According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, Staples
Inc., an office supply store, “has found a new use for some
of its roomy office-supply stores: make parts of them into
offices.” Because many businesses now store their records
digitally and many consumers shop online rather than in
stores, Staples no longer needs as much floor space for filing cabinets and some other products. To use the surplus
space, Staples has undertaken a partnership with Workbar, an office-sharing firm, to offer small business owners
and professionals shared workspaces inside select Staples
retail stores. In these circumstances, does Staples incur a
cost from using some of the space in its retail stores for
office workspaces? If Staples does incur a cost, briefly
explain what the cost would be.
Source: Drew FitzGerald and Suzanne Kapner, “Staples Finds New
Use for Its Stores: Office Space,” Wall Street Journal, April 4, 2016.