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Staples Canada Leads Back to School 2024 with Trends, Insights and Savings

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National survey reveals key insights from parents; Canada’s Back to School destination announces amazing deals on Back to School essentials 

RICHMOND HILL, ON, July 11, 2024 /CNW/ – Today, Staples Canada launches its Back to School campaign, equipping teachers, parents, and students with the best gear and incredible savings for the season. Canada’s Back to School destination has also done its homework: the brand has unveiled the 2024 Staples Back to School Study revealing findings from parents across the country and their expectations with this year’s Back to School experience.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9278551-staples-canada-back-to-school-2024/

“As a consumer-centric business, it’s paramount we understand customer needs, and that’s exactly what we’ve done this year and what’s fuelled our Back to School program,” said Rachel Huckle, CEO, Staples Canada. “Our goal is to make sure Canadians feel supported with the right tools, resources and savings to get everything they need to start the school year off on the right foot. Our teams, stores and site are ready to provide easy browsing and seamless solutions, with hundreds of new and notable products available at great prices – all in one place.”

As Canada’s Back to School destination, Staples is here to set parents and students up for success ahead of the return to class with the 2024 Staples Back to School Study. The survey asked parents their thoughts, feelings and attitudes on the upcoming school year to discover how Canadians can feel better equipped for the season.

Notable Findings:

Most Back to School shopping will happen in-store: half of parents plan to do most/all of their shopping in-store and almost all (88 per cent) say at least half their shopping will be done in-store, signaling the importance of the brick-and-mortar experience to parents this year.Parents are looking to accomplish their back to school quickly and efficiently, rather than making it a family moment: 88 per cent agree they want to do it quickly and efficiently and 70 per cent agree it usually ends up being a chore.Canadians will hunt for savings on tech as it tops affordability challenges: 59 per cent of parents report tech among the top three biggest affordability challenges, placing a greater emphasis on deal seeking, promotions and financing options for this category.Parents’ comfort with their kids using AI for schoolwork more than doubles if it has been specifically reviewed and approved by their school: This number doubles for parents with kids aged 13 to 17 compared to comfort with no supervision at all and triples for parents with kids aged 6 to 12.Some parents feel well-informed about AI tools, while others admit there’s room to learn: Roughly one third report feeling well-informed, another third report knowing little to nothing and the rest fall in the middle.

Based on the insights uncovered in the study, Staples Canada announces an exciting line-up of Back to School offerings designed to meet the needs of parents, students and teachers alike.

Back to School Savings Made Easy
Staples is committed to making Back to School savings easy for parents, teachers, and students with deals that will get everyone excited. Introducing Red Dot Savings, a weekly deals program on top school essentials, available both in-store and online. Customers can also enjoy peace of mind with Staples’ price match guarantee, ensuring you always get the best deal at Staples, and financing options with Flexiti.

New AI-Enabled Tech Products, Solutions and Expert Advice
Staples has introduced new innovative tech products that are AI enabled and ready – so you can stay ahead of the curve. Everything from laptops, tablets to smartphones and more from top brands including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Samsung, and Lenovo. New to AI enabled tech? Staples has you covered with their team of specially trained tech experts to share knowledge and provide advice on the best tech and AI capabilities tailored to your individual needs.

Protect your technology with Staples Protection Plans by Allstate, available for a variety of electronics like smartphones, computers, tablets, and headphones to cover mechanical and electrical failures, as well as accidental damage.

Back to School Needs Supported by Staples Wireless
In need of a new phone plan or internet upgrade for Back to School? Customers can discover the best phone, internet and TV solutions from Bell, Virgin Plus and Lucky Mobile at Staples stores across Canada. Whether you’re heading off to university, changing schools or addresses – Staples has the best selection of wireless plans for post-secondary students to help them power their new devices.

Great Product Assortment with Exclusive Brand, Pep Rally
A Staples exclusive, Pep Rally introduces its latest line of fun and functional Back to School essentials, featuring three new collections to help students express themselves, including: Retro Love, Classic Academia, and Joyful Expression. Shop all of Pep Rally’s school supplies and solutions.

Great Tools for Parents and Teachers

Staples Print Services: Staples Print Services has everything you need to start the school year off on the right foot, including customizable labels, quick print services, dynamic workbooks and wide format printing.School Tools: Looking to find dedicated lists of everything your child needs for class? With Staples’ School Tools, parents can shop for supplies based on lists curated by teachers for their child’s grade and region. Staples’ School Tools also offers special discounts, including 10 per cent off orders over $50.

