In Celebration of Small Business Week, Staples Connect Recognizes the Achievements of Small Businesses Through its Breakthrough Project Initiative

Staples Connect highlights three outstanding small businesses whose products are now available for purchase in select Staples Stores across the country

As part of its continued evolution to Staples Connect, the working and learning store, Staples US Retail is celebrating small businesses by highlighting three that will have their products carried at select Staples stores through The Staples Connect Breakthrough Project. This initiative which launched in Feb. 2021 is designed to accelerate the path to market for small businesses and entrepreneurs by providing an opportunity to have a presence in Staples stores across the country. In addition to The Breakthrough Project, Staples Connect will continue to support small businesses through its Community Business Directory and through a partnership with wiseHer to offer free expert business consultations throughout the month of May. ¹

Earlier this year, Staples Connect asked makers, innovators and entrepreneurs to submit working and learning products for a chance to secure shelf space at Staples stores through The Breakthrough Project. Among the products selected were:

• Backpal: A tool that uses compression technology to turn an unbalanced, overweight bag into an ergonomically sound one. With help from their father Mark, a former FBI agent, sibling duo Deja and Canyon invented the Backpal as a solution to the back pain they and their classmates were tired of experiencing.
• The Mobile Pixels TRIO MAX: A portable monitor that delivers a multi-screen set up for those on the go. Mobile Pixels Inc.’s co-founder Jack Yao decided to build a laptop monitor from a broken laptop to create a portable secondary monitor in partnership with Stephen Ng.
• Kate & Laurel: Unique wall art from independent artists. The founders of Kate & Laurel saw a void in the market for curated, well-designed, affordable furniture and home décor. So as part of their line of products, the brand partners with independent artists to create wall art in a variety of decorative and functional formats.

Watch this video for a behind-the-scenes look at The Breakthrough Project experience for these makers whose products sit proudly on the shelves of select Staples stores.

“These are products that will truly make our customers’ lives easier – products that our research has shown they’re searching for in today’s environment,” said Marshall Warkentin, Chief Marketing and Merchandising Officer, Staples US Retail. “Following our call for submissions, the local communities around our stores came through with new and innovative products that we’re excited to bring into inventory. We look forward to discovering even more products and solutions from makers in the fall.”

Follow Staples Stores on LinkedIn and stay tuned for our August Call for Submissions for The Breakthrough Project for a chance to submit innovative working and learning products and solutions. All are encouraged to submit!

In addition to its Breakthrough Project initiative, Staples Connect will continue its support of small businesses through:

The Community Business Directory

Staples Connect developed the Community Business Directory to give local businesses added visibility online at staplesconnect.com and in Staples stores to support them on their mission to drive relationships and growth. Staples Connect helps market small businesses by featuring them in their Shop Local in-store fixtures and by including them in marketing materials like promotional emails to millions of their customers.

To learn more about the Community Business Directory and about the special events Staples Connect is hosting for Small Business Week, visit www.staplesconnect.com/small-business.

Free wiseHer Consultations

To help build strong small businesses across the country, Staples Connect is proud to offer its customers free expert consultations through a partnership with wiseHer (more information on the offer can be found here). wiseHer connects its customers with world-class advisors, coaches and consultants to help further their businesses and careers and takes the guesswork out of building your business.

About Staples Connect

With a focus on the community of small businesses and consumers, Staples Connect provides innovative products, services and inspiration essential to the new ways of working and learning. Staples Stores and Staples Connect retail locations serve millions of customers from entrepreneurs and small businesses to remote workers, parents, teachers, and students. Explore Staples Connect at a local Staples Store or online at StaplesConnect.com.

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¹Valid 5/3/21–5/31/21 online at staplesconnect.com/wiseher or on wiseHer.com. Exclusions may apply. Limit one coupon per customer.

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