Please direct your media and public relations inquiries to: mediarelations@cdw.com 800-800-4CDW CDW Expands Operations VERNON HILLS, Ill. - October 14, 1998 - CDW Computer Centers, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDWC), a Fortune 1000 company and the country's leading direct solutions provider of brand name computer products, today announced plans to expand its operations by reopening a portion of the company's former headquarters in Buffalo Grove, Ill. The Buffalo Grove facility, which is subject to a lease through 2003, will reopen this fall to house part of the company's growing sales team. Recently named to Fortune magazine's list of "America's 100 Fastest-Growing Companies," CDW has grown from 390 coworkers in 1994 to its existing headcount of more than 1,400, driving the company to expand. The Buffalo Grove facility, located on Lake Cook Road about seven miles south of the company's Vernon Hills headquarters, will initially house approximately 150 CDW coworkers, with a capacity for an additional 200. These offices, which CDW occupied from February 1994 through July 1997, will be used to accommodate near-term expansion, while CDW finalizes future long-term growth plans for its main campus located in VERNON HILLS, Ill., on Milwaukee Avenue. "Never before has there been such an exciting time in CDW's history. We are a company on the move in an industry on the move," said CDW CEO Michael Krasny. "As we continue to strengthen our position as the best direct source for computing solutions, we will continue to grow our business and expand to better serve our customers. "Throughout all of our expansion and growth, we never lose sight of the fact that our coworkers are our top priority," continued Krasny. "We have completely renovated and redecorated the Buffalo Grove facility and will make sure that the CDW culture and spirit move with our people." As one of Chicago's largest and fastest-growing public companies, CDW's return is being enthusiastically heralded by the Buffalo Grove community. "We're very pleased that CDW is coming back to us, " said Sidney Mathias, village president of Buffalo Grove. "CDW is a great corporate citizen and will undoubtedly contribute to the economic vitality of our community." In addition to reopening the Buffalo Grove facility, CDW is exploring other expansion and development plans at its Vernon Hills corporate headquarters. Expansion plans currently underway include construction of the CDW Childcare and Fitness Center that is scheduled to open in 1999. About CDW CDW® (NASDAQ: CDWC), a Fortune 1000 company, is the country's leading direct solutions provider, offering complete, customized computing solutions for business and consumers nationwide. With competitive prices on a selection of more than 80,000 brand name computer products, CDW is the No. 1 authorized direct source of Compaq, Computer Associates, IBM, Microsoft, Toshiba and other top name brands. Founded in 1984 as a one-man, home-based business, CDW today employs more than 1,400 coworkers whose efforts generated net sales of $1.4 billion for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 1998. CDW's pioneering direct model offers personalized expertise through one-on-one relationships with highly-trained, knowledgeable account managers; telephone and online purchasing; custom configured solutions; next day shipping; and lifetime phone and online technical support, with close to 60 factory-trained and A+ certified technicians on staff. More information About CDW is available on the company's award-winning e-commerce Web site at www.cdw.com or by calling 888-CDW-7040.