Innovative In-Store Experience
This year, Staples Canada partnered with GeekSpeak Commerce to create the ‘Backpack Challenge’; a unique Augmented Reality (AR) experience tailored to children aged 6 to 11 to make Back to School shopping fun for kids and easy for parents. The in-store game, played on mobile devices, transforms Staples stores into an interactive playground. Kids are given the chance to embark on a digital adventure, with different quests to locate and collect hidden animals and add them to their virtual backpack. Parents and kids can access the game during their Back to School shopping trips, keep an eye out for QR code signage in store to join in on the fun.

Celebrate Back to School “Feels” with Staples
Staples has partnered with real Canadian creators – parents, teachers and students from coast-to-coast – to star in its Back to School ad campaign this year. The creative campaign celebrates all the Back to School “feels”, with amazing deals and Back to School savings that are so good, you won’t be able to contain your emotions.

About the 2024 Staples Back to School Study
These are the findings of a study/survey conducted by Staples Canada from June 25 to 28, 2024 among a representative sample of 1,008 parents with kids aged 6 to 17 within Canada. Respondents are members of Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points for parents, 19 times out of 20.

About Staples Canada
Staples Canada is The Working and Learning Company. We are a privately-owned company committed to helping parents, teachers, businesses, and entrepreneurs work smarter, learn more and grow every day. Our network includes 298 stores across Canada and staples.ca, printing and shipping services at Staples Print, and Staples Studio co-working spaces. To service the unique needs of businesses, we also have a number of dedicated B2B brands that support business customers of all sizes, which include Staples PreferredStaples Professional, Supreme Office Supplies and Furniture, Denis Office Supplies, Monarch Office Supply Inc. and Beatties. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, we are committed to the communities we serve across Canada, and are a proud partner of MAP through our Even The Odds fundraising and awareness initiative that aims to eliminate critical gaps in health equity. Visit staples.ca for more information or engage with @StaplesCanada on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok.

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Caylent’s Valerie Henderson and Ann Carpenter Named to CRN’s 2026 Women of the Channel List

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CEO and CMO recognized amongst an elite subset of CRN’s Women of the Channel list

IRVINE, Calif., May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Caylent, an AI-first Amazon Web Services (AWS) Premier Tier Services Partner, announced that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has recognized Caylent Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Valerie Henderson and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Ann Carpenter, on the 2026 Women of the Channel Power 80 Solution Provider list, an elite subset of influential solution providers chosen from the CRN® 2026 Women of the Channel list.

The annual Power 80 Solution Provider list honors the most influential women in leadership at some of the country’s most prominent IT integrators, managed service providers, value-added resellers and consultants for their channel advocacy and dedication to helping their customers and technology partners thrive.

Val is known for her relentless focus on customer outcomes and for building high-impact teams that deliver measurable business value. As CEO and the leading visionary behind Caylent’s AI-first services, Val has been a driving force behind the company’s growth, completing key acquisitions of Trek10 and Pronetx, and scaling revenue more than five-fold in her current role and previously as president and CRO.

“This honor reflects the transformational work taking place at Caylent, as well as the undeniable force women are becoming across the channel,” said Val Henderson. “Together, we’re not just participating in the future of technology; we’re building it. I’m proud to be included amongst such an accomplished group of leaders.”

As CMO, Ann strengthens collaboration with AWS while positioning Caylent as a leader in cloud migration, modernization, and AI-first services. Her strategic vision combines revenue-focused marketing with partnership optimization, proving critical to Caylent’s growth trajectory.

“It’s inspiring to be included alongside so many influential women in the channel,” said Ann Carpenter. “This acknowledgment speaks to the strength of our partner community and the measurable impact we are creating for customers every day. At Caylent, that’s not aspirational, it’s what we do.”

This recognition reflects Caylent’s longstanding commitment to advancing women in technology and leadership. Women hold four of seven C-level positions at Caylent.

“It’s a privilege to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these women who are driving meaningful change across the IT channel,” said Jennifer Follett, VP of U.S. Content and Executive Editor, CRN at The Channel Company. “Each honoree has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to bold, innovative strategies that fuel transformation, growth, and success for their organizations and the broader channel. We’re proud to recognize their impact and look forward to seeing how they continue to shape the future of our industry.”

Read more about Val and Ann’s recognition, as well other Women of the Channel honorees at crn.com/wotc.

About Caylent

Since 2015, Caylent has grown alongside organizations modernizing on AWS. Now, it is the operating partner they trust to build, run, and evolve intelligent systems at scale. As an AWS Premier Tier Services Partner, dedicated Anthropic partner, and AWS Managed Services Provider, with 10 Partner of the Year Awards including GenAI, Migration, and Security Consulting Partner of the Year in 2025, Caylent combines deep AWS expertise, proprietary IP, and an agentic delivery system to move organizations from ideas to impact, faster. www.caylent.com

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world’s top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit thechannelco.com.

