CONTACT: Brian Levine Office Depot 561-438-2895 blevine@officedepot.com
Elizabeth Thompson Burson-Marsteller 212-614-4009 Elizabeth_thompson@nyc.bm.com
NEW LINE OF CHRISTOPHER LOWELL MICRO-SUEDE DESK ACCESSORIES -- AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT OFFICE DEPOT -BRINGS SENSE OF STYLE TO ANY HOME OR SMALL OFFICE Award-Winning Designer’s “Spectator Collection” Builds on Industry-Leading Furniture Launch
Delray Beach, Fla., May 20, 2004 – Office Depot, (NYSE: ODP), one of the world's largest resellers of office products, today introduced the Spectator Collection, a new generation of Christopher Lowell desk accessories sold exclusively at Office Depot. The micro-suede accessories are available in four springtime colors -- Portobello, Dried Rosemary, Blue Pointe and Lowell Lavender -- to bring a fresh, new style to any home or small office. Additionally, the fashionable accessories coordinate with all four of the Christopher Lowell Collection furniture lines -- Town, Country, City and Shore -- that first debuted in Office Depot retail stores late last year. The initial product launch, which marked the first time that an office supply retailer teamed with an Emmy Award winning designer, author and TV personality, has been one of the most successful in the history of the office products industry. "Office Depot and Christopher Lowell have changed the way consumers shop by offering high-quality, stylish office furniture and pre-coordinated, mix-and-match accessories that are not only functional but affordable," said Chuck Rubin, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer for Office Depot. “It’s clear that the recent rollout of the Christopher Lowell furniture collection in all of our North American stores has been a driving force in Office Depot’s recent sales accomplishments. We are confident that the new Spectator line of desk accessories will continue this success by helping consumers add a splash of color and style into their office." The Spectator Collection comes in both neutral colors -- Portobello (tan) and Dried Rosemary (green) -- and special spring promotional colors -- Blue Pointe and Lowell Lavender -- that will be available for a limited time. "Color is the key to making any office a productive and comfortable place," said Lowell. "Our new Spectator Collection gives consumers the power to make their home offices their own by adding fashionable and affordable desk accessories that showcase individual style.”
Following is a list of the new Christopher Lowell desk accessories: Product Letter Sorter Pen Cup Document Tray Oval Desk Pad Business Card Holder Candle Holder (set of 3) Desktop Organizer Magazine Tote Color Portobello/ Dried Rosemary/ Blue Pointe/ Lowell Lavender Portobello/ Dried Rosemary/ Blue Pointe/ Lowell Lavender Portobello/ Dried Rosemary/ Blue Pointe/ Lowell Lavender Portobello/ Dried Rosemary/ Blue Pointe/ Lowell Lavender Portobello/ Dried Rosemary/ Blue Pointe/ Lowell Lavender Portobello/ Dried Rosemary Portobello/ Dried Rosemary Portobello/ Dried Rosemary Retail Price $9.97 $5.97 $18.97 $24.97 $5.97 $29.97 $24.97 $42.97
Editors Note: High-resolution digital photos of the Spectator Collection are now available at http://mediarelations.officedepot.com. The new products are available at Office Depot’s 900 retail stores in North America as well as through Office Depot’s catalogs and e-commerce site at www.officedepot.com/christopherlowell. They will be supported by a print advertising campaign created by BBDO New York and featured in a variety of media outlets, including business, home/shelter and multicultural publications. About Office Depot With annual sales of more than $12 billion, no one sells more office supplies to more customers in more countries than Office Depot. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, FL, the company conducts business in 23 countries and employs nearly 50,000 people worldwide. Office Depot is a 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 – generating $2.6B in sales for FY’03. In North America, Office Depot has 900 retail stores in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 22 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. About Christopher Lowell As the Emmy™ Award-winning host and pioneering force behind today’s abundance of home décor television, Christopher Lowell’s mix of practical advice and infectious enthusiasm have made him one of America’s most recognized and trusted authorities in the home improvement category. The success of his ever-growing multi-media company proves that Christopher has made a loyal connection to how America wants to live now and in the future. With eight consecutive years on national television, best selling books, a heavily trafficked website www.christopherlowell.com and strong retail presence, Christopher Lowell has quietly become one of the nations important new brands. Lowell also heads Christopher Lowell Enterprises, LLC, the parent company to Christopher Lowell Productions, and Christopher Lowell, Inc., the design, licensing and marketing arm of his consumer product division, which made its debut in the fall of 2000. ###
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