Distribution Conference Session Abstract

Overview
Conference Summary
Why Attend
Who Should Attend
Fast Facts
Conference Schedules
University Participants
Certificate of Advanced
Education
FAQ
Travel/Accommodations
Call for Speakers
Proceedings

Making It Easy For Our Customers

Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm

Track: Best Practices

Session Abstract

In 1986, Staples invented the office superstore. Today, we are the world's largest office products company with sales of $19.4 billion dollars in 2007. Our more than 76,000 associates in delivery businesses and 2,000 stores around the world are dedicated to making it easy to buy office products. Once a retail–only operation, Staples continues to expand and meet the office product needs of the ever–changing global market, estimated to be a $260 billion opportunity. The company now serves customers through catalogs, delivery service and award–winning e–commerce sites around the globe. Quill, a direct marketer of office products, is nationally recognized for its customer service to vertical specialty markets such as the legal and medical professions. Our Contract business is one of the fastest growing in the United States.

Our European stores, delivery organizations and e–commerce sites provide Staples with incredible growth potential in a very fragmented marketplace. Meanwhile our delivery businesses in Argentina, Brazil and China are building a foundation for growth in those emerging international markets.

Staples has not only grown; we have evolved to meet the needs of our customers. We know that business is much more complicated and customers are pressed for time, now more than ever. Today, Staples promises to help make it easy for people to buy their office products.

In this session, learn how Staples makes it easy for our Customers, our associates, our institutional investors, and our shareholders.

Presentation to include:

An overview of our easy brand strategy and evolution.
Distinct ways that we make it easy for our Customers to shop at Staples- whether in store, or delivered.
How we make it easy for our associates to “deliver the easy”.
How we make it easy for financial institutions and shareholders to invest in Staples.
Our Staples Soul (Diversity, Environment, Ethics, Community).

Learning Objectives:

Participants will gain understanding of the following:

· Developing a customer centric culture.

· Strategies behind our easy brand promise.

· Our plans to gain additional market share.

· The importance of having a soul.

Learning Outcomes:

· How to develop a Customer centric company culture.

· How to make it easy for Customers to do business with you.

· How to execute against your brand promise.

· How to gain market share.

· How important it is to have clearly defined company values.