Staples
Office supplies retailer serving businesses and consumers.
PE-OWNED
Acquired by Sycamore Partners2017-09-01
What Made It Great
That was easy - one-stop shop for all office supply needs.
What PE Will Likely Do
Reduction in office supply inventory and product selection at Staples stores, with a focus on lower-cost generic and off-brand items
Closure of a significant number of Staples retail locations, especially in areas with high competition or low profitability
Deferral of store maintenance, renovations, and technology upgrades leading to a decline in the in-store customer experience
Increased prices on remaining Staples-branded office products as the company tries to offset cost-cutting in other areas
Potential discontinuation of specialized business services like printing, copy centers, and tech support at many Staples locations
Expected Timeline
“0 to 6 months months”
Announcements about 'streamlining operations' and 'optimizing the store footprint'
“6 to 12 months months”
First round of store closures in underperforming markets, staffing reductions at remaining locations
“12 to 24 months months”
Noticeable reduction in office product selection and quality of in-store customer experience
“24 to 48 months months”
Ongoing store closures, further erosion of product quality and services, bankruptcy rumors begin to circulate
“48 to 60 months months”
Potential bankruptcy, restructuring, or fire sale of Staples assets
Similar Cases
Other companies that followed a similar path after PE acquisition
What You Can Do
Actions
Consumers should expect a declining in-store experience and reduced product selection at Staples locations in the coming years
Businesses that rely on Staples for specialized services like printing, tech support, and custom orders should explore alternative providers
Consumers should stock up on any Staples-branded office supplies they frequently use, as product quality and availability may decline
Alternatives
Employee-owned warehouse retailer
Publicly traded retailer with strong values