Office Depot Analysis

UNIVERSITATY: BABEŞ-BOLYAI, CLUJ-NAPOCA

F.S.E.G.A.

Internship report – Office Depot

Rus Ciprian Ioan

Master year II

M.D.A

Company description

Office Depot is a supplier of office products such as business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services include copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping, and computer setup and repair.

Office Depot was founded in March 1986 by the late F. Patrick Sher, the former chairman and chief executive officer, Dougherty, president, and Jack Kopkin, executive vice president. All were formerly associated with Home-owner's Warehouse, the home improvement company that Sher sold to Service Merchandise in 1983 and renamed Mr. HOW Warehouse. The catalog showroom chain eventually sold off the Mr. HOW units to a variety of buyers, including Builders Square, the home center warehouse subsidiary of Kmart Corp. They envisioned a warehouse-style store for office products where customers could purchase items in bulk for discounted prices. This concept led to starting Office Depot, and the company opened its first store at Lakes Mall in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida in October 1986.The company saw steady growth throughout the years, and opened the 1000th Office Depot North American retail store in Countryside, Illinois in 2005.

Other events and milestones

• 1988 – Initial public offering of stock.

• 1991 – Expands to the West Coast of the United States by merging with Office Club.

• 1992 - Increases operations in North America by acquiring The Great Canadian Office Supplies Warehouse Chain.

• 1993 - Enters contract stationer business by acquiring Wilson Stationery & Printing Company and Eastman Office Products Corporation

• 1994 – Begins international expansion by signing joint venture agreement with Grupo Gigante in Mexico and licensing agreements with Israel, Colombia and Poland.

• 1995 – Opens 500th store in North America as well as stores in Mexico and...