v2.4.0.6
Guarantor Subsidiaries (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 52 Months Ended
Jan. 28, 2012
Oct. 29, 2011
Jul. 30, 2011
Apr. 30, 2011
Jan. 29, 2011
Oct. 30, 2010
Jul. 31, 2010
May 01, 2010
Jan. 28, 2012
Jan. 28, 2012
Jan. 29, 2011
Jan. 30, 2010
Sep. 13, 2011
Jan. 31, 2009
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,264,149       $ 1,461,257       $ 1,264,149 $ 1,264,149 $ 1,461,257 $ 1,415,819    
Merchandise inventories, net 2,431,845       2,359,173       2,431,845 2,431,845 2,359,173      
Other current assets 2,594,826       2,647,737       2,594,826 2,594,826 2,647,737      
Total current assets 6,290,820       6,468,167       6,290,820 6,290,820 6,468,167      
Net property, equipment and other assets 3,157,672       3,370,338       3,157,672 3,157,672 3,370,338      
Goodwill 3,982,130       4,073,162       3,982,130 3,982,130 4,073,162      
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net 0       0       0 0 0      
Total assets 13,430,622       13,911,667       13,430,622 13,430,622 13,911,667 13,717,334    
Total current liabilities 4,074,278       4,293,593       4,074,278 4,074,278 4,293,593      
Total long-term liabilities 2,334,131       2,666,893       2,334,131 2,334,131 2,666,893      
Total stockholder's equity 7,022,213       6,951,181       7,022,213 7,022,213 6,951,181 6,854,940   5,622,431
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity 13,430,622       13,911,667       13,430,622 13,430,622 13,911,667      
Sales 6,459,715 6,569,927 5,819,612 [1] 6,172,938 6,415,402 [2] 6,537,676 [3] 5,534,240 [4] 6,057,795 [5]   25,022,192 24,545,113 24,275,451    
Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs                   18,280,364 17,938,958 17,801,548    
Gross Profit 1,732,274 1,832,781 1,540,380 [1] 1,636,393 1,720,644 [2] 1,803,748 [3] 1,462,708 [4] 1,619,055 [5]   6,741,828 6,606,155 6,473,903    
Operating and other (income) expenses                   5,282,687 5,249,560 5,318,009    
Consolidated income before income taxes                   1,459,141 1,356,595 1,155,894    
Income tax expense                   475,308 468,026 398,783    
Consolidated net income (loss)                   983,833 888,569 757,111    
(Loss) income attributed to the noncontrolling interests                   (823) 6,621 18,440    
Net income attributed to Staples, Inc. 283,593 326,380 176,438 [1] 198,245 274,742 [2] 288,680 [3] 129,756 [4] 188,770 [5]   984,656 881,948 738,671    
Net cash provided by operating activities                   1,576,475 1,446,491 2,084,208    
Acquisition of property and equipment                   (383,654) (408,889) (313,228)    
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired                     (63,066)      
Net cash used in investing activities                   (383,654) (471,955) (313,228)    
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans                   73,866 85,429 150,958    
Payments on issuance of commercial paper                       (1,195,557)    
Proceeds from borrowings                   301,843 201,566 1,211,424    
Payments on borrowings, including payment of deferred financing fees                   820,631 207,478 945,333    
Purchase of Noncontrolling Interest                   (10,000) (360,595) 0    
Purchase of treasury stock, net                 (182,500) (629,041) (398,582) (30,661) (1,280,000)  
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements                   1,805 0 8,763    
Cash dividends paid                   (277,936) (258,746) (236,874)    
Net cash used in financing activities                   (1,360,094) (938,406) (1,037,280)    
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents                   (29,835) 9,308 48,345    
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents                   (197,108) 45,438 782,045    
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period       1,461,257       1,415,819   1,461,257 1,415,819 633,774    
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 1,264,149       1,461,257       1,264,149 1,264,149 1,461,257 1,415,819    
Parent Company [Member]
                            
Cash and cash equivalents 385,279       406,821       385,279 385,279 406,821 581,095    
Merchandise inventories, net 0       0       0 0 0      
Other current assets 68,608       64,699       68,608 68,608 64,699      
Total current assets 453,887       471,520       453,887 453,887 471,520      
Net property, equipment and other assets 671,787       742,833       671,787 671,787 742,833      
Goodwill 1,644,728       1,617,937       1,644,728 1,644,728 1,617,937      
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net 5,951,426       6,691,832       5,951,426 5,951,426 6,691,832      
Total assets 8,721,828       9,524,122       8,721,828 8,721,828 9,524,122      
Total current liabilities (13,544)       875,100       (13,544) (13,544) 875,100      
Total long-term liabilities 1,713,159       1,697,841       1,713,159 1,713,159 1,697,841      
Total stockholder's equity 7,022,213       6,951,181       7,022,213 7,022,213 6,951,181      
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity 8,721,828       9,524,122       8,721,828 8,721,828 9,524,122      
Sales                   0 0 0    
Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs                   11,328 11,277 11,324    
Gross Profit                   (11,328) (11,277) (11,324)    
Operating and other (income) expenses                   (995,984) (893,225) (749,995)    
Consolidated income before income taxes                   984,656 881,948 738,671    
Income tax expense                   0 0 0    
