The business also provides custom forms, banners, posters, calendars, booklets, letterhead, signs, window vinyl and even hard-back books.
“All of us truly appreciate the Larned community in general and our long-time and new customers in particular,” Stelter said. “This is a great family business and the community has helped us grow through the years.”
The Vinks are the sons of OPI founder, the late Melvin Vink. The company is based in Great Bend where it opened in 1959. The Larned store opened in 1990 and the Russell store opened in 2010.
