{{Short description|Office supplies retail chain}} {{Use Canadian English|date=May 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Staples Canada ULC | logo = Staples Canada 2018 logo.svg | logo_caption = Logo used since 2018 | image = StaplesCanada.JPG | image_size = 250px | image_caption = Staples Canada Headquarters in [[Richmond Hill, Ontario]], in 2014 | type = [[Privately held company|Private]] | num_locations = 296 | key_people = {{plainlist| * John Lederer ([[executive chairman]]) * Jens Cermak ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]]) }} | products = Technology (Computers/Business Machines/Entertainment), Furniture, Office Supplies, Copy and Print Services, Tech Services, School Supplies, Legal Supplies, Facility Supplies, Wireless | revenue = | num_employees = 15,000+ | owner = [[Sycamore Partners]] | former_names = {{plainlist| * The Business Depot (1991–1994) * Staples Business Depot (1994–2008) }} | founded = {{Start date and age|1991}} | parent = | founder = Jack Bingleman | hq_location = [[Richmond Hill, Ontario]], Canada | website = {{URL|www.staples.ca}} }} [[File:Logo Bureau en gros 2018.svg|thumb|Bureau en Gros logo used in Quebec]]
'''Staples Canada ULC''', operating as '''Staples''' ('''Bureau en Gros''' in [[Quebec]]),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Delean |first1=Paul |title=Bureau en Gros to shut two Montreal stores |url=https://montrealgazette.com/business/local-business/bureau-en-gros-to-shut-two-montreal-stores |website=Montreal Gazette |access-date=16 January 2024}}</ref> is a Canadian retail sales company owned by American private equity firm [[Sycamore Partners]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sycamore Partners Completes Acquisition Of Staples, Inc. |url=https://www.sycamorepartners.com/news/article/2047 |website=Sycamore Partners |access-date=16 January 2024}}</ref> Staples was founded by [[Leo Kahn (entrepreneur)|Leo Kahn]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shapiro |first1=T. |title=Leo Kahn, entrepreneur who helped found Staples office-supply business, dies at 94 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/leo-kahn-entrepreneur-who-helped-found-staples-office-supply-business-dies-at-94/2011/05/13/AFGKEi3G_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=16 January 2024}}</ref> and [[Thomas G. Stemberg]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Thomas Stemberg dies at 66; Staples founder created 'Toys R Us for office supplies' |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-staples-founder-thomas-stemberg-dies-20151026-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=26 October 2015 |access-date=16 January 2024}}</ref> Since 2017, Staples Canada has operated independently from Staples' U.S. retail and U.S. [[business-to-business]] (B2B) operations.<ref name="DC"/>
==History== The Business Depot Ltd. was founded by Jack Bingleman in 1991, with [[Staples Inc.|Staples]] as a substantial investor, opening Business Depot stores in Canada.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Haddadin |first1=Jim |title=Staples sees future 'beyond office supplies' |url=https://www.patriotledger.com/story/business/2014/12/06/staples-sees-future-beyond-office/35796095007/ |website=The Patriot Ledger |access-date=16 January 2024}}</ref> The American counterpart acquired the Canadian company in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |title=Staples Stock Gains on Completion of Acquisitions |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/27/business/company-news-staples-stock-gains-on-completion-of-acquisitions.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=16 January 2024}}</ref>
The company would operate in English-language markets under the co-branding "Staples Business Depot", although stores in the [[Greater Toronto Area]] initially continued to operate under the "Business Depot" banner.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Office Depot, Staples settle |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2001/05/07/daily3.html |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=South Florida Business Journal}}</ref> The presence of Business Depot resulted in [[trademark]] issues when competitor [[Office Depot]] expanded into Canada: in 1993, Staples obtained an injunction preventing the Office Depot name from being used in Ontario, and thus its stores were operated under the name "The Office Place" instead. The two companies reached a settlement in May 2001, allowing Office Depot to begin using its name on store brand products in Ontario in September 2001, and on store signage in June 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-06-01 |title=Depot/Staples settle Canadian dispute |url=https://www.opi.net/news/depotstaples-settle-canadian-dispute/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=OPI - Office Products International |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
