Staples hasn’t forgotten that home furnishings and housewares have a place on business holiday shopping lists as well as those organized by consumers. Home items play a part in a major push the retailer already has launched for the 2012 holiday season.

Central to its efforts, Staples has reinstated a seasonal promotion designed, the company related, to make the holidays easier for small businesses and consumers.  The company has relaunched an online Staples Holiday Center that features a wide range of product that can help its customers get ready for the season, it stated. Staples developed the online destination as an aid to holiday planning, which means it also provides wrapping paper and personalized gifts, supplies and holiday cards. This year’s product assortment includes more gift ideas than previously as well as recipes, homemade crafts and, inevitably, items that dress up the office setting whether at home or in the workplace.

Among the home items Staples offers via the holiday center is a two-pack of Kenroy Aruba Incandescent Buffet Lamps in an oil rubbed bronze finish, a three-pack Hunter Kenroy Banister Incandescent Lamp Set in a brushed steel finish, a Tempur-Pedic TP4000 Ergonomic Fabric Mid-Back Task Chair in burgundy, an Elite Omega Faux Suede Bean Bag Lounger Chair in chocolate and a Keurig OfficePRO single-cup commercial coffee brewer in black and silver.

“With the Staples Holiday Center, small businesses now have a place where they can go to get an early start on holiday preparations,” said Steve Bussberg, senior vp/Staples.com. “Whether it’s planning how to market holiday promotions to customers or getting all the supplies for the office party, businesses now have one place to turn to make the holidays easy. Staples is launching its Holiday Center earlier than ever, with more products than ever.”

The Staples Holiday Center has dedicated sub-sites with gift ideas for the boss, co-workers, family or friends, and it allows users to shop for gifts within a price range. The center site also offers seasonal décor online including live Christmas trees that are shipped direct. The Holiday Center’s crafting element encourages visitors to develop their own ornaments, as well.

A Staples-sponsored poll suggested that the year-end holidays are important to many businesses. The retailer found that almost 40% of respondents sent cards to customers, and more than 50% of poll respondents that said their place of business would generate a holiday party. In addition, a third of poll respondents said they buy gifts for their co-workers, Staples noted.