Staples on agency hunt to attract small businesses

Staples are looking for agency support to help it attract small businesses.

The retail chain is the UK arm of the world’s largest office products company and has been in talks with a number of London PR agencies for a brief targeting both public and B2B PR. It is expected to be worth around £6,000 a month.

Staples’ renewed efforts to target businesses come as online retailer Amazon looks to launch AmazonSupply in the UK.

AmazonSupply, currently in beta version in America and shipping products to more than 50 countries, offers office supplies to businesses. Analysts predict Amazon could hit the sales of retail parks as it has already done to high-street bookshops like Waterstones and WHSmith.

Staples marketing executive Olga Joven, who joined the retail chain six months ago, is leading the pitch process. She is expected to hold chemistry meetings with only two chosen agencies.

The Staples brand has opened more than 135 stores in the UK and is growing at a rate of five stores per year.