History
Office Environment Company was founded in 1907, officially incorporated in 1908 as Office Equipment Company, and known as the Clarence R. Smith Company between 1926-1935. The William P. Kelly family has been a vital part of the company since 1919, and it has been family-owned and operated since 1934.
For 72 years, the company was located at 119 S. Fourth Street in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, until urban renewal forced it to abandon its historic location. In 1979, the firm moved to its newly constructed headquarters at 12th and Market Streets, a facility which originally included retail office supply and furniture space, as well as a 24,000 sq. ft warehouse.
The company became a Haworth dealer in 1983 and achieved Preferred status in 1996. In 1997, the company became a stockless United Stationers dealer, closing its office supply retail store and expanding its furniture showroom. To better reflect its competencies as a single-source workspace solutions provider, the firm's name was changed to Office Environment Company in 2004. The 16,000 sq. ft. showroom was totally renovated in 2008, showcasing the latest architectural interiors from Haworth, an extensive design resource library, as well as a comprehensive commercial lighting display.
