To expand market share, Staples began opening smaller stores in 2003 that are designed to facilitate entry into smaller markets (2004 Annual Report). In 2005, Staples has plans to add ten stores in smaller markets, expanding its total count of small stores to seventeen. This adds risk and uncertainty to operations. Staples will soon attack the Chicago market in 2005, where competitors OfficeMax and Office Depot are already well positioned, a move that is likely to encounter fierce resistance (Smart, 2005).
Bibliography
2004 Annual Report. Retrieved November 13, 2005 from Web site: http://library.corporate-ir.net/library/96/962/96244/items/150649/2004ar.pdf
Klebnikov, P. (2001, April 16). Hair of the dog. Forbes. Retrieved November 13, 2005 from Web site: http://www.forbes.com/archive/forbes/2001/0416/074_2.html?token=MTMgTm92IDIwMDUgMjM6MTU6MTcgKzAwMDA%3D
(2005, January 31). A second wind. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved November 13, 2005 from Web site: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/050131/31eestaples.htm
Staples, Inc. Fact Sheet, Hoover's. Retrieved November 13, 2005 from Web site: http://www.hoovers.com/staples/--ID__14790 -- /free-co-factsheet.xhtml
Staples, Inc. reports fiscal 2004 and fourth quarter results (2005, February 24). Retrieved November 13, 2005 from Web site: http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:jW7JGhWuRAgJ:media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/nsd/spls/toolkit/Q404_PR.pdf+staples+%22year+ended%22+2004&hl=en
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