Staples (SPLS), which has been aggressively expanding beyond its retail roots, is now launching a technology unit that can serve as an outsourced info-tech department for small businesses. The office-products retailer’s new Staples Technology Solutions will handle tech products and services for business customers, ranging from computer equipment and printer maintenance to managing all the company’s IT needs. In the small-business segment — companies of 10 to 250 employees — Staples could provide a full IT department.
Still the largest U.S. office-supply store chain, Staples has been expanding into other areas in recent years. Its North American Delivery Unit — which supplies products and services to businesses — had $2.5 billion in sales during the third quarter.
“Everyone thinks of Staples as a retail organization, but today Staples is a bigger office-delivery business than it is a retail business,” says Jim Lippie, vice president of Staples Network Services. Staples’ revenues are now split about 60-40 between delivery and retail sales.
Source:http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/company-news/staples-expands-into-it-outsourcing-for-small-businesses-embarg/19357342/
