Boston & New England + Massachusetts + Retail | March 15, 2016

Staples and More Shutter Stores

Framingham, MA-based Staples will shutter 50 more locations in an effort to slow losses and return to profitability. The office supply company previously closed 12 percent of its stores from 2014 to 2015 , reducing expenses by $500 million a year.

Compounding Staples’ troubles, a $5.5-billion merger with Office Depot hit a snag with the Federal Trade Commission, which says the combined company would have too large of a market share in servicing the office supply needs of large companies. Staples offered to cancel $1.25-billion in commercial contracts, but analysts now believe the merger is a long shot.

Other reported store closings:
– Office Depot 400
– The Gap 175
– Walmart 154 (+ Walmart Express and 16 additional supercenters)
– Finish Line 150
– Sports Authority 140
-J.C. Penny 87
– Aeropostale 84
-Sears/Kmart 50
– Macy’s 40
– Best Buy 30 (+online marketplace)
– Kohl’s 18
– Target 13

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About Dennis Kaiser

Dennis Kaiser is Vice President of Content and Public Relations for Connect Commercial Real Estate. Dennis is a communications leader with more than 30 years of experience including as a journalist and in corporate and agency marketing communications roles. He is responsible for Connect’s client content operations and is involved in a range of initiatives ranging from content strategy, message development, copywriting, media relations, social media and content marketing services. In his most recent corporate communications roles, he led a regional public relations effort across Southern California for CBRE, played a key marketing role on JLL’s national retail team, and was responsible for directing the global public relations effort at ValleyCrest, the nation’s largest commercial landscape services company. In addition to his vast commercial real estate experience, Dennis has worked on communications and launch strategies for a number of residential projects such as Disney’s Celebration in Florida, Ritter Ranch in Palmdale California (7,200 homes, 22,000 acres), WaterColor in Florida and PremierGarage in Phoenix. Dennis’s agency background included firms such as Idea Hall and Macy + Associates. He has earned an outstanding reputation with organization leaders as a trusted advisor, strategic program implementer, consensus builder and exceptional collaborator. Dennis has developed and managed national communications programs for Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, both public and private. He’s successfully worked with journalists across the globe representing clients involved in major-breaking news stories, product launches, media tours, and company news announcements. Dennis has been involved in a host of charitable and community organizations including the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals, BoyScouts, Chrysalis Foundation, Freedom For Life, HOLA, L.A.’s BEST, Reach Out and Read, Super Bowl Host Committee, and Thunderbirds Charities.

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