Staples 

Why it is a competitor

• Staples offers a variety of similar products and services to OfficeMax including office supplies, furniture, facilities maintenance, printing supplies, school supplies and technology services. It is also of the same size as OfficeMax, with more than 10,000 employees. 

Value Proposition

• Staples has years of experience in technology, space planning and facilities management, and they help customers to make the most of their workspaces. They offer a full range of business services including managed print services, furniture and design services, installation services and print and marketing services.
• Also known as "The Worklife Fulfillment Company", Staples helps businesses to be more productive, inspired and connected in wherever and however they work.

  Walmart 

Why it is a competitor

• Walmart is also a retail company that offers some similar products to those of OfficeMax including office supplies, print supplies, technology, school supplies and furniture. It is also of the same size as OfficeMax, with more than 10,000 employees. 

Value Proposition

• Walmart offers the convenience of one-stop shopping, with a broad assortment of products at low prices. They are committed to helping their customers save money and live better. 

 Target 

Why it is a competitor

• Target is a retail company that offers similar products to OfficeMax including office supplies, school supplies, furniture and electronics. It is also of the same size as OfficeMax, with more than 10,000 employees. 

Value Proposition

• Target offers outstanding value, innovation, an exceptional guest experience and inspiration that is unparalleled. They are committed to generous community support, ethical business practices and environmental stewardship.

 Costco  

Why it is a competitor

• Costco is a retail company that offers similar products to OfficeMax such as office supplies, print supplies, furniture and electronics. It is also of the same size as OfficeMax, with more than 10,000 employees. 

Value Proposition

• Costco is dedicated to providing their members with quality brand-name merchandise at the best possible prices. They offer a variety of merchandise, exclusive member services and the convenience of specialty departments.

 Best Buy 

Why it is a competitor

• Best Buy is also a retail company that offers products such as office supplies, printing supplies, furniture and electronics. In addition, just like OfficeMax, it has more than 10,000 employees. 

Value Proposition

• Best Buy is a leading provider of technology services, solutions and products that offers expert service at undefeated prices to small business owners, consumers and educators. They solve technology problems and address consumer needs in different areas such as productivity, communication, entertainment, health, security and food.

 IKEA 

Why it is a competitor

• IKEA is also a retail company that offers similar products to OfficeMax, including office supplies, school supplies and furniture. It has the same size as OfficeMax, with more than 10,000 employees.  

Value Proposition

• IKEA offers a variety of functional and well-designed furnishing products at low prices. They are also constantly looking for new and better ways to design their products.

 Amazon 

Why it is a competitor

• Amazon is an online retailer that offers a variety of products similar to those that OfficeMax offers including office supplies, school supplies, furniture, electronics and printing supplies. It is also similarly sized to OfficeMax, with over 10,000 employees.  

Value Proposition

• Amazon is focused on providing services that change lives, building technologies and inventing products. They constantly look for new ways of doing things, and put their customers at the center of all their decisions.

Research Strategy

Mission of Hope holds annual Pack The Bus campaign

•  This article was published on July 24, 2019, by 10News in Knox County, Tennessee.
• Mission of Hope teamed up with Office Max to hold its annual Pack the Bus campaign that provides school "supplies for those in need in rural Appalachia."
• Mission of Hope serves 28 schools and 12,000 students in the area.

No timeline just yet for when tornado-hit Richmond Mall will reopen

•  This article was published on June 21, 2019, by Pal Item.
• On June 15, a tornado in Richmond, Indiana tore a hole in the roof of an Office Max located at the Richmond Mall.
• The tornado also "blew through a shared wall between that store and the Elite Nails salon inside the mall proper."

Town of Hamburg police looking for individuals in Office Max theft

•  This article was published on March 26, 2019, by WIVB 4.
• The Office Max in Hamburg, New York was the victim of a theft when individuals stole "numerous items" from the store.
• At the time of the writing, the thieves were still at large.

Office Max closing another local store, this time at South Town Plaza in Henrietta

•  This article was published on May 23, 2019, by the Democrat & Chronicle.
• The Office Max in Henrietta, New York would close by July 20.
• A spokesperson from Office Depot indicated the closure was part of a "company-wide move to streamline operations because of disappointing first-quarter sales."

Office Max closing in Marshfield

•  This article was published on March 20, 2019, by 9WAOW.
• The Office Max located in Marshfield, Wisconsin would be closing in the coming months.
• Office Max became the fourth major store in the area to announce its closure within the past year.

Office Max closing in Great Falls

•  This article was published on March 19, 2019, by 3KRTV Great Falls.
• The Office Max located at 1601 Market Place Drive in Great Falls, Montana was closing. Its last day open would be May 18.
• A spokesperson for Office Depot said the company would "continue to serve customers online."

Brown Transfer trailer in Office Max parking lot accepting donations for flood victims

•  This article was published on July 15, 2019, by Kearny Hub.
• Office Max wanted to assist flood victims in Nebraska, so it began accepting donations in a Brown Transfer trailer located in its parking lot.
• The store accepted "nonperishable food, water, paper products, cleaning supplies and first aid items."

Office Max in Myrtle Beach selling bulletproof backpacks for back to school

•  This article was published on August 1, 2019, by WBTW News13.
• The Office Max in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was selling bulletproof backpacks during the back-to-school season.
• The bulletproof backpacks had prices of between $175 and $200 and were manufactured by Guard Dog.

Blasdell Office Max partnering with Tremaine Edmunds to give kids school supplies

•  This article was published on August 30, 2019, by WIVB 4.
• The Office Max in Blasdell, New York and Buffalo Bills' linebacker Tremaine Edmunds partnered to provide students at Big Tree Elementary in Hamburg school supplies.
• Donations were collected at the Office Max through September 29.

Rhinelander Office Max is Closing

•  This article was published on August 3, 2019, by NBC News Watch 12.
• The Office Max located in Rhinelander, Wisconsin was closing and was expected to shut its doors forever on September 21.
• All employees at this Office Max location were expected to lose their jobs.

Friday Five: Bigfoot, a tornado and anonymous complaints

• This article was published on October 29, 2019, by the Independent Tribune.
• The Office Max in Kannapolis, North Carolina was going out of business and was expected to close by mid-November.

Chamber membership team recognizes new members

•  This article was published on November 14, 2019, by Echo Press.
• The Office Max located at 4525 Hwy. 29 S in Alexandria, Minnesota became a new member of the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.