OfficeMax Sets Up ‘Creation Stations’ in Stores
US office supplies company OfficeMax is offering a new line of customized back-to-school supplies. The company says it is “responding to the Gen Y ‘Customization Generation’”.
OfficeMax locations throughout the U.S. now include a “Creation Station”, where students can create their own customized notebooks. The “Creation Station” is stocked with a variety of notebook covers in a variety of textures, colors and finishes, as well as papers and dividers.
Custom notebooks are professionally bound at the OfficeMax Print & Document Service counter located in-store. While binding notebooks, students and parents can also explore the complete range of personalized printing available, including business/greeting cards for students to share email addresses or cell phone numbers.
The OfficeMax “Creation Station” can also offer the opportunity for a parent to raise funds for their child’s after-school groups by acting as a team leader for a “Build-a-Book Party”. A team leader coordinates and manages the event. On the day of the party, the students will create one-of-a-kind notebooks to sell to family, friends and neighbours. Each notebook retails at $5.99 and 10 percent of each notebook purchased will be allocated to the school group. More information on this is available at http://www.officemax.com/fundraising.
Many big corporations are criticised for sponsoring in-school activities, as it is seen as taking advantage of students and schools. By offering support for after-school groups rather than any in-school activity, OfficeMax is less likely to encounter any negative comment.
As part of its marketing effort, OfficeMax has also teamed up with Kelley Moore, author of “Cube Chic: Take Your Office from Drab to Fab,” to offer tips and suggestions to students on how to personalized their lockers. OfficeMax is offering a number of gadgety items to help students sort out the chaos that is a typical locker.
The most interesting examples include the mini beanbag chair - in which a cellphone or MP3 player is stored; and BigBoards - Write On magnetic Message Boards in the shape of of surfboards, snowboards and skateboards.
While the Creation Station products are only available in-store, the products for organising lockers are available both online and in OfficeMax stores.
