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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
    We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-4) and related Prospectus of Staples, Inc. for
the registration of 190,000,000 shares of its common stock and to the
incorporation by reference therein of our report dated March 5, 1996, with
respect to the financial statements Staples, Inc. incorporated by reference in
its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended February 3, 1996, filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its Annual Report to Shareholders.
 
                                          /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
November 8, 1996
Boston, Massachusetts
