Reply to: Staples is no more - to Exit the UK back to the USA

[SueEllen]

Don't Staples in the UK also have an online presence, I know they do here as I order my office stuff that way from them even though their store is within walking distance from me. We also have Woolworths

Yep they do but Viking Direct is normally cheaper. Plus if you want normal stationary rather than furniture then that you may as well buy it from a large supermarket or Wilkinsons.

[Mordac]

WH Smiths units in train stations and airports actually make money simply because they have no competition.

The first and last time I paid more than £10 for a pack of fags was in a WH Smiths. The ultimate f-you was I couldn't legally consume the bloody product on the premises.

[chopper]

Good to know. My home office building will be complete next week and I was planning on going there to check out chairs, desks etc..... Who are their competitors? For stuff like furniture I'd like to go and actually take a look.

Try Costco? Or as others have said, there is Ikea or Viking Direct - risky as you can't see it beforehand but you can amaze yourself as some of the most obscure special offers - e.g. buy address labels and get a free Playmobil toy; buy lever arch files and get a free tin of sweets - I've known them to give away kites and pizza ovens and stuff. Odd.

[darmstadt]

Don't Staples in the UK also have an online presence, I know they do here as I order my office stuff that way from them even though their store is within walking distance from me. We also have Woolworths

[jonnyboy]

Good to know. My home office building will be complete next week and I was planning on going there to check out chairs, desks etc..... Who are their competitors? For stuff like furniture I'd like to go and actually take a look.

I got my from a 2nd hand office furniture shop around my town, just so that I could sit in them, try them out, see how well (fast) they swivelled etc. Google is your friend for that. Otherwise, a chap I know bought some from viking, and they are fine (he paid £130 a chair) - free delivery and delivered next day.

[SueEllen]

Good to know. My home office building will be complete next week and I was planning on going there to check out chairs, desks etc..... Who are their competitors? For stuff like furniture I'd like to go and actually take a look.

You can get desks and chairs from other non-office specific retailers. For example IKEA does them as they see the business market as something they can make money out off.

To be honest I got my desk of eBay years ago. It is old office stock. Even with delivery from another part of the country it was cheaper and better quality than buying a new one.

There are random second hand furniture shops/yards around the country that do sell these on. I lived near one then moved then moved back in the area of the same shop after I bought the desk.

Office chairs it depends on your back. I brought mine from an online retailer of office supplies but I don't have a bad back.

Shelves are more of an issue as they are either cr*p so won't last e.g. from Staples or expensive e.g. custom made, vitsoe. The only cheap won't break shelves are IKEA ones.

[b0redom]

I did use them once in a blue moon, but only for pens, pencils and storage boxes. Their Tech was overpriced and their furniture was shocking quality. I made the mistake of purchasing two office chairs from them - the screws from the seat support stuck through the padding.. it was like sitting on some form of torture chair. Plus, hard to compete with the home delivery companies like Viking direct.

Good to know. My home office building will be complete next week and I was planning on going there to check out chairs, desks etc..... Who are their competitors? For stuff like furniture I'd like to go and actually take a look.

[LondonManc]

I felt it was a good strategy of Pret to keep the prices at the airport the same as high streets. It was jammed, if only the other places had the same business skills.

I've got a subconscious boycott of Burger King and BP going on, mainly thanks to Frankley services on the M5. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask.

[fullyautomatix]

I felt it was a good strategy of Pret to keep the prices at the airport the same as high streets. It was jammed, if only the other places had the same business skills.

[SueEllen]

Their business model has been to continually cut costs as much as possible and take the profit while they still can.

They've also split their business is 2, one is the high cost high footfall travel business, the other the high street stores where they cut costs as much as possible.

WH Smiths units in train stations and airports actually make money simply because they have no competition.

[LondonManc]

It's literally years since I went into WH Smiths, books are easily found online and I don't buy magazines any more. I'm not sure if they still sell films and games?

They still sell CDs on the motorway services, where they can keep their standard pricing and look just as extortionate as the next outlet.

[westtester]

Their business model has been to continually cut costs as much as possible and take the profit while they still can.

They've also split their business is 2, one is the high cost high footfall travel business, the other the high street stores where they cut costs as much as possible.

It's literally years since I went into WH Smiths, books are easily found online and I don't buy magazines any more. I'm not sure if they still sell films and games?

[eek]

I am still shocked that WH Smiths is still around - their business model does not seem to work to me.

Their business model has been to continually cut costs as much as possible and take the profit while they still can.

They've also split their business is 2, one is the high cost high footfall travel business, the other the high street stores where they cut costs as much as possible.

[jonnyboy]

I never understood how Staples managed to keep going, they are horribly expensive and those big retail park units with no customers must be costing them a fortune.

Agreed. Normally they are near the likes of PC World (1 sale = 1 PC = £1000) or Currys (1 sale = 1 Washing machine = £450).. it did not seem to work in terms of maths (1 sale = 4 pens and a ream of paper = £5.50).

I did use them once in a blue moon, but only for pens, pencils and storage boxes. Their Tech was overpriced and their furniture was shocking quality. I made the mistake of purchasing two office chairs from them - the screws from the seat support stuck through the padding.. it was like sitting on some form of torture chair. Plus, hard to compete with the home delivery companies like Viking direct.

I am still shocked that WH Smiths is still around - their business model does not seem to work to me.

[vetran]

Another MF sockie?

Nah MF always gets dressed for the first class lounge!