Lincolnshire, IL, June 19, 2006
As part of a company-wide program to inspire innovation, Quill Corporation has been encouraging and honoring associates throughout its North American operations for innovative thinking and for ideas that provide growth opportunities for Quill. In addition to recognition by executive management, including Quill President Larry Morse, associates have also received cash awards and, in one case, a job promotion.

"Across the organization, associates have contributed to Quill’s growth by providing innovative ideas and solutions for challenges and opportunities," said Morse. "We launched a program two years ago to facilitate our ability to become a company of ideas. It is this wellspring of ideas coming from all over the company that is helping fuel our growth and will assist us in remaining competitive into the future," he added.

One of the more recent events was The BIGGEST Winner! contest – based on popular television competitions. Two hundred and twenty individuals, including teams of associates, submitted 139 ideas, judged by a panel of Quill executives. They reviewed employee ideas in a two-stage process, beginning with an essay and expanding into a detailed executive summary along with visual presentations. Ideas were judged on their value proposition, competitive advantage, feasibility and risk, market potential/resources and uniqueness/originality of concept. Entries were received throughout every division of Quill across North America.

"As a result of this competition," said Morse, "one of our junior staff members modeled out a program that would potentially create a $9 million revenue stream for Quill. To ensure the idea’s success, we have promoted her. A vice president will mentor her as she works to make sure the idea takes hold throughout the company. Having worked on creating an innovative environment over the past two years, this is the kind of success and excitement we hope to continue to foster well into the future."

While the contest represents a creative way to encourage innovation, it is only one part of a much larger program for innovation that drives associates at every level of the company to think about ways to generate growth. Based on the motto: "Sometimes the simplest ideas are ones that make the difference," ideas are incubated through diverse methods. In addition to hosting an Intranet site that allows associates throughout every North American division of Quill to share ideas, Quill has also accumulated a resource library to help spur creative thinking and brainstorming and holds "Innovation Lunch and Learn" sessions where associates gather to discuss relevant concepts that can launch creativity.

"Since the ultimate goal of the innovation program is to make innovation an organic part of Quill's approach to business, Quill recognized that such a program can only be ingrained within the company when it is supported from the top down, creating a culture of innovation," said Kyle Anderson, vice president and chief marketing officer. "In fact, every vice president throughout the company is required to identify three challenges that exist within their areas that are important to the business. The VPs then must generate innovative ideas to address these opportunities. Our challenge now is to ensure innovation becomes imbedded in our culture and becomes part of what we do on a daily basis." Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, Quill Corporation is the nation's premier business-to-business direct marketer of office products, custom printing, furniture and technology supplies. Quill maintains 11 regional distribution centers, located strategically throughout the United States, to facilitate speedy order delivery. Renowned for its outstanding customer service, Quill services customers through direct marketing, telemarketing, outside sales and online at www.quill.com. Instituted in 1996, Quill.com was one of the first successful online launches in the office products industry and is consistently ranked as one of the best online merchants by Bizrate.com.

Quill Corporation has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Staples, Inc., since 1998.