Follow The Channel Company: LinkedIn and X.

© 2026 The Channel Company, Inc. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caylents-valerie-henderson-and-ann-carpenter-named-to-crns-2026-women-of-the-channel-list-302761430.html

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Display Week 2026: SunLED’s Near-Infrared Technology Turns Screens into Wellness Devices

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SunLED Life Science’s patented near-infrared technology brings the benefits of natural sunlight indoors and can be integrated into laptops, display monitors and smartphone cases, delivering targeted NIR light during screen time to support energy, mood, eye comfort, and overall well-being

LOS ANGELES and AMSTERDAM, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — SunLED Life Science, a health-centered technology startup, today announced plans to showcase its near-Infrared (NIR) technology that brings the benefits of natural sunlight indoors at Display Week 2026, from May 5-7, 2026, at the LA Convention Center, Exhibit Hall, Booth #446. SunLED’s patented near-infrared (NIR) technology can be easily integrated into computer and laptop screens, webcams, and other everyday devices, delivering a targeted dose of NIR light – the essential part of sunlight absent in indoor light – to users while they work. NIR light supports mood, energy levels, eye comfort, and overall well-being. SunLED Life Science will demo three new prototypes at Display Week 2026, including a display monitor, a laptop, and a smartphone case, demonstrating how SunLED’s patented NIR technology can be integrated into everyday devices.

“Our technology can be integrated into almost any screen-based product to improve the well-being of its users and fundamentally change indoor screen time for everyone, from children and employees to the elderly,” said Dr. Anne Berends, CEO, CTO and founder, SunLED Life Science.

Dr. Anne Berends will also speak at Display Week on May 7 at 9:10 AM during Session 63.3, Displays as Ambient Light Therapy: Health and Wellness Through Invisible NIR Integration, in room 409AB, and in the panel discussion Health Effects of Emissive Color in Displays (Session 65-3), on Thursday, May 7, from 11:10–11:50 AM.

All indoor lighting and displays lack NIR, an essential part of the solar spectrum that makes up 50% of sunlight. The average person spends 90% of their waking hours indoors and has seven hours of screen time, deprived of NIR light, which can lead to adverse health effects. As windows filter out NIR, even sunlight that passes through them cannot help address the growing global health issues caused by modern indoor lifestyles. Near-infrared light boosts cellular energy production by activating mitochondria, the ‘powerplant’ of the cell. Scientific literature has shown a range of health and well-being benefits of NIR, including improved eye comfort and reduced fatigue. SunLED Life Science’s patented NIR light technology is proven in clinical studies to enhance mood and energy, lower inflammation markers, and promote heart health.

SunLED Life Science Technology Integration.

SunLED Life Science’s patented technology integrates with computer and laptop screens, webcams, and car interiors. At Display Week 2026, SunLED Life Science will demo three prototypes that bring its patented NIR technology directly into everyday devices. The first two prototypes include a laptop and an external monitor with NIR LEDs built into the bezel—mirroring how webcams evolved from clip-ons to standard features. The third prototype is a smartphone case prototype that delivers NIR light to users during normal screen time, tapping into the device people use most. Together, the three prototypes demonstrate how SunLED’s NIR technology makes wellness effortless by integrating into the products people already rely on daily.

“Today’s modern lifestyle hinders people from exposure to the very driver of life on Earth – sunlight. Our ancestors spent centuries outdoors in the sun. We are spending time in the office or at home: working, studying, and enjoying our free time while looking at screens, we barely get the amount of sunlight our bodies need,” said Dr. Anne Berends, CTO and co-founder of SunLED. “Our technology can be integrated into almost any screen-based product to improve the well-being of its users and fundamentally change indoor screen time for everyone, from children and employees to the elderly. We envision a world where everyone has access to the benefits of natural sunlight even while indoors at work, at home, or driving in a vehicle.”

At Display Week, SunLED will also showcase SunBooster, an easy-to-use, USB-C-powered device that attaches to computer monitors and laptops. As the first near-infrared device designed for everyday use, SunBooster brings the wellness-supporting qualities of natural sunlight indoors, enabling users to integrate these benefits effortlessly into their daily routines. SunBooster has launched in the EU and will launch in the US market in May.

Contact sunled@wearemgp.com to set up a meeting at Display Week 2026 between May 5-7 in Los Angeles, access the Display Week Press Kit here, or learn more at https://sunled.health.

