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Staples Canada Leads Back to School 2024 with Trends, Insights and Savings

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National survey reveals key insights from parents; Canada’s Back to School destination announces amazing deals on Back to School essentials 

RICHMOND HILL, ON, July 11, 2024 /CNW/ – Today, Staples Canada launches its Back to School campaign, equipping teachers, parents, and students with the best gear and incredible savings for the season. Canada’s Back to School destination has also done its homework: the brand has unveiled the 2024 Staples Back to School Study revealing findings from parents across the country and their expectations with this year’s Back to School experience.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9278551-staples-canada-back-to-school-2024/

“As a consumer-centric business, it’s paramount we understand customer needs, and that’s exactly what we’ve done this year and what’s fuelled our Back to School program,” said Rachel Huckle, CEO, Staples Canada. “Our goal is to make sure Canadians feel supported with the right tools, resources and savings to get everything they need to start the school year off on the right foot. Our teams, stores and site are ready to provide easy browsing and seamless solutions, with hundreds of new and notable products available at great prices – all in one place.”

As Canada’s Back to School destination, Staples is here to set parents and students up for success ahead of the return to class with the 2024 Staples Back to School Study. The survey asked parents their thoughts, feelings and attitudes on the upcoming school year to discover how Canadians can feel better equipped for the season.

Notable Findings:

Most Back to School shopping will happen in-store: half of parents plan to do most/all of their shopping in-store and almost all (88 per cent) say at least half their shopping will be done in-store, signaling the importance of the brick-and-mortar experience to parents this year.Parents are looking to accomplish their back to school quickly and efficiently, rather than making it a family moment: 88 per cent agree they want to do it quickly and efficiently and 70 per cent agree it usually ends up being a chore.Canadians will hunt for savings on tech as it tops affordability challenges: 59 per cent of parents report tech among the top three biggest affordability challenges, placing a greater emphasis on deal seeking, promotions and financing options for this category.Parents’ comfort with their kids using AI for schoolwork more than doubles if it has been specifically reviewed and approved by their school: This number doubles for parents with kids aged 13 to 17 compared to comfort with no supervision at all and triples for parents with kids aged 6 to 12.Some parents feel well-informed about AI tools, while others admit there’s room to learn: Roughly one third report feeling well-informed, another third report knowing little to nothing and the rest fall in the middle.

Based on the insights uncovered in the study, Staples Canada announces an exciting line-up of Back to School offerings designed to meet the needs of parents, students and teachers alike.

Back to School Savings Made Easy
Staples is committed to making Back to School savings easy for parents, teachers, and students with deals that will get everyone excited. Introducing Red Dot Savings, a weekly deals program on top school essentials, available both in-store and online. Customers can also enjoy peace of mind with Staples’ price match guarantee, ensuring you always get the best deal at Staples, and financing options with Flexiti.

New AI-Enabled Tech Products, Solutions and Expert Advice
Staples has introduced new innovative tech products that are AI enabled and ready – so you can stay ahead of the curve. Everything from laptops, tablets to smartphones and more from top brands including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Samsung, and Lenovo. New to AI enabled tech? Staples has you covered with their team of specially trained tech experts to share knowledge and provide advice on the best tech and AI capabilities tailored to your individual needs.

Protect your technology with Staples Protection Plans by Allstate, available for a variety of electronics like smartphones, computers, tablets, and headphones to cover mechanical and electrical failures, as well as accidental damage.

Back to School Needs Supported by Staples Wireless
In need of a new phone plan or internet upgrade for Back to School? Customers can discover the best phone, internet and TV solutions from Bell, Virgin Plus and Lucky Mobile at Staples stores across Canada. Whether you’re heading off to university, changing schools or addresses – Staples has the best selection of wireless plans for post-secondary students to help them power their new devices.

Great Product Assortment with Exclusive Brand, Pep Rally
A Staples exclusive, Pep Rally introduces its latest line of fun and functional Back to School essentials, featuring three new collections to help students express themselves, including: Retro Love, Classic Academia, and Joyful Expression. Shop all of Pep Rally’s school supplies and solutions.

