How Party City And Stanton Optical Are Taking Staples Beyond Office Supplies

BusinessRetailHow Party City And Stanton Optical Are Taking Staples Beyond Office SuppliesByPamela N. Danziger,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Pam Danziger reports on retail, focused on the luxury consumer market.Follow AuthorMay 15, 2026, 10:57am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryStaples is reinventing its 900 stores as community service hubs, moving beyond traditional office supplies to combat a shrinking retail market and intense competition. The strategy, led by U.S. retail president Marshall Warkentin, focuses on a services-led model. Staples has expanded offerings like print services, UPS shipping, and online returns. Crucially, it's integrating shop-in-shops, including Party City in 700 stores and a Stanton Optical pilot in Philadelphia, to attract both small businesses and everyday shoppers. These partnerships provide complementary products and services, driving foot traffic and enhancing customer value. Staples also offers "Bins Wins," selling discounted returned merchandise to create a unique treasure-hunt experience, further differentiating its retail approach. This evolution aims to provide expertise and a personal touch, making retail easy for a broader customer base.Show More Close-up of logo for office supply store Staples with tagline That Was Easy on cardboard file box, Lafayette, California, September 24, 2020. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)Gado via Getty ImagesStaples, the nation’s leading brick-and-mortar office-supply retailer, is turning its 900 stores into a community services hub by expanding beyond its office-supply roots. It’s giving Party City a new home in about 700 stores and testing Stanton Optical shop-in-shops in the Philadelphia market. It’s all part of Staples’ focus on a community-centric, services-led business model bring complementary products and ser...