Office Depot Opens Its 1st "Store of the Future"

The office supply giant is debuting the first of its "Store of the Future" concepts in Carson City.

The retail industry continues to evolve, and today’s massive businesses have some simple choices in front of them; continue to adapt and prosper, or fail to move forward and be relegated to becoming a case study for a future business program. As Reno Gazette Journal reports, it looks like Office Depot is choosing the former. 

The office supply giant is debuting the first of its ‘Store of the Future’ concepts in Carson City, which will feature a modern layout and a wealth of amenities for the chain’s visitors to take advantage of. 

“Results showed that customers want a shopping experience that is easier and more personal and products within the stores to match, including more in-store assistance and customized services. We designed the features and layout of the Store of the Future to create a differentiated experience,” said Marc Ehle, Office Depot senior vice president of North America retail sales.

While the familiar offerings of supplies, printing, copying, and shipping will still make up the backbone of the stores themselves, Office Depot has acknowledged customers desire to be able to interact with the products they have their sights set on. Carson City is the first of the new concept, but there are more in the pipeline.  

“The Store of the Future locations were selected based upon the right representation of the broad population of customers that we serve. This allows us to make adjustments along the way while satisfying our small business customers and those who shop with us for everyday essentials,” Ehle said.



As with all retail sectors, Office Depot continues to face the challenge of how to compete with online retailers that may undercut them on price. One thing that can give brick-and-mortar stores a leg up - and keep them relevant - is to improve the shopping experience as a whole, and merge the worlds of online and offline. That fact is not lost on Office Depot, and it sounds like that’s a big part of its strategy moving forward.  

“Online shopping has increased for the retail industry over the years and we have responded by providing our customers with a complete omni-channel experience, so they can shop with us in whichever format suits them best, whether it’s online, on mobile or in our brick-and-mortar stores. One example of this experience is the “Buy online, pick-up in-store” offering, which our customers can take advantage of at their convenience,” shared Ehle.

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