Great Tools for Parents and Teachers

Staples Print Services: Staples Print Services has everything you need to start the school year off on the right foot, including customizable labels, quick print services, dynamic workbooks and wide format printing.School Tools: Looking to find dedicated lists of everything your child needs for class? With Staples’ School Tools, parents can shop for supplies based on lists curated by teachers for their child’s grade and region. Staples’ School Tools also offers special discounts, including 10 per cent off orders over $50.

Innovative In-Store Experience
This year, Staples Canada partnered with GeekSpeak Commerce to create the ‘Backpack Challenge’; a unique Augmented Reality (AR) experience tailored to children aged 6 to 11 to make Back to School shopping fun for kids and easy for parents. The in-store game, played on mobile devices, transforms Staples stores into an interactive playground. Kids are given the chance to embark on a digital adventure, with different quests to locate and collect hidden animals and add them to their virtual backpack. Parents and kids can access the game during their Back to School shopping trips, keep an eye out for QR code signage in store to join in on the fun.

Celebrate Back to School “Feels” with Staples
Staples has partnered with real Canadian creators – parents, teachers and students from coast-to-coast – to star in its Back to School ad campaign this year. The creative campaign celebrates all the Back to School “feels”, with amazing deals and Back to School savings that are so good, you won’t be able to contain your emotions.

About the 2024 Staples Back to School Study
These are the findings of a study/survey conducted by Staples Canada from June 25 to 28, 2024 among a representative sample of 1,008 parents with kids aged 6 to 17 within Canada. Respondents are members of Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points for parents, 19 times out of 20.

About Staples Canada
Staples Canada is The Working and Learning Company. We are a privately-owned company committed to helping parents, teachers, businesses, and entrepreneurs work smarter, learn more and grow every day. Our network includes 298 stores across Canada and staples.ca, printing and shipping services at Staples Print, and Staples Studio co-working spaces. To service the unique needs of businesses, we also have a number of dedicated B2B brands that support business customers of all sizes, which include Staples PreferredStaples Professional, Supreme Office Supplies and Furniture, Denis Office Supplies, Monarch Office Supply Inc. and Beatties. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, we are committed to the communities we serve across Canada, and are a proud partner of MAP through our Even The Odds fundraising and awareness initiative that aims to eliminate critical gaps in health equity. Visit staples.ca for more information or engage with @StaplesCanada on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok.

SOURCE Staples Canada ULC

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Blue Owl Capital Expands Tennis Player Sponsorship to All Grand Slam Tournaments in 2025

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Blue Owl to place logo patches on dozens of athletes competing across the Australian Open,
French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open

Jordan Thompson named as Blue Owl’s dedicated athlete ambassador for the Australian Open

NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Blue Owl Capital Inc. (“Blue Owl”) (NYSE: OWL), a leading alternative asset manager, announced today a marquee sponsorship agreement to expand their presence at all Grand Slam tournaments in 2025 and become the exclusive financial services partner for professional tennis’ Player Patch Program.

Blue Owl’s logo will be featured on the shirt of select players competing across men’s singles, women’s singles, mixed doubles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles competitions at this year’s Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open tournaments. In addition to Blue Owl’s presence on the courts, the firm will be featured in iconic Melbourne transit hubs, social media and digital media during the Australian Open in an effort to raise brand awareness within the country and the broader APAC market.

Blue Owl Chief Marketing Officer Suzanne Escousse said, “Just as Blue Owl is redefining alternative investing, we are supporting established and emerging professional players who are redefining the game of tennis. Tennis is a truly worldwide sport requiring peak performance in critical, high-pressure moments. This is the same ethos that underpins Blue Owl and allows us to focus on delivering results for our international client base. Following the success of our involvement with the Patch Program at the 2024 US Open, and given Blue Owl’s established presence within the country, Australia is the perfect place to kick off our presence across Grand Slam tournaments.”