In 2008, Staples acquired [[Corporate Express]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chee |first1=Foo |title=Staples wins Corporate Express in $2.65 bln deal |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL11414890/ |website=Reuters |access-date=16 January 2024}}</ref> In February 2015, Staples announced its intent to acquire Office Depot (which had also recently merged with [[Grand & Toy]] owner [[OfficeMax]]); on December 7, 2015, both the [[Competition Bureau]] and the U.S. [[Federal Trade Commission]] announced that they would move to block the merger under [[Antitrust law|antitrust]] grounds.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bartz |first1=Diane |title=Staples, Office Depot scrap merger deal after judge rules for FTC |url=http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKCN0Y12SF/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510235443/http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKCN0Y12SF |archive-date=May 10, 2016 |access-date=10 May 2016 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-12-07 |title=Staples merger with Grand & Toy owner Office Depot rejected by Canadian, U.S. regulators |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/staples-office-depot-competition-bureau-ftc-1.3354419 |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=CBC News}}</ref>
In 2017, Staples was acquired by private equity firm [[Sycamore Partners]] for $6.9 billion. Under the new owner, Staples Inc. was split into three "independently managed and capitalized" entities; Staples Canada serves as one of these entities, alongside Staples North American Delivery and Staples U.S. Retail.<ref name="DC">{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2017/08/14/break-plan-staples-b2b-unit-stands/|title=Break-up plan for Staples: B2B unit stands out|first=Paul|last=Demery|date=2017-08-14|website=Digital Commerce 360|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/staples-spinning-off-retail-business/449556/|title=Staples spinning off retail business|website=Retail Dive|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/28/business/dealbook/staples-buyout.html|title=Staples to Sell for $6.9 Billion, and Its New Owner Has an Uphill Battle|last1=Gelles|first1=David|date=2017-06-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-05-29|last2=Merced|first2=Michael J. de la|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In December 2018, Staples Canada unveiled a new logo, and the new slogan "Work. Learn. Grow". The rebranding was accompanied by a new store concept, which first launched in Montreal and at its 375 University Avenue flagship store in Toronto. They feature demo areas with curated selections from various product lines (including pens, paper, journals, and consumer electronics), the "Solution Shop" for print and marketing services, and the latter featuring "Staples Studio" [[Coworking|co-working]] areas and an auditorium-style "Spotlight" theatre (which can be rented for sessions and events).<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2018 |title=Staples Canada Launches Innovative Retail Concept Featuring Co-Working Spaces |url=https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2018/12/staples-canada-launches-innovative-retail-concept-featuring-co-working-spaces |access-date=2019-04-11 |website=Retail Insider |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 January 2019 |title=Staples Rebrands and Unveils World's 1st "Working, Learning & Growing Store" [Photos/Video] |url=https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2019/1/staples-rebrands-and-unveils-worlds-1st-working-learning-growing-store |access-date=2019-04-11 |website=Retail Insider |language=en-CA}}</ref> With the new concept, Staples Canada began to position itself as "the working and learning company".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-10 |title=Staples Rebrands and Unveils World's 1st "Working, Learning & Growing Store" [Photos/Video] |url=https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2019/01/staples-rebrands-and-unveils-worlds-1st-working-learning-growing-store/ |access-date=2021-09-29 |website=Retail Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>
In January 2024, Staples Canada began to participate in a pilot project by the Ontario provincial government to relocate some [[ServiceOntario]] locations (which provide government services such as vehicle licensing) from standalone bureaus to kiosks within retail stores. Two [[Walmart Canada]] stores are also participating in the pilot.<ref name="city-crit2">{{cite web |last1=Southern |first1=Richard |last2=Marchesan |first2=John |title=Ford government to pay for Staples retrofit as retailer looks to 'monetize' ServiceOntario |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/01/12/ford-government-to-pay-for-staples-serviceontario-retrofit/ |access-date=13 January 2024 |website=CityNews Toronto|date=12 January 2024 }}</ref> Taxpayer money is being used to cover associated renovations, at an estimated cost of $1.75 million; the [[Ontario NDP]] questioned the [[Doug Ford]] government's decision to enter into a taxpayer-funded sole-source contract with an American-owned corporation to deliver government services.<ref name="city-crit2" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Staples}}
[[Category:Staples Inc.]] [[Category:1991 establishments in Ontario]] [[Category:Canadian brands]] [[Category:Canadian companies established in 1991]] [[Category:Canadian subsidiaries of foreign companies]] [[Category:Companies based in Richmond Hill, Ontario]] [[Category:Office supply companies of Canada]] [[Category:Retail companies established in 1991]]