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HistoryHaving grown tired of working as a door-to-door salesman, in 1956 Jack Miller decided to start his own office supply business. In 1956 with a small ,000 loan from his father-in-law, a desk, chair and two phones, Quill’s first office was established in the back room of his father’s poultry shop on the north side of Chicago. By 1974, Jack’s brothers Harvey and Arnold had both joined the business. Business grew slow but steady and by 1963 the Miller brothers had transformed their small business into one of the United States’ first “mail-order only” companies. In 1996, the Miller brothers launched the Web site, Quill.com. In the winter of 1998, the Miller brothers sold Quill Corporation to Staples, Inc. for approximately 5 million. Jack Miller utilized funds from the sale of Quill to create the Jack Miller Center. Going “Green”In an effort to be more environmentally friendly Quill added a larger assortment of “green” products including paper, cleaning and breakroom, filing and binder products, as well as a laser cartridge recycling box that is free to order and free to return to Quill. OnlineThe domain http://www.quill.com attracted at least 1 million visitors annually by 2008, according to a Compete.com survey. The online community, Office Living was launched in November 2006 with a variety of articles from tips to recipes that are useful for a busy office professional. Business VenturesIn July of 2002, Medical Arts Press became a subsidiary of Quill when Staples Inc. purchased the Minneapolis-based company for 5 million. Since 1950, Medical Arts Press has helped healthcare practices meet their unique front-office supply needs. Medical Arts Press carries the industry’s largest selection of specialty filing and general office supplies, 100% government-compliant forms, code books, office furnishings, imprinted patient communication and giveaways, ink and toner, breakroom supplies and more. In addition to the acquisition of Medical Arts Press, Quill also obtained SmileMakers and Hayes Marketing Inc. (HMI). Both provide creative products to help build patient loyalty and promote practices with giveaway items, promotional postcards, greeting cards and more. So Fast, So Simple SloganIn 2006, Quill’s “So fast, so simple” branding campaign was launched. In conjunction with a program to migrate catalog shoppers to the Web site, Quill.com, the goal of the campaign was to encourage shopping online for a faster, simpler way to shop for office supplies. Events and Milestones1956 Quill is founded by Jack Miller in Chicago, IL1957 Brother Harvey joins the business and Quill moves into its first real office and warehouse1963 Quill’s first big mail-order catalog is introduced1974 Quill reports annual sales of .5 million1974 Arnold joins his brothers in the family business1992 United States Supreme Court case Quill Corp. v. North Dakota in which Quill took the position that North Dakota does not have the power to make Quill collect a use tax from North Dakota customers 1995 A wide range of school supplies are added, such as crayons, rulers, audiovisual equipment, erasers, and other items to meet the needs of primary and secondary students1996 http://www.quill.com is launched1997 – Quill weathers the UPS strike.1998 Quill is acquired by Staples, Inc.2000 Larry Morse is named PresidentJuly, 2002 Medical Arts Press becomes a subsidiary of Quill2004 Quill is awarded the “Circle of Excellence” Platinum Award by BizRate.com (a Shopzilla Company) for customer service 2006 “So fast, so simple” branding campaign launchedApril, 2006 “Clips” the Quill chicken and official mascot of Quill’s 50th anniversary is “hatched”June 23, 2006 Quill celebrates its 50th anniversary2007 Quill is recognized by J.D. Power and Associates for providing “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience”, expands to 12 distribution centers with the addition of 1 in Denver, Colorado, and attains 70% of total sales online at Quill.com2008 Quill launches the Green Scene (http://www.quill.com/gogreen) initiative with environmentally friendly products and business practices2008 – Quill is recognized for the second year in a row by J.D. Power and Associates2008 Michael Patriarca succeeds Larry Morse and is appointed senior vice president of Staples2009 – Quill launches their own YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/quillofficesupplies with a new “Ask Quill” campaign2009 – Quill rebrands to Quill.com and updates tag line to “Best experience in office products”2009 – Quill.com launches Facebook page Quill.com on Facebook and Twitter feed Quillcom References^ ^ http://www.linkedin.com/companies/quill^ http://www.simplysuccessbook.com/quill.html^ http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/779.html^ http://articles.latimes.com/1998/apr/08/business/fi-37095^ http://www.quill.com/gogreen^ http://siteanalytics.compete.com/quill.com/?metric=uv^ http://www.hoovers.com/medical-arts-press/–ID__139219–/free-co-factsheet.xhtml^ Quill Corp. v. North Dakota^ http://www.bizrate.com/boutique/2008circleofexcellence.html^ http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2008211Companies portal Categories: Companies established in 1956 | Office supply companies of the United StatesHidden categories: Portal:Companies/Total
