• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, October 2, 2014

With sales of core office supplies faltering, Staples is upping its coffee game, and wants to help American workers take more — and better — breaks.

The Framingham, Mass.-based retailer has started a mobile break room tour of America, called “Refresh. Recharge. Refuel.”

The idea is to encourage people to disconnect for short periods, in pop-up break rooms filled with free snacks, coffee and beverages. The company plans to host break room parties in 10 cities, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles.

“Our recent survey of office workers and managers shed light on some interesting, and in some cases, worrisome trends in the workplace,” says Chris Correnti, Staples’ VP/general manager of facility solutions, in an email to Marketing Daily. “The survey revealed that 66% of employees spend more than eight hours a day at work so taking a break is more important than ever. However, more than a quarter of workers don’t take a break other than lunch, while one in five employee respondents cite guilt as the reason they don’t step away from their work spaces.”

Overall, 86% say breaks make them feel more productive, and 58% believe that a comfortable break room (well stocked, of course) would inspire them to take those breaks more often.

“The break room is one of the fastest growing categories at Staples,” Correnti adds. “We see a tremendous opportunity for growth.” Staples currently sells some 2,500 break room-friendly products.

The promotion comes at a time when Staples is looking for ways to shore up non-core product lines. In its most recent quarterly results, the company says sales in its North American and online division fell 6% to $2.3 billion, pressured by store closings and a sales drop in computers and technology accessories, ink and toner, and core office supplies. Sales of break room supplies, however, as well as copy and print services, are gaining. Operating income also declined, in part due to the chain’s increased marketing costs as it continues its reinvention.

In addition to the tour, the company is promoting the effort with break room tips through social media and other marketing channels. On its Twitter page, for example, its promoting specials on such brands as Keurig and Maxwell House, using a #coffeetalk hashtag.