Staples Struggles
When was the last time you stepped foot in a STAPLES store?
Last week?
Last month?
Last year?
If your local store is still around (a bunch have already been shuttered), it might not survive the "next round"...... prolly coming sooner rather than later.
Not shut-down, but retooled.
From Motley Fool back in April:
To many, office supply company Staples (NASDAQ:SPLS) may look like a struggling retailer selling products, like paper and ink, that fewer people need in the age of computers and mobile devices. The retail portion of Staples certainly fits that description, and the company has been closing stores in an effort to wring out as much profit as possible. But that's not the whole story.
Staples truly is two companies in one. The first, a retailer that would be unlikely to survive in the long run on its own. The second, a supplier to businesses that has successfully diversified into new product categories and enjoys at least some protection from the rise of e-commerce. Amazon and online retail, in general, is likely an insurmountable threat to Staples' retail business. It's also a threat to the commercial delivery business, but based on that segment's results, not one that can't be beat.
Sounds like there's decent hope that Staples won't be the next major chain to go belly-up. Hope that's a fair assessment.
Oh, as for me....... I've been in Staples 4 times in 2017. Once for pick-up of an order off their website. 3 times to redeem "free money" they e-mailed to me. Plus I had 1 order shipped to the house.
When I've been in the store, it's been pretty dead. And customer service has not been spectacular.
Very similar to K-Mart. And we know how that story is ending.
Out for now........
Matt
