Comprehensive Agreement with Ahrend Leverages Strength of EOSA Alliance To
Bring Boise's Award-Winning Customer Service to 19 European Countries
ITASCA, Ill., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Boise Office Solutions' customers
with multinational offices will now be assured of receiving unparalleled
customer service across both the North American and European continents as a
result of a new reciprocal service agreement with Netherlands-based Ahrend
Office Products. By virtue of Ahrend's founding membership in the European
Office Supplies Alliance (EOSA), the agreement enables Boise to extend its
customer service commitment across 19 European countries.
As a result of this agreement, Boise Office Solutions' global customers
will have access to a full range of office products and supplies, expanding
product access beyond current geographic selections. Additionally, Boise
customers with European offices will enjoy the same next-day desktop delivery
of office supplies as their North American counterparts. Known in North
America for its innovative reporting capabilities, Boise Office Solutions also
will now extend detailed spending reports by location and country to
European-based customer locations.
"We are pleased to partner with Ahrend and access its alliance with EOSA,
which will allow Boise Office Solutions to provide our global customers with
consistent quality service across Europe," said Chris Milliken, divisional
president and CEO of Boise Office Solutions. "Ahrend shares our commitment to
providing a superior value to customers through unparalleled customer service,
and we are excited to find a European partner who will extend this value to
our multinational customers."
As leaders in delivering exceptional customer service throughout Europe,
Ahrend and its EOSA partners will extend the same high-quality customer
service standard to Boise Office Solutions' customers' European locations.
Boise Office Solutions also will extend its extensive product listing, quality
customer service and next-day desktop delivery to Ahrend and EOSA customers
with offices in North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Ahrend is a leading contract stationer, furniture manufacturer and
distributor to the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg and
serves customers through catalog, online ordering and 24-hour desktop
delivery. EOSA is an alliance of seven European office products suppliers that
allows each of its members the capability to supply office products and
services across Europe. EOSA members also leverage their combined buying power
to provide cost-savings to customers.
"This agreement will help Ahrend boost its international presence," said
Theo van der Raadt, CEO of Koninklijke Ahrend N.V. "Like Ahrend, Boise is
truly a professional and innovative company that places the customer's needs
first. We are excited to deliver the highest quality of products and services
to Boise Office Solutions' international customers in Europe, and welcome
having Boise serve the needs of our international customers outside Europe."
The move extends Boise Office Solutions' global reach from the United
States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico to the majority of European
countries, including Austria, the Baltic States, Belgium, Finland, Germany,
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
About Boise Office Solutions
Boise Office Solutions is a premier multinational distributor of office
and technology products, office furniture and paper, with annual sales
totaling $3.5 billion. Boise Office Solutions reached domestic e-commerce
sales of more than $1 billion in 2002. The company, headquartered in Itasca,
Ill., has customers ranging in size from small organizations to multinational
corporations. Boise Office Solutions has operations throughout the United
States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico. Boise Office Solutions is
recognized for its outstanding commitment to customer service and is the
recipient of Gartner Inc.'s inaugural CRM Excellence Award. Boise Office
Solutions has demonstrated leadership in supporting minority- and women-owned
business development since 1972. For more information, visit
http://www.BoiseOffice.com .
Boise Office Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Boise Cascade
Corporation (NYSE: BCC). Boise Cascade Corporation delivers office, building,
and paper solutions that help our customers manage productive offices and
construct well-built homes -- two of the most important activities in our
society. Boise's 24,000 employees help people work more efficiently, build
more effectively, and create new ways to meet business challenges. Boise also
provides constructive solutions for environmental conservation by managing
natural resources for the benefit of future generations. Boise had sales of
$7.4 billion in 2002.
About Ahrend
Ahrend Office Products (AOP) is a division of Koninklijke Ahrend N.V., an
international company in the field of office products and office furniture
which was founded in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 1896. AOP currently has a
strong and growing market presence in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria,
Belgium and Luxemburg. Distribution of office and technology products takes
place from warehouses in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Over 40% of
sales are generated through e-commerce. Through the European Office Supplies
Alliance EOSA, Ahrend has access to all important European markets. In the
Netherlands and Belgium, Ahrend also offers reprography and document
management for the professional market.
The Office Furniture Division of Koninklijke Ahrend N.V. is a leading
European contract furniture manufacturer, offering contemporary and high
quality office solutions. Ahrend serves customers in the most important
countries and business areas in Europe and around the world. Ahrend sells
directly to the business end user in Northwest Europe and has an extensive
dealer distribution network that is supported by own establishments in
Barcelona, New York, Frankfurt and Prague. Consolidated sales of Koninklijke
Ahrend N.V. in 2002 amounted to EUR 471 million. For more information visit
http://www.ahrend.com .
About EOSA
The European Office Supplies Alliance (EOSA) comprises commercial and
purchasing co-operation between seven leading independent office products
distributors with activities in 19 European countries. The EOSA alliance
currently has combined sales in excess of EUR 800 million. This ranks the new
combination among the leaders of the European office products industry. For
more information about EOSA visit http://www.eosa.biz .
CONTACT: Bill Bonner of Boise Office Solutions, +1-630-438-8584, or
Nicole Miller of Bader Rutter & Associates, +1-262-784-7200
SOURCE Boise Office Solutions
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Related links:
http://www.ahrend.com
http://www.eosa.biz http://www.BoiseOffice.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/115342.html
CONTACT:
Bill Bonner of Boise Office Solutions,
+1-630-438-8584, or Nicole Miller of Bader Rutter & Associates,
+1-262-784-7200
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