Office Supplies Can Make The Difference
There are well over 50,000 unique item numbers comprising the rather large office supply category. It is amazing that with such a huge selection some of the most sophisticated items are rarely purchased. Instead it’s the same familiar basics over and over again. Of course these standard items maintain firm footing in an almost every office, some of the top manufactures such as Sanford, Smead, and Avery have tweaked the old standbys just enough as to make them more dynamic for the demands of modern business. And yet, having been involved in this industry for well over 15 years, I have seen firsthand how office supplies are viewed by management and users alike. The managers are looking for savings. The user wants ease.
Quite often office products are viewed as nothing more than a necessary evil. After all, they merely represent the minimum tool required to complete a task. However, if analyzed beyond the mundane functions of some items, a more progressive manager might in fact find that subtle changes made to the corporate buying habits could in fact increase productivity and even assist with intra office communication.
Electronic capture boards or “smart boards” are quickly infiltrating conference rooms and schools all across the country. The technology has improved over the last 10 years and the price has come down as well thereby making this a wise purchase. Meeting participants can focus on the speaker, can readily share ideas, and can brainstorm more effectively all without having to worry about taking detailed notes. Before, just when you finished drawing your bar chart, you realized you were behind the speaker. Now, participants can stay on topic knowing that they have access to the official notes at the meetings conclusion.
Green products are gaining traction as more companies realize the benefits of buying eco-friendly inventory . Due to production methodologies, these products may be a bit more costly but it sets a fantastic example for corporate leadership to prove its stewardship. Therefore, green items deserve some attention when considering innovation.
Working in a cubicle can feel cold and can also give one the feeling of being exposed. This is cured with a simple sliding door to help foster a sense of privacy. Quartet manufactures a frosted removable door that cubicle workers plainly adore. How is this innovative? Well, if your office has the typical open cubicle maze, allowing an employee to create his/ her own space is an innovation that will be well received. No doubt efficiency improves when a worker can concentrate without an unwanted disruption.
Rather than constantly searching for discount office supplies, a more enlightened manager should be seeking products that will reduce work times and help generate worker satisfaction. One hot bed for such improvement can be found in the mail room. Binding machines have improved so much so that truly professional bound presentations can be confidently handed to a client that were, only moments ago, assembled by your own staff. Uni-bind is a product that must be explored in greater detail. Using a rapid thermal seal allowing for firm binding and rebinding, this machine is no longer a luxury. There is hardly an office in existence that couldn’t benefit from this product. Couple this machine with a professional grade color laser printer and you can easily create an outstanding marketing piece that can be easily individualized and printed on demand. Forget looking for a print house, with the affordable tools now available; today’s office can serve as it’s our marketing print arm as well.
Even the standard folder has become more innovative. Bigger tabs, built in tabs, security straps, etc. may not sound too exciting, but to the person responsible for filing, these small changes have huge implications. Filing time can often be reduced by 1/3 simply by employing some of the latest filing items. No more fighting with plastic tabs, pre-built tabs are ready to be labeled right out the box. Even more, color coding while not new will reduce time spent filing even more. This is mentioned not necessarily as an innovation but more to the point that a manager should look to efficiency rather than simple cost of goods. If color coding costs more up front but saves considerable time, is it worth the nominal investment? Of course it is!
The office supply world is huge and so many top manufacturers are clamoring for your business. A wise manager would take advantage of the time saving devices and find ways to introduce the plethora of products on the market into his work palce. The next time an office supply catalog is received ; it may be as thick as a phone book but actually look through it, spend a few moments researching some of the newer items and actually talk to the populate most impacted by the products presently in use. When innovation and proper communication merge, business can’t help but improve.