Blue Owl has also partnered with Australian tennis professional Jordan Thompson, who will serve as the firm’s Athlete Ambassador at the 2025 Australian Open – January 12-26 in Melbourne. Most recently, Thompson won the men’s doubles at the 2024 US Open, where he was wearing a Blue Owl patch, and was a men’s doubles finalist at Wimbledon in 2024. He has also registered victories over several top-10-ranked opponents in singles competitions and previously represented Australia at the Olympics and the Davis Cup. Thompson will be one of several competitors wearing Blue Owl’s logo throughout the tournament.

Jordan Thompson said: “Blue Owl is focused on delivering excellence for its clients, which makes it a great fit for a partnership with professional tennis players. Support from firms like Blue Owl is tremendously beneficial for players who are preparing for career-defining events, especially the four Grand Slams. Our shared core values, including striving for success in every step of our journeys, whether that be in the financial services industry or competing as a professional athlete, is a perfect match. Alongside my coaches, my doubles teammate(s) and tennis fans, Blue Owl will play a key role for me here in Melbourne at the 2025 Australian Open.”

About Blue Owl

Blue Owl (NYSE: OWL) is a leading asset manager that is redefining alternatives.

With $235 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2024, we invest across three multi-strategy platforms: Credit, GP Strategic Capital, and Real Estate. Anchored by a strong permanent capital base, we provide businesses with private capital solutions to drive long-term growth and offer institutional investors, individual investors, and insurance companies differentiated alternative investment opportunities that aim to deliver strong performance, risk-adjusted returns, and capital preservation.

Together with over 1,050 experienced professionals, Blue Owl brings the vision and discipline to create the exceptional. To learn more, visit www.blueowl.com.

Media Contact

Nick Theccanat
Principal, Corporate Communications & Government Affairs
Nick.Theccanat@blueowl.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blue-owl-capital-expands-tennis-player-sponsorship-to-all-grand-slam-tournaments-in-2025-302348626.html

SOURCE Blue Owl Capital

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Wayfair and Google Cloud Announce Expanded Partnership to Transform Online Retail with Gemini

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With Google’s advanced Gemini models and Google Workspace, Wayfair is now able to enhance product catalog, employee productivity, and customer experience

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Wayfair and Google Cloud today announced an expanded partnership to significantly enhance the online retailer’s product catalog with Google’s advanced Gemini models on Vertex AI and to improve employee collaboration by deploying Google Workspace to its thousands of employees worldwide. By using Google’s AI technologies, Wayfair has already seen improvements in workforce efficiency and operational cost savings.

“At Wayfair, we believe gen AI is the key to unlocking the next generation of retail experiences,” said Fiona Tan, Chief Technology Officer at Wayfair. “With Google Cloud, we’ve been able to efficiently scale and enrich our product catalogs, enabling us to support a more seamless and engaging shopping experience for our customers.”

Gemini on Vertex AI for Automated Catalog Enrichment

In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, surfacing the right products at the right time is crucial. Wayfair is already seeing results from its use of Gemini on Google Cloud, including:

Faster Time-to-Market: Instead of manually tagging each new product across its 30 million product portfolio, Wayfair is using Gemini on Google Cloud to automatically categorize products, reducing the time needed to curate new and update existing product listings by 67%.Significant Cost Savings: By removing the tedious process of manually tagging attributes like color and style, Wayfair estimates it will drive hundreds of thousands in cost savings per year.Better Listing Quality: Gemini’s ability to analyze images opened up new possibilities for Wayfair, such as automatically catching errors in product dimensions listed in the catalog, leading to better customer satisfaction.Improved Customer Experience: Increasing the accuracy of product attributes like color and subject, and improving the coverage of these attribute tags in the catalog, improved conversion rates when customers use these filters by ~2%.More Responsible Content Management: With Gemini, Wayfair now has a scalable, AI-augmented process for identifying and flagging inappropriate materials.

