How was your First Day of School? Staples Canada Wants to Share your Story

Canada's biggest back-to-school retailer connects with fans

RICHMOND HILL, ON, Sept. 4, 2012 /CNW/ - Staples Canada issued a challenge for its fans on Facebook to share their best "first day of school" stories. The contest generated hundreds of entries from across the country, ranging from heartfelt to tear-jerking to side-splitting. And customers now have the chance to share their best first day stories from this year.

"It's hard not to think about Staples during back-to-school time," said Rick Atkinson, vice president of Marketing at Staples Canada. "Collecting real first day of school stories lets customers share the emotional moments that Staples played a part of."

In response to the overwhelming number of stories submitted, Staples Canada will continue to collect the best stories from the start of this school year.

"Everyone has a great first day of school story, and we are sure this Tuesday will produce even more," Atkinson said.

Sharing stories is easy. Customers, fans and friends simply visit the Facebook Canada page, share, and post.

Of the hundreds of entries collected, three top stories were turned into webisodes. The retailer plans to broadcast the videos throughout September to encourage parents, teachers and students to share their first day of school experiences.

The first webisode airs today on the company's Facebook page.

Staples Canada is known for its commitment to customer service and education. The company, through its School Supply Drive, ensures Canadian students are equipped with the supplies they need to succeed. Over the last three years, Staples Canada has donated over three-million dollars in school supplies to students across the country.

"Our first day of school stories and annual School Supply Drive help us show that we not only provide a wide variety of products and services, we're also a retailer who cares about our customers, associates and communities, whether online or in-store," continues Atkinson.

About Staples Canada

Staples, Canada's largest office products company, is committed to providing Canadians with a wide choice of office services and products. Serving all types of business—from the small home office to large enterprise—Staples makes it easy for customers to operate their offices efficiently and affordably by offering an extensive selection of office supplies, technology, electronics and office furniture as well as business services, including computer repair and maintenance, and copy and print services. Operating as Bureau en Gros^MC in the province of Quebec and Staples Canada in all other provinces, the company employs over 15,000 associates at 330+ stores and at their head office in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Ranked as one of Canada's top ten Canadian companies in Marketing Magazine's Marketing/Leger 2011 Corporate Reputation Survey, Staples/Bureau en Gros is dedicated to offering customers the highest level of service, whether they choose to shop in-store, by catalogue or online. Staples Canada/Bureau en Gros also is invested in a number of corporate giving programs that actively support environmental, educational and entrepreneurial initiatives in Canadian communities from coast to coast. Visit www.staples.ca for more information, or visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE: Staples Canada Inc.

Adam Rodricks, Social Media Specialist, Staples Canada
905.737.1147 x 2627 / [email protected]