Tuesday 18 December 2012

Shopping at UK Office Direct

UK Office Direct is one of the most well known online vendors of office supplies in the United Kingdom. The online store has an impressive inventory: 20,000 products and a wide range of brands, including more than 5,000 leading brands. This means that you have a world of options as well as choose the best products within your budget and get value for your money. 

This online office supplies store, established in 2002, has provided for the office products needs of more than 200,000 small and mid sized companies as well as personal customers, educational and government establishments. The online store has more than 100,000 registered users and offers nationwide, next work day delivery using national couriers. 

And these are some of the factors behind the store’s success: great delivery service, great prices and impressive customer service.

These are, in fact, some of the things that you should look for when choosing an office supplies retailer – regardless if the store is online or brick and mortar. The store, particularly if it is online, should have fast delivery service. Always find out how quick the store’s delivery service is and if the store offers free delivery for purchasing a specific amount or number items. UK Office Direct, for example, offers free delivery on the next day for all purchases over £40. In fact, this store’s delivery service is, over all, quite impressive: it delivers 97% of their products next day to mainland United Kingdom.

How do you find out if the store has great customer service? Aside from fast delivery, here are some of the other indications:
1. If it’s a brick and mortar store, it should have reliable and accommodating sales representatives that can assist you and provide you the information that you need to make an informed buying decision.
2. If the store is online, its web site should have all the product information you need. You should also be able to easily compare products, brands, and prices. The website should be easy to navigate and user friendly. Some online stores also offer assistance from their sales support desk. This is a team that will handle all the questions you may have about the store’s product offerings so you can find exactly the office product that you need.
3. Does the store have a great return policy? It should have. Some the leading office supply retailers offer free returns as long as they’re within 14 days purchase.

Shopping online should be a breeze and some of the best online office supply vendors have a great system in place to make it easier for customers to order online. There should be a distribution facility that’s computer controlled to make sure that they always have the stocks available. The store should also have the most the accurate information on the availability of the items and should be able to provide accurate order picking. This way, you can just sit back and relax because your order has been processed efficiently and the products you bought will be delivered promptly.

Having a wide range of items – including environment-friendly and ethical products – is always a plus. And it should be easy to check out these items online. Some of the leading online stores have a great web site that’s designed to make it as easy as possible to look at the products, choose, and purchase online. Most arrange their products by categories such as office supplies, paper products, ink cartridges and toners, office furniture, office machines, facilities, and computing.

The online store should always be able to offer you low prices.  UK Office Direct, for example, has a low price guarantee and uses the latest technology to make sure that customers always get the best prices.

Make the Most of Your Hp 920xl Inkjet Cartridges

Inkjet cartridges, like the Hp 920xl inkjet cartridge, are among the parts of the printer that is replaceable and would , in fact,  need to be replaced regularly. And you know what that means: regular expenses for you.

The inkjet cartridge typically contains the print head and the ink which bonds with paper and produces the printed image. The good news is that if you are using an HP inkjet cartridge like this, you are using one of the most well known brands in the industry and around the world. But this brand, and particularly if you are going to use genuine HP ink cartridge – also called an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) inkjet cartridge – is significantly more expensive than lesser known brands as well as compatible and remanufactured cartridges. So you need to have a clear idea of how you can make the most of your Hp 920xl ink cartridge and get great value for your money.

Here are some tips:

You should know your inkjet cartridges. Try to learn as much as you can about this brand and about inkjet cartridges in particular. A genuine or original equipment manufacturer ink cartridge is made by the same company that made the printer that you are using. Original HP ink, according to HP, produces twice as many printed pages compared to refills, promises reliable prints “the first time and every time.”

Remanufactured inkjet cartridges, on the other hand, are recycled cartridges manufactured by third-party companies and do not carry the name of the printer manufacturer. Compatible inkjet cartridges are also from third party firms. But unlike remanufactured ink cartridges, compatible inkjet cartridges are brand new.

Plan how you print. Since you are using genuine HP ink cartridge, it’s not smart to use the ink for printing in bulk particularly if you don’t really need high quality prints. Using the ink for constant printing in bulk will only drive up your printing costs.

Make full use of the high quality print images that the brand produces. HP ink cartridges in particular -- thanks to the company’s many proprietary technologies – produce vibrant prints, vivid colors, tight edges, and bold, dark black prints. So why not have these beautiful print results when printing photos? Use the HP ink for printing all those great family vacation photos so you can have as many colorful and vivid prints as you want. And these gorgeous printed photos would last a long time, too, because this brand’s ink is fade resistant.  

Another reason to use HP ink for printing photos is that it dries quickly. A quick drying inkjet cartridge helps you print more and print faster. At the same time, since the ink dries quickly, you won’t be having those annoying smudges on the print outs. Use the OEM photo papers –HP has a wide range of them – if your budget allows. HP’s papers use what they call “ColorLok” technology which makes the paper water resistant and fast-drying and help come up with high quality printed materials.

The prices, as mentioned earlier, would be higher than lesser known brands and brands that are not from the original equipment manufacturer. However, you can still save a significant amount of money by buying the ink cartridges in multipacks or value packs or combo packs instead of just one cartridge at a time. HP ink cartridges also come in combo packs which carry the HP cartridge with the HP paper.

Ask the store if they offer discounted prices for Hp 920xl ink cartridges that are bought at a certain number; by the dozen, for example.

