New OfficeMax

OfficeMax Inc. (Itasca, Ill.) will open nine new-concept stores this month in the Minneapolis metropolitan area.

“Minnesota customers will be among the first in the country to experience OfficeMax's new store design,” the office supplies retailer said, in a statement, “which provides a colorful and inviting environment where busy professionals can shop, check email, print documents and even sip gourmet coffee.”

The first new Minneapolis-area OfficeMax store opened last week in Lakeville, Minn. Others will open in Brooklyn Park, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Medina and Savage between July 2006 and early 2008. Three additional stores are slated to open this year in Red Wing, Owatonna and Monticello.

“The new OfficeMax store design allows customers to try out the latest electronics showcased in a central technology hub, or scoop up basics such as paper clips, pens and rubber bands from brightly colored bulk bins,” the company said. “Understanding today's busy mobile professionals, some of the new stores also will provide a community area called OfficeMax Cafe, featuring wi-fi connectivity so customers can download reports and have them printed at OfficeMax Print and Document Services while they watch cable TV news, shop for supplies or enjoy a cup of free, individually brewed gourmet coffee. The in- store Print & Document Services also provides high-tech digital printing and copying including binding, finishing and laminating. Soft lighting, a soothing color palette of golds, oranges, greens and blues, and rich textures set the tone for the new stores.”

Also coming to OfficeMax stores in Minnesota will be OfficeMax Ink, Filling Station, a refillable ink cartridge kiosk. This computerized program checks the condition of a cartridge and fills it at 30 to 50 percent less cost than a new cartridge.