Branches of Office Depot Israel, the office supply chain, will open today for the first time since closing last weekend due to the collapse of the company. The decision was reached yesterday in an agreement between the trustees, Advs. Israel Bechar and David Fohrer, and Tzomet Sfarim bookstore CEO Avi Shomer.

Tzomet Sfarim will operate the chain for the coming week for no remuneration, and the trustees will be responsible for paying the employees and suppliers using income from expected sales.

Shomer told “Globes” that “The trustees suggested that we manage the chain for one week, during which time we will learn the business. We will have no financial responsibility. We intend to learn about the company, to speak to suppliers, to speak to mall owners, and to assess the chain’s financial viability. If everything appears financially sound, we will make an offer to buy the chain, and maybe help save the 780 employees, whom our hearts go out to.” Shomer does not believe that Office Depot will return to the level of sales that it experienced during its peak years, but he believes that “if we all join forces, we can succeed.”

It’s a different field

“We have, for years, been dealing with office supplies. We and Office Depot have many suplliers in common. There are also many areas that we have not touched upon, but I am much closer to them than I am to fashion.”

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 30, 2013

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