// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Staples Easy Button say? "I'm pressed for time.
 | |
| Type | Push-button |
|---|---|
| Inventor | [[]] |
| Inception | 2005 |
| Manufacturer | Staples Inc. |
| Available | Yes |
| Slogan | "That was easy" |
The Staples Easy Button is an advertising campaign and push-button office toy by American office supply retailing company Staples.[1] The button serves as "an almost magical ability for the retailer to solve all their shoppers' problems instantly".[2]
History
[edit]In January 2005, Staples Inc. began their "Easy Button" advertising campaign with "Easy Button Launch," a 30-second commercial that, due to receiving "such a tremendous response," led the company to show the commercial during Super Bowl XXXIX.[3] The commercial features a series of people in tough situations pressing a red "Easy Button" to rescue them, closing with a narration: "Wouldn't it be nice if there was an easy button for life? Now there's one for your business. Staples. That was easy."[4] Due to the popularity of the advertisements, Staples began selling physical replicas of the Easy Button in October 2005.[5] The button had over one million units sold in less than a year.[6][7]
Design
[edit]The Staples Easy Button is a red plastic push-button device with the word "easy" printed white on the top. When pressed, it plays the audio phrase "That was easy".[8]
References
[edit]- ↑ Gartenberg, Chaim (January 27, 2021). "Staples' Easy Button is a cheap toy that envisions a perfect button". The Verge. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ↑ Krashinsky, Susan (October 16, 2014). "From teddy bears to couches: Why brands use symbols to win your heart". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ↑ "Staples Gets in the Game with New "Easy Button" Commercial". Business Wire. February 2, 2005. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ↑ Aoki, Naomi (February 3, 2005). "Staples To Run Ad During Super Bowl". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ↑ Levere, Jane L. (July 21, 2008). "Press a Button and Your Worries Are Gone". New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ↑ Glagowski, Elizabeth. "That Was Easy". TTEC. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ↑ Darrow, Barb (February 24, 2016). "Staples Easy Button Is About to Get Much More Useful". Fortune. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ↑ "Staples Easy Button, Red/Silver (25178)". Staples, Inc. Retrieved November 11, 2025.