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Quills
Rush gives a tour-de-force performance as history’s most infamous sexual adventurer, the Marquis de Sade. A nobleman with a literary flair, the Marquis lives in a madhouse where a beautiful laundry maid (Winslet) smuggles his erotic stories to a printer, defying orders from the asylum’s resident priest (Phoenix). The titillating passages whip all of France into a sexual frenzy, until a fiercely conservative doctor (Caine) tries to put an end to the fun, inadvertently stoking the excitement to a fever pitch.With bedroom eyes and the mischievous smirk of an insatiable roué, Geoffrey Rush is a perfect choice to play the Marquis de Sade in Quills, directed by Philip Kaufman and adapted by Doug Wright from his own stage play. Imprisoned in France’s Charenton asylum at the turn of the 18th century, de Sade is a stately court jester in disheveled finery, and Rush imbues the role with the fierce urgency of a writer whose sexual fantasies are his sole remaining defense against repression and
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Mi inchino davanti a tutte le tue modifiche e trasformazioni di trapani e altri oggetti elettrici sei mica l’istruttore di MACGYVER????
Tra poco inizierò il restauro di un vecchio gozzo di fibra e legno cerchero di mettere parecchie foto del lavoro sono bene accetti dritte e consigli ….. DA TUTTI CIAO Marco:
Prima di metterti a comprare attrezzi chiedi a me: ormai conosco tutti i negozi… specie quelli più convenienti.
Wicked….but….Wonderful,
This review refers to the 20th Cent Fox DVD edition of “Quills”…
I can think of several films based on historical events or figures that do not follow the facts exactly, yet are enlightening, entertaining and are considered fine films as well. Two of recent times that come to mind immediatley are “The Hurricane” and “The Insider”.These stories gave us an insight into events that we may not have known about or paid little attention to until the film burst onto the screen. Here we have another story that although was inspired by the life and the writings of the Marquis de Sade is clearly defined as an original work by writier Doug Wright.
In the late 18th century, we find Sade(Geoffrey Rush) committed to a mad house, as his literay works are so outrageously sexual and “sadistic”, that he is accussed of inciting others to act out in evil ways. He, along with the other inmates, is cared for by the head of the asylum. a liberal priest, The Abbe du Coulmier(Joaquin Phoenix). Coulmier is a progressive thinker and allows Sade and the others artisitc freedoms within the confines of the asylum.
Sade has a passion for writing and is smuggling his provacative stories out with a beautiful young laundry maid(Kate Winslet) who has befriended him.They are published and all of France is is eager to read them. Napolean is appalled and appoints Dr. Royer-Collard (Michael Caine) to oversee the activities at the asylum. Collard’s methods and thinking prove to be as cruel as any the Marquis could write about.
The Abbe trying to cooperate begins by taking away Sade’s writing material, all his quills and ink, and eventually all of Sade’s belongings. Sade becomes obsessed with wanting the freedom to write and goes to great extremes, using first wine, then his own blood and eventually other body excrements to accomplish what he feels is his right.
The more they try to stop him, the more obsessive he becomes. It is also interesting to note that, as these books became banned, the more the masses clamored for them.
Directed by Phillip Kaufman, this film has alot to offer and poses many questions to the viewer. It does not glorify the Marquis de Sade, nor does it make him the extreme villan. So was Sade a madman, or pioneer for freedom of speech? Can the freedom to write pornographic material incite others to act out their agressions? And if so, are these traits already within those persons? These are issues that are still prevalant today. The story of “The People vs Larry Flint” comes to mind as a more contemporary case.
