Read the article and provide Introduction and background of the article and answer the following question:

1. WHY IS THIS ARTICLE INTERESTING?

2. HOW DOES THIS ARTICLE RELATE TO GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT?

ARTICLE:

Staples Solutionshop delivers tailored print and marketing services to Canada's vibrant entrepreneurs.

Business owners are looking to have their brand elevated, to stand out from the crowd, and to attract more customers and Staples is here to support them.

In recent months, businesses across Canada have had the pleasure of welcoming customers back through their doors. The pandemic forced entrepreneurs to weather an endless sea of changes, and having made it through the storm, they can now focus their full attention on reactivating their customer base.

In support of this pivotal moment, Staples launched the Big Print Promise in April, a pledge to bring unparalleled printing services to local businesses across the country. The pledge is built on three pillars: speed, convenience, and quality. As Staples' chief retail officer Rachel Huckle explains, each pillar was carefully crafted to meet the needs of Canada's vibrant network of SMBs.

"Small businesses are the fabric of our communities, and we want to help them

reconnect with their customers," Huckle says. "We're experts at bringing the marketing vision of these small business owners to life, and my hope is that we can help get customers flooding back into their establishments, whether it's to sit down for a meal or to shop for their favourite clothes."

Led by teams at Staples' 300 locations nationwide, entrepreneurs can now walk into any Staples Solutionshop for tailored marketing support. For business owners like Melissa Austria, that in-person support is an essential element of spreading the word about her clothing business Got Style, which she opened on Toronto's King West in 2005. Austria opened a second location in the historic Distillery District in 2012.

"Every day is different, and you really are creator of your own destiny," says Austria as she reflects on what it's like to run her shop, which includes a retail storefront and a digital business. "I'm not super tech

savvy, so I prefer to go talk to somebody, and the staff [at Staples] has always been great. It's been an easy thing to walk over there and get their help."

Austria does a lot of printing with Staples, including informational and thank you postcards for online and in store purchases.

"As a brand we did a lot of other added value services to our clientele; be it custom suiting, our groom room, or private in-store dinner events," she says. "It's important for us to have information postcards about everything that we offer in the store for people to pick up and learn more. And we would love to make a direct mail postcard as well."

To deliver to clients like Austria, Staples offers a suite of solutions that can grow with business owners as they scale. As Huckle explains, the Solutionshop team offers one-stop support for an expansive array of marketing needs.

"In many ways, we're an extension of their business. Business owners are looking to have their brand elevated, to stand out from the crowd, and to attract more customers. However, entrepreneurs already wear so many hats, and marketing isn't necessarily everyone's forte. They can rely on partners like our Solution shop experts to help them understand what solutions will fit their needs."

Staples offers its clients the benefit of omnichannel, online and in-store services. Business owners can place print requests online or in-person for products like menus, architectural drawings, signs, posters and banners, and pick them up same-day, or have the materials shipped

to their doorstep. Plus, because quality and accuracy are top priorities, clients have the power to make changes to a print request before it hits the press. The Solutionshop team can support customers with making real-time edits to text and design, understanding that business owners need print services as nimble and innovative as they are themselves.

Diana Frost, founder of Colouring It Forward, an Indigenous business that aims to foster reconciliation through the arts, says the team at her local Staples has become one of her biggest supporters throughout the years. Staples print services supported the creation of the colouring books Frost publishes, telling stories from different Indigenous nations across Canada. Staples also prints t-shirts

and banners for the Orange Shirt Day walk Frost organizes each year.

"Staples can produce a great variety of items really quickly, and at a reasonable price, which is really great," Frost says.

Huckle adds that the wide array of items Staples can print for a business owner sometimes surprises Staples' customers.

"We've got an incredible manufacturing footprint across Canada with stores and print hubs, amazing partnerships with top trade shops that exist, from Canva to Fedex. That makes us a one stop shop - whether you want a large sign, a brochure that amplifies your brand and stands out from the crowd, or even promotional items like water bottles and towels printed and shipped. We can make all of that for our customers," Huckle says.

"We're committed to quality and always getting the job done right, and on time. We want to bring small businesses to life, and guarantee the best value every single day."