Staples Call Centre Opens

Premier Russell MacLellan joined Staples business executives this afternoon for the official opening of the Staples Business Depot Call Centre in Lower Sackville.

The centre, located at 70 First Lake Dr., will employ more than 300 people within the first six months of operation, a number that will grow to 700 over the next five years.

"Open borders and changing technology are allowing Nova Scotians to export their skills and talent without leaving home," said Premier MacLellan. "By attracting a Fortune 500 company such as Staples, we are building on our recent successes, investing in Nova Scotians and opening the door to many future opportunities in the call centre industry."

"We chose to locate this centre here because of Nova Scotia's highly educated workforce, strong customer-service orientation and access to the community college system," said Joe Doody, president of the contract & commercial division of Staples Inc. "We've been extremely impressed with the calibre of people applying to work with us."

Staples' newest call centre will support all of the Staples Inc. delivery business. For the first time, all three business units will be housed together in one centre: Staples Direct; Quill Corp; and Staples Contract. Employees will handle customer service inquiries, fill catalogue orders, respond to e-commerce orders and provide account management services to medium- and large-sized business clients.

Staples examined more than 40 potential sites before deciding to locate in Nova Scotia, and now this centre will be the company's model for future customer service centres.

"Our organization has a track record of investing in good ideas and opportunities," said Ed Harsant, president of The Business Depot Ltd. "It's easy to see that when you look at this centre today, and when you consider the rate at which our company is growing within Canada alone. Our target was to open 20 new retail stores across Canada in 1999. Already we have opened six and have plans to open 17 more, three of which will be right here in Nova Scotia."

The province will invest $1.5 million to recruit and train Nova Scotians through the Nova Scotia Community College. The province will also provide a rebate of 10 per cent of the centre's payroll over five years, up to a maximum of $7 million. The payments will be made at the end of each year. The province will start to recoup its investment through payroll taxes from the new jobs as the rebate is being paid out.

Staples was recently added to Standard and Poor's top 100 list. The operation will have immediate economic benefits for the province and provide long-term, strategic dividends by helping Nova Scotia attract more investment and trade opportunities from New England.

Connections Nova Scotia, the successful partnership between the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and MTT, was instrumental in attracting Staples to Nova Scotia and is working with the company to help set up the centre and recruit employees. The partnership will have contributed to the creation of about 5,000 jobs in Nova Scotia since 1994.

"Our Connections Nova Scotia partnership has been working very closely with Staples for more than a year now, discussing the centre's requirements and the benefits of a Nova Scotia location," said Wendy Paquette, MTT's chief operating officer. "It's extremely satisfying to see those efforts result in yet further knowledge-based business growth within our province. It's also satisfying to partner with a company that sees the same potential as we do for further growth and development in Nova Scotia."

"Our partnership with Staples Business Depot is an outstanding example of how the Nova Scotia Community College offers customized training to fit the unique demands of a growth industry and its workforce," said Ray Ivany, president of the Nova Scotia Community College. "We are pleased that we will be able to provide training for Nova Scotians that will allow them access to jobs in this important new sector of our economy."

People who are interested in applying for positions at Staples Business Depot Call Centre are invited to visit the Connections Nova Scotia web site at www.connections.ns.ca, and watch for upcoming recruitment advertisements in local newspapers.

Staples Business Depot, the Canadian unit of Staples Inc., was founded in Toronto in 1991 and operates 138 stores across Canada
under the banner of Staples, Staples Business Depot, Business Depot and Bureau En Gros.

Staples Inc. is a $7 billion (US) retailer of office supplies, furniture and technology to consumers and businesses from home-based businesses to Fortune 500 companies in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Germany. Headquartered outside Boston, Staples invented the office superstore concept and today is the largest operator of office superstores in the world.

Staples Inc. operates 15 call centres. The company's website is at www.staples.ca.