FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 10 , 2000

S.P. Richards Advantage Participants Receive First Quarter Rebates

S.P. Richards Company has announced the release of first quarter rebate checks to qualifying SPR Advantage participants. This program, new for 2000, passes through substantial rebates from a number of major industry vendors earned on a participant's wholesale purchases.

"By recognizing the wholesale purchases of the independent dealer, participating manufacturers and S.P. Richards Company have substantially contributed to our bottom line", said John Curtin, of Act Office City, whose dealership services the Charlotte, North Carolina market. "We are now actively promoting the vendors involved in the program to maximize our rebate dollars."

The SPR Advantage Program was initiated in 1997 to offer sales and marketing, educational, purchasing and financial benefits to independent office product reseller customers of S.P. Richards Company

Jim O'Brien, Vice President of Dealer Development for S.P. Richards stated, "Our growing Advantage program is just part of what has allowed us to secure new financial benefits for our dealers. At our upcoming Advantage Business Conference, our industry will witness first hand how the Advantage dealer community is winning new market share. That is the biggest reason for increased vendor support."

The 2nd Annual S.P. Richards Advantage Business Conference will be held from July 16th through the 20th at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. It will bring 2,400 independent dealer, manufacturer and S.P. Richards Company attendees together for five days of education, excitement and networking opportunities at the industry's largest dealer show.

For additional information on the S.P. Richards Advantage group or the Advantage conference, contact your local S.P. Richards Sales Representative or visit www.sprichards.com

S.P. Richards Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Genuine Parts Company (GPC: NYSE), distributes a wide spectrum of business products to office products resellers throughout the U.S. and Canada. These products include consumable office supplies, office furniture, computer supplies, consumer electronics, and facilities supplies from all of the major industry manufacturers. S.P. Richards Company markets several private label lines under the brand names of Sparco, Nature Saver, Compucessory, and Elite Image. The company operates 43 Distribution centers in the United States and Canada, including Horizon USA, it's computer supplies subsidiary and Norwestra, a Canadian based Business Products Wholesaler.