Staples Declares Start of 'Most Wonderful Time of the Year'

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (July 15, 2009) - Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS), the world's largest office products company, marked the start of the back-to-school shopping season today by reducing prices on 250 school supplies; bringing back the Most Wonderful Time of the Year commercial; and selecting one lucky school to kick off the season with a free shopping spree.

"We know it may be mid-summer, but at Staples, we know that back-to-school shopping has begun," said Mike Miles, Staples president and COO. "Schools like Old River Elementary in Brentwood, CA, are only a few weeks away from opening, and many families like to get a head start on their back-to-school lists. Staples is ready to help them save."

This year, in addition to reducing prices on more than 250 core back-to-school items all season long, Staples is featuring the following ways to save:

* During the week of July 19, families can earn Staples Rewards that match the full price of a backpack purchase - an opportunity to save big on one of the must-have items on most students' shopping lists;
* Increasing discounts on Staples Brand items, like the Better Binder(tm) and ACCEL Notebook(r), that provide great quality at a great price;
* Offering a series of weekly penny and dollar specials that provide opportunities for parents to get supplies on their shopping lists at significant savings.

Produced for Staples