Dunder Mifflin is the fictional paper company that employs The Office's Scranton squad. The mid-sized paper company has gone through a lot of changes over the years, and its employees have had to play catch up. Through the downsizing, bankruptcy, and merger with Sabre, those at Scranton have been loyal workers.

RELATED: The Office: 10 Things About Dunder Mifflin That Don't Make Sense

And while the Scranton branch has been dissected meticulously, the company running the show has not. Here's a reminder about Dunder Mifflin's backstory, and things that are often forgotten about the company.

The Original History

robert dunder - the office

To be reminded of how Dunder Mifflin came to be, it was founded by Robert Dunder and Robert Mifflin, who met while on a Dartmouth College tour. The college buddies became fast friends and went into business together in 1949. Their story is told in better detail in the episodes "Dunder Mifflin Infinity" and "Company Picnic."

In "Company Picnic," Michael and Holly put on an awkward display of friendship when they retold the history of Dunder Mifflin in the form of Slumdog Millionaire. Sadly, Robert Mifflin died by suicide over 20 years after starting the paper company.

Dunder Mifflin Didn't Always Sell Paper

Dunder Mifflin Employee Newsletter The Office

In the episode "Dunder Mifflin Infinity," Ryan comes back to Scranton for the first time after his promotion and does a PowerPoint presentation about how the company is changing for the better through technology. His new fancy title has gone to his head and he treats his former co-workers differently.

RELATED: The Office: What Job Would You Have At Dunder Mifflin, Based On Your Zodiac?

After a hard day of fighting Ryan's idea, Michael eventually brings in one of the company's founders, Robert Dunder. Dunder tells the group that Dunder Mifflin didn't always sell paper, they originally sold parts for construction before restructuring.

Dunder Mifflin Was Severely Behind The Times

Ryan introduces Dunder Mifflin Infinity on The Office.

With a high rise office in downtown Manhattan, it would be assumed that Dunder Mifflin is with the times and always moving forward as business advances change. But that wasn't the case. Regardless of their aesthetic or high-end salaries, Dunder Mifflin was incredibly behind the times in regards to their competitors.

Before David Wallace replaced Jan with Ryan, they didn't have an active website where clients could make easy orders. They did everything by telephone or mail, which slowed down production and made them lose clients. As a paper company, they were entering a paperless world in the early 2000s, and they refused to believe it. Ryan's intentions were sound, before he committed fraud that is.

The Company Gradually Got Smaller As The Series Went On

Michael and Holly in The Office episode "Company Picnic"

There are a ton of branch names thrown around Dunder Mifflin throughout the series. But when fans take time to notice all of the branches and how many of them have closed, it becomes more apparent than ever that the company is being mismanaged.

RELATED: The Office: 10 Hidden Details About Dunder Mifflin You Never Noticed

There were Stamford (closed), Utica, Buffalo (closed), Rochester, Yonkers (closed), Albany (closed), Akron, Camden (closed), Nashua, Pittsfield (closed), Binghamton (closed), Syracuse, and of course, Scranton. With presumably six branches left, it's obvious the paperless future is destroying Dunder Mifflin, and the company wouldn't be around longer without some serious upgrades.

For Being A Local Paper Company, Nobody Seems To Know Who They Are

Dunder Mifflin is described as "a mid-cap regional paper and office-supply distributor with an emphasis on servicing small-business clients." Oddly enough, no one seems to know who they are. As hardworking as its employees were at times, they couldn't compete with powerhouses like Office Max and Staples.

Both Prince's Paper (a small, local paper company) and Staples have never heard of Dunder Mifflin when Michael and Dwight namedropped them. This proves how poor Dunder Mifflin's marketing really is.

Dunder Mifflin Didn't Need To Cut Branches To Survive

buffalo branch closing - the office

The Scranton branch thought they were being axed or downsized a few times throughout the series. Each time this happened, Michael went into the fetal position and tried to think of ways to change corporate's mind — kind of like an overprotective parent. Knowing how sensitive and upsetting the axing of a branch can be, it was surprising that Michael told the entire company picnic that Buffalo was closing in the form of a theatrical performance.

One fan, however, pointed out that Dunder Mifflin didn't need to close so many branches to remain on top. If the company looked inward, they would have realized that giving Michael a $3,000 bonus in "Christmas Party," a 12% raise in "The Negotiation," and over $4,000 in surplus was an insight into how things were going horribly wrong.

While Fictional, Staples Began Selling Dunder Mifflin Products

dunder mifflin products at staples - the office

When it comes to The Office, fans cannot get enough of memes and merchandise. From hoodies that say "Justice Beaver" on them to mugs that say "world's best boss," proprietors have thought of it all. But in a twist of all twists, Dunder Mifflin's fictional rivalry with Staples came to a standstill when Staples started selling Dunder Mifflin products as a part of their line with Quill back in 2012.

As of late, it appears that Staples stopped selling Dunder Mifflin products, but it just goes to show how much of a hold The Office had on the world.

There Are Uncanny Parallels To The Real Company WB Mason

the office 3 Dunder Mifflin Infinity

Dunder Mifflin and Sabre has had some unique characters working for them. From Gabe to Dwight to Creed, it proves that a company can still thrive with a clashing group of personalities. Funny enough, the rise and fall of Dunder Mifflin and its employees are parallel to that of W.B. Mason (an office supply company).

Like Dunder Mifflin, W.B. Mason focused on Mid-Atlantic territories and started selling stamps before selling paper. As competition became more apparent, W.B. Mason suffered and had similar issues like Dunder Mifflin did with Ryan Howard.

The Real Reason Dunder Mifflin Was Being Filmed

Wants to be a part of the office gossip

As a mockumentary, even those working at Dunder Mifflin weren't sure why they were being filmed for so many years. Were they really that interesting to watch day-in and day-out?

If  anyone can remember back to when Michael is going through suggestions, he finds an old one written by Tom Peets. Peets suggested the company have a better outreach for mental health, which Michael thought was a joke. Phyllis reminds Michael that Tom killed himself. To further this point, writers of The Office told a conference back in 2007 that the documentary crew began filming Dunder Mifflin as a way to see how they were coping with the suicide of a co-worker. But after seeing how much drama and hilarity surrounded the office, their vision changed.

The Company Had Major Sexual Harassment Flaws

Jan hugging Hunter as she leaves Dunder Mifflin on The Office

In the episode "Sexual Harassment," it was noted that Dunder Mifflin's CFO resigned after sexual harassment charges were filed against him. His removal brought in David Wallace. Knowing that sexual harassment could have brought down the company in season two, it's shocking there wasn't more done to have a safer atmosphere.

Jan most definitely had an affair with her assistant Hunter, Michael told the other regional managers that he was sleeping with his boss, Michael also sent a topless photo of Jan around to other employees, Meredith tried sleeping with most of the men at the office, and the list goes on. If Dunder Mifflin didn't sink for ignoring technology, they would have sunk for their sexual harassment issues.

NEXT: The Office: 10 Details About Jan You Totally Missed