Saturday January 15, 2022 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
It was a big day for Monk Office and the entire art community that on January 11, when Monk Office announced their purchase of the two Island Blue Art & Framing stores — the one in downtown Victoria and the one in Sidney.
Proudly local, both Monk Office and Island Blue have been respectively serving their communities since 1951 and 1912.
“As we maneuver this exciting new chapter for a recognizable local brand, Monk is committed to honouring the Island Blue way,” said Monk’s leadership. The longstanding Island-based legacy of the Shemilt family’s Island Blue stores “will forever be kept alive”.
Changes to come:
At first, the only changes will be the operating systems (point of sale, etc) and that some Island Blue product will be found in Monk Office stores and vice versa. Island Blue and Monk will operate as two separate entities/locations for at least the next year while they decide how to merge the spaces together.
There is not a plan to open up more Island Blue Art & Framing stores. Having said that, a fine art supplies shop within a shop where customers will be created in all Monk Office island locations.
Gift cards & discounts:
Island Blue has made sure that all gift cards already purchased will continue to work with no expiry date.
Discounts will still be honoured.
Island Blue still about art:
“We will always be an art store,” says Monk about the original Island Blue location on Fort Street at Quadra in downtown Victoria. When the Monk Office and Island Blue physically merge, there will be more of a hybrid approach to the product offerings of both companies.
Print shop:
The Island Blue Print Shop does still exist at the Fort and Quadra store – but is owned by a different business than Monk Office. Monk didn’t want to move “into the print business” (including books). Monk will be incorporating their own Copy Centres into the Island Blue locations as things move forward.
Same staff at Island Blue:
The staff of Island Blue having mostly stayed on. A few Island Blue staff members that did not come with the transition but those positions are actively trying to be filled.
Monk Office stores on the island:
Monk Office has eight stores on Vancouver Island. They started with one little shop, founded in downtown Victoria, British Columbia in 1951.
Presently they have five stores in the core Greater Victoria area: 1200 Broad St, 3335 Oak Street, 905 Fort Street, 795 Fort Street, 109-4430 West Saanich Road (Royal Oak Shopping Centre).
Out in Sidney, there are two stores: Monk Office at 9839 Fifth Street and Island Blue at 2455 Beacon Ave.
With a rather unique and person-oriented approach, they proudly serve their local communities with office supplies, business machines, and services—from printing and copying to interior design.
