client: Office Depot
“Must-Have” Totes, Technology and Eco-Friendly Products Hit Store Shelves Nationwide
Delray Beach, Fla., July 1, 2008 – Office Depot® (NYSE: ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, is taking care of you for school with the latest in technology and supplies that will get students ready to head back to the classroom. Arriving this week at more than 1,200 Office Depot retail locations nationwide is a wide array of must-have back to school products including fashionable backpacks and totes, trend-setting technology gadgets, environmentally preferable supplies, and interchangeable accessories.
As part of our commitment to taking care of students’ back to school needs, we are introducing a product line that’s more stylish and fashion-forward than ever before, said Steve Mahurin, Executive Vice President of Merchandising for Office Depot. This year’s top trends include designer backpacks and totes, exclusive patterns, coordinating colors and themes, and cool accessories in the season’s hottest colors.
Given the continued economic concerns in the marketplace, Mahurin adds, In addition to the fashionable products available this year at Office Depot, parents will appreciate the wide assortment of value-driven options. Office Depot is truly a one-stop shop for all of your school needs - whether that is pens, pencils and rulers, or new designer backpacks from surf photographer Aaron Chang.
Office Depot has all the items on the school lists, and the cool, fun and fashionable products that students want for heading back to the classroom. This year’s Back To School highlights and trends include:
It’s in the Bag
Office Depot is the back to school destination for backpacks, messenger bags and totes. The season’s hottest packs include:
TUG Backpacks by Foray®: Stylish, trendy and functional, TUG backpacks include reinforced zippers and multiple compartments for organization - perfect for heavy books, calculators, writing instruments, cell phones, MP3 players and more. Available in a variety of different styles, patterns and themes, including a collection of exclusive new patterns, TUG backpacks also have ergonomically-designed back and shoulder padding for the ultimate comfort. ($5.99 - $29.99)
Licensed Bags and Totes: New to Office Depot this year is an assortment of licensed backpacks and totes by High School Musical, Hannah Montana, Speed Racer, Batman, and famed surf photographer Aaron Chang. ($9.99 - $29.99)
Tech Power
Trend-setting technology products remain a must-have this Back to School season. Office Depot offers a variety of technology products and accessories ranging in price, so there is a product to fit every budget. Top technology products include:
Calculators: Every student needs a calculator, but this year, the Back to School essential is anything but boring. Why settle for standard issue black or gray calculators when Office Depot provides more than 20 options in bright, bold colors, coordinating cases and cool shapes like suns and fish. ($4.99 - $139.99)
MP4 Players: Popular with teens everywhere, the all-new Ativa® MP4 Player features music, video, and a microphone, allowing students to record classroom notes that they can convert into files to share with classmates and friends. ($99.99)
Laptop Computers: A smart investment, Office Depot carries a number of national brand laptops, starting under $500. Students will not have to suffer on the style front either with the retailer’s selection of laptops in a range of colors, designs, and various screen sizes.
Mix-It, Match-It, Own-It
Coordinated and interchangeable products remain wildly popular this academic year. Students can mix-and-match their favorite school supplies with the season’s newest colors and patterns to create their own unique and winning combinations.
Fashionable Folders: Getting and staying organized is a snap with back to school basics such as Office Depot Fashion File Totes and Fashion Zipper Envelopes in popular bold colors such as blue, violet and green. Fashion Paper Ports and TUG Book Covers are now available in trendy and fun patterns and designs making organization fun and functional, which is sure to please any parent and student. ($1.29 - $5.99)
Locker Accessories: Students can make the most of their school space and distinguish it from the rest with must-have locker accessories from Office Depot including locker beads, magnetic wallpaper, adjustable shelves and dry erase boards. ($3.99 - $12.99)
Eco-Education
Like many adults, students are looking for ways to become more environmentally responsible. Office Depot has products that will help students be green and make a difference.
Plan Green: Add some green to your schedule with the Office Depot Green Weekly/Monthly 2008-2009 Planner (August to August) that includes one week per spread and two-page monthly overviews, and is made from 30 percent post-consumer recycled content. ($8.99)
Earth-Friendly Writing Tools: Write for the environment with Zebra® Jimnie® Clip Recycled Retractable Ballpoint Pens that are made from car headlights, compact discs and recycled cell phones. Students can also make an impact by using refillable and reusable pens and pencils such as the Foray Multifunction Ballpoint Pen/Pencil. ($11.99 - $15.59)
Solar-Powered Backpacks and Messenger Bags: Students can showcase their eco-IQ with the innovative and unique-looking Voltaic Solar Charging Messenger Bag or Backpack. The bags feature lightweight and waterproof solar panels that generate power to charge a variety of electronic devices including MP3 players and cell phones. ($179.99 - $219.99)
For additional information about the hot products for back to school and to stock up on school supplies for the academic year, visit an Office Depot location or www.officedepot.com.
About Office Depot
Every day, Office Depot is Taking Care of Business for millions of customers around the globe. For the local corner store as well as Fortune 500 companies, Office Depot provides products and services to its customers through 1,670 worldwide retail stores, a dedicated sales force, top-rated catalogs and a $4.9 billion e-commerce operation. Office Depot has annual sales of approximately $15.5 billion, and employs about 49,000 associates around the world. The Company provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company, and currently sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 43 countries.
Office Depot’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com. Press materials specific to Office Depot’s environmental programs can be found at http://mediarelations.officedepot.cc/environment.
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