Three companies have already expressed interest in buying National Office Supply following the announcement of its impending closure, even as company president Mary Irene Uy emphasized that the decision to shut down was driven not by poor business performance but by a severe workforce shortage largely triggered by the CNMI’s touchback policy.
“This is the power of the Internet. So, the breaking news came out late afternoon. By 10:30 this morning, we’ve received three inquiries and interest to buy the business, the inventory to take over. So, we’ve had those interests, and we’ll see how it goes,” she said.
Uy, who has managed the Beach Road retailer since 2024, described the closure as a painful but necessary move after the company determined it could no longer sustain operations with the expected loss of more than half its workforce.
“The main driving force has to do with people,” she said.
Between May and September, the company expects to lose nine employees due to the touchback requirement.
She added that other staffing losses are looming due to Employment Authorization Document renewals and relocation to the U.S. mainland.
“We have one person whose EAD is expiring and we’re hearing that there are very few EAD renewals that are being approved. So, he probably might have to stop working. We also have two people who’ve left to move to the U.S. mainland. We also have another two who are planning to move to the U.S. mainland,” Uy said.
In the span of about nine months, Uy said National Office Supply would be losing 14 employees, which is more than half of its current workforce. It currently employs 25 workers.
“This is not horizontal. This is a vertical loss,” she said, noting that the entire accounting team will be among those departing. “It’s a devastating kind of loss.”
Uy stressed that the closure is not due to financial distress.
“It’s really about workers. It’s about having enough, a sufficient workforce to be able to run the store properly,” she said when asked if profitability was an issue.
“With the downturn of the economy, I don’t think there’s any business that would be immune. We are, I believe, still profitable. I haven’t seen the latest numbers, but from the feel of it, we are still profitable. At the very least, we are holding our own. We are not losing money.”
She also cited broader uncertainties, including the scheduled end of the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker Program in 2029, saying, “We feel it’s almost like a losing battle. And it will take an extreme amount of effort from us to surmount even this current challenge. So, we’ve decided that the best thing to do is just to close the store.”
Uy said employees reacted with disbelief.
“Primarily shock,” she said. “There were quite a bit of tears because we have employees who have been with us for 10, 20, 30 years. They’ve grown old with us. They’ve raised their children with us. So, it is very much a part of their lives.”
Touchback, she said, creates long gaps in staffing. “Once the employee flies out, it will be anywhere from a minimum of six months, realistically eight months, before they can come back.”
The company plans to provide financial assistance to its workers once operations wind down.
“Once all of this is finished, we’re planning to give our employees two months’ pay,” she said, noting that cleanup and possible shipment of remaining inventory to National Office Supply Guam will take place after the store closes.
Uy clarified that National Office Supply Saipan is separate from its Guam counterpart.
“My husband is Benjamin Uy, and he’s really the spirit that you see in this store,” she said. “National Office Supply Saipan is different from National Office Supply Guam. The two share the same name and are related because the owners are brothers… But as far as running the business, the two are truly independent companies.”
On inventory, Uy said the company will launch sales, including back-to-school promotions.
As for the building, Uy said it is well-maintained and available for lease once vacated. “It’s a beautiful building. And the air-cons are new… Even our generator is new. It was also installed in 2025.”
In her message to customers, Uy expressed gratitude and hope that the store’s legacy would endure.
“First of all, thank you very much for the trust and the loyalty and the support throughout these years. We would not have made it this far without the loyal support of all our customers,” she said.
She acknowledged the store’s role as a one-stop shop for office and school needs across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
“We recognize the significance of the store on the island,” she said. “His (husband) goal has always been to provide a nice shopping experience, one-stop shopping, a very clean store, well-stocked, cool to provide respite from the heat.”
Uy said the company will explore options to keep the store operating under new ownership.
“We’re going to try to avoid closing. Since there is interest, we’ll try to see what we can do so that the store can continue. Even if under a different management, so that people would still have their one-stop shopping,” she said.
“If not, if it doesn’t pan out, then even with the closure, we will try to help people find their other sources… or we will be open to accepting special orders.”
On legacy, Uy said employees described the store as enabling “academic and professional success,” anchoring back-to-school traditions, and providing a “values-based trust” shopping experience.
“We hope to be remembered by the community as a store that wanted to be part of the community,” she said.
She recalled an anecdote shared by her husband about keeping the store’s parking lot lights on at night after fishermen complained when they were once turned off.
“Only then did my husband understand that there are people who go night fishing, and they actually use the parking lights as a landmark for them to find their way back home,” she said. “It really brought home to me how much part of the island… even parking lights can be community service.”
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