BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Office Depot, Inc. (NASDAQ:ODP), a leading omnichannel provider of business services, products and technology, today unveiled its market makeover of 14 stores in Austin, Texas, including a flagship location – “BizBox: Powered by Office Depot” – that integrate the company’s recently launched BizBox offering into its retail locations. The reimagined stores offer a first-of-its-kind suite of services for small business owners offered both online and in-store, along with flex workspaces in select stores. This is another step forward in the company’s strategic transformation from a traditional office products retailer to a broader business services platform.

BizBox is a one-stop-shop for entrepreneurs, offering end-to-end services to help small to mid-sized businesses start and grow their companies, including logo and website design, digital and social marketing, full-service copy and printing, finance and accounting services, payroll, HR, tech support, Centriq’s Asset Management software and more. The stores in the Austin market will offer face-to-face, one-on-one consultative support to help local businesses thrive.

A region ripe for growth, Austin serves as the first market for Office Depot’s innovative approach to a personalized, more omnichannel customer shopping experience. The company plans a phased approach to these makeovers as this is the next evolution of its retail transformation. The shift to a services-led retail shopping experience for customers will continue to unfold in its 1,400 stores across the country.

“Today is a key inflection point in the company’s transformation from a traditional office products retailer to a broader business services platform,” said Gerry Smith, chief executive officer for Office Depot, Inc. “Helping small and medium-sized business customers is core to our identity, but the reality is that our customers’ needs have changed. BizBox reflects our continued commitment to an omnichannel experience that addresses the challenges small businesses are facing today.”

The Austin retail stores offer digital services as well as a selection of traditional office products, and customers can expect a new look and feel in the upgraded locations, including:

• Open Floor Plan with Dedicated BizBox Consulting Hubs – Entrepreneurs will have access to BizBox professionals and experts on-site to help identify services suited to their unique needs, streamlining operations and freeing up valuable time to focus on innovation and growth.
• In-Store Networking – Open seating areas will encourage entrepreneurs to connect and discuss ideas and solutions alongside BizBox professionals.
• Professional Tech Support in a Designated “Tech-Zone” – Professional tech support will be available to assist customers with everything from smartphone repairs to PC tune-ups, and more.

“As the ‘Silicon Hills’ of Texas, Austin is a strong market leader with five percent more small to medium-sized businesses than similar markets, boasting an estimated 2,400 new tech businesses in 2017 alone,” said Kevin Moffitt, senior vice president and chief retail officer for Office Depot, Inc. “Our research shows that Austin is the right market for us to test this new omnichannel approach, and customers are already impressed with how many ways we can partner with them and offer such a variety of services and solutions.”

This new business services platform builds upon Office Depot’s previously announced acquisition of CompuCom Systems, Inc. and strategic investment in Centriq Technology, Inc.

For more information and to sign up today, visit bizbox.com. To find the dedicated BizBox consultant near you in Greater Austin, visit officedepot.com/storelocator.

About Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot, Inc. is a leading provider of office supplies, business products and services delivered through an omnichannel platform.

The company had 2016 annual sales of approximately $11 billion, employed approximately 38,000 associates, and served consumers and businesses in North America and abroad with approximately 1,400 retail stores, award-winning e-commerce sites and a dedicated business-to-business sales organization – with a global network of wholly owned operations, franchisees, licensees and alliance partners. The company operates under several banner brands including Office Depot®, OfficeMax®, BizBox, CompuCom®, Complete Office and Grand&Toy®. The company’s portfolio of exclusive product brands include TUL®, Foray®, Brenton Studio®, Ativa®, WorkPro®, Realspace® and Highmark®.

Office Depot, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ODP.”

Office Depot, Foray, Ativa and Realspace are trademarks of The Office Club, Inc. OfficeMax, TUL, Brenton Studio, WorkPro and Highmark are trademarks of OMX, Inc. CompuCom is a trademark of CompuCom Systems, Inc. Grand&Toy is a trademark of Grand & Toy, LLC in Canada. ©2018 Office Depot, Inc. All rights reserved. Any other product or company names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

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