About SunLED Life Science

SunLED Life Science researches and develops lighting solutions that bring the health benefits of sunlight indoors. Our patented and scientifically proven Near-Infrared technology promotes health and well-being, and easily integrates into various devices, such as screens, luminaires, car dashboards, and more. We envision a world where everyone can access the benefits of natural sunlight indoors.

Founded in 2024, SunLED Life Science is a privately held company headquartered in Amsterdam. Follow SunLED Life Science on LinkedIn or learn more at https://sunled.health.

Media Contact

Mindy M. Hull, Mercury Global Partners for SunLED Life Science, 1 415 889 9977, sunled@wearemgp.com, https://sunled.health

Michael Held-Hernandez, Mercury Global Partners for SunLED Life Science, 1 480 306 1154, sunled@wearemgp.com, https://sunled.health

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/display-week-2026-sunleds-near-infrared-technology-turns-screens-into-wellness-devices-302761482.html

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New CiviClick Whitepaper: How DoorDash, DraftKings, Uber, and Rivian Are Winning Policy Fights by Mobilizing Real Stakeholders

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Two decades of Congressional Management Foundation research show individualized constituent communication outperforms paid advertising and lobbying – and a new whitepaper from CiviClick details how leading companies are closing the gap

WASHINGTON, May. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CiviClick, a nonpartisan grassroots advocacy software platform, today released a 48-page whitepaper examining how some of America’s most recognizable companies are winning state and federal policy fights by mobilizing employees, customers, and other real stakeholders to tell authentic stories to lawmakers. 

The whitepaper, titled “How Corporations Win Grassroots Advocacy Campaigns by Telling Authentic Stories,” draws on two decades of Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) research showing that individualized constituent communication is the single most influential form of advocacy on an undecided lawmaker — outperforming paid advertising, form emails, and even meetings with professional lobbyists. 

The research also surfaces a persistent gap. Ninety-one percent of congressional staff say district-specific impact information would help them advise their boss; only nine percent report receiving it frequently. Seventy-nine percent say personal constituent stories would help; only eighteen percent report receiving them regularly. 

“There is a massive gap between what lawmakers want to hear and what they actually receive,” said Chazz Clevinger, founder and CEO of CiviClick. “The companies that close that gap are the ones winning their policy fights. The ones that don’t are the ones writing checks to lobbyists and wondering why the bill still moved.” 

Four extended case studies 

The whitepaper details four corporate grassroots programs that have produced measurable legislative wins:

DoorDash’s DashRoots program has united more than 210,000 delivery professionals, merchants, and consumers across all 50 states. Recent wins include defeating a proposed delivery fee in Illinois and passing first-in-the-nation portable benefits legislation through the Wisconsin legislature.

DraftKings’ New York mobile sports betting campaign combined grassroots customer pressure, executive engagement, and direct lobbying to secure Governor Cuomo’s April 2021 inclusion of mobile wagering in the state budget – a multi-year effort the whitepaper presents as a masterclass in coalition design.

Uber’s city-by-city playbook for ridesharing legalization shows how technology companies can build scalable advocacy infrastructure that adapts to local political conditions across hundreds of municipalities.

Rivian’s 2026 Washington State breakthrough overturned a twelve-year dealer monopoly on direct EV sales after Rivian customers wrote personal messages to legislators about why they should be able to buy vehicles directly. Senate Bill 6354 passed 47-2 in the Senate and 84-9 in the House. The thesis “The common thread across all four case studies is that sustained victory requires more than direct lobbying,” Clevinger said. “It requires a standing network of authentic stakeholder advocates who can be activated quickly, speak credibly to lawmakers in their own words, and mobilize again for the next fight.” 

The whitepaper also examines how companies can bridge political divides by mobilizing stakeholders with different political orientations around shared policy goals, how to integrate corporate social responsibility with civic engagement, and how to overcome the most common participation obstacles in corporate grassroots programs. The full whitepaper is available for download at civiclick.com.

CiviClick is a nonpartisan grassroots advocacy software platform headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Los Angeles. The platform helps organizations build campaign pages where real people can contact their elected and regulatory officials with personalized messages. CiviClick serves diverse groups across the partisan spectrum, including corporations, trade associations, nonprofits, and issue advocacy organizations. 

Founded in 2023 by Chazz Clevinger, a 13-year veteran of civic technology who previously worked at the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives, CiviClick has been recognized with multiple AAPC, Pollie, and Reed Awards for advocacy technology.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-civiclick-whitepaper-how-doordash-draftkings-uber-and-rivian-are-winning-policy-fights-by-mobilizing-real-stakeholders-302761590.html

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