The Office Depot case study is designed to measure the skills of success of the well known office supply chain. This study analyzes key strategic issues that are important for Office Depot's sustained growth and success. Office Depot maintains its success as the result of their relentless focus on a simple formula: To offer the broadest selection of high-quality office products, services and information that their customers need at everyday low prices. Office Depot's mission statement is to be the most successful office products company in the world. Office Depot's simple formula and mission statement has created an industry leader.Corporate HistorySince Office Depot was founded in 1986, they have revolutionized the way office products were sold through warehouse retailing. Warehouse retailing involves buying directly from manufacturers in high volumes, this has been successful due to its low overhead costs and savings to customers. Low overhead trickles down to the consumer, who is able to purchase its every conceivable office needed product at up to 60% off of list prices. Office Depot had opened 10 stores within its first year, following the immediate success of its first store in Florida. With direction from Office Depot's Chairman and CEO, David I. Fuente, Office Depot opened 16 additional stores in 1987. By 1989, Office Depot had a total of 67 stores. In April, 1991, Office Depot merged with another growing office supply chain, Office Club. This merge put Office Depot on top as the largest office products retailer in North America. In 1992, Office Depot went international. Office Depot entered the international arena when it acquired the Great Canadian Office Supplies Warehouse chain in Canada. After successful conversion of five Canadian Office Supplies Warehouses to Office Depots in Canada, Office Depot opened additional stores throughout the country. Office Depot continued its expansion when it entere...
