Office Depot starts million-dollar contest

June 25th, 2009, 1:00 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Jan Norman, small-business columnist

Retailer Office Depot is offering $1 million in prizes for its national search for the best and smartest U.S. small businesses.

To enter, small-business owners upload original videos of up to 2 minutes explaining the smart things their firms are doing to survive these challenging economic times. Click here for contest details.

It’s part of what Office Depot is calling its “Small Business Self-Bailout Plan.” The office supplies superstore chain has created The Survival of the Smartest web site as a small-business resource with tools and content to help owners save money, connect their wireless network, optimize their computers, keep information secure and more.

But no one is going to get rich in the contest. Instead, lots of small-business owners will win a nice bonus. Office Depot will give 500 businesses nationwide $1,300 Office Depot gift cards, a year of technical support, and copy and print services. Total value: $2,000 each.

“Office Depot understands the challenges that small business owners are facing, and we are here to provide smart solutions and support that will not only help them to weather the storm, but to emerge prosperous,” says Office Depot spokesman Jeff Herbert.

Office Depot isn’t the only major company marketing to small businesses.

American Express OPEN has videos and articles by and for small-business owners.
Intuit offers free website building tools and other financial and marketing tools.
Microsoft has advice from 40+ small-business experts.

Deadline to enter is July 31.

Other business resources…