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Small business

Resources to help small businesses survive and thrive.

Shipping box

3 steps to create a share-worthy unboxing

Receiving a delivery is always exciting, but when the unboxing makes someone stop and say “whoa” — that’s unforgettable. By elevating your packaging, you can turn ordinary shipments into extraordinary moments for your customers. Let’s look at what you need to create an experience and how to build your brand in the process.

Staples Spotlight
Staples Spotlight
Oct 23 3 min read
Candle tree

CandleTree: From Small Orders to a Store Front Soy Candle Business

Ross Mingarelli, owner of CandleTree, first began making candles after looking for hobbies on Pinterest he could try during winters, the off season for his tree-service business. Fast forward to today, Ross owns a thriving storefront candle shop. His loyal customers refer to him as “the candle man” or “the rogue candle maker”, referring to his unconventional candle making process that results in beautiful, one of a kind, marbled candles. How did Ross turn this hobby in to a legitimate business?

Deja and Canyon

BackPal: How Two Kids Turned a Painful Problem into a Solution

How many times have you seen groups of children walking into school hunched over with the weight of an overly heavy backpack and thought, “that can’t be good for their backs.”? Or maybe you’ve been heading in to work with a bag packed with a laptop and multiple books and found your posture compromised with weight of the items. This creates a real problem, especially for children’s developing bodies, when they are expected to carry around an average of 18.4 pounds of books and homework in the sixth grade according to a New York Times article.

K Hallihan

Creating a Memorable Experience- Interview with an Etsy Seller

Kerri Hallihan and her Etsy shop khallihanphoto.etsy.com, are known for their superior customer service and a memorable shopping experience. With so much competition out there, the businesses that thrive are those that go above and beyond the expectations of their consumers. Read on to learn how Kerri has managed to connect with her customer base during a pandemic and other tips and tricks she has to share.

Working

Your Business Plan as GPS in a Crisis

I’ve seen firsthand, three different times, how a solid business plan combined with good planning process works like a dashboard to steer and manage a business through an unexpected crisis. I used it to manage the downturn in 2001. And I watched it as it worked for others in 2008, and 2020.


Working

This is the new work. Tips and information on how to work better, wherever you are.

WFH Office

Ergonomics 101 for the Remote Worker and Learner

Working from home is here to stay. Is your space optimized for everyday working and learning?

Staples Spotlight
Staples Spotlight
Aug 19 4 min read

Using the Psychology of Color in Your Home Office

It’s January of 2021 and many Americans are hunkering down and preparing for a long winter season of working or learning from home, not exactly where any of us thought we’d be at this point. While being home certainly has its advantages- cozy pajamas from 9-5 and more time with family and pets- working in the same surrounding day in day out can be draining, especially if your space is lacking in inspiration. If your reading this slumped over on a couch amidst clutter and close to distractions (TV), now is the time to create the home office, or study space, of your dreams.

Staples Spotlight
Staples Spotlight
Dec 22 3 min read
Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi in the Remote Age

Your home networking might have been enough when you were mostly streaming Netflix. But with so many families working and learning from home full time, internet speeds (and productivity) can suffer.

Staples Spotlight
Staples Spotlight
Aug 27 5 min read
Work

Organizing Your Schedule When You're Working on the Go

Get Smart! How to Create the Home Office of Your Dreams

Top Tips to Maximize Your Space When Working from Home


Learning

This is the new school. Education in the (virtual) classroom and beyond.

COVID-19 Time Capsule Worksheets

Staples Spotlight
Staples Spotlight
Apr 14 1 min read
Holiday Ornaments Step 6

Create Custom Holiday Ornaments with Crayola

Celebrate the season with Model Magic DIY ornaments that are fun to make and an easy holiday craft for the whole family to create!

Crayola logo
Crayola
Oct 7 2 min read
Discover your inner artist

Crafting Inspo - Discover your inner artist with paint

Looking for a new way to express yourself? Painting is perfect, and you don’t need to be an artist either. All you need is the right medium and a little inspiration. From acrylics that shift and shimmer in the light to pouring paints that create layers of detail, there’s something for everyone.

Kyra Balentine
Kyra Balentine
Oct 7 5 min read
Stapler

Making a Life Out of Learning

Kid smiling

How to Just Show Up

Post-it Notes

3 Tips to Remember Everything

Books

Winter Reading List for the Curious Achiever

Creative writing

Everything You Need to Elevate Your Notes

Coffee Mug

Minimizing Burnout, Maximizing Time

Crayola crafts

Create a Custom Organizer with Crayola