With shaky finances and a move toward online sales, Staples announced Thursday it plans to close up to 225 stores by the end of 2015.
Although Staples made the announcement with its latest earnings report Thursday, it is unclear precisely which stores might be on the chopping block – including the site in Hollister on Airline Highway. Those closures are set to follow another round of shuttering 109 Staples in the year leading up to the fourth quarter of 2013, according to the company announcement.
Staples’ sales in the fourth quarter of 2013 were down 12 percent from the same quarter in 2012. For the year, sales were down 6.1 percent for the continually struggling retailer.
To combat changing consumer habits, Staples is continuing its push toward online sales – noting a 10 percent online sales increase in the fourth quarter – and rolling out a broader base of products beyond traditional office supplies.
A city finance official, Brett Hall, could not be reached immediately to provide any relevant economic data on the local Staples.
