Metropol

wells wrote: Do we know how much of the French operation is going?

Seven stores are closing, which is half of the French business. They're pulling out of other European countries, such as Belgium and The Netherlands.

Martin Phillp wrote:

wells wrote: Do we know how much of the French operation is going?

Seven stores are closing, which is half of the French business. They're pulling out of other European countries, such as Belgium and The Netherlands.

I seem to recall the chain was shrunk massively overnight during the last M&S crisis c.2001?

Staples brand to disappear from the High Street.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38013806

Now Staples is set to disappear from the UK...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38013806

I can't work out if that means they are closing down or someone else is going to rename the stores under a different name.

If they are closing down, its good news for WHSmith

The bottom paragraph suggests Staples (under a new name) may continue online for retail and business to business as they've performed better than the stores.

Such weird phrasing in that story. A bit like saying "The Dell brand has disappeared from my living room" instead of "Some burglars stole my laptop".

Andrew wrote:I can't work out if that means they are closing down or someone else is going to rename the stores under a different name.

Thats exactly what I thought. Rebrands are usually pushed as positives but there is a tone of negativity about it, but on the other hand it doesn't say they are closing down.

I would imagine at least a huge scaling back of the existing retail presence.

cwathen wrote:

Andrew wrote:I can't work out if that means they are closing down or someone else is going to rename the stores under a different name.

Thats exactly what I thought. Rebrands are usually pushed as positives but there is a tone of negativity about it, but on the other hand it doesn't say they are closing down.

I would imagine at least a huge scaling back of the existing retail presence.

Another one? I think the chain shed half their stores a while back.

I don't know what it exists for. The last time I went was about 6 years ago for some printer ink. The official one was full RRP, their unofficial one was about 50p cheaper.

The Telegraph article is even more ambiguous! It says stores but further down say's Hilco will work with the Management team to build a plan for success...http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/201 ... gh-street/

The Southampton Staples relocated last year to a smaller unit about half the size of the original. Will be interesting to see what happens.

Hull's Staples also recently relocated.
http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/staples- ... story.html
http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/staples- ... story.html

First article, about the new store opening, has a pic of the new store, the second article, published a few days later, talks about the empty premises left behind, with a photo of it.