This month, last year, Office Depot had announced that it was looking to close a number of its store locations throughout the country and lay off over 13,000 workers by the end of 2023 as part of a restructuring plan.
Office Depot is looking to recoup over $850 million as it tightens things during this time and it won’t end there. The company also had its eyes set on closing some of its distribution centers as well.
The actions can still be seen as new stores are added to the list, including one on the south end of Las Vegas and many others throughout the nation. The company is selling everything from these stores in a liquidation-style approach, leading to great deals for locals within affected areas–some great, and some slightly discounted from inflated pricing resulting in slightly more competitive prices.
Now, they are stores filled with empty shelves as most of the inventory flies out the door. Some employees find themselves being offered the option to move to other stores but most are part of the number of layoffs that go along with everything.
There is no telling if the company will rebound in later years and once again start expanding locations. Most of these brick-and-mortar companies have fallen victim to growing online sales resulting in less foot traffic in the physical stores.
Hopefully, Office Depot doesn’t find itself in the same pile of names like CompUSA, Circuit City, Ultimate Electronics, and so many others.
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Do you work (or have you worked) at an Office Depot location shutting down? Feel free to share your thoughts and insight below in the comments.
6 Comments
BAD business model for depot max and staples. What they should have done was open a few stores in prime areas to see demand etc. and franchise the rest look at the success of Ace and True Value. Way too much overhead with payroll, rent, inventory, Stores were way too large to begin with how many sizes of staple guns should you inventory????
I have been in my closing Office Depot twice since the signs went up. First no deals the majority of items were max of 10% off while the signs say up to 60%. It also looks like they jacked the prices up. I compared closing deals and Amazon we cheaper on almost all items. The only thing being pushed is fixtures.
Office Depot hired me after I retired from the Air Force. I was promoted to store manager within three years and they moved me to my home town when my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. The company took good care of me, but I eventually left when they required that I downsize my management staff and they also laid off my district manager. I didn’t like the path they were on and very happy I no longer had to deal with corporate’s decisions. The profit and loss bottom line means everything to this company, and rightfully so… I just couldn’t deal with it anymore. I hope the 13,000 folks laid off find themselves a better life, like I did.
I hate it that my Office Depot is closing. I don’t like going to Staples because everything is on some kind of rebate. Get a coupon, fill it out, send it in, only to have it refused because you didn’t dot your I’s correctly.
Staples has not done rebates in over 10 years.
Tom: I’m in Milwaukee, and if you don’t go to Office Depot/Max, you’re just out of luck. They closed the 76tth St. store in about ’15 or ’16, and I can’t remember when they closed the 70th & Greenfield store (but it’s been a while);
No Staples anywhere near here. Only alternatives are the “club” stores (with the “membership” fee, Walmart with the messy, low inventory, or a “Dollar” store with the limited selection and sometimes cheaply made products.
They managed to out-price almost all of the mom & pop stores, and now they’re shutting down stores right and left!