OfficeMax
Type	Public NYSE: OMX
Founded	1988
Headquarters	Naperville, Illinois
Industry	Retail
Products	Office supplies
Revenue	▲$8.9 billion USD (2006)
Employees	32,300 (2008)
Website	http://www.officemax.com/

OfficeMax (NYSE: OMX), is an office supplies retailer founded in 1988 and headquartered in Naperville, Illinois. It is the third-largest office supplies retailer in the USA, behind Staples and Office Depot. Image File history File links Officemaxnew. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), nicknamed the Big Board, is a New York City-based stock exchange. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. ... Drawing of a self-service store. ... For the tax agency in Ireland of the same name, see Revenue Commissioners. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... This article is about work. ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), nicknamed the Big Board, is a New York City-based stock exchange. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. ... Office supplies is the generic term that refers to all supplies regularly used in offices by businesses and other organizations, from private citizens to governments, who works with the collection, refinement, and output of information (colloquially referred to as paper work). The term includes small, expendable, daily use items such... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Categories: Companies traded on NASDAQ | Organization stubs | Retail companies of the United States | Fortune 500 companies | Office supply companies | Companies based in Massachusetts | Corporations with naming rights of indoor arenas ... Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) is one of the worlds leading suppliers of office products and services. ...

History

Kmart

On April 1, 1988, OfficeMax was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, by Michael Feuer (who served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer) along with seven other associates. On July 5 of that year, OfficeMax opened its first retail store in the Golden Gate Shopping Center in Mayfield Heights, Ohio (the location remains open today as store #1). is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Cleveland redirects here. ... Michael Feuer is the current was a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the fifth district. ... A Chairman is the presiding officer of a meeting, organization, committee, or other deliberative body. ... Chief Executive redirects here. ... is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Mayfield Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. ...

OfficeMax grew by acquisition, including its 1990 takeover of Office Square stores, previously owned by KMart, in exchange for a 22% equity stake. In 1991, Kmart increased its stake in OfficeMax to 92%. The company acquired BizMart, its largest acquisition to date, in 1992. OW-Office Warehouse, a Virginia-based regional chain, was acquired in 1993. For the next ten years OfficeMax and its rivals, STAPLES and Office Depot, continued to open new stores, saturating the market segment. OfficeMax developed regional delivery centers, and investing in its super-regional PowerMax distribution centers in Las Vegas, NV (North Las Vegas, NV), Hazelton, PA (Onida,PA), and Birmingham, AL (McCalla, AL). All the while OfficeMax had the worst money losing results of the three. In 2001-2003, OfficeMax began closing under-performing stores in some neighborhoods and in regions where it didn't have a strong presence. While Staples and Office Depot considered merging, that deal was called off. Of the three it was OfficeMax that would be acquired; by Boise Cascade Office Products Corporation,^[1] which had a nationwide office supply delivery operation based in Itasca, IL. Boise had no bricks and mortar retail presence; their model used sales accounts people. This article is about the year. ... OfficeMax (NYSE: OMX), is an office supplies retailer founded in 1988 and headquartered in Naperville, Illinois. ... For the Australian department store chain, see Kmart Australia. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the Australian department store chain, see Kmart Australia. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Staples may mean: Abram Penn Staples Billy Staples Chris Staples Curtis Staples Greg Staples Isaac Staples Jim Staples (rugby player) Mavis Staples Neville Staples Peter Staples Pops Staples Sam Staples (cricketer) Todd Staples Waller Redd Staples Staples, Minnesota Staples Inc. ... Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) is one of the worlds leading suppliers of office products and services. ... This article is about the city of Las Vegas in Nevada. ... For other places with the same name, see Hazleton (disambiguation). ... Birmingham is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Jefferson County. ... Itasca is a village located in DuPage County, Illinois. ...

Boise Cascade

The company was acquired by Boise Cascade in 2003, and has undergone numerous internal changes since then, including rebranding its copy and print centers from CopyMax to OfficeMax Print & Document Services. This change was primarily to prevent customers from getting the idea that it was only a copy service. In Q4 2006 the company rolled out a new branding for their printing and finishing service after finding that OfficeMax Print & Document Services was too sterile of a name. The current name for the printing department is OfficeMax ImPress [1]. Boise Cascade LLC, which uses the trade name Boise, is an American pulp and paper company, ranked as the thirteenth biggest pulp and paper company in the world. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Print. ...