Gemini for Workspace to Enhance Employee Productivity

In addition to catalog enrichment, Wayfair is also leveraging Gemini for Google Workspace to improve the productivity of employees and create better experiences for them. Wayfair has had success using Gemini in Gmail, Google Docs, and more to help employees streamline and collaborate on tasks like drafting and responding to emails, summarizing and proofreading documents, building presentation templates, and more. Wayfair is also finding success using Gems, which are customized versions of Gemini to help with tasks or get deep expertise in new areas. With Gemini for Workspace and Gems, Wayfair has seen a boost to employee productivity, enhanced collaboration, and improvements in creativity across the organization.

“Wayfair is redefining what’s possible in retail with Google Cloud’s generative AI,” said Matt Renner, President, Global Revenue at Google Cloud. “By harnessing the power of Gemini and Google Workspace, Wayfair is not only automating complex tasks and boosting employee collaboration, but also creating more personalized and engaging experiences for every shopper. This is a prime example of how AI can transform businesses and deliver tangible benefits to customers and employees.”

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.

About Google Workspace

Google Workspace is a suite of productivity apps, including Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Docs, Meet, Vids, and more, that are trusted by more than 3 billion users and over 10 million paying customers. Google Workspace helps people and teams do their best work across any device, from anywhere. AI has been used in Google Workspace for years to improve grammar, efficiency, security, and more with features like Smart Reply, Smart Compose, and malware and phishing protection in Gmail. Now, Gemini for Google Workspace brings AI into the entire suite.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wayfair-and-google-cloud-announce-expanded-partnership-to-transform-online-retail-with-gemini-302348276.html

SOURCE Google Cloud

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MaryRuth’s Celebrates TikTok Shop Super Brand Day With Exclusive Offers and Viral Favorites

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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — MaryRuth’s, the trusted leader in liquid vitamins and wellness products, is thrilled to announce its participation in TikTok Shop’s Super Brand Day from January 12 to 18, 2025. For this exclusive event, MaryRuth’s is celebrating with up to 40% off shopwide and exclusive multi-pack bundles of their top-selling products including viral favorites.

MaryRuth’s Liquid Morning Multivitamin + Hair Growth became a social media sensation in 2024, with over 369,000 bottles sold and 18,000 5-star reviews from customers who rave about its convenience, taste, and powerful benefits for health and hair growth. With these exclusive deals on TikTok Shop, MaryRuth’s aims to make its most-loved products even more accessible to its community to kick off healthy habits in 2025.

“We are so thrilled to be part of TikTok Shop’s Super Brand Day,” said MaryRuth Ghiyam, Founder and CEO of MaryRuth’s. “Our mission has always been to help people feel their best with high-quality, delicious, easy-to-use wellness products, and this event allows us to reach even more people with great deals on the products they love.”

Customers can take advantage of up to 40% off all products on MaryRuth’s TikTok Shop and shop specially curated bundles, including multi-packs of the Liquid Morning Multivitamin + Hair Growth. Designed to support overall health as well as hair thickness, hair growth, and skin health, this multivitamin has become a must-have for many health-conscious individuals.

MaryRuth’s will also showcase engaging TikTok content to celebrate this partnership, including product demonstrations, customer testimonials, and exclusive offers for TikTok users.

Mark your calendars for January 12-18, 2025, and join MaryRuth’s in celebrating TikTok Shop Super Brand Day. Don’t miss this opportunity to shop viral favorites and stock up to support your wellness for the new year and beyond!

About MaryRuth’s
MaryRuth was inspired to help empower others to take wellness into their own hands after seeing how health issues personally impacted her loved ones. As a health educator, nutritional consultant, culinary chef, and mom to 4 children, MaryRuth was driven to formulate a delicious, easy-to-take multivitamin with quality ingredients for her clients and family. This led to the creation of what is now America’s #1 best-selling liquid multivitamin. Through our growing product line, we aim to continue what was MaryRuth’s original mission: helping you to create small, healthy habits to move forward every day.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maryruths-celebrates-tiktok-shop-super-brand-day-with-exclusive-offers-and-viral-favorites-302339675.html

SOURCE MaryRuth Organics

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