Stock Watch: Office Depot Pact Boosts Stamps.com

Stamps.com (Nasdaq: STMP) rose 7/8 to 6 9/16 Thursday after the Santa Monica, California-based Internet postage company said it expanded its partnership with office product retailer Office Depot (NYSE: ODP).

Stamps.com said it will offer Internet postage through Office Depot stores throughout the U.S., as well as through Office Depot's direct sales force, catalogs and Web site. In addition, Office Depot products will be available on Stamps.com's Web site, and the two companies will develop marketing programs aimed at small businesses and home offices.

Doug Walner, general manager of Stamps.com's small business unit, said the alliance should appeal to the company's customers. "Many of our customers run small businesses and home offices and simply don't have the time to leave work to purchase postage or office supplies," Walner said.