About Us

The offices of Oliver Specialties, located in beautiful downtown Traverse City, Michigan.

OLIVER SPECIALTIES, INC. was established in Detroit, Michigan by Jim Meredith, the father of the current owner, Barbara Meredith, in 1951. After working for another well-known calendar company, Jim Meredith decided to strike out on his own, representing manufacturers of a wide range of ad specialties and promotional items. He also established a number of successful direct mail co-op programs which are sold to this day.

In 1980, Barbara decided to join her father in the business, starting out as his office assistant, typing orders, calling suppliers, and handling customer inquiries. In 1987, Barbara decided to move to Traverse City, Michigan, a resort town in the northwest section of the lower peninsula of Michigan, where one of her siblings lived and where her entire family vacationed for decades. She took with her the direct mail programs, while her father continued to call on his local long-time customers. Eventually, a client base was also established in Traverse City, and in the early 1990s, Jim offered Barbara the opportunity of buying the business.

In 1994, Barbara published the first Oliver Specialties IDEA BOOK© Catalogue and has published one every year since, which is sent to customers and prospects nationwide.

Although Barbara owned the business from the early 90s, she and her father enjoyed several additional years working together ... and though 250 miles apart, they communicated in some way every day.

Jim passed away in the fall of 2001. Barbara continues to operate Oliver Specialties, using the knowledge learned from a salesman of the "old school," who believed in customer service above all else.

Sincerely,

Barbara Meredith
President