The film is wonderfully made and acted.It is cutting edge and makes great use of the Marquis’ wickedness, his wit and his prose. There are stories within stories.All the performances were exquiste and I especially thought Joaquin Phoenix’s performance was outstanding. The cinematography and costumes add greatly to this period piece. Also adding their wonderful talents are Billie Whitelaw as Madame Le Clerc and Jane Menelaus as Renne Pelagie(Sade’s wife). Jane is Geoffrey Rush’s real life wife and their chemistry exudes on the screen.The movie was honored with Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor(Phoenix) form the National Board of Review.
There are some disturbing as well as some sexual scenes, so this film may not be for everyone.
A terrific DVD package. First of all it is a beautiful transfer. The film is presented in Anamorphic Widescreen(1.85:1) and is clear and sharp with excellent colors. Sound set-up gives the choice of 5.1 Surround or Stereo surround(Dolby)and everything is clear and distinct. There are 3 featurettes and some very enlightening commentary by the writer(Wright). It may be viewed in French(Stereo) and has subtitles in English and Spanish.
Was the Marquis de Sade a raving lunatic or a great literary figure? You decide….
Thanks and enjoy……Laurie
recommended reading:Marat/Sade also sold under the title:The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat As Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of The Marquis de Sade (or Marat Sade)(see my book review for details)
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|Quills: Fictional Sade Tale A Gem,
Quills is one of the best films of they year. It’s adapted by Doug Wright from his Obie Award winning play and directed by Phillip (Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Right Stuff, Invasion of the Body Snatchers) Kaufman. It stars some of the best actors working in films today: Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix and Michael Caine.
It seems an odd time for a film which more or less romanticizes the last days of Marquis de Sade to be filmed and released-yet here it is. Although it’s release is on a smaller city by city schedule, you’ll probably want to make a point of seeing it in the theater.
Words are powerful things. The pen is mightier than damn near anything and creates more fear and controversy than anything as well!!! The pornographic and satirical writings of the Marquis de Sade (Geoffrey Rush) are not only escaping from the Charenton Asylum for the Insane where the aristocratic Marquis enjoys a great deal of creature comforts courtesy of a benevolent Abbé Coumier (Joaquin Phoenix), but they are also being published and distributed throughout France, much to the embarrassment of Napoleon who at first wants de Sade shot but then reconsiders and dispatches the sadistic but morally superior Dr. Royer-Collard (Michael Caine)to insure that de Sade’s pornography is not seen by the public ever again. The Marquis’ writings are leaving the asylum with the help of a laundress named Madeline (Kate Winslet) who’s infatuated with de Sade’s talent and in unrequited forbidden love with the Abbe’. Thus, the main cast of characters has been introduced, and the play can now begin.
There’s a somewhat overly tidy twist ending which though clever, wraps up everything so neatly we’re reminded this has been a stylish work of fiction. Pity we are not given an ending to match the opening of the film in which we seem to be witnessing a sado-masochistic moment from within the Marquis de Sade’s imagination only to realize we are watching a public beheading of a young woman. There’s a true feeling of being surprised and unsettled at the beginning of the film. Most will not leave the film unsettled or off-balanced however unless you want to really contemplate.
Geoffrey Rush has finally found his `role of a lifetime’. At times perhaps you will see a bit of James Woods in Rush’s performance. But Rush goes beyond what I suspect Woods would be capable of doing. He inhabits the immorality of his character like it was the skin he was born to stretch in. One forgets we are witnessing a bravura performance.
The more observant will witness a remarkable subtle performance from Joaquin Phoenix which does pay off in a fiery confrontation scene late in the film. It’s not the kind of love it or laugh at it performance we got from him in Gladiator, but a much more textured and less affected performance.
Kate Winslet remains one of the most emotionally honest actresses of our time. I can’t think of another actress working today who is able to seem so effortless and natural and resist the temptation to become overly theatrical when on screen, yet still portray distinctive and powerful characters like Winslet does. Her character wears a variety of masks, and the seemingly difficult task of playing someone like this in a natural, non-theatrical manner is handled perfectly by Winslet. She refuses to chew the scenery even when several opportunities beg for her to do just that. She’s simply marvelous and has never been in a better film.
