Office Depot Launches `Small Business Self-Bailout Plan` Offering Smart Strategies to Survive Challenging Times

Self-Bailout Plan Features a Contest with over $1 Million in Prizes for Small
Businesses, New Website with Expert Advice, Weekly Webisode and More
BOCA RATON, Fla.--(Business Wire)--
Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and
services, today announced the launch of the "Small Business Self-Bailout Plan,"
a one-of-a-kind program that provides small businesses with the tools, resources
and support they need to help their business not only survive, but thrive in
this current economic downturn. Office Depot is committed to doing everything it
can to help small businesses during these tough times.

As part of its "Small Business Self-Bailout Plan," Office Depot created "The
Survival of the Smartest" website (www.thesurvivalofthesmartest.com), a new
online resource dedicated entirely to small businesses.
TheSurvivaloftheSmartest.com features a variety of smart solutions, including
weekly videos with smart tips, special product and service offers, small
business resource tools and promotions specifically for small businesses, plus
expert advice from USAToday.com small business columnist and author, Steve
Strauss.

Over $1 Million In Prizes For Small Business

Beginning June 1, Office Depot is conducting a search for the nation`s best and
smartest small businesses in the country. The "Office Depot Adopt a Small
Business Contest" will recognize 500 small businesses nationwide for their smart
survival strategies and award them each with a $1,300 Office Depot Gift Card,
tech support for a year from Office Depot`s Tech Depot Services, and copy, print
and ship services from Office Depot`s Design, Print, and Ship center with a
total prize value of over $2,000. To enter, a small business can upload an
original two-minute video that explains the smart things their business is doing
to survive these challenging times. Visit Office Rules for official rules and
regulations.

"Office Depot understands the challenges that small business owners are facing
and we are here to provide smart solutions and support that will not only help
them to weather the storm, but to emerge prosperous," said Jeff Herbert, Senior
Vice President of Marketing for Office Depot. "The Office Depot Small Business
Self-Bailout Plan is designed to give small business owners access to smart
advice, solutions and resources that are relevant to their business during this
unique economic time we are all experiencing."

The Survival Of The Smartest Hub

The Survival of the Smartest online Hub (www.TheSurvivalofTheSmartest.com) is
the central location for accessing all elements of the Office Depot "Small
Business Self-Bailout Plan." The online Hub contains a series of resource tools
and content relevant to small business such as tips on how to connect your
wireless network, how to save money while greening your office, optimizing your
computer, help with information security and more.

TheSurvivalofTheSmartest.com also serves as the gathering place for special
promotions geared specifically for small business, including the new "Adopt a
Small Business Contest." Plus, Steve Strauss, one of the country`s most-renowned
small business experts, will contribute regular columns and insights to the Hub.

"I`m thrilled to be a part of this innovative program because small businesses
are an extremely dynamic part of the U.S. economy," said USAToday.com columnist
and Office Depot small business expert Steve Strauss. "It`s great to see
retailers like Office Depot stepping up to provide assistance and smart survival
strategies to small businesses, giving them the means to succeed and continue to
be the engine that drives the U.S. economy."

Visitors to The Survival of the Smartest online hub
(www.thesurvivalofthesmartest.com) will also get to experience "Smart Specials
with Matt and Matt," an entertaining, humorous weekly video series showcasing
information, products and special Office Depot deals specifically for small
business. In addition, up-to-date news for small business is provided through
feeds from small business websites and blogs such as Duct Tape Marketing,
Startup Nation, MrAllBiz.com, SmallBizTrends.com and more.

For more information, please visit www.thesurvivalofthesmartest.com.

For Office Depot store locations, please click on Office Depot: Your Local
Office Supply Store to find locations near you.

About Office Depot

Every day, Office Depot is Taking Care of Business for millions of customers
around the globe. For the local corner store as well as Fortune 500 companies,
Office Depot provides products and services to its customers through 1,604
worldwide retail stores, a dedicated sales force, top-rated catalogs and a $4.6
billion e-commerce operation. Office Depot has annual sales of approximately
$14.5 billion, and employs about 42,000 associates around the world. The Company
provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries
than any other company, and currently sells to customers directly or through
affiliates in 48 countries.

Office Depot`s common stock is listed 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.

Office Depot
Jason Shockley, 561-438-0037
jason.shockley@officedepot.com
or
Mindy Kramer, 561-438-4276
mindy.kramer@officedepot.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009