DELRAY BEACH, Fla.–(HISPANIC PR WIRE – BUSINESS WIRE)–July 8, 2003–Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE:ODP), the world’s largest reseller of office products, today announced that over the last six months the company reached out to more than 650,000 teachers nationwide with its Star Teacher Program. The program, which was established to help alleviate some of the financial burden teachers experience when purchasing school supplies with their own personal income, rewards educators with special “teacher-only” savings of 5% off school supplies and 15% off copy/print services year-round.
“Recent research has found that U.S. teachers spend approximately one billion dollars of their own money annually for instructional materials and classroom supplies (a),” said Jocelyn Carter-Miller, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Office Depot. “With school budgets tighter than ever this year, Office Depot is not only committed to providing some financial relief to America’s hard-working teachers, but to ensuring that classrooms are stocked with the supplies students need most to be successful.”
According to Carter-Miller, all Pre-K through 12th grade school teachers across the country — an estimated three million educators — qualify for the Office Depot Star Teacher Program. Teachers can easily enroll in the program at any of Office Depot’s more than 870 retail stores in North America. Participants must present identification in their local store to start saving money immediately and apply to receive a free Star Teacher ID Card.
With the Star Teacher ID Card, teachers receive instant savings of 5% off all school and office supply merchandise (b) and 15% off all copy and print center services, including photocopying, faxing, binding and laminating (excluding postage) every time they shop an Office Depot store.
Carter-Miller noted that Office Depot is the only office supply retailer that offers a program to teachers that gives an instant everyday discount, with no minimum purchase level required.
“The Star Teacher Program differs from others in that teachers do not have to qualify for a rebate after spending a designated amount,” Carter-Miller added. “The Star Teacher ID card is not a credit card or charge card, but rather a card that helps Office Depot reward participating teachers as valued customers. The program is convenient so teachers can save money year-round for all of their classroom-related needs.”
In addition to the everyday discount, Office Depot also provides Star Teacher participants with valuable teaching information and in-store networking opportunities.
Star Teacher Program benefits include:
— Star Teacher Newsletters: Informative quarterly newsletters offer teaching tips, back-to-school information and special offers.
— School Supply List Copies: A teacher simply fills out a school supply list for their class and Office Depot makes unlimited copies for free for local parents and students. The list is also displayed in the teacher’s local Office Depot retail store.
— Star Teacher Events: Star Teachers are invited to attend events throughout the year, such as Office Depot Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts and special savings days held at local stores nationwide. Participants can receive free gifts and an additional one-day savings discount. This year, Star Teachers received a free tote bag filled with gifts and a planner.
“Ultimately, the Star Teacher Program is another way for Office Depot to underscore its commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of teachers, parents and children,” Carter-Miller concluded.
About Office Depot
Office Depot is the world’s leading reseller of office supplies, with annual sales of nearly $13 billion. The company, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, FL, conducts business in 22 countries and employs nearly 50,000 people worldwide.
Office Depot is an industry leader in every distribution channel – from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. The company is the world’s number two online retailer – on target to generate $2.5B in sales for FY’03.
In North America, Office Depot has more than 870 retail stores in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 24 delivery centers, more than 60 local sales offices and 13 regional call centers.
The company’s common stock is traded 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.
(a) Data according to the “Teacher Buying Behavior and Attitudes” report issued by Quality Education Data, Inc.(QED) in 2002. The study focused on the buying behavior of kindergarten through 8th grade public school teachers in 2001-2002.
(b) The Star Teacher Program 5% discount is available on all in-store purchases excluding merchandise from Tech Depot, Gift Cards, Computers, Postage Stamps, Package Delivery Services, Wireless, Satellite or Internet Services. 15% discount excludes shipping.
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CONTACT:
Office Depot, Delray Beach
Brian Levine
561/438-2895
