*NEWS*STAPLES SEARCHES FOR NEW INVENTIONS

[Anonymous]

<>Staples On A Quest For Next Great Office Product Invention
Launches Search for Products that Make Work Life Easier
FRAMINGHAM, Mass.APRIL 05
Imagine sitting at your desk without a stapler, Post-it(TM) Notes or even a
paperclip. Ordinary people created these great office products to make their
work life easier. Do you have an idea for the next easy office product? Today,
Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) launches its annual Staples Invention Quest(TM), offering
customers the opportunity to invent the next great office product and
potentially have it sold by the company.Last year Staples Invention
Quest(TM) garnered more than 8,300 entries, four of which are about to hit
Staples shelves and make the work day easier. This year’s search comes on the
heels of some eye opening research recently commissioned by Staples. The
research shows that 44 percent of the 1,000 office workers surveyed, stated they
have had an idea for a new product but did not know how to bring that idea to
market.

“People gravitate towards things that make their lives
easier,” said Art Fry inventor of the Post-it(TM) Notes. “Staples Invention
Quest is an extraordinary opportunity for everyday people to bring their ideas
to life without having to go through the laborious process most inventors have
to endure. The simple fact is, Staples is making it easier for customers to
bring their new office product ideas to market.”

Staples Invention Quest(TM)

Staples Invention Quest(TM) is an open invitation across
the U.S. for would-be inventors to have the chance to make their office product
idea a reality. Multiple finalists’ products may be brought to market under the
Staples brand and sold exclusively by Staples in its 1,200 U.S. stores and on
Staples.com. A panel of judges will select the best office product entry and the
winner will receive $25,000 and royalties if Staples brings the winning product
to its shelves. Nine semi-finalists will be awarded cash prizes of $5,000 and
the possibility to have their idea created and sold by Staples.

“Staples goal, in everything we do, is to make things
easier for our customers,” said Jevin Eagle, senior vice president of Staples
Brands for Staples, Inc. “Staples Invention Quest is a great way for the public
to tap into their innovative spirit and come up with new, creative office
products which make work and life easier.”

Last year Todd Basche, of Los Altos, California, won the
inaugural Staples Invention Quest(TM) with his WordLock(TM) product. The
WordLock(TM), which will appear in Staples stores nationwide and on Staples.com
this summer, is a lock that allows users to select their own word combination
using letters rather then the traditional number combinations.

The deadline to enter is June 1, 2005 and the winner will
be announced fall 2005. Anyone with an idea can enter Staples Invention
Quest(TM) at any Staples U.S. store or log onto http://www.staples.com/IQ for an entry form and
complete list of rules and regulations.

Americans certainly see the value in office products that
make their work lives easier. In fact, according to the recent Braun research
survey conducted by Staples, almost three-fourths, 72 percent, of respondents
think what makes an office product great is that it makes work and life
easier.

Staples Braun Research Survey

According to the Braun survey of 1,000 working Americans
commissioned by Staples, the following statistics hold true:

    * The most frequently stolen item from peoples' desks is a pen (59
     percent).
    * 28 percent of respondents say the calculator is the greatest office
     product invention of all-time.  Sticky notes came in second capturing 21
     percent of the vote.
    * Pens and wireless phones tied at 23 percent as the respondents' most
     important office products.
    For complete fact sheet of survey results visit http://www.staples.com/IQ.
    About Staples Brands

Staples offers its customers more than 1,000
Staples brand office products in stores, Staples.com and through catalogs.
Products range from ink and toner to paper, filing systems and technology
accessories. All Staples products undergo an intense independent laboratory
quality-testing program and are 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed.

[Author]

April 20, 2005 at 11:46 AM