Staples New App for Windows 8 Makes Shopping Easier for Small Businesses

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Staples, the world’s largest office products company and second largest internet retailer, announced today the launch of its own Windows Store app for Staples.com. The app provides customers with access to Staples Rewards and features tools that make it easier for small businesses to research and shop for everything they need for their business or home office.

“Staples’ new Windows Store app is an example of how retailers can best incorporate the platform to meet their customers’ everyday shopping needs”

“Staples customers are very excited about the new computers and tablets featuring Windows 8, and we’re enhancing the Staples.com experience for Windows 8 users,” said Steve Bussberg, senior vice president of Staples.com. “Staples makes things easier for small businesses by using the latest technology, and the Staples Windows Store app enables customers to shop Staples even faster.

“Staples’ new Windows Store app is an example of how retailers can best incorporate the platform to meet their customers’ everyday shopping needs,” said John Richards, senior director of Windows Apps Marketing for Microsoft Corp. “Windows 8 is an engaging and immersive experience for users, and that includes interacting with their favorite brands.”

Users can pin commonly used features of the Staples app to their Windows 8 Start screen, including an ink & toner finder, a printer finder, and their “lists” section, where they create and share distinctive lists of Staples products, like “my favorites” or “recent orders.” With the snap view, users can set up a list of their favorite features from the Staples app on either the left or right-hand side of their screen. The Staples Windows Store app also works in conjunction with Staples other e-commerce properties, allowing customers to view or add items to their cart on the Windows Store app, the Staples smartphone app, the mobile website, the tablet site or Staples.com, making it easy for them to shop whenever and however it’s convenient for them.

The Staples Windows Store app supports both touch and more traditional input methods, making the app available to users on all the different form factors that run Windows 8. The app is available for free download in the Windows Store and will serve tablets, laptops and desktop PCs.

A leader in providing online and mobile shopping capabilities, Staples was one of the first retailers to offer a dedicated tablet site and also offers shoppers the convenience of an award-winning smartphone app and mobile site. The Staples Windows Store app was built using Staples own application programming interface (API) technology, and lets shoppers take advantage of the most innovative features and functionality of the new Windows user interface, including touch and swipe technology for tablets and Windows 8 laptops and desktop PCs.

The app was created through team collaboration at the Staples Velocity Lab, the company’s Cambridge, MA facility that houses teams responsible for designing and implementing innovative new e-commerce and mobile solutions across Staples global business units to better serve the millions of customers who shop Staples websites and stores worldwide.

About Staples

Staples is the world’s largest office products company and second largest internet retailer. For 26 years, Staples has served the needs of business customers and its vision is to provide every product businesses need to succeed. Through its world-class retail, online and delivery capabilities, Staples offers office supplies, technology products and services, facilities and breakroom supplies, furniture, copy and print services and a wide range of other product categories. With thousands of associates worldwide dedicated to making it easy for businesses of all sizes, Staples operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The company is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.