Office Depot: Taking Care of Business: The First 20 Years

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In 1986, when warehouse superstores first began to open around the country, three entrepreneurs decided to start a new kind of superstore a place where small- and medium- sized businesses could obtain the same discounts that large corporations received. They called their budding enterprise Office Depot. Thanks in large part to ultra-low prices and assertive marketing, Office Depot experienced explosive growth during its first decade, quickly becoming the fastest-growing office supply store in the nation. Office Depot waded ahead of the competition, expanding internationally, diversifying into business-to-business sales, and jumping to the forefront of the Internet revolution. At the turn of the century, when Office Depot experienced a defining period in its evolution, the company s executive team undertook several new management initiatives geared to making Office Depot a more compelling place to work, shop, and invest. The company s U.S. retail operations were invigorated, its international and e-commerce business flourished, and a world-class warehouse and distribution network took Office Depot to the next level. Today, Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. With annual sales of nearly $15 billion, Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. Internationally, the company conducts business in more than 20 countries. Office Depot has become an industry leader in the areas of efficiency and productivity, and has been widely recognized for its commitment to environmental performance, philanthropy, and diversity. Office Depot associates are able to celebrate their company s 20th anniversary, secure in the knowledge that they belong to one of the world s greatest corporations.