From left to right: Hayley Bruemmer, interim executive director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona; Leah Torres, Staples general manager; Albert Rodriguez, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona Sedona branch director.

Staples celebrates opening of first Sedona store by supporting local educational organization

Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona receives $1,000 from Staples Foundation for Learning

SEDONA, AZ -April 15, 2009 - Staples, Inc., (Nasdaq: SPLS) the world’s largest office products company, celebrated the opening of its first store in Sedona on April 8, 2009 with a $1,000 donation from Staples Foundation for Learning to Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona.

Staples General Manager Leah Torres joined Sedona Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Jennifer Wesselholf and Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona Branch Director Albert Rodriguez in a unique ribbon-shredding ceremony to officially open the new Staples at 2350 West Highway 89A, Sedona, AZ.

This donation supports Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona’s academic and enrichment programs available for local students.

“Staples is committed to building a better community in Sedona by supporting organizations that help local youth succeed,” said Leah Torres, general manager of Staples. “Through this contribution from Staples Foundation for Learning, we are helping to enrich and expand educational opportunities for students in the area.”

“Staples is serving Sedona not only as a valuable economic resource, but also as a community partner through their support,” said Albert Rodriguez, branch director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona. “We greatly appreciate this donation that will help provide local youth with resources to continue their academic success.”

Adding More Stores For Greater Customer Convenience

The new Sedona Staples store’s regular hours will be Mon. - Fri., 7 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., and Sun., 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. The store will employ approximately 20 full- and part-time associates.

Making It Easy To Buy Office Products

The new 18,500-square-foot store is designed to make it easy for small business and home office customers to shop for office products and services. Featuring 7,000 products, the company offers great savings on core necessities for small businesses such as ink and toner, business machines and innovative Staples® brand products.

For example, Staples MailMate M5 shredder and 16-Sheet Microcut shredder are two of the seven new models available within Staples’ line of shredders equipped with powerful technologies and safety features, such as titanium cutters and anti-jam technology.

The new store also provides other Staples signature services, including the Staples Copy & Print Center (full-service copying and printing services with 100 percent quality guarantee), Staples Promotional Products (customized promotional product solutions to make brands more visible and memorable), Easy Tech (technology support, including computer set up and repair, software installation and upgrades), Easy Rebates (paperless, on-line rebate submission process) and the Staples Rewards program, which currently offers 10 percent back in rewards on ink and toner, case and ream paper and Copy & Print Center purchases.

Staples also makes it easy for customers to make a difference for the environment – what it calls EcoEasy – by offering more than 3,000 eco-friendly products, green Copy & Print Centers and in-store recycling for computers, office technology, and personal electronics. Additionally, Staples offers a comprehensive ink and toner recycling program that pays customers $3 back in Staples Rewards for recycling any brand of cartridge. And now through May 5, Sedona residents can better our planet and save money at the same time by participating in the printer trade-in recycling program, which lets customers recycle any PC at Staples for free and receive a $50 rebate when they purchase a new one valued at $179 or more.

Supporting Local Communities

The mission of Staples Foundation for Learning, Inc. is to teach, train and inspire. Founded in 2002, the foundation has contributed more than $14 million to national and local charities that provide educational opportunities and job skills for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. Staples Foundation for Learning has also developed lasting relationships with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Earth Force, Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. In addition, Staples Foundation for Learning supports Ashoka, an organization that develops and supports social entrepreneurs around the world, in eight countries: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Spain and the United States. For more information about the foundation, please visit www.staplesfoundation.org.

About Staples

Staples, the world’s largest office products company, is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business services. With 2008 sales of $23 billion and 91,000 associates worldwide, Staples serves businesses of all sizes and consumers in 27 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. In July 2008, Staples acquired Corporate Express, one of the world’s leading suppliers of office products to businesses and institutions. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.