Office Retailers Using Coworking Spaces To Utilize Unused Space

Data from coworking app provider Proximity Space has shown that there will be 65 million flexible workers in the U.S. by 2020. This has led many office retail suppliers to delve into the sector, with stores such as Staples and Office Depot dipping a toe in the pool. 

Office Depot opened a coworking space coined the Workonomy Hub back in August 2018, while Staples launched its own coworking branch last June a few months after ending its Workbar partnership.

“[We are] shifting from a store that sells supplies to one that really builds and fosters community environments for small businesses, freelancers and other professionals,” said Stacey Helbig, Director of Studio at Staples. “This community style paves the way for better networking, shared learning and business building.”

Both Staples and Office Depot offer a space of around 4,000-5,000 square feet, hot desks, private office spaces, daily rates, monthly memberships, conference rooms, kitchens, networking events, and more.

While both companies share many similarities in their offerings, Staples provides 24/7 access and more modern furniture.