Staples brand to disappear from UK High Streets:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38013806

Can't say I'm surprised, their stationery was vastly overpriced - though it was convenient for the odd thing. Will miss their Print & Copy shop though, going to have to find somewhere else to print the flyers now.

TBH I don't think much of their stuff was any good. We used to get taken there as kids by parents for school stationery, or we'd buy printer paper, ink cartridges etc. As I grew up, I found WHSmiths' stuff was better quality especially the paper. Staples' was like school toilet paper in comparison.

These days, I'd go there to buy stationery or printer supplies only when in a hurry. Even the local Argos has ink cartridges cheaper (but not always in stock). Worse, online prices are cheaper than in-store prices.

Finally, I recently handed in a dissertation. In the past, it would have been printed and bound. It was sent as a PDF. The need for stationery is diminishing (but I doubt it will ever be zero).

The one near me was a courier drop off spot so I used it when I needed to send parcels. Don't think I've bought anything in it in years, and when I was in there it was always pretty much empty.

The Maplin of the office supplies world - invariably, they have what you need, but you pay through the nose.

...speaking of which, I don't give Maplin much longer to be honest.