I’m feeling pretty guilty, but I have a pretty good story to tell.
Staples held an opening party at their new location at Fullerton and Elston today. It was THE place to be. I happened to hear about it on the radio, was in the neighborhood and actually needed an office supply or two. So I went around lunchtime. A three person electronic band greeted me at the door. The place was packed. I was immediately herded into a line to register for my free gifts. My dad always used to say that nothing was truly free, and this was no exception. In exchange for a $15 gift card, lunch, a one-touch stapler, a measuring tape, a custom return-address imprinter, a smiley stamp, a pen, photo paper and my face on a pretend cover of Inc. magazine, they got my name, postal and email addresses.
A small price to pay!
I was in time for the store’s opening ceremonies. I sat in a knock-off Aeron chair eating finger sandwiches as Senator Emil Jones, Jr. welcomed the store to the community. This branch is dedicated to him in honor of his 30+ years of public service. Instead of cutting the ceremonial ribbon, he lowered it into a shredder. Staples also donated $15,000 to Jobs for Youth, making them the store’s official charity, promising to partner with them in future events.
Here’s why I feel guilty: my brother works for one of their direct competetors. I don’t think he actually reads my blog, but I guess this is how we’re going to find out.
Oh he reads alright, and since you asked, I don’t mind that you spent a little money with “the evil one” as we like to call ’em. Actually I think it pretty funny that Staples is so eager to lose money in Chicago. They will spend money on ads, the company I work for will be targeting a lot of ads at the Chicago market, and the “other office products super store” will also be spending a lot of meony on ads.