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Staples' Desk Apprentice Goes on SalePOSTED April 23, 2005 FRAMINGHAM - A product designed and created during last week's episode of the NBC realtiy-show The Apprentice is now on sale at Staples stores and its online website. The nationwide launch of "The Staples Desk Apprentice" is the first time a retailer has manufactured a product created by "The Apprentice" candidates and made it available to consumers immediately after a new episode airs. For $34.99, consumers can purchase "The Desk Apprentice" at Staples stores nationwide and on Staples.com. Designed by Team Magna consisting of Craig, Kendra and Tana, Donald Trump praised "The Desk Apprentice" model during the show for its efficient consolidation of school and office supply storage. With a 360-degree swivel base, "The Desk Apprentice" has custom-made storage areas for nearly every supply imaginable, making the workspace more efficient. Hanging file folders, scissors, staplers and notepads are among the many office supply items that can be stored in the uniquely designed compartments of "The Desk Apprentice." "The Desk Apprentice offers a creative solution for organizing home and office areas so we're pleased to add it to our growing collection of innovative Staples brand products," said Shira Goodman, executive vice president of marketing for Staples. "This is just one more way we are bringing to life our commitment to make it easy for our customers." In the episode that aired last Thursday, Trump stressed to the candidates the importance of being organized in business and then set them to work on the challenge of creating an office item to keep people organized. Teams then conducted research, created product prototypes, and presented their ideas to a panel of office managers. "The Desk Apprentice" design was picked as the favorite by Goodman and Demos Parneros, Staples president, U.S. stores, based on the feedback from the panel. The loss for Team Net Worth resulted in having Bren dismissed from the show. The Apprentice task was created to parallel Staples Invention Quest contest, which gives would-be inventers a chance to develop a Staples office product that will make work easier. Staples launched this year's Invention Quest on April 19th and will pay the grand-prize winner $25,000 plus the opportunity to earn royalties if Staples decides to bring the winning innovative product to store shelves as a Staples brand product. No word on whether the Apprentice members who created the desk organizer get a percentage of sales. |