Consolidated net income (loss)                   984,656 881,948 738,671    
(Loss) income attributed to the noncontrolling interests                   0 0 0    
Net income attributed to Staples, Inc.                   984,656 881,948 738,671    
Net cash provided by operating activities                   1,334,183 479,783 1,709,923    
Acquisition of property and equipment                   (49,863) (56,984) (42,737)    
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired                     0      
Net cash used in investing activities                   (49,863) (56,984) (42,737)    
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans                   73,866 85,429 150,958    
Payments on issuance of commercial paper                       (1,195,557)    
Proceeds from borrowings                   93,856 71,033 869,380    
Payments on borrowings, including payment of deferred financing fees                   567,419 96,207 721,044    
Purchase of Noncontrolling Interest                   0 0      
Purchase of treasury stock, net                   (629,041) (398,582) (30,661)    
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements                   812   3,452    
Cash dividends paid                   (277,936) (258,746) (236,874)    
Net cash used in financing activities                   (1,305,862) (597,073) (1,160,346)    
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents                   0 0 0    
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents                   (21,542) (174,274) 506,840    
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period       406,821       581,095   406,821 581,095 74,255    
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 385,279       406,821       385,279 385,279 406,821 581,095    
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
                            
Cash and cash equivalents 43,323       38,298       43,323 43,323 38,298 54,324    
Merchandise inventories, net 1,437,074       1,396,667       1,437,074 1,437,074 1,396,667      
Other current assets 1,188,378       1,147,433       1,188,378 1,188,378 1,147,433      
Total current assets 2,668,775       2,582,398       2,668,775 2,668,775 2,582,398      
Net property, equipment and other assets 1,165,840       1,246,194       1,165,840 1,165,840 1,246,194      
Goodwill 156,303       154,527       156,303 156,303 154,527      
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net 6,935,956       4,783,397       6,935,956 6,935,956 4,783,397      
Total assets 10,926,874       8,766,516       10,926,874 10,926,874 8,766,516      
Total current liabilities 2,314,411       1,454,741       2,314,411 2,314,411 1,454,741      
Total long-term liabilities 195,852       562,027       195,852 195,852 562,027      
Total stockholder's equity 8,416,611       6,749,748       8,416,611 8,416,611 6,749,748      
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity 10,926,874       8,766,516       10,926,874 10,926,874 8,766,516      
Sales                   15,303,379 14,900,355 13,577,862    
Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs                   11,383,452 11,126,849 10,043,973    
Gross Profit                   3,919,927 3,773,506 3,533,889    
Operating and other (income) expenses                   3,096,381 3,072,351 2,956,530    
Consolidated income before income taxes                   823,546 701,155 577,359    
Income tax expense                   307,177 318,705 174,152    
Consolidated net income (loss)                   516,369 382,450 403,207    
(Loss) income attributed to the noncontrolling interests                   0 0 0    
Net income attributed to Staples, Inc.                   516,369 382,450 403,207    
Net cash provided by operating activities                   197,956 198,293 159,872    
Acquisition of property and equipment                   (206,150) (214,319) (155,684)    
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired                     0      
Net cash used in investing activities                   (206,150) (214,319) (155,684)    
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans                   0 0 0    
Payments on issuance of commercial paper                       0    
Proceeds from borrowings                   12,378 0 0    
Payments on borrowings, including payment of deferred financing fees                   0 0 0    
Purchase of Noncontrolling Interest                   0 0      
Purchase of treasury stock, net                   0 0 0    
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements                   841   5,053    
Cash dividends paid                   0 0 0    
Net cash used in financing activities                   13,219 0 5,053    
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents                   0 0 0    
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents                   5,025 (16,026) 9,241    
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period       38,298       54,324   38,298 54,324 45,083    
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 43,323       38,298       43,323 43,323 38,298 54,324    
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
                            
Cash and cash equivalents 835,547       1,016,138       835,547 835,547 1,016,138 780,400    
Merchandise inventories, net 994,771       962,506       994,771 994,771 962,506      
Other current assets 1,337,840       1,435,605       1,337,840 1,337,840 1,435,605      
Total current assets 3,168,158       3,414,249       3,168,158 3,168,158 3,414,249      
Net property, equipment and other assets 1,320,045       1,381,311       1,320,045 1,320,045 1,381,311      
