# Staples Canada

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Office supplies retail chain

Staples Canada ULC Logo used since 2018 Staples Canada Headquarters in Richmond Hill, Ontario, in 2014 Formerly The Business Depot (1991–1994) Staples Business Depot (1994–2008) Type Private Founded 1991; 35 years ago (1991) Founder Jack Bingleman Headquarters Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada Number of locations 296 Key people John Lederer (executive chairman) Jens Cermak (CEO) Products Technology (Computers/Business Machines/Entertainment), Furniture, Office Supplies, Copy and Print Services, Tech Services, School Supplies, Legal Supplies, Facility Supplies, Wireless Owner Sycamore Partners Number of employees 15,000+ Website www.staples.ca

Bureau en Gros logo used in Quebec

**Staples Canada ULC**, operating as **Staples** (**Bureau en Gros** in [Quebec](/source/Quebec)),[1] is a Canadian retail sales company owned by American private equity firm [Sycamore Partners](/source/Sycamore_Partners).[2] Staples was founded by [Leo Kahn](/source/Leo_Kahn_(entrepreneur))[3] and [Thomas G. Stemberg](/source/Thomas_G._Stemberg).[4] Since 2017, Staples Canada has operated independently from Staples' U.S. retail and U.S. [business-to-business](/source/Business-to-business) (B2B) operations.[5]

## History

The Business Depot Ltd. was founded by Jack Bingleman in 1991, with [Staples](/source/Staples_Inc.) as a substantial investor, opening Business Depot stores in Canada.[6] The American counterpart acquired the Canadian company in 1994.[7]

The company would operate in English-language markets under the co-branding "Staples Business Depot", although stores in the [Greater Toronto Area](/source/Greater_Toronto_Area) initially continued to operate under the "Business Depot" banner.[8] The presence of Business Depot resulted in [trademark](/source/Trademark) issues when competitor [Office Depot](/source/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.[9][8]

In 2008, Staples acquired [Corporate Express](/source/Corporate_Express).[10] In February 2015, Staples announced its intent to acquire Office Depot (which had also recently merged with [Grand & Toy](/source/Grand_%26_Toy) owner [OfficeMax](/source/OfficeMax)); on December 7, 2015, both the [Competition Bureau](/source/Competition_Bureau) and the U.S. [Federal Trade Commission](/source/Federal_Trade_Commission) announced that they would move to block the merger under [antitrust](/source/Antitrust_law) grounds.[11][12]

In 2017, Staples was acquired by private equity firm [Sycamore Partners](/source/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.[5][13][14]

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" [co-working](/source/Coworking) areas and an auditorium-style "Spotlight" theatre (which can be rented for sessions and events).[15][16] With the new concept, Staples Canada began to position itself as "the working and learning company".[17]

In January 2024, Staples Canada began to participate in a pilot project by the Ontario provincial government to relocate some [ServiceOntario](/source/ServiceOntario) locations (which provide government services such as vehicle licensing) from standalone bureaus to kiosks within retail stores. Two [Walmart Canada](/source/Walmart_Canada) stores are also participating in the pilot.[18] Taxpayer money is being used to cover associated renovations, at an estimated cost of $1.75 million; the [Ontario NDP](/source/Ontario_NDP) questioned the [Doug Ford](/source/Doug_Ford) government's decision to enter into a taxpayer-funded sole-source contract with an American-owned corporation to deliver government services.[18]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Delean, Paul. ["Bureau en Gros to shut two Montreal stores"](https://montrealgazette.com/business/local-business/bureau-en-gros-to-shut-two-montreal-stores). *Montreal Gazette*. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Sycamore Partners Completes Acquisition Of Staples, Inc"](https://www.sycamorepartners.com/news/article/2047). *Sycamore Partners*. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Shapiro, T. ["Leo Kahn, entrepreneur who helped found Staples office-supply business, dies at 94"](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). *The Washington Post*. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Thomas Stemberg dies at 66; Staples founder created 'Toys R Us for office supplies'"](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-staples-founder-thomas-stemberg-dies-20151026-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. October 26, 2015. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DC_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DC_5-1) Demery, Paul (August 14, 2017). ["Break-up plan for Staples: B2B unit stands out"](https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2017/08/14/break-plan-staples-b2b-unit-stands/). *Digital Commerce 360*. Retrieved May 29, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Haddadin, Jim. ["Staples sees future 'beyond office supplies'"](https://www.patriotledger.com/story/business/2014/12/06/staples-sees-future-beyond-office/35796095007/). *The Patriot Ledger*. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Staples Stock Gains on Completion of Acquisitions"](https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/27/business/company-news-staples-stock-gains-on-completion-of-acquisitions.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_8-1) ["Office Depot, Staples settle"](https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2001/05/07/daily3.html). *South Florida Business Journal*. Retrieved September 27, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Depot/Staples settle Canadian dispute"](https://www.opi.net/news/depotstaples-settle-canadian-dispute/). *OPI - Office Products International*. June 1, 2001. Retrieved September 27, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Chee, Foo. ["Staples wins Corporate Express in $2.65 bln deal"](https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL11414890/). *Reuters*. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Bartz, Diane. ["Staples, Office Depot scrap merger deal after judge rules for FTC"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160510235443/http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKCN0Y12SF). Reuters. Archived from [the original](http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKCN0Y12SF/) on May 10, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Staples merger with Grand & Toy owner Office Depot rejected by Canadian, U.S. regulators"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/staples-office-depot-competition-bureau-ftc-1.3354419). *CBC News*. December 7, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Staples spinning off retail business"](https://www.retaildive.com/news/staples-spinning-off-retail-business/449556/). *Retail Dive*. Retrieved May 29, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Gelles, David; Merced, Michael J. de la (June 28, 2017). ["Staples to Sell for $6.9 Billion, and Its New Owner Has an Uphill Battle"](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/28/business/dealbook/staples-buyout.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved May 29, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Staples Canada Launches Innovative Retail Concept Featuring Co-Working Spaces"](https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2018/12/staples-canada-launches-innovative-retail-concept-featuring-co-working-spaces). *Retail Insider*. December 13, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Staples Rebrands and Unveils World's 1st "Working, Learning & Growing Store" \[Photos/Video\]"](https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2019/1/staples-rebrands-and-unveils-worlds-1st-working-learning-growing-store). *Retail Insider*. January 10, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Staples Rebrands and Unveils World's 1st "Working, Learning & Growing Store" \[Photos/Video\]"](https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2019/01/staples-rebrands-and-unveils-worlds-1st-working-learning-growing-store/). *Retail Insider*. January 10, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-city-crit2_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-city-crit2_18-1) Southern, Richard; Marchesan, John (January 12, 2024). ["Ford government to pay for Staples retrofit as retailer looks to 'monetize' ServiceOntario"](https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/01/12/ford-government-to-pay-for-staples-serviceontario-retrofit/). *CityNews Toronto*. Retrieved January 13, 2024.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Staples Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staples_Canada) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staples_Canada?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.