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When I was a little girl, Saturdays meant going to soccer games, then off to McDonald's - 'cause showing the cashier my #16 jersey meant getting a free sundae - and finally my favorite stop, the mall. I'd beg my parents to let me go to a little store in the middle of the mall that carried stationery, art supplies and my favorite scented magic markers. I can still remember the joy I felt when I'd slide the cardboard sleeve away from the Styrofoam shell that housed those special markers. One by one I'd take each out, pull off its cap, stick the pen close to my nose and sniff. The sweetest smells came from them as I picked my favorite scent and rated them one by one down to the least favorite. I knew one day I would save my allowance and buy a box.
To this day, I still love going to stores specializing in anything I may be able to use at my desk, whether it be special pens, fancy stationery, greeting cards or colored paper for my laser printer. And there happens to be a store that can satisfy my craving for office - and superfluous - needs, Waldeck's Office Supplies. It's a San Francisco story involving a well-known family name, a lot of heart and a Downtown business that has managed to flourish, despite it's competition, for almost 50 years.
Waldeck's was started in 1954 by owner Clifford Waldeck's father, Carl, who left the import/ export business to start his own after the birth of his first daughter. "My Dad realized he had to do something to support his family," jokes Clifford. The rest, as they say, is history.
Though the store has remained successful throughout its 46 years, it's had its share of relocations, a pattern not unusual in the Downtown area. The original Waldeck's was at Three The Embarcadero when - remember we're talking 1954 - a produce mart was there. It would move several more times, to build a new firehouse or to construct Two Transamerica Center and most recently for seismic retrofitting. But Waldeck's has now planted its roots in two Downtown locations, 500 Washington and, ironically enough, Three Embarcadero Center. The latter location's not only a part of Waldeck's history but one that fills a void as the only office-supply store in the Center. "We're really proud of the Embarcadero store. We're in our eleventh year there and hope to be there for another eleven," says Waldeck.
Clifford, himself, has been devoted to Waldeck's since graduating from the University of California at Berkeley in 1980, when he decided he wanted to commit to the family business full-time. In 1989, his dedication was rewarded through a promotion to President of the company. And eight years later, in 1997, when his father felt it was time to retire, Clifford was proud to carry on the family name and bought the business. His parents are now happily retired in Oregon, though as the baby of the family, he still can't believe they've left him. "I feel very fortunate to have successfully worked with my Dad for 17 years and I really miss not having him around," he says.
But he also admits that when his father decided to leave, technology was forcing almost everything to change very rapidly. "I had been reading a lot about the internet and decided to try it out. We've always been a 'brick and mortar' store and we gave it a shot. The fun of it all was we did it before we knew it was cutting edge." Today, www.waldecks.com generates about 7% of Waldeck's sales and Clifford says the customer base is continuing to grow. "We sell to people across the street and around the world, it's really an exciting time," he says.
But the store's evolution has meant much more than changing locations, passing down ownership and venturing off into a virtual marketplace. An aspect Clifford credits to his customers, "We have always listened to our customers and when they'd like to see a new product in our stores, we get it." Through the years, and as demand has increased, Waldeck's has grown to offer more than only office supplies. They've added a huge greeting cards section, a party section stocked with colorful napkins, plates and cone party hats, an art supply section and, soon, almost two hundred different kinds of stickers will become the latest addition to the store. "The greatest element regarding what we sell here is that our products are either practical or fun," he admits.
So how does a family business stay afloat with big timer office-supply store chains? Clifford believes it has something to do with the quality of service you'll get at his store. "Many of our customers we know by name. That's what makes it fun for everyone involved. It's like the bar in 'Cheers.'" Clifford, who has been featured in several publications including Time Magazine can't offer a specific reason why the store has been so successful. But he did offer a clue, "If there were a theme to the story, I guess it would be Clifford Waldeck is just a nice guy who really enjoys what he does."
I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

Krista Fedor sometimes believes buying cool pens was the only reason she went to college.