SWOT ANALYSIS ON Staples Inc.

Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) is the world's largest office supply chain store, with over 2,000 stores worldwide in 26 countries. Based in Framingham, Massachusetts, United States, the company has retail stores, serving customers under its original name in Austria, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom, and the United States, while operating subsidiaries in Argentina as Officenet-Staples, Belgium and Netherlands as Office Centre, Canada as Staples Canada (Bureau En Gros in Quebec), and in Italy as Mondoffice. Staples also does business exclusively with enterprises in multiple European countries as Staples Advantage.

Staples sells supplies, office machines, promotional products, furniture, technology and business services both in stores and online. The company opened its first store in Brighton, Massachusetts in 1986. Quill Corporation is Staples most profitable division, accounting for nearly 25% of the company's net income. Between 1998 and 2009 Quill grew from $500 million in revenues to over $1.3 billion. The company is still one of Staples' fastest growing divisions and is led by Michael Patriarca, President of Quill Corporation.
Strengths

* High R&D
* Innovation
* Experience acquired from the global experience
* Strong and well-developed manufacturing base
* High-quality formulations and drugs
* World-class process development labs
* Chemical and process development competencies

Weaknesses

* Low Indian share in world pharmaceutical market
* Uniqueness is missing
* Less penetration

Opportunities

* Innovation- New innovative therapeutic products
* Biologic market expansion
* Increasing health consciousness
* Globalization
* Increased incomes
* Drug delivery system management



Threats

* Competition
* Cheaper Technology
* Economic slowdown
* Maturing categories, products, or services
* New Entrants
* Established Brands {first mover advantage}