Case Study; Staples VS Office Depot

Many people have shown done case studies on the$400 per person in office supplies. Paper Pushers
Office Supply Industry and there has been literally anterminology comes to mind? Even considering the
over kill of white papers, research and even bookshuge push of the Government Paper Work Reduction
written on the issue. Currently in the market there areAct office supply expenditures continue to
several such category killer businesses in that sectorsincrease.Now for an interesting kicker; Staples was the
such as Office Max, Office Depot and Staples. Indeed,first office supply store retailer to really get into the
we should also not forget Corporate ExpressInternet Ordering and Delivery to Companies. Office
either.Most people and consumers believe this sectorMax and Office Depot followed into this lucrative
to be a retail endeavor, yet that is not really so. In factmarket and this has affected Corporate Express,
the biggest income generator is the catalog andwhich is solely Corporate Office Supply Delivery, not
Internet sales to Corporations and it is know thatretail office supplies.Why is this of interest? Well simple
businesses which have 20 or more employees spendOffice Depot outsourced its phone ordering call in lines
$200 per year in office supplies. Are you shocked byand those who answer the phone are not in the United
that high number; well you should not be if you are in aStates. So now the Staples Corporate Sales Forces
small business for yourself and post all your officeare going ballistic with Corporate clients changing
supplies receipts into Quick Books and fill out yourcompanies for office supplies. Moral of the story;
Schedule C tax return. Small Businesses often spendOutsourcing does not always make sense. Consider
even more.Even better or worse depending on yourthis in 2006.
perspective; Government Agencies spend $250 to