Staples: number of stores in selected countries 2022, by country

As of March 2022, Staples had 1,040 stores across the United States and 210 stores in Canada. In Europe, Germany has a strong Staples presence, with almost 80 stores. As for its presence in Latin America, the company has 18 stores in Argentina and operates under the e-commerce brand Oceano B2B in Brazil.

From Massachusetts to the world

Opening its first store in the Brighton neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts in 1986, the company grew considerably in the decades after that. Arguably the best-known office supplies retail chain in the world, the company founded its Canadian subsidiary in 1991, and expanded to Europe a year later. Hundreds of stores still operate under the Staples name, though mostly in North America, and the company has a significant e-commerce presence in the continent.

Financial struggles and recent changes

Staples’ revenue has significantly declined in recent years. With the rise of e-commerce, online retailers such as Amazon have become the preferred channel for office supplies purchases. In 2015, the company tried and failed to acquire Office Depot and OfficeMax, after which the company increasingly focused on its B2B segment. Two years later, it was sold to the private equity firm Sycamore Partners. In 2021, the company divested most of its European branches.