The furniture section of the retail stores is often marketed separately as FurnitureMax, though officially only a few stores have true FurnitureMax sections, characterized by much larger selections than normal OfficeMaxes. OfficeMax has 867 retail stores in the USA (including Puerto Rico) and 43 locations in Mexico (through a joint venture), in addition to an on-line retailer in the USA (OfficeMax.com). In October 2004, Boise Cascade completed its sale of its paper, building products, and timberland assets. It then renamed itself OfficeMax. For the UK band, see Furniture (band). ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... For other uses, see Paper (disambiguation). ...

OfficeMax ImPress Print and Document Services

OfficeMax also features a business services department. First named CopyMax but later renamed to OfficeMax Print and Document Services (PDS) in 2005, and to OfficeMax ImPress Print and Document Services in 2007. This department offers printing and copying services along with other business identity solutions. OfficeMax has made several improvements to ImPress in recent years, now offering Wide-Format color prints in all of its stores. In addition to copies ImPress also offers binding, finishing, design services, custom business cards, stamps, business forms, checks, and more. OfficeMax ImPress has also recently cut color copy prices to $0.49 for 20/24lb. 8 1/2 x 11 copies.

MaxPerks customer reward program

OfficeMax offers a customer reward program, called [MaxPerks] where customers can earn cash back for future purchases. There are two types of MaxPerks programs: MaxPerks for Business and MaxPerks for Teachers.^[2]

The MaxPerks for Business program is intended for any customer. The MaxPerks for Business program allows all customers to obtain a reward card that give the customer $25 back for $500 in purchases of instore or online products. As well the new change to the rewards program also offers customer $3 in rewards for every HP or Dell ink cartridge recycled through a retail location, maximum 10 per week. Also large collectors of recycleable ink cartridges can sign up to have a collection box sent to them were they recive $1 per HP or Dell Cartridge maximum 300 per month, all postage is paid by Officemax for the collection boxes.

The MaxPerks for Teachers program is a reward program designed for teachers, however cardholders receive $10 for every $75 they spend, instead of a percentage back like MaxPerks for Business. The MaxPerks for Teachers program also allows teachers to get extra school supply money by allowing them to give their MaxPerks number to their students, which allows them to receive benefits throughout the school year.

MaxAssurance

MaxAssurance is a service from NEW that OfficeMax offers on furniture, electronics under $400, electronics over $400 and computers. About the only thing MaxAssurance does not protect against are failures caused by abuse or misuse of the covered item as well as loss or theft, though their Lo-Jack service does help track lost or stolen notebook computers. The plans are also renewable and transferable.

Furniture MaxAssurance For chairs the plan covers broken casters and wheels, normal wear and tear to the upholstery, including seam separation. For furniture the plan covers structural defects and dovetail construction, lifting, cracking, peeling or scaling of solid woods, laminated finishes and veneers, warping, cracking and the breaking of frames/legs. The plan starts 31 days from the date of purchase and is good for three years.

Electronics under $400 This plan is a replacement plan. If your product fails, contact customer service and simply return the failed product to the replacement depot using the pre-paid shipping label. Once the product is received NEW will send you a OfficeMax gift card for the total purchase, plus tax if applicable. This plan covers normal wear and tear, defects in workmanship and materials, mechanical and electrical breakdowns, power surges (from day one), environmental factors, such as heat, dust and humidity and accidental damage from handling.

Financial rebound

In Q1 2006, OfficeMax closed 110 under-performing domestic stores, and is opening 70 new stores with the new award winning "Advantage" store layout.^[3] The "Advantage" store design is supposed to be more customer friendly and includes improvements in all major departments inside an OfficeMax store. The company plans to remodel most or all of its stores to the new Advantage layout.

As of April 26, 2008, OfficeMax shares traded at $19.17 per share.^[4]

OfficeMax ink refilling kiosk

Starting in 2005 and ending early 2006, OfficeMax tested a semi-automated ink refill station in their stores in the Chicago area. Customers could bring in old HP, Lexmark, Dell, or Compaq cartridges, and have them tested and refilled for less than the cost of new cartridges. As of July 2006, OfficeMax outfitted all of their high profit stores with the ink refill machines. Due to the complexity of Canon cartridges, the OfficeMax Ink Kiosk is unable to refill them. This is mainly because Canon uses a colored dye in their cartridges, not ink. The electronic contacts are also digitally altered in such a way that the Ink Kiosk cannot read them.

