March 12, 2026

This piece is sponsored by Interstate Office Products.

It was a rare, brief stretch of downtime for some of the installation crew at Interstate Office Products last fall as they awaited the arrival of product and completion of construction for their next projects.

“It just happened that the schedule had to be adjusted, and we had a little open time,” president and CEO Sheila Casiello said. “We reached out to Feeding South Dakota, and some of our team members went to pack food one day and did a ride-along to distribute food another day.”

The volunteers also helped Habitat for Humanity build a garage and picked up furniture that Avera Health donated to The Furniture Mission of South Dakota.

“We have always been a charitable organization with our financial support, but our team also loves to offer support with their time when the opportunity presents itself,” Casiello said. “It goes back to our core of supporting our community.”

Going above and beyond – whether during unanticipated downtime or to fulfill a customer’s workplace vision – has led Sioux Falls-based Interstate Office Products to an unprecedented stretch of industry recognition.

For 13 consecutive years, Interstate Office Products has ranked as one of only two Steelcase Premier Partner dealers on the continent to receive the industry award since its inception.

Being named a Premier Partner is the top honor awarded by Steelcase, a global manufacturer of furniture, case goods, seating, storage, workstations and modular architecture for office, health care and education spaces. The designation recognizes the top-performing dealerships that provide Steelcase office furnishings based on criteria such as market leadership, positively impacting the community, high customer-satisfaction scores, co-branding with Steelcase and financial fitness.

“These are dealers who are the best in the industry – engaging deeply with Steelcase, their customers and their communities to bring meaningful value to the people and places they serve,” Casiello said.

Here’s a closer look at what that commitment looks like day in and day out at Interstate Office Products.

Customer satisfaction

IOP consistently delivers an in-depth look at how customers perceive their experience.

“We do a full business review with our customers, discussing both what’s on the horizon for them and their satisfaction with everything from product to design, installation and follow-up,” Casiello said. “One of our core values is reliability, and we share an expectation with our customers that we do what we say we will do.”

The approach resonates with customers. Here’s a snapshot of recently shared testimonials:

“IOP’s team’s high standards, integrity, knowledge and technical expertise make them a unique asset that not every vendor can say they have.”

“We rely on their creativity, innovation and ability to source whatever we need. They always stand behind their products and their work.”

“As a client, we were always met with a resounding ‘yes, we can help with that,’ rather than ‘no,’ which resulted in a high-performance facility outcome.”

“While the design team at IOP is fabulous for their creative minds, their scheduling and delivery side is also exceptional. I can always count on the delivery team to be prompt, courteous to occupants working in a space and to clean up after themselves when the job is done. They’re efficient and knowledgeable in their products and can make anything work on the fly.”

“What sets IOP apart is their unwavering commitment to excellence and their ability to deliver exceptional results consistently year after year. They also work with some of the best manufacturers in the world like Steelcase. Their innovative design concepts, superior craftsmanship and attention to detail have made them a manufacturer of choice for many of my projects.”

“I do not believe you would find better partners in our region than IOP and Steelcase as you work to make an office environment for your team now and long into the future.”

Showroom experience

The IOP showroom in downtown Sioux Falls is more than just a display space – it immerses visitors in how Steelcase solutions can transform their spaces.

“There’s always something new in our showroom,” Casiello said. “We work with our manufacturers to bring their new products to our space when we know they will resonate with the market.

“The latest addition in our space is a stylish Jean Nouvel tête-à-tête that reimagines the classic French face-to-face loveseat in a sculptural update to intuitively bring people together.

“It’s a very elegant way to connect, though you also can turn a bit to the side for more privacy,” Casiello said. “We maintain our staple products in the showroom but make a point of highlighting a broad range of what we want people to experience.”

Another new addition includes the WorkValet line — a combination locker and storage unit that offers significant custom configurations for each customer’s unique preferences.

“It’s a space where you can do a quick meet-up but also tuck things away,” Casiello said. “The showroom is in a constant state of evolution, and that evolution allows us to tell a new story each time a client walks in.”

New-hire training

New interior design and sales team members attend Steelcase Dealer Product School between six and 18 months after joining IOP.

“Our new hires develop a thorough understanding of the  product – how to speak to it and tell the story,” Casiello said. “Interior designers also are trained on our design software.”

IOP is intentional about mentorship. “Team members work side by side, so it’s a lot of peer mentoring, and we are all committed to helping people understand our culture,” she said.

“That said, we appreciate new perspectives. We tell all our team that if you see something that could be done better or differently, please share,” Casiello added. “Sometimes, an outside perspective gives us new opportunity to grow.”

Co-marketing initiatives

Throughout 2025, the IOP showroom hosted periodic Steelcase pop-up displays with a focus on education and health care.

“It’s like a trunk show but for furniture,” Casiello said. “We invite our customers and the design community in to explore new and innovative products that are well-suited for those industries.”

IOP regularly offers continuing education for independent designers, “and we recently organized a group trip to Minneapolis to attend a Steelcase pop-up event downtown,” she added.

Market share and financial strength

Steelcase Premier Partners must demonstrate consistent sales growth, solid market share and a healthy financial position, all areas where IOP continues to perform very well.

“We’re grateful for a significant share of the market,” Casiello said. “I feel very confident about this year. We’ve had exceptional peaks recently, and we’re settling back to a consistently strong level.”

Looking ahead in  2026, “considering our current backlog, I feel optimistic about what’s to come.”

To learn more about how IOP’s award-winning team can support your workplace, visit i-o-p.com.