June 23, 2021
Gary Marsden and Dave Marquardt had two things in common: the first was the first three letters in their last name, Mar, and the second was their dream to start a company. And this is how Marco began.
In 1973, Gary and Dave purchased The Typewriter Shop, a small business in St. Cloud, Minnesota. However, that wasn’t their original plan. They had planned to start a business in the Twin Cities, where all the action was taking place. They found The Typewriter Shop listed for sale, and decided to buy the business. Unbeknownst to them at the time was that it was advertised in the wrong section of the newspaper, leading them to believe they were interested in a Minneapolis-based business.
But, the price was right, and the passion was strong. So, Gary and Dave decided to move forward with their St. Cloud business. Among their first moves as new business owners was to change the company's name to Marco and expand beyond typewriters into office products and services. During the second year of business, we began marketing our first line of copiers to St. Cloud area businesses. Soon, copier sales and services became our most profitable area of business.
We're Not Too Big; We're Not Too Small
Though our history technically started with typewriters, the copier business set the stage for business growth. At that time, copier technology was replacing Mimeograph machines and PCs were replacing typewriters.
Marco has continued to grow in size and scope, expanding services and our service area. Marco is now one of the top business technology providers in the country with offices in 12 states and serving customers nationally. Marco specializes in business IT services, copier/printer solutions and managed and cloud services. Our technology experts break down complex solutions into simple terms to position businesses for success.
We have an experienced and respected leadership team in place, who lead by example and help create the best culture from the top down.
St. Cloud Has A Special Place In Our Hearts And Our History
St. Cloud plays an important role in our history; it's where we began and where we started to spread our wings. While we have become a top IT company nationwide, St. Cloud still is the place Marco calls home, where our headquarters are located. Here are a few reasons we enjoy doing business in St. Cloud:
1. It’s Home
Home is where family is, where you feel most comfortable, where you took your first steps and began to grow. Much of our maturing as a business took place in St. Cloud. Our initial growth, fundamental experiences and commitment to community started in St. Cloud, and we are proud to call this community, home.
2. It Has Supported Us Every Step of the Way
St. Cloud has been a strong partner with us through many events such as:
- In 1987, when we opened our consolidated facility on Division Street.
- In 1989, when we began our employee stock-ownership plan.
- When we became one of the first Minnesota Keystone Companies.
- In 2004, when we were named one of the Top 25 Small Businesses to work for in the United States.
- In 2012, when we opened our new St. Cloud headquarters on Heatherwood Road.
3. We’re In Good Company
St. Cloud is home to many great businesses dedicated to supporting this community and beyond. We are proud to service many of these organizations and continue our commitment to keep St. Cloud a good place to live and do business.
Our Gold Standard
Through all our changes since 1973, we remain focused on four key areas as part of our Gold Standard: client satisfaction, community support, vendor partnerships and employee engagement. Today, we're big enough to offer premium quality and selection, and we're small enough to give you personalized service grounded in Midwestern values.