Goodwill 2,181,099       2,300,698       2,181,099 2,181,099 2,300,698      
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net 10,988,680       7,001,204       10,988,680 10,988,680 7,001,204      
Total assets 17,657,982       14,097,462       17,657,982 17,657,982 14,097,462      
Total current liabilities 1,773,411       1,963,752       1,773,411 1,773,411 1,963,752      
Total long-term liabilities 425,120       407,025       425,120 425,120 407,025      
Total stockholder's equity 15,459,451       11,726,685       15,459,451 15,459,451 11,726,685      
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity 17,657,982       14,097,462       17,657,982 17,657,982 14,097,462      
Sales                   9,718,813 9,644,758 10,697,589    
Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs                   6,885,584 6,800,832 7,746,251    
Gross Profit                   2,833,229 2,843,926 2,951,338    
Operating and other (income) expenses                   2,181,477 2,154,558 2,261,707    
Consolidated income before income taxes                   651,752 689,368 689,631    
Income tax expense                   168,131 149,321 224,631    
Consolidated net income (loss)                   483,621 540,047 465,000    
(Loss) income attributed to the noncontrolling interests                   (823) 6,621 18,440    
Net income attributed to Staples, Inc.                   484,444 533,426 446,560    
Net cash provided by operating activities                   44,336 768,415 214,413    
Acquisition of property and equipment                   (127,641) (137,586) (114,807)    
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired                     (63,066)      
Net cash used in investing activities                   (127,641) (200,652) (114,807)    
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans                   0 0 0    
Payments on issuance of commercial paper                       0    
Proceeds from borrowings                   195,609 130,533 342,044    
Payments on borrowings, including payment of deferred financing fees                   253,212 111,271 224,289    
Purchase of Noncontrolling Interest                   (10,000) (360,595)      
Purchase of treasury stock, net                   0 0 0    
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements                   152   258    
Cash dividends paid                   0 0 0    
Net cash used in financing activities                   (67,451) (341,333) 118,013    
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents                   (29,835) 9,308 48,345    
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents                   (180,591) 235,738 265,964    
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period       1,016,138       780,400   1,016,138 780,400 514,436    
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 835,547       1,016,138       835,547 835,547 1,016,138 780,400    
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
                            
Cash and cash equivalents 0       0       0 0 0      
Merchandise inventories, net 0       0       0 0 0      
Other current assets 0       0       0 0 0      
Total current assets 0       0       0 0 0      
Net property, equipment and other assets 0       0       0 0 0      
Goodwill 0       0       0 0 0      
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net (23,876,062)       (18,476,433)       (23,876,062) (23,876,062) (18,476,433)      
Total assets (23,876,062)       (18,476,433)       (23,876,062) (23,876,062) (18,476,433)      
Total current liabilities 0       0       0 0 0      
Total long-term liabilities 0       0       0 0 0      
Total stockholder's equity (23,876,062)       (18,476,433)       (23,876,062) (23,876,062) (18,476,433)      
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (23,876,062)       (18,476,433)       (23,876,062) (23,876,062) (18,476,433)      
Sales                   0 0 0    
Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs                   0 0 0    
Gross Profit                   0 0 0    
Operating and other (income) expenses                   1,000,813 915,876 849,767    
Consolidated income before income taxes                   (1,000,813) (915,876) (849,767)    
Income tax expense                   0 0 0    
Consolidated net income (loss)                   (1,000,813) (915,876) (849,767)    
(Loss) income attributed to the noncontrolling interests                   0 0 0    
Net income attributed to Staples, Inc.                   (1,000,813) (915,876) (849,767)    
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period       0           0        
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 0       $ 0       $ 0 $ 0 $ 0      
[1] Results of operation for this period include a $20.8 million tax benefit related to a refund due to Corporate Express from the Italian government that was previously deemed uncollectible, which was recorded as a discrete item.
[2] Results of operation for this period include a $4.6 million charge, net of taxes ($0.01 per diluted share) related to integration and restructuring costs.
[3] Results of operation for this period include a $5.6 million charge, net of taxes ($0.01 per diluted share) related to integration and restructuring costs.
[4] Results of operation for this period include a $13.5 million charge, net of taxes ($0.02 per diluted share) related to integration and restructuring costs.
[5] Results of operation for this period include a $13.1 million charge, net of taxes ($0.02 per diluted share) related to integration and restructuring costs.