Office Depot, a leading global provider of office products and services, celebrated the opening of its first store in Prince Frederick in November.  The store is located at 950 Costley Way in the Market Square Shopping Center. 

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Office Depot made $500 contributions and donated a number of new children’s backpacks to three local non-profit organizations: Barstow Acres Children’s Center, Project Echo and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maryland.  In addition, Calvert County Commissioners Susan Shaw and Linda Kelley, and Carolyn McHugh, President and CEO of the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, offered welcoming remarks.

The public was invited to attend the event, which also featured demonstrations by a number of Office Depot product manufacturers and suppliers.
Special guests included:

Non-Profit Organization Representatives:
•           Sonia Hinds, Executive Director, Barstow Acres Children’s Center
•           William Stanton, President, Project Echo
•           Melonie Dalson, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maryland

Calvert County Officials:
•           Susan Shaw, County Commissioner
•           Linda Kelley, County Commissioner

Calvert County Chamber of Commerce Representative:
•           Carolyn McHugh, President and CEO

The ribbon-cutting was followed by an all-day Grand Opening at the new store.

“Office Depot is strongly committed to enhancing the quality of life in the communities in which we conduct business,” said Damon Smith, manager of the new Office Depot store.  “We are excited to open our first store in Prince Frederick and very pleased that we can assist these critically important non-profit organizations in their efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families in this area.”
The backpack donations are part of the Office Depot National Backpack Program, through which the company is distributing 300,000 new backpacks to non-profit organizations and schools serving “at-risk” children throughout the United States and Canada in 2006. 

According to Damon Smith, the new Prince Frederick store features Office Depot’s industry-leading M2 retail format.  M2 offers customers the most enjoyable shopping experience in the industry – in a format that is intuitive, logical and designed specifically for the way people make purchase decisions.
Products are grouped in highly visible, strategically located “pods,” with core supplies at the outer perimeter of the store – signed for optimal visibility and easy purchase – and furniture and technology at the center – to better support consultative sales.

The new store employs approximately 20 full- and part-time associates.  It houses more than 7,500 technology, furniture and supply products as well as Design, Print and Ship services in 19,910 square feet of customer space. Store hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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