Staples hopes to make IT services easy too
February 2010By Rodney H. Brown
February 16, 2010
Staples Inc. is launching a business-to-business version of Best Buy’s Geek Squad, to be known as Staples Technology Solutions. The new unit will be under Staples Advantage, the business-to-business division of the Framingham, Mass.-based office and technology supplies giant.
According to Staples officials, Staples Technology Solutions will have offerings ranging from data center solutions and printer fleet management services to network services and desktop technology products. Target customers range from midsize businesses all the way up to Fortune 1000 enterprises.
Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) said in 2008 it was looking for significant growth from its nascent IT services division. In September 2008, the company announced that its IT services unit would start offering remote backup Concord, Mass., company Thrive Networks Inc. and using technology from EMC Corp. subsidiary Mozy Inc.
Technology has been a growing part of Staples’ business for years, and in 2008 the company first saw revenue from its Web site outstrip that of the retail stores. At that time Staples was the second largest Web retailer behind only Amazon.com.
Staples reported 2008 sales of $23 billion and employs approximately 51,000 people worldwide. For its most recent reported quarter, ending Oct. 31,
