| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Richmond Hill, Ontario |
| Number of locations | 325 (2010)[1] |
| Key people | Steve Matyas, President |
| Products | Technology (Computers/Business Machines/Entertainment), Furniture, Office Supplies, Copy and Print Services, Tech Services |
| Revenue | $24 billion US, Staples Inc. |
| Employees | 13,500+ |
| Parent | Staples Inc. |
| Website | http://www.staples.ca |
Staples (also known in Quebec as Bureau en Gros; formerly known as The Business Depot and later Staples Business Depot) is a Canadian office supply retail chain, part of the United States-based office supply company Staples Inc. The Canadian operation is headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
Staples claims to remain one of the most profitable office supply chains in Canada, with larger share than its main rivals Grand & Toy and Office Depot. It is the largest supplier of office supplies to small business and home office individuals,[2] either in store, online or by catalogue, with over 330 stores and five delivery centres.
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The Business Depot Ltd. was originally founded by Jack Bingleman in 1991, with Staples as a substantial investor, opening "Business Depot" stores in Ontario and later Atlantic Canada and "Bureau en Gros" locations in Quebec. The American counterpart eventually acquired 100% of the Canadian company in 1994. Around this time, the company began to open stores in western Canada under the "Staples: The Office Superstore" label, like their U.S. counterparts.
The company later began converting locations in English-speaking markets to a combined brand, initially tested as "Staples: The Business Depot" and later rolled out as "Staples Business Depot." This conversion was completed in 2001, with Quebec locations retaining "Bureau en Gros."
In 2008, the company began shortening its brand to "Staples" in English Canada, to provide more continuity with their stores in the U.S. and overseas, and reduce costs associated with Staples brand merchandise packaging that was made specifically for Canada. In Quebec, products that were previously rebranded Bureau en Gros now remain Staples branded products. This change was "soft launched"; Staples will update the logo as the company reorders supplies which will significantly reduce costs associated with a brand change, and older locations still retain the full "Staples Business Depot" signage. The Business Depot Ltd. remained the legal name of the main Canadian subsidiary until 2008 when the company's name was changed to Staples Canada, Inc.[3]
In 2008, Staples, Inc. acquired Corporate Express which will be running under the banner 'Staples Advantage', running alongside the other Canadian business delivery units Staples Business Delivery and Staples Industrial.
Staples Canada stores maintain their own private-label brand under the name "Staples."
Stores offers a wide range of office supplies and has its departments divided into the following categories:
Many stores feature Copy & Print Centres, and all stores feature in-store and on-site technical services for computers, named EasyTech (Équipe Technique Fiable in Quebec). EasyTech also provides manufacture and Staples warranty repairs on computers.
Staples also offers Extended Service Plans and Furniture Protection Plans. The Extended Service Plan is available on most electronics, offering over the counter replacement plans for non-computer items under $249.99 CAD, repair plans for items that cost $250 or over and for computers, and a one-time Accidental Damage Plan for laptops and for cameras.
Staples offers a customer loyalty program called EasyRewards (rebranded from Dividend$). For each quarter, Staples will issue a coupon with $5 back for each $100 spent (up to $50). There are also EasyRewards for Small Businesses and EasyRewards for Education that are offered by Staples, that are base the reward on a percentage of the amount spent.
Staples offers a credit card to customers. The Enterprise card is offered in three different variations: Personal, Business and Commercial. With the Personal card, the customer can fill out the application in-store and an associate can call Citi Financial and receive an approval/denial in minutes. The Enterprise card is exclusive to Staples, and is provided by Citi Financial.
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