In order to remain competitive in the emerging e-commerce market , Staples has worked to transform its service delivery within the Chinese market
Since the 1980s , Staples has been fondly renowned as a professional office supplier for corporate businesses and those who have a passion for stationery . However , not one to shy away from growing trends and emerging markets , the company has worked to overhaul its service delivery to become a complete ‘ one stop shop ’ for local governments , Fortune 500 enterprises , SMEs and local businesses . Staples , a Fortune 500 business itself , has grown exponentially in China , with ambitions to further cement its presence within the e-commerce market .
With the growth of new , disruptive technologies and increased competition , long-standing businesses continue to face a number of challenges . Substantial increases in customer demand and quality of products have seen customers no longer content with waiting up to five days to receive an item . Now , customers expect to have the ability to receive items the very next day , delivered free of charge or at minimal cost . This evolving market has consequently led Staples to adapt its service operations in alignment with increased consumer demand .
Entering the Chinese market back in 2004 , the company has strenuously worked to diversify its service portfolio to appeal to the local marketplace . However , stark differences within consumer preferences has impacted its operations significantly . Whilst the US market encompasses a number of physical stores to enable consumers to fully browse and purchase office supplies of choice , China has closed all of its brick-and-mortar stores , where the Chinese government has
170 February 2018