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Celebrating 138 Years in Business
In 1873, San Francisco was receiving clipper ships from the Orient, rail car ferries from California's interior and new firms were starting up like weeds in the sand dunes. PATRICK & CO.-its forerunners Moise-Klinker Company-put its first sign out saying BUSINESS SUPPLIES AND RUBBER STAMPS, 20 years later JAMES M. PATRICK, encouraged by the Mid-Winter Fair of 1893 and its associated good economy launched PATRICK & CO. in a small room at 318 California Street soiling rubber stamps, signs and related products.
It was during that time that Mr. Patrick could be seen on the train traveling as far north as Eureka and into the developing San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys looking for orders. He would return with his hands full of orders and his employees to manage. In 1906, the company was located in a three-floor building at 111 Sansome Street. That year's earthquake left the goods thrown in a heap on the floor. Next was the fire which destroyed the building. James M. Patrick managed to escape with some company papers. He set up an office in his home in San Francisco and within two days he had equipment rolling to him from Los Angeles and Chicago. In 30 days a new factory and office was established on Pine Street.
As new buildings were being built downtown, Mr. Patrick moved quickly to once again be close to his customer base. The front portion of the building at 560 Market Street was occupied and later the rear portion of the building. In 1920 PATRICK & CO. purchased the entire building.
It was in the 1930’s that Howard Patrick took over the reigns as the second-generation leader of PATRICK & CO. He purchased Moise-Klinker Company in the thirties and had worked in all the areas of the business; selling, marketing, producing, delivering and managing. In 1950 the Patrick & Moise-Klinker Company's name was changed to that of PATRICK & CO,
As rubber stamps were sold, it became apparent that office supplies were a natural fit. Expansion continued in this area during the'1950's and 1960's. Morgan & Barclay, Modern Wholesale Stationers, A.R Cord ray and H.M. Nutter were all added to the company's presence in the office supplies market in Northern California.
In 1967, JAMES M. PATRICK III joined the firm. Like his grandfather, Jim also worked in all areas including marketing, selling and order filling. Republic Engraving and Designing Company was purchased along with Congdon & Chrome, Inc. in Palo Alto soon after. This reinforced PATRICK & CO-'s position in both the printing plate market and the office supplies market. A major building was purchased and remodeled at 563 Mission Street, where much of the manufacturing and distribution was consolidated.
In 1990, Dublin Office Supply, in the Tri-Valley, was purchased allowing expansion into a new market area. In 1995 the company was moved and eventually the store closed. In 1997, JAMIE PATRICK joined the firm adding to our commercial sales department. He continues to blaze new trails for PATRICK & CO. as we bring a 4th generation Patrick "on-line".
2000 saw PATRICK & CO. sell their 563 Mission St. headquarters of 35 years. The corporate office, the warehouse and one of the retail stores moved up the street into a newly renovated building at 611 Mission St. where the company operates on the second floor and leases the remaining five floors. At the same time the manufacturing plant was moved to a newly refurbished building in Oakland.
In 2002, PATRICK & CO launched their first website, www.patrickandco.com, which expanded our commercial sales department. This allowed our customers to order online, as well as by phone or fax. In 2008, the corporate office was moved to the newly refurbished 2nd floor of our 560 Market St. Building and the Manufacturing Plant was moved to the 3rd floor, from Oakland.