Spot To Air Tonight, As Staples Kicks-Off The 2009 Back-To-School Shopping Season

Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS), the world’s largest office products company, is bringing back The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, perhaps the most well-known and loved back-to-school television commercial ever created. The spot, which first aired 15 years ago, will be broadcast on national network television tonight, to celebrate and promote today as the official launch of the back-to-school shopping season.

“Over the years, the Most Wonderful Time of the Year commercial has become synonymous with Back-to-School,” said Mike Miles, president and chief operating officer at Staples, Inc. “Our customers love the spot, so in response to their requests, we decided the time was right to bring it back.”

The commercial will first re-air during July 15’s NBC’s “America’s Got Talent, CBS’ “Criminal Minds” and CBS’ “CSI: NY” and will run nationally throughout the back-to-school season. It will supplement a new commercial for back-to-school created by McCann-Erickson

Worldwide that includes Staples modern day icon, The Easy Button®. A 15 and 30-second version will begin running on July 20 and continue Staples “Anthem” campaign, where customers reveal all the ways the Easy Button helps them save money on supplies for the things they need.

“Staples Easy Button is one of the most recognized brand icons,” said Miles. “By combining a classic back-to-school commercial with a new Easy Button commercial, we expect to keep Staples top-of-mind and reinforce our position as the leading back-to-school destination.”

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a light-hearted take on back-to-school shopping that depicts an elated father bounding through a Staples store accompanied and contrasted by his two children, whose expressions are notably grim. The spot airs to the tune of the Andy William’s holiday-themed song of the same name. The contrasting perspective of parents and children returning to school is humorous and conveys a ubiquitous and fundamental truth about back-to-school shopping.

For those who cannot wait and would like to view the commercial now, please visit http://www.facebook.com/staples. For more information on Staples and Back-to-School, please visit http://www.staples.com/btspr.

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.

Tilson Communications
Jackie Guzman, 561-998-1995
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Staples, Inc.
Joy Errico, 508-309-5434
joy.errico@staples.com