The film dazzles us in several ways. First is the approach that Kauffman takes. He is having his cake and eating it too, when he frames this vision of a Marquis de Sade as an 18th century martyr of freedom of thought and opinion. A man who’s pornographic, satirical and sacrilegious writings so influenced the world, he had to be locked away in an insane asylum and persecuted for his `art’. Kaufman and Wright don’t shy too far away from de Sade’s words, or from suggesting that his words are powerful, influential, hypnotic and dangerous. These are words that are capable of causing people to act on their animalistic urges and perhaps these are words that will create anarchy if not muted.
Yet Kaufman and Wright can not really show us much of De Sade’s work at all. It would not get past today’s censors and it would not be met by an audience with anything short of disgust. Some of de Sade’s writings are beyond gross and a mainstream audience would hardly be able to stomach some of the material. We do hear snippets of what most would consider the sacrilege of his work, and it’s shocking to see him spit on the bible and dismiss it so sharply – but these things are just the tip of an iceberg that the audience is spared from hearing or seeing.
Instead we get a pretty simple morality tale. Rush’s de Sade is so beyond anyone’s idea of decency that he doesn’t seem very much like a dangerous threat to society as much as a drag queen martyr for freedom of speech…
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|A film I both loved and loathed,
I had very strong reactions to this film, so that I honestly cannot say whether or not this is a very good movie or a very bad one. It might be most accurate to say that there are things in it that are extraordinary, and that there are many, many elements that I profoundly disliked.
I should perhaps first point out, what others have also mentioned, that you will learn NOTHING about the life of the Marquis de Sade from watching this movie. Ezra Pound once wrote of a book that it was so filled with errors that an errata slip should have been published as a companion volume. It would take either a full length book or a documentary film to start untangling the historical errors. The movie is, therefore, not a biopic, but a complete fiction whose central character is very loosely based on the Marquis de Sade. The main historical point worth mentioning is that de Sade lived a long life and died in bed of natural causes, with full use of his oratorical faculties.
The virtues of the film are many. One must begin with the look of the film. The film garnered an Oscar nomination for art direction, and it was a nomination that was richly deserved. There are a lot of “period” films, but few that will feel as realistic as this one.
Then one must proceed to the acting. Geoffrey Rush was simply Geoffrey Rush. I have often wondered if Rush has any limitations as an actor. Every role I have seen him in he has played an apparent ease and familiarity that few of his contemporaries can achieve. I wonder, in fact, if he might not deserve crowning as perhaps the best movie actor active today. And all the rest of the cast was quite superb, from Kate Winslet to Joaquin Phoenix to the least of the asylums inmates.
My primary quibble with the film was that it was unnecessarily unpleasant. I understand the irony involved in the completely sadistic treatment of the man whose name gave us the word, but it doesn’t automatically translate into a likable plot. Michael Caine’s character was so simple and vicious and self-serving that he was almost a cartoon. And his refusal to intervene in Kate Winslet’s rather brutal murder was too nasty to be believable.
This movie is most definitely not for the squeamish. There is much maiming, blood, and explicit sexuality. I will add that the movie doesn’t try to make de Sade out as a great artist. Virtually anyone who has attempted to read him will sound the same criticism of his work that most others have: he is boring, his sex scenes (of which there are thousands) are decidedly unsexy and unerotic, that he describes act after act of the worst kinds of mutilation and violence, and that his characters are cardboardish and unbelievable. Susan Sontag pointed out that Justine in the novel bearing her name is inexplicably just as shocked the 300th time that she was raped as the first time. The movie certainly doesn’t want to argue with this depiction of Sade as a poor though popular writer. Geoffrey Rush’s de Sade has a compulsion to write, but this does not mean that he writes well.
I think how much one likes this movie depends on how well they can deal with the unpleasant elements. I did not deal with them well, and as I result I did not enjoy the movie very much, despite being extremely impressed by many things within it.
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