Staples 2003 Annual Report Download - page 41

Competition
We compete with a variety of retailers, dealers and distributors in the highly competitive office products market. Our
target customers have historically been serviced by traditional office products dealers. We believe we have competed
favorably against these dealers in the past because we generally offer lower prices and a broader product selection. We
compete in most of our geographic markets with other high-volume office supply chains, including Office Depot and
OfficeMax, that are similar in concept to us in terms of pricing strategy and product selection, as well as mass merchants
such as Wal-Mart, warehouse clubs, computer and electronics superstores such as Best Buy, and other discount retailers.
In addition, both our retail stores and delivery operations compete with numerous mail order firms, contract stationer
businesses, electronic commerce distributors and direct manufacturers.
We believe we are able to compete favorably against other high-volume office supply chains, mass merchandisers
and other retailers, dealers and distributors because of our: focus on the business customer and power user; courteous,
helpful and knowledgable customer service; wide assortment of office supplies that are in stock and easy to find; fast
checkout; easy to use website; reliability and speed of order shipment; convenient store locations; hassle-free returns and
fair prices. Many of our competitors have increased their presence in our markets in recent years. Some of our current
and potential competitors in the office products industry are larger than we are and have substantially greater financial
resources. No assurance can be given that such increased competition will not have an adverse effect on our business.
Trademarks
In connection with our North American Retail business, we have registered the marks ‘‘Staples’’ and ‘‘Staples The
Office Superstore’’ in the Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the marks ‘‘Staples
the Office Superstore’’ and ‘‘Staples’’ in Canada. In connection with our North American Delivery businesses, we have
registered the marks ‘‘Staples.com’’, ‘‘Staples National Advantage’’, ‘‘Staples Business Advantage’’, ‘‘StaplesLink.com’’,
‘‘Quill’’, ‘‘Medical Arts Press’’, ‘‘HMI’’, and ‘‘SmileMakers’’ on the Principal Register of the United States Patent and
Trademark Office. In connection with our European Operations, we have registered the mark ‘‘Staples’’ in many foreign
jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Belgium and
the mark ‘‘Office Centre’’ in many foreign jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, the Netherlands, Portugal and
Belgium. As a result of our October 2002 acquisition of the European mail order businesses, we also have registered the
mark ‘‘Bernard’’ in multiple foreign jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, France and Belgium; the mark ‘‘JPG’’ in
many foreign jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, France and Belgium; the mark ‘‘Neat Ideas’’ in many foreign
jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, the United Kingdom; the mark ‘‘Sistemas Kalamazoo’’ in Spain; and the mark
‘‘MondOffice’’ in Italy.
We maintain a website with the address www.staples.com. We are not including the information contained on our
website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We make available free of
charge through our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports
on Form 8-K, and amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such
material with, or furnish such material to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.
We were organized in 1985 and are incorporated in Delaware.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Our executive officers, their respective ages and positions as of February 1, 2003 and a description of their business
experience is set forth below. There are no family relationships among any of the executive officers named below.
Basil L. Anderson, age 57
Mr. Anderson has served as a Vice Chairman of Staples since September 2001 and as a Director since 1997. Prior to
joining Staples, Mr. Anderson served as Executive Vice President—Finance and Chief Financial Officer of
Campbell Soup Company from April 1996 to April 2000. Prior to joining Campbell Soup, Mr. Anderson was with
Scott Paper Company where he served in a variety of capacities beginning in 1975, including Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer from February 1993 to December 1995.
Joseph G. Doody, age 50
Mr. Doody has served as President-Staples North American Delivery since March 2002. Prior to that he served as
President-Staples Contract & Commercial from November 1998 to March 2002. Prior to joining Staples, Mr. Doody
was Vice President of Sutherland Group, a call center outsourcing company, from January 1998 to November 1998.
7