OfficeMax ink recycling program

In 2005, OfficeMax began accepting any empty HP, Dell, or Lexmark inkjet or toner cartridges in exchange for a free OfficeMax brand ream of paper, with a limit of 5 per customer, per day, or an option to take $3.00 off their current purchase. (The same limit of 5 applied to the $3.00 off, with a minimum of purchase amount that matched or exceeded the coupon). This was then changed in October of 2006 due to many customers abusing the program. At that time, OfficeMax only offered the $3.00 instore discount, with a limit of 5, for only HP, Lexmark, Dell and Canon. In the fall of 2007 Canon was no longer participating in the program. The cartridges must also be brand name, and cannot be previously recycled or refilled cartridges. Currently OfficeMax only accepts HP, Lexmark and Dell brand name cartridges. Off brand cartridges that are HP, Lexmark or Dell compatibles are not accepted. There is a limit of 5 cartridges per customer per day.

In July of 2008, OfficeMax restructured their ink recycling program. Customers will no longer receive an in store credit for cartridges returned. Customers bringing in qualifying empty ink cartridges will instead receive a three ($3) reward to their MaxPerks account for up to ten (10) cartridges and thirty ($30) dollars in rewards a week. OfficeMax is only accepting geniune HP and DELL cartridges. Customers can check on their rewards through the new MaxPerks website. More Information to come.

A Day Made Better

On October, 2, 2007 at 10am OfficeMax in partnership with Adopt-A-Classroom surprised 1,000 teachers with a box of supplies worth about $1,200. Majority of schools selected were Title 1 schools, in which 40% or more of the student body is subsidized with the free school lunch program. The teacher selected was nominated by the school's principal based on merit.

Controversies

Boise Cascade, which bought OfficeMax in 2003, also owned the Cuban Electric Co. before it was seized by the Cuban government following the 1959 revolution that brought Castro to power. OfficeMax is the largest property claimant in Cuba. [2]

In 2005, OfficeMax was investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in regards to "accounting for vendor income." According to OfficeMax, the company had falsified $3.3 million in rebate claims owed by its suppliers. Six employees were fired in connection with the issue. In early November, 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission completed the probe and recommended no enforcement action.^[5]

In 2008 OfficeMax was targeted by protesters asking it to keep a promise that was made to protect indigenous rights. Logging in Canada’s Whiskey Jack Forest to the supply paper pulp industry is opposed by the Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation people.^[6] Asubpeeschoseewagong (Asabiinyashkosiwagong, in the Anishinaabe language), also known as Grassy Narrows #149, is an Ojibwe Indian reserve located 80km north of Kenora, Ontario. ...

On June 6, 2008 it was announced through the stores that there will be a massive restructuring of employees, taking place on June 25. The new employee structure will consist of one Store Manager, one Assistant Manager, one Supervisor, a Furniture Specialist (who will have keys to the store), a Tech Specialist (who will have keys to the store), Associates and a Cashier. ImPress (copy center) employees will not be affected. All current OfficeMax Supervisors have to reapply to see if they will keep their jobs at a lower pay rate, which is the speculation since they haven't announced the pay rate scale, similar to what Circuit City did in 2007. The way that the stores are being restructured appears to be for logistical purposes, resulting in every associate being involved with freight and receiving. There are several thousand associates that will be unemployed because of this.

Going Green

In spring 2008 OfficeMax started to sell recycled products for a company called TerraCycle [3]. As of right now OfficeMax carries trash and recycling cans (made from computer cases), Eco binders (made from 100% recycled cardboard and paper), natural all purpose and window cleaners (made from old 1 liter soda bottles and non-toxic cleaners using a plant based formula) and pencil cases (made from Kool-Aid and Capri Sun pouches). The products and packaging are made entirely from waste, reducing the amount of garbage going to landfills. OfficeMax offers and stocks more than 1,700 products with recycled content. Categories: Food and drink stubs | Kraft brands | Beverages ... Capri Sun is a brand of juice drink owned by the German Company WILD (Chairman Dr. Hans-Peter Wild) sold in silver pouches. ...

In the ImPress department customers can upgrade from 30 percent to 100 percent post-consumer paper for a limited time at no charge. All OfficeMax ImPress self-serve copy machines have been outfitted with "Think in Green" stickers to encourage customers to take advantage of this offer.

On July 2, 2008 it was announced that OfficeMax will be getting rid of all the vending machines in the employee breakrooms to help reduce their carbon footprint, yet the company still leaves about 10% of the lights on for security purposes in all retail store overnight. This a change from a year ago when the company left about 50% of the lights on. They will also be increasing the employee discount on soda, candy and other snack foods from 10% to 20%.

On July 11, 2008 it was announced that OfficeMax will be getting rid of its large and small size checkout bags. Medium bags are only available now. Going forward OfficeMax is finializing a new bag design that is made out of recycled content. This new design should start being seen in stores around September - early October.

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Common Dreams NewsCenter, according to its website, is based in Portland, Maine, and was founded in 1997. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• OfficeMax - official website