Company Spotlight: Staples Inc.: (Nasdaq:SPLS)

Bucking The Retail Trend

• The Good:  Sales are increasing while industry is struggling
• The Bad:  Large ticket sales have slowed.
• The Beautiful:  Exclusive partnership with Dell, climbing ROE.

January 18, 2008 - Staples Inc. (SPLS-NASDAQ) is clipping along as the #1 office supply superstore operator in the US. It sells office products, furniture, computers, and other supplies through its chain of about 1,900 Staples and Staples Express stores in the US and Canada and some 20 other countries. (About 1,620 of its superstores are located in North America.) In addition to its retail outlets, Staples sells office products through the Internet and through its catalog and direct sales operations, including subsidiary Quill Corporation. Staples also provides document management and copying services through its retail chain, as well as promotional products. The firm targets small businesses and home office professionals, as well as general consumers.