Our History

The Mills story has been one of continued growth and success.

It all started in 1949, when Don Mills set out from his parents' home in Kitsilano, British Columbia at the early age of 19. He soon became the youngest person in Canada to establish a commercial stationery company. In the beginning, there was very little in the way of capital. He had to ride interurban transit and street cars to deliver goods to his customers. It took great determination to solidify the vendor base necessary to open and maintain a broad product selection.

With hustle, salesmanship, and long hours, Don Mills did what it took to build customer loyalty and a successful business. He was always pushing the boundaries beyond where the stationery industry's conventional wisdom suggested he could go. His vision paid off as he continued to grow, adding staff and expanding to new facilities. Mills Basics soon became a thriving business where its employees and customers enjoyed a family-like culture. Mills Basics continues to grow under the leadership of Don's son, Brad Mills.

Today, Mills Basics is one of the last locally owned and operated office supply teams in BC, a status we are very proud of. As a member of Basics Office Products Ltd. buying group, Mills offers competitive prices and a wide array of products to its customers.
Employing advanced manufacturing control systems enables Mills be to cost-effective and highly reliable. Providing excellent customer service and giving back to the community continue to be core tenants at Mills Basics.

A lot has changed since Don Mills first opened his doors in 1949, however the Mills family of employees still continues to deliver quality, satisfaction, and value. Recently CTV news featured Mills Basics in a story that profiled our history as a family owned business in Vancouver, click here to view the clip.

If you want to become a part of our growing family do not hesitate
to contact us and find out how Mills can serve you.