Retail Therapy?

In my sleepless state, I am reflecting back on my sleep deprived day and while I had fun going to Staples with Jill Cullen, I can't help but get my heart racing to think of the way that I would arrange Staples if I could. So, I will write them a letter.

Dear Staples,

I have an addiction...everything in your store excites me, but nothing excites me more than your back to school sale flier. I go through, drool a little, mark the items that I need/want carefully (mind you, I am not going back to school, I am just in love with fresh ink on clean crisp paper with just the right amount of "other" accessories to get me reorganizing my organizing) drive to the store on my lunch hour, only to get distressed by the following things:

1. It is hard to find anything. Logically, the items in the flier should be located in a central location so that my time can be spent quickly...in and out. While I understand your philosophy on creating an environment of spreading things all around the store so that I get attracted to stuff I don't "need" but have to buy anyway, you have to understand that I am needing to keep my time to my lunch. Quite frankly, if you ever go to the Staples and come out with just what is only on the "list", you have sent your husband or someone else with the list.




2. The help when you need it is limited. Have a few more people on hand or again refer to #1 and just organize your store better. 

3. I had a great experience at the checkout. Jason seemed friendly enough so I decide to take that extra step even after being annoyed about not being able to find anything, to acknowledge that we had a great experience with our check out guy. I ask where the cards are. He isn't sure. I ask what he gets if I send a card in about him (all good of course) and he doesn't seem to sure. I ask if he gets an extra break, an extra pin, a fresh water, determined to find out why it would be worth my while and his to fill it out and he said that he probably would just get a pat on the back. I politely, wanting to save time, suggest that I could just pat him and get it over with. He declined. Awkward moment passed. 
4. It would be really swell if someone would help out to the vehicles when your cart is heaping with purchases. Now, I had my friend, Jill, along and she was more than capable, but when you fill a cart, you might want a little help. Is it just me or do the people that buy the furniture only get the help?
5. And finally, if you are going to put that alluring new product in your flier (like the new colored scotch tape with the clear dispenser in our flier (see picture below-is it not ridiculously cute?!), please, I beg of you, let all of your stores carry it!!! How disappointing to know that the thing that got me through my morning at work (okay, that might be an exaggeration, but work with me) was not available to me at the store. Have you ever needed retail therapy?! Have you ever fell in love with something you must have only to be told it is not available at the store you are standing in? 

I love Staples. 

I want to press the "Easy Button" a bunch when in the store and feel disappointed when I can't. 

Sincerely, 

 

Addicted to cute accessories, paper, pens with a good wide flow, bags, flash drive covers, Martha Stewart accessories, pink 3 hole punches and Owl Notepads, Retail Therapy Seeking Consumer that would rather spend her lunch scanning the pen selection than eating. 

P.S. In skimming the ad for this, I realized I missed a great deal for these speakers. (I don't want to assume that this wasn't just consumer error, but if the flier items were easy to find, I might have come home with these: