Staples Kicks Off the Back-To-School Shopping Season With Discounts, Classic Commercial, and Shopping Spree

Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS), the world’s largest office products company, marked the start of the back-to-school shopping season today by reducing prices on 250 school supplies; bringing back the Most Wonderful Time of the Year commercial; and selecting one lucky school to kick off the season with a free shopping spree.

“We know it may be mid-summer, but at Staples, we know that back-to-school shopping has begun,” said Mike Miles, Staples president and COO. “Schools like Old River Elementary in Brentwood, CA, are only a few weeks away from opening, and many families like to get a head start on their back-to-school lists. Staples is ready to help them save.”

This year, in addition to reducing prices on more than 250 core back-to-school items all season long, Staples is featuring the following ways to save:

• During the week of July 19, families can earn Staples Rewards that match the full price of a backpack purchase – an opportunity to save big on one of the must-have items on most students’ shopping lists;
• Increasing discounts on Staples Brand items, like the Better Binder™ and ACCEL Notebook®, that provide great quality at a great price;
• Offering a series of weekly penny and dollar specials that provide opportunities for parents to get supplies on their shopping lists at significant savings.

“People want their kids to have the right supplies at the right price, and Staples makes it easy to save money and find everything on your list,” Miles said. “By recognizing that the back-to-school shopping season has begun, Staples is helping everyone enjoy maximum savings.”

To celebrate the season, Staples will bring back The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, perhaps the most well known and loved back-to-school commercial ever created. The spot will air on national network television tonight in prime time, and is available for viewing now online at www.facebook.com/staples.

Old River Elementary, one of the first schools to return to classes on July 28, was selected by Staples, Inc. to celebrate the start of this year’s back-to-school season with $15,000 in school supplies, including a shopping spree for students.