Office Depot's Annual Holiday Survey Reveals Workplace Gift-Giving Habits.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. -- In the NOTE TO EDITORS after the fourth set of bulleted points, web address on the last line of graph should read: http://mediarelations.officedepot.cc/holiday (sted http://mediarelations.officedepot./holiday)

The corrected release reads:

OFFICE DEPOT'S ANNUAL HOLIDAY SURVEY REVEALS WORKPLACE GIFT-GIVING HABITS

As 2004 comes to a close and holiday spirit rings through offices and cubicles, many employed Americans are looking for advice on gift-giving protocol in the workplace. According to the annual Office Depot Holiday Survey, 43% of respondents plan to give gifts this holiday to at least one business associate, but 90% of those surveyed are unfamiliar with the most current workplace gift-giving etiquette.

The nationwide survey of more than 2,200 Americans was conducted by Harris Interactive(R) on behalf of Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), one of the world's leading resellers of office products and services.

"Celebrating the holidays in a workplace environment can be a challenge because exchanging gifts in the office is very different than giving something to a friend or family member," noted Karen Stockwell, Holiday Business Gift Buyer for Office Depot. "To best support small businesses, Office Depot focuses on gifts that are appropriate for business associates. For the customer who's not sure where to start, we offer Gifts that Mean Business, including the Top 100 gifts for businesspeople. With pre-chosen products highlighted in the store, Office Depot has taken the worry out of the holiday shopping experience."

According to Stockwell, the Office Depot survey pointed out that the vast majority of Americans are involved in workplace gift giving -- with over three-quarters (78%) noting that they will either give gifts or celebrate the holidays at work.

Stockwell added that Office Depot provides professional gift suggestions to fit all budgets and personalities. Her recommendations include:

--Parker Pen and Pencil Gift Sets ($14.99) -- Available in a variety of colors, this pen and pencil set is packaged in a holiday gift box - an ideal gift for the business associate.

--Electronic Texas Hold 'Em Poker ($49.95) - An electronic game system that hooks up to the TV. Play against up to six players, and get the odds on filling that straight or catching that third ace! Each player starts with $1500, and the one who rakes in all $80,000 wins. Features automatic scoring, complete rules for 25 of the most popular forms of poker, and Excalibur's Odds Master. Set includes six compact controllers.

--Tee Time Golf Swing Clock ($19.95) -- This one-of-a-kind timepiece illuminates the hour and minutes using an optical illusion. The glowing digital numbers appear to be floating in mid-air. It's an ideal gift for a business associate who would rather be on the golf course than at the office.

--Office Depot Gift Cards - For the person who has everything (or can't make up his/her mind), these gift cards come in fun and distinct colors in several denominations.

Gift suggestions for business associates who are always on the road, include:

--Comfi-Vibe Neck Pillow ($19.97) - This pillow conforms to any neck size, while the built in massager reduces tension on the road or at the office. The Comfi-Vibe products are designed by Christopher Lowell exclusively for Office Depot.

--Insulated Travel Mug ($9.99) -- For the busy traveler, having a cup of morning coffee is essential, but often difficult to coordinate. The insulated travel mug makes a hot beverage on-the-go easy, and will quickly become every traveler's permanent companion.

--The New York Times Crossword Puzzle ($39.95) - Leave the leaking pen and folded newspaper at home! Whether waiting for the train or taking a break at the office, the 500 crossword puzzles included in this handheld electronic game will keep the mind sharp and the hands free.

According to Stockwell, Office Depot's survey gave respondents the opportunity to choose which celebrity best describes their holiday shopping style:

--22% saw themselves as Britney Spears - impulsively buying right up to the holiday

--20% identified with Homer Simpson - "Doh! It's Christmas/Hanukkah?"

--15% believed they were most like Oprah Winfrey - "I buy gifts all year round and give to close friends/family, plus the underprivileged"

--Interestingly, Martha Stewart ("I have every gift wrapped and labeled with a nametag by Halloween") and Donald Trump ("I have my secretary/assistant take care of all of my holiday shopping") were the least likely personalities.

Additionally, when looking at workplace personalities the survey revealed that:

--18% described themselves as having a "Rolodex" personality - neat, compact organizer

--16% felt they had a "Post It" personality - notes to self all over the workstation

--12% were like a "Laser Printer" (the quiet one); "Paper Shredder" (everything is everywhere); or "Calculator" (always thinking of the bottom line) personality.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Complete information concerning Office Depot's Holiday survey, gift-giving tips, press releases, and product images can be found at http://mediarelations.officedepot.cc/holiday.

About Office Depot

With annual sales of more than $12 billion, no one sells more office supplies to more customers in more countries than Office Depot. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., the company conducts business in 23 countries and employs nearly 50,000 people worldwide.

Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel - from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. The company is the world's number three online retailer - on track to generate $3B in sales for FY'04. In North America, Office Depot has 923 retail stores in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 22 delivery centers, more than 60 local sales offices and 13 regional call centers.

The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com.

About Harris Interactive(R)

Harris Interactive Inc. - www.harrisinteractive.com - the 13th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester, N.Y.-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application. Known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering Internet-based research methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results.

Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and technology to advance market leadership through U.S. offices and wholly owned subsidiaries: London-based HI Europe - www.hieurope.com -, Paris-based Novatris - www.novatris.com -, Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan, through newly acquired WirthlinWorldwide - www.wirthlinworldwide.com -, a Reston, Virginia-based research and consultancy firm ranked 25th largest in the world, and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies.

Methodology

Harris Interactive(R) conducted this online study between September 28 and 30, 2004. A nationwide sample of 2,266 U.S. adults (age 18+) were surveyed, among whom 1,494 were employed. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income and region were weighted where necessary to align with population proportions. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

In theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 3 percentage points (for the overall sample). Statistical precision for the employed adults sample results is plus or minus 4 percentage points of what they would be if the entire population of employed U.S. adults had been polled with complete accuracy. This online sample was not a probability sample.