As part of a collaboration with Workbar, office supply chain Staples is introducing a new office-sharing initiative in three of its retail locations. These dedicated in-store spaces will be custom-designed for the Danvers, Norwood and Brighton locations in proximity to Boston, offering everything from conference and private phone rooms to Wi-Fi, printers, plus bottomless refreshments. This new offering from Workbar also perfectly complement Staples printing, marketing, technology and business services.
Since these in-store co-working stations will be operated by Workbar, members will be able to access pre-scheduled meeting spaces and other Workbar locations nearby, as well as an online community network filled with tips and other members.
In order to compete with the convenience of the online market, brick-and-mortar stores are positioning themselves as destinations that can offer more as hybrid retail spaces.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- In-store Co-working
- Opportunity for businesses to leverage unused retail space by offering co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and amenities.
- Office-sharing Initiatives
- Growing trend of partnerships between traditional retailers and co-working companies to create innovative workspaces within stores.
- Hybrid Retail Spaces
- Brick-and-mortar stores are evolving to become more than just shopping destinations, offering additional services and experiences to attract customers.
Where This Applies
- Office Supplies
- Office supply retailers can integrate co-working spaces into their stores to provide added value to customers and generate new revenue streams.
- Co-working
- Co-working companies can expand their reach and offer members more flexibility by partnering with retail chains to establish shared office spaces.
- Retail
- Retailers can differentiate themselves from online competitors by transforming their stores into hybrid spaces that offer a combination of shopping, co-working, and other services.
