DELRAY BEACH, FL -- Office Depot has entered into a multi-year agreement with the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) to become the sport's first-ever Official Office Products Partner, beginning with the 2005 race season.

The relationship with NASCAR will be Office Depot's primary national sponsorship platform this year and will be incorporated into the company's new internal and external brand positioning campaign called Taking Care of Business - which launches this week.

Office Depot's promotional activity with NASCAR, as well as the company's marketing and communications campaign, will focus on business customers - the segment responsible for more than 80 percent of Office Depot's sales on a global basis across all channels.

Office Depot's NASCAR sponsorship activities will include category exclusivity in NASCAR's NEXTEL Cup, NASCAR Busch and NASCAR Craftsman Truck series; NASCAR-themed customer promotions (both national and regional); NASCAR-themed television, print and radio advertising; NASCAR displays in Office Depot's 900+ stores throughout the United States; and advertising during NASCAR race telecasts on NBC, FOX and TNT and in a variety of national sports media; and

NASCAR will also become an Office Depot customer for office supplies and services. In addition, Office Depot plans to unveil a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team sponsorship later this month. The company also plans to support an upcoming NASCAR diversity initiative.

According to Chuck Rubin, executive vice president and chief merchandising/marketing officer for Office Depot, NASCAR's audience and the Office Depot customer cross over. Rubin said Office Depot's alliance with NASCAR signals a strategic shift in the company's overall sponsorship portfolio, creating a powerful national marketing platform that reaches millions of customers. NASCAR association has shown to be a true differentiation point in purchasing decisions, according to some research.

A recent survey of NASCAR fans found that 72 percent consciously purchase products because of a company's relationship with the sport and that 44 percent of those who shop at other office supply stores would make Office Depot their primary supplier as a result of the company's NASCAR affiliation.

Further, NASCAR's fan appeal extends into Office Depot's core customer base - the majority of which is comprised of women and small businesses. Sixty percent of Office Depot's customers are women. Approximately 40 percent of NASCAR's fans are women. Additionally, research shows that small business owners (vs. the average U.S. adult) are 35 percent more likely to have attended a NASCAR race and 26 percent more likely to have watched a NASCAR race in the past 12 months.

_______________________________________

Click here to view the rest of today's headlines.