Pencil in a visit to new stationery shop
AN independent stationer has provided a lifeline to workers left jobless by the closure of Grimsby's Staples store.
Office Friends, which supplies stationery to commercial customers, opened its new retail outlet on Saturday – and four of its six new members have joined from Staples.
-
We're Open! Staff herald the opening of Office Friends in King Edward Street, Grimsby. They are, from left, Trish Booth, Daley Lowe, Laura Mearn and Richard Wilson.
Directors Rob Mearns and Helen Hoarder decided to invest £30,000 in converting the downstairs showroom in King Edward Street into a new shop following the news of the national chain's demise.
Staples in Victoria Street closed yesterday.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
Mr Mearns said: "We made the decision to go into retail in December, so it's been quite hectic getting everything together. We had our first customer at 9am and there's been a steady flow.
"I think the market is there, but luckily we don't have the same overheads that Staples had."
Mrs Hoarder added: "For the past nine years we have worked on the commercial side, so to move into retail has been quite eye-opening, but extremely enjoyable."
For former Staples employee Richard Wilson, 28, of Scartho, it means the prospect of having to postpone his wedding has been averted.
He said: "The Staples announcement was a shock.
"We were talking about postponing the wedding, but then this job came up.
"I think we can make this company grow."
Daley Lowe, 27, of North Thoresby, said: "I read in the Telegraph they were looking for staff. It's exciting."
3 Comments
by Officefriends
Monday, January 28 2013, 12:02PM
“Hi Chris
Thanks for your comments - however I think you must have got your pricing from our website and not from the store. This site is purely for our account customers and logins are needed to access correct pricing, hence us not mentioning the website in any of our advertising. If you would like to apply for an account, please get in touch and we will set you up on your appropriate discount structure, otherwise you are welcome to come to our store, where our boxfiles are actually 2 for £5.00 including VAT. We look forward to seeing you.
Kind Regards, Office Friends”
by BaWSox
Monday, January 28 2013, 10:15AM
“Q-Connect Double-Sided Tape 25mm x33 Metres. Pack of 6.
Office Friends: £25.78
Everywhere else: between £8 and £15
These are shocking prices!”
by BaWSox
Monday, January 28 2013, 9:59AM
“Good luck with the business but you need to check your prices...
Q-Connect KF20012 Box File Foolscap, pack of 10:
Staples, Grimsby, before it closed: RRP £72.49, for sale at £28.95 (excluding VAT)
Monkey Office: RRP £72.49, for sale at £20.53 (excluding VAT)
Mayday Office Supplies Ltd: RRP £72.49, for sale at £30.90 (excluding VAT)
Stonehill Office Supplies: RRP £72.49, for sale at £30.24 (excluding VAT)
Office Friends: RRP £74.99, for sale at £44.99 (excluding VAT)
I'll go elsewhere thanks!”