is the largest supplier of office products and services in the world. Office Depot sells to consumers and businesses of all sizes through their three business segments: North American Retail Division, Business Services Group, and International Division. Office Depot operates under the names Office Depot, Viking Office Products, Viking Direct, 4Sure.com, Computers4Sure.com, The Office Place, and Sands & McDougal. These segments operate through multiple sales channels, consisting of supply stores, a contract sales force, Internet sites, and catalog and delivery operations. .
The North American Retail Division sells office products, copy and print services and other business-related services under the Office Depot and the Office Place brands through a chain of high-volume office supply stores in the United States and Canada. As of the end of 2001, the North American Retail Division operated 859 office supply stores in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. In 2002, Office Depot plans to add 25 to 30 new retail stores. Over the next few years, the company plans to continue this approach to retail store expansion, with an emphasis on market density in order to leverage advertising dollars and cross-channel opportunities to create a seamless customer experience across all channels. .
The Business Services Group is a contract office supply business that sells office products and services to contract and commercial customers through the Office Depot and Viking Office Products brand names. Office Depot acquired Viking Office Products in 1998 to expand their direct mail business. In 1993 and 1994, Office Depot acquired eight contract stationers, with eighteen domestic customer service centers, and a professional outside sales force. At the end of 2001, Office Depot and Viking operated 24 customer service centers in the United States and in the next few years plans to open more than 30 total.
