Sam’s Club Launches Office Products Catalog, Offers Business Members ‘One Stop Shopping’ For All Their Office Supplies

New Online Ordering Service from Nation’s Largest Warehouse Store
Boosts Efficiency for Supplying Small Business Office Products

BENTONVILLE, ARK., August 25, 2005 – SAM’S CLUB, the nation’s largest warehouse store, has deployed a new retail strategy for streamlining small business purchases by launching a new office products catalog to members – both online and in hardcopy.

Available in-club or online at samsclub.com, the new office products catalog offers access to thousands of items – from paper clips to power supplies, glue sticks to stack chairs, and credenzas to corkboards – at the fingertips of small business owners and managers looking to cut operating costs and improve the ordering process of office supplies.

SAM’S CLUB is in business for small business, and this new retail strategy not only boosts service to small business owners/managers but challenges and streamlines the more traditional offerings of competitors in the office products marketplace.

“Our business members sent us a loud and clear message that, too often, they are spending much of their work day hunting frantically for the right products they need just to keep their office functions running smoothly,” said Doug McMillon, SAM’S CLUB president and CEO. “By expanding our footprint and providing office supplies to our small business members – via a physical and an online catalog – we are sending a clear message to the marketplace that SAM’S CLUB is the ideal office supply warehouse for small business owners.“

In fact, among the top concerns of small business owners surveyed recently by the SAM’S CLUB Small Business Confidence Index are the challenges of controlling costs (48.6%), managing their time effectively (35.8%) and increasing productivity with limited resources (26.9%).

“That’s the beauty of launching the online SAM’S CLUB office products catalog - members have access to a broader assortment and great prices,” McMillon observed. ”By shopping at one online location for all of their office supply needs, small businesses can save valuable time and effort often lost to placing orders at and picking up supplies from multiple locations. In addition, these same business owners receive their products at SAM’S CLUB everyday low costs and add to their bottom line.”

Instead of struggling with multiple suppliers, members can easily take care of their office products ordering needs at one online location. The new expanded online assortment can be ordered by 3:00 p.m. and delivered to most business locations the following day. Members who wish to order online and pick-up at their local SAM’S CLUB, can utilize the Click ‘n’ Pull service. Orders placed by 5 p.m. will be available for pick up at the local SAM’S CLUB beginning at 7 a.m. the next morning.

In addition to the office products catalog, SAM’S CLUB soon will be announcing an expanded in-store presence of office products, including a dedicated and clearly identified store-within-a-store which will allow them to compete in the already cluttered office products industry. Later this year, SAM’S CLUB will also offer a number of enhanced online benefits for business and business plus members including networking opportunities and business advice which will help small business owners and managers with the daily challenges of improving productivity, reducing costs, and boosting profits.

SAM’S CLUB (www.samsclub.com), a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., is the nation’s largest warehouse chain in the United States serving small business owners and operators. The purchasing agent of choice, SAM’S CLUB provides everyday low cost to more than 47 million entrepreneurs and consumers.

-30-