with Staples Ltd. today hosting its annual products show at the Princess Hotel.

The trade show will cover the sprawling, 5,400 square feet of the Princess Rooms on the lower level of the hotel, comprising the Victoria, Katherine and Louise rooms.

In fact, even before all of that begins, Staples Ltd., in conjunction with three US suppliers, are hosting more than 400 guests at a private luncheon upstairs in the Tiara Room.

Staples president, Mr. Mark White, will narrate a slide presentation during the luncheon outlining the continued growth and commitment of the staff and product lines to the servicing of the Island's office supply needs.

Directly following the luncheon, on display downstairs at the trade show, Ricoh Digital Technology features a multi-functional product that is a digital copier, fax machine and laser printer in one.

Staples Ltd. describes Ricoh as the largest manufacturer of copiers and fax machines and describes themselves as the largest office supplies distributor in the Island, with they say, the lion's share of the $10 million worth of office supplies sold annually.

But they also sell office equipment and see expansion in business all around.

Staples' primary office supply vendor, S.P. Richards, will highlight the Rubbermaid line of office and home-office furniture.

And 3M, the agency acquired from Midsea Company Ltd., displays an array of items useful to businesses, including fibre-optic connectors and Post-it Notes.

Representatives from the three overseas companies are here for the trade show to discuss with potential clients the future trends in business equipment and their products on display.

Staples Ltd. has 32 staff at headquarters on Dundonald Street, a retail store in Washington Mall and a warehouse at Cox's Hill, Pembroke that functions as a distribution centre.