Aiming to support long-time customers and expand local services, Dordt University has acquired the Pencil Box as part of its Print and Mail Center operations.
Dordt University’s Print and Mail Center has recently acquired the Pencil Box, a longtime local supplier of paper, office products, and furniture. While the acquisition marks a new chapter for the business, the Pencil Box name will remain in use for the time being as the transition continues.
The acquisition brings expanded benefits to both the university and the broader Sioux Center community. “The Pencil Box was already serving many long-time customers in town, but the previous owners were ready to retire,” says James Rylaarsdam, director of Dordt’s Print and Mail Center. “We saw an opportunity to maintain and build upon the services they provided, while strengthening our presence as a trusted provider in the community.”
The Pencil Box specializes in three areas: paper sales, office supplies, and office furniture. These align closely with the Print and Mail Center's existing services and capabilities. "We were already selling paper to some local clients, and we’ve been doing a lot of furniture purchasing for campus using the same vendors the Pencil Box used," says Rylaarsdam. "Between myself, our purchasing manager, and our interior designer, we have the experience and infrastructure to offer a seamless transition."
In the weeks since the acquisition, the Print and Mail Center has already fulfilled numerous orders and expanded its delivery service. “We’re doing weekly sales runs and plan to deliver more of our printed materials, too,” Rylaarsdam adds. “We want to make it easy for customers—whether they’re on campus or in the community.”
“Ultimately, what we do supports Dordt’s mission—from how we steward resources to how we equip students. The Dordt students who work in the Print and Mail Center gain real-world experience interacting with vendors, learning what it takes to run a business, and providing excellent customer service.”
Dordt’s acquisition also ensures that the kinds of personalized services the Pencil Box provided don’t disappear from Sioux Center. “What sets us apart is customer service,” says Rylaarsdam. “We’re local. We show up. We answer questions and handle the details—from dropping off your paper order and putting it in the right place to removing the trash from the packaging. That kind of support is rare these days.”
About Dordt University
As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.
Recognized for its excellent service and growing statewide reputation as a premier indoor event facility, the American State Bank Sports Complex in Sioux Center, Iowa received the 2025 iTIP Service Excellence award.
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