Our Story

40+ Years

Paper, People, and Purpose

1979: The Start of Something Special

It is 1979 in East Hampton, Connecticut. David Shulman opens Country Collections, a charming shop filled with yarn, greeting cards, and a genuine sense of community that eventually evolved into the Suburban Stationers we know today. Dave’s very first delivery was nothing more than a simple box of envelopes, but that modest act set the cornerstone of our company's philosophy: we show up, we care, and we deliver.

From those earliest days, being a good neighbor was just as important as being a good business. We became deeply integrated with the local non-profits and community organizations that keep our region thriving, ensuring that as we grew, our commitment to supporting the people around us only deepened.

The Golden Age of Retail

During the 1980s, our momentum became unstoppable. Between the big hair, the classic neon aesthetics, and our even bigger goals, we began to scale rapidly. We successfully grew alongside the vibrant towns we served, expanding our footprint to include dedicated locations in both Cromwell and Middletown.

These retail storefronts quickly became much more than just a place to buy office supplies; they were bustling community hubs where teachers, local families, and dedicated collectors felt right at home. Carrying that energy into the 90s, we continued to broaden our reach, establishing new locations in Norwich and a highly specialized teacher supply shop in Windsor, further cementing our role as the premier local resource for everything from classroom essentials to creative materials.

The Stack Street Era

As the business matured and the scope of our operations expanded, David Shulman recognized the need for a strong leadership partner to help navigate our future. Enter Ray Bourret, who has been an essential part of the Suburban journey since the 1980s. Ray proved instrumental in launching and meticulously scaling our furniture division, a move that transformed how we served our professional clients.

Together, we focused on building out our commercial infrastructure on Stack Street, creating a more robust supply chain. However, our growth was so significant that we eventually outpaced our physical capacity. Driven by the rising demand for our services and the increasing volume of inventory we were stocking, we made the strategic decision to relocate to our current large-scale, modernized headquarters in 2009.

2015: Reaching Further

By 2015, we were witnessing a period of truly tremendous growth. We recognized that our unique brand of service, the kind that combines personalized care with corporate reliability, was something that businesses far beyond our immediate borders were craving. In response, we expanded our dedicated team of Account Managers to provide comprehensive coverage across the state of Connecticut.

This initiative was only the beginning. With the success of our local expansion, we began breaking into the Massachusetts market, bringing our high-touch service model to a wider audience. This was a transformative year of scaling our staff, investing in our internal logistics, and setting the groundwork for our transition into the national powerhouse we are today.

2020: Rising to the Challenge

When the world faced an unprecedented crisis in 2020, our company was tested, but we did not retreat. Instead, our team mobilized with a sense of urgency and purpose that redefined our role in the community. Our drivers, warehouse staff, and support teams became essential workers, navigating uncertain conditions to deliver critical supplies directly to hospitals, medical centers, and frontline health facilities.

The situation forced us to shift our focus entirely; it was no longer about traditional retail or office supplies, it was about protecting our neighbors and helping businesses pivot to a new, challenging reality. Our ability to adapt during this period proved the strength of our infrastructure and the unwavering heart of our team, confirming that no matter the scale of the challenge, we would always be there for our partners.

Suburban Today: Local Roots, Nationwide Reach

Today, we have evolved into a sophisticated commercial partner that proves "local" is not defined by the size of your footprint, but by the size of your commitment. While we operate with the advanced logistics and nationwide service capabilities required to support customers across the entire country, our heartbeat remains firmly rooted right here in Middletown. We have spent over 40 years serving our neighbors, and that foundation defines how we treat every single client, whether they are down the street or across the country.

We are a fun, modern, and agile team that brings the same hands-on, personal delivery service that Dave started back in 1979 to the national stage. We have successfully bridged the gap between old-fashioned relationship building and modern supply chain excellence, ensuring that every box we deliver carries our reputation for care and excellence.

"When you choose us, you are not just getting a supplier; you are getting a partner who values people over paper every time."