Rooting for the Underdog—or Shall We Say, “Office” Dog: Office Depot’s Bold New Chapter

As the sun rises over South Florida, the iconic Office Depot headquarters stands tall—a silent reminder of decades spent meeting America’s business and personal supply needs. While the retail landscape has shifted dramatically, with brick-and-mortar stores struggling against the tide of e-commerce, Office Depot refuses to fade into obscurity. Instead, it’s charting a bold new course: reinventing itself as a leader in business-to-business (B2B) solutions while embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and strategic partnerships to ensure its longevity

Office Depot’s parent company, The ODP Corporation, recently finalized a $1.5 billion partnership with an undisclosed national strategic reseller. Speculation swirls around Amazon as the potential collaborator—a partnership that would give Office Depot unprecedented access to state-of-the-art fulfillment networks and advanced e-commerce infrastructure. The move is a win-win, blending Office Depot’s expertise in the B2B space with its partner’s logistical prowess.

Over the past five years, Office Depot has gradually transitioned its focus from traditional retail to B2B solutions. This pivot has allowed the company to support businesses with supplies, services, and solutions tailored to their operational needs. While the closure of hundreds of retail locations and the layoff of over 13,000 employees may sound like setbacks, these decisions reflect a strategic reallocation of resources to areas with higher growth potential.

This year, Office Depot introduced AI-powered tools in its remaining retail stores and business services. By automating inventory management, customer interactions, and logistics planning, AI has allowed the company to cut costs and improve efficiency while providing a seamless experience for its B2B clients.

For organizations grappling with financial uncertainty or facing the tough decision to downsize, Office Depot serves as a beacon of hope. Its willingness to adapt, innovate, and invest in future-ready strategies demonstrates that restructuring doesn’t have to signal the end. Instead, it can be the beginning of a new chapter—one defined by resilience and reinvention.

As Office Depot continues its journey, its story resonates with the underdog in all of us. It’s a reminder that even in the face of immense change, there’s always a path forward.

Is your organization facing a restructure with workforce downsizing on the horizon? Let us guide you through this challenging process with expertise and care.