EXHIBIT 99.1


                                INVESTOR CONTACT: Laurel Lefebvre
                                                  Director, Investor Relations
                                                  508-253-4080

                                   MEDIA CONTACT: Deborah Hohler
                                                  Public Relations Manager
                                                  508-253-8509



           STAPLES, INC. ANNOUNCES PLANNED PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF NOTES

Framingham, Mass., September 19, 2002 - Staples, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLS) today
announced that it plans to raise up to $325 million through an institutional
private placement of senior notes. Completion of the offering is expected
later this month, subject to market conditions.

The net proceeds of the anticipated offering will be used to finance a
portion of the EUR825 million purchase price of Staples' acquisition of
the European mail order business of Guilbert SA, a subsidiary of Pinault
Printemps Redoute, which was announced in August 2002.

This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to
buy any of the notes.

The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or any state securities laws, and are being offered only to qualified
institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and
outside of the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the
Securities Act. Unless so registered, the notes may not be offered or sold in
the United States except pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

                                      # # #

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding our ability to
complete this private placement and to effectively use the proceeds. These
forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among
the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those indicated in such forward-looking statements include uncertainties
relating to market conditions for corporate debt securities in general and our
notes in particular. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at
some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so.