Office Depot Launches Corporate Web Site in the Netherlands for Its Contract Customers
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Mar 13, 2002 -- Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE:ODP), the world`s largest seller of office products, today announced that it has launched a new Web site for its corporate customers in the Netherlands at http://BSDnet.officedepot.nl.
Last year, the Company launched a sales force in The Netherlands designed to service medium to large-size companies; the new Web site offers a convenient channel for servicing Dutch corporate customers. It provides customers with access to its customized offers and product selections 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is the Company`s second international corporate Web site. It launched its first site in the United Kingdom in 2001.
Rolf van Kaldekerken, President of European Operations for Office Depot and Viking Office Products, commented, "Medium to large-size business customers have different needs than the small business buyer and Office Depot has made great strides in offering purchasing solutions that meet large company needs. Through delivery of our fanatical customer service model, we have been able to develop loyal relationships with our medium to large-size customers and become their trusted source for office supplies. We are confident that the addition of this new Web site will be positively received and successful as well as enhance our service levels and strengthen our competitive position in the market."
In addition, the Company is currently in the process of expanding its state-of-the-art headquarters, located in Venlo. The facility, which is the base of the Company`s European operations, will be increased by a 9,000 square meter expansion, for a total of 21,000 square meters. In addition to adding much needed capacity, the building is designed to adequately support the Company`s main information systems and the corporate support functions, including merchandising, marketing, finance, human resources, training and call center operations. The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
About Office Depot in Europe
The Company`s wholly-owned European operations are in ten countries, including: the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy and its tenth country, Switzerland was launched in January 2002. The Company primarily operates under the Viking Direct brand name, a highly successful direct mail business, and most recently, an established e-commerce operation. Total Company worldwide e-commerce sales in 2000 reached $982 million. The Company`s worldwide e-commerce sales for 2001 were $1.6 billion.
In addition to its multiple public Web sites and direct mail operations throughout Europe, the Company has contract business operations through its European Business Services Division in four countries: the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands and France. The Division targets medium to large-sized corporate accounts through a specialized sales force, individualized pricing for key corporate accounts and overnight order fulfillment in each country. The Company also offers its contract customers unique Office Depot brand Web sites that are specifically designed to meet the special needs and requirements of each contract customer. The Company`s strategy is to offer these specialized sites in each contract country over the next eighteen months. Currently, the Company offers a site in the United Kingdom at http://BSDnet.officedepot.co.uk, which provides contract customers access to its customized offers and product selection twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
About Office Depot
No one sells more office products to more customers in more countries through more channels than Office Depot. As the largest seller of office products around the world, the Company operates under the Office Depot(R), Viking Office Products(R), Viking Direct(R) and 4Sure.com(R) brand names. As of December 29, 2001, Office Depot operated 859 office supply superstores in the United States and Canada, in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 24 delivery centers, more than 60 local sales offices and 12 regional call centers. Furthermore, the Company sells products and services in 16 countries outside of the United States and Canada, including 30 office supply stores in France and nine in Japan that are owned and operated by the Company; and 104 additional office supply stores under joint venture and licensing agreements operating under the Office Depot(R) name in five foreign countries.
The Company also operates an award-winning U.S. Office Depot brand Web site at http://www.officedepot.com where customers can access Office Depot`s low competitive prices seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. The Company also operates 14 other Web sites, under the Office Depot and Viking Office Products names, in the U.S. and nine international countries including: Austria, Australia, France, Japan, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Office Depot`s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Office Depot is an Official Sponsor of the U.S. 2002 and 2004 Olympic Team.
CONTACT:
Office Depot, Inc., Delray Beach
Eileen Dunn, 561/438-4930
edunn@officedepot.com
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