Office Depot Launches Austrian Ecommerce Site

Office Depot, announced that Viking Office Products,
its wholly-owned subsidiary, has launched a new ecommerce Web site for its customers in Austria at http://www.vikingdirekt.at. The office supply retailer now offers 14 unique Web sites in nine countries around the world.

The new Web site incorporates many innovative features including "Quick Order by Stock Number," which enables customers to enter catalog product codes directly onto an online order form that provides added convenience and speed for online customers; and "Supplies QuickFind," which helps
customers identify the correct ink cartridges, ribbons or toners needed for their printers, copiers and fax machines.

The site offers real-time inventory data, keeping track of what is actually available and in stock. By leveraging the company's existing mail order infrastructure including merchandising, warehousing and distribution, customers will be provided with the highest level of customer service when ordering office supplies online. This is Viking's eighth international Web site.

Bruce Nelson, Office Depot's CEO, comments, "We are very pleased to introduce our newest international ecommerce Web site to the Austrian marketplace. Our business in Austria has steadily increased over the past several years, and we believe it is the right time for us to provide this
new convenient shopping alternative to our loyal business customers. Response to our Web sites throughout Europe has been extremely favorable and we are confident that the same will be true for us in Austria."

The company, which started its operations in Austria in 1997 under the Viking brand name, has successfully established a strong customer base. By offering an ecommerce channel in Austria, the company will be able to
attract new customers and increase customer loyalty in its existing customer base, according to officials for the retailer.

Customer database technology will provide the ability to customize offerings for customers and market directly to their specific business needs.

Rolf van Kaldekerken, president of European operations for Office Depot and Viking Office Products, says, "Our goal is to provide fanatical customer service to our customers, and by launching this new Web site, we are providing customers another convenient shopping alternative. By logging on to http://www.vikingdirekt.at, Austrian customers are provided
with an easy-to-use e-commerce site for making their everyday and major office supply purchases."

Customers visiting the company's Web site at http://www.vikingdirekt.at can order more than 8,000 items. The site offers unique enhanced features such as:

* Enhanced personalization that can mirror the company's printed catalogs in the form of prices and special offers.

* Improved search capabilities - Search results are now categorized by type of product, which will enable customers to find exactly what they're looking for in the shortest amount of time.

* Customized shopping lists - Customers can set up their most frequently ordered items into a private shopping list enabling them to place their order in seconds.