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>>Viking Office Products Launches New Internet E-Commerce Site in Germany
BUSINESS WIRE - February 08, 2000 11:13
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Feb 8, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Company Also Enhances Current Internet Site in the United Kingdom
Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE:ODP), the world's largest seller of office products, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Viking Office Products, has launched its second Internet e-commerce site for office supplies in Europe under the url www.viking.de.
The new German electronic commerce site incorporates many innovative features, including real-time inventory; Quick Order by Stock Number, which enables customers to enter catalog orders online; and Supplies QuickFind, which helps customers identify the correct supplies for their business machines. With both international and domestic customers using technology to make their businesses run more smoothly and efficiently, more and more companies, from small businesses to Fortune 500-size companies want to make their major business purchases online. With www.viking.de, German customers have an easy-to-use electronic commerce site to make their purchases.
Viking Office Products has operated a highly successful catalog operation in Germany since November 1995. The new Internet site will take advantage of the Company's existing infrastructure including merchandising, warehousing and distribution; which will allow Viking to offer its customers a high level of customer service right from the start. This is the second of the Company's European Internet sites, as it launched its first site in the United Kingdom in March of 1999, www.viking-direct.co.uk.
"We are very excited about our entrance into German e-commerce," said Bruce Nelson, President of Office Depot International and Chief Executive Officer of Viking. "Similar to our experiences in the United Kingdom, Germany has been very receptive to Viking's unique personalized service and direct-to-customer business model. With the launch of Viking.de, we are extending our commitment to "fanatical" customer service to another European country by offering customers two different ways to shop with us; now they can pick the most convenient shopping tool for them."
Customers at www.viking.de site will find over 6,000 of their favorite office supplies. The site has such unique features as:
-- Daily Specials - any customer who shops on the site can take advantage of daily specials offering additional discounts on selected merchandise.
-- Customized Shopping Lists - customers can maintain lists by department or individual of their most frequently used office supplies.
-- Internet Order History - with a click of a button, customers can review all of their past Internet purchases.
-- Real-time Inventory - customers know before they log off if their selections are in stock; this eliminates "back order" surprises.
-- Secure and Private Electronic Commerce Transactions - customers can feel safe when entering their credit card information online, email address and account information.
-- Same-day delivery for orders placed by 11:00 am in the Frankfurt and Munich major metropolitan areas, and next-day delivery anywhere in Germany.
-- Free delivery for orders over 99 deutchemarks.
The company also announced a major upgrade to its current Internet site in the United Kingdom, url: www.viking-direct.co.uk. Based on the suggestions of regular Viking customers, the Web site has been streamlined and redesigned for even easier ordering. The Home and Browse page, the Catalog Login, and the Order Checkout have all been revamped for greater accessibility and faster functionality. There is also Anonymous Shopping, allowing anyone access to the product pages without having to register. The pages are easier to read and easier to follow while shopping for office supplies.
"It's simple. Listening to customers is imperative if a company wants to stay customer-centric," commented Bruce Nelson, "Customers are the ones who know the Internet shopping experience and know what makes Internet ordering easier for them. We listened and have created a Web site that moves faster and allows more options. These streamlined adjustments address the needs of our busy customers and reinforce our efforts for fanatical customer service."
About Office Depot
Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE:ODP) currently operates 857 stores in the United States, Canada, France and Japan, as well as a national business-to-business delivery network that includes more than 60 local sales offices, 30 delivery centers and seven national Call Centers. In addition, customers can order products 24-7 by phone (1-888-GO-DEPOT), by fax (1-800-685-5010) or online via the Company's award-winning U.S. public Web site (www.officedepot.com). Office Depot and its wholly owned subsidiary, Viking Office Products, currently have operations in 19 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Office Depot's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the Fortune Global 500.
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