With eight new stores, a sponsorship with Miami''s hottest basketball player and $155,000 in charitable donations, Staples officially celebrated its market expansion into Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. To kick off this milestone, Staples President and COO Mike Miles addressed the area''s leading business professionals at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors and Trustees luncheon today. Miles shared details on how the company plans to open approximately 20 new stores for the area by the end of 2007.
At the luncheon, Miles also announced a collaboration with Dwyane Wade, star guard of the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat and Sports Illustrated''s 2006 Sportsman of the Year. The agreement will enable Wade and Staples to join forces on community projects that benefit local youth. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks. Wade is one of the most exciting young stars in the basketball world and one of the most recognized and most sought after sports figures in South Florida.
"We have hired the most courteous and helpful associates to help us deliver on our goal to show Staples can make running a business easier in South Florida," said Miles. "We have invested in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties because we saw an opportunity to meet the office product needs of an area brimming with small businesses and entrepreneurs. We''re optimistic that we''ll win over these customers with our service, easy to shop stores and unique product offerings."
Driving the Economy and Adding More Stores for Greater Convenience
The Staples market entry has helped local economies with over 300 new jobs for residents and additional tax revenues for its respective communities. Staples currently has stores located in Coconut Creek, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Lauderhill, Lighthouse Point, Kendall, Margate and Westchester. New Staples store openings planned for January include North Miami, Pompano Beach, West Miami, Fort Lauderdale (Commercial Boulevard) and Dadeland.
Making It Easy To Buy Office Products
Nearly every new Staples store in Broward and Miami-Dade will feature the company''s signature "Dover 3" store layout, also known as "the store that the customer built," because it incorporates extensive customer feedback. Each Staples store features more than 7,000 products, such as ink and toner, business machines, and innovative Staples brand products. In addition to Wi-fi access, each store also offers Staples signature services, such as:
-- Staples Copy & Print Center for digital printing, binding and shipping services,
-- Easy Rebates for paperless rebate submissions via an easy-to-use web site, and
-- Staples EasyTech for certified professionals to resolve computer and peripheral technology challenges, such as installing wireless networks and general troubleshooting.
The company''s newly opened Orlando fulfillment center allows all orders from www.staples.com and the Staples catalog to be shipped for next day delivery and with free shipping with a minimum order.
Supporting Local Communities and Building Relationships One Neighborhood At A Time
One of the ways Staples is demonstrating its commitment to
South Florida is to invest in grassroots local community organizations in proximity to its stores. Since its first local store opening, Staples has donated $155,000 to educational non-profit organizations in the area. Each South Florida store location has adopted a local non-profit partner by contributing funds or providing much-needed support, such as office product donations.
"Staples recognizes that our success in Broward and Miami-Dade is directly linked to the well being of the communities we serve," said Royce Reed, regional vice president of Staples, who is responsible for stores in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. "Staples is not simply opening stores in South Florida, we are forging meaningful relationships with communities where we operate stores."