Tips on Buying A4 paper

A4 paper is one of the most popular and commonly used stationery items; which also make it one of the items in the office that need to be bought regularly. This kind of paper, which is also usually a general purpose paper for the office, is used for invoices, letters, and reports, and for producing general print outs. A4 indicates the size of the paper: 8.3 inches by 11.7 inches. Take note that this is different from the size described as “letter size” which is 8.5 x 11 inches.  

One of the first things to consider when buying this kind of paper, or any other kind of paper for that matter, is if it the paper will work well with the kind of printer that you have. For the best printing results, the paper you are using should be compatible with the printer that you are using. This means that if you are using an inkjet printer, you should consider using an inkjet printer paper. If you have a laser printer, go for laser printer paper and if you are using a color photocopier, you should consider using photocopier paper. There is also the multifunction printer paper which is your best and less expensive option if you are using different kinds of printers and machines.  

Another important consideration when choosing and buying A4 paper – or any size or kind of paper for that matter – is the thickness of the paper. The thickness of paper is measured by gsm or grams per square metre. The five most common paper thickness or paper weights are 160 gsm, 120 gsm, 100 gsm, 90 gsm, and 80 gsm. The common printer has a thickness of about 80 to 120 gsm. Some paper thickness or paper weights are more suited for certain results. 90 gsm paper, for example, is the recommended weight for colour printing. Most prefer 100 gsm, at the very least, for official correspondences and executive letters. For prestigious mailings, most offices use slightly thicker paper which is usually at 120 gsm.  For arts and crafts and other special projects, 160 gsm paper – which is significantly thicker than the common printer paper – is used. Paper that’s thicker than 160 gsm is usually used for filing. The usual white paper that’s used for standard printing at the office and for every day use has a paper weight of 80 gsm. You shouldn’t have any problem looking for paper in a wide range of thickness or weight because most office supply vendors sell paper from 80 to 260 gsm. A rule of thumb when choosing the right paper thickness is to always go for the paper weight or thickness that can give you the results that you have in mind.

Of course, price is a consideration when buying paper or any other office item. You don’t have to buy the most expensive paper or the most popular brand. What you need is to find a reliable office supply super store so you can have more options. Super stores are the bigger office supply vendors that have bigger inventories and more items to offer than the typical office supply store. This is the kind of store that can give more choices in paper brands and prices.

If one of your main concerns is supporting office supplies that are eco-friendly, don’t hesitate to ask the sales staff for eco friendly or recycled A4 paper. This kind of paper usually has packaging that indicates the recycled content. Some brands have labels that say “up to 50% recycled,” others have “over 50% recycled” and “100% recycled”. These are labels that indicate the paper’s percentage of recycled content. There are also brands that have a label on the packaging that says “Enviro benefit.” This label tells you that this particular paper has environmental accreditation.

Making the Most of Cheap Stationery

For most offices, finding cheap stationery is a necessity. Stationery, as we know, include office items such as paper, pencils, notebooks, notepads, scissors, tape dispensers,
clips, pens, rulers, glues, staplers, index tabs, ink stamp pads, drawing tools, hole punches, sticky tapes, ink stamp inks,  sticky notes, and staple removers; and also desk accessories such as filing and archiving supplies, organizers, diaries and calendars, and labels, among many others.

These are all items that are needed for any office to run efficiently and help employees accomplish their tasks faster and easier. These items, however, require you to make constant purchases because they run out and would therefore need to be replaced or replenished. And you know that when items need to be replenished or replaced, you need to constantly shell out cash. This would mean a considerable amount on your budget so making the most of your office supplies and finding ways to save when purchasing them is absolutely necessary.

Remember that cheap stationery doesn’t have to mean low quality stationery. Find a reliable office supplies store that can give you quality office products at low prices. Check out as many office supplies stores as you can. Whether it’s online or brick and mortar, the store that you will do business with should have a great track record. It’s great if the stationery company has been in business for a number of years; it’s even better if so many past customers have good things to say about the prices and the products that the store offers.

Don’t forget to visit the bigger stores or the super stores. They have more products so this means more options for you: more items, prices, designs, and brands to check out and compare before making your final choice. Another great thing about these super stores is that they tend to have more special promos and discounts. That’s because bigger stores buy their products n bulk so they can afford to sell their products at lower prices compared to other office supply stores.

You should buy your office products in bulk as much as possible. Buying in larger quantities allow you to save on stationery costs. And since you will be buying these office supply items regularly, you should consider setting up a business account with your office supply retailer. This kind of account is typically offered to customers that regularly buy in bulk. You might be able to save more if you have a business account with your vendor because this kind of account typically includes tax exemptions, more discounts, credit terms, and products at wholesale prices. 

If you’re thinking about buying your cheap stationery and other office items online, you should, again, look for a reliable vendor that can give you great products at affordable prices. Aside from that, look for an online office supply store that has great web site. Shopping online should be easy and free of hassles. The site should make it easy for you to make an informed decision each and every time you buy your office items. The site should make it easy for you to look at items and place orders. If the site is not easy to navigate, find other online stores. If you really like a particular online store but the web site is tough to navigate, you can try emailing the company to complain about the clunky web site. If the company is any good, it will immediately take steps to improve its web site. And since this will be a company that you will be doing business with regularly, you should make sure that it’s reliable and has an impressive track record.

Monday 17 December 2012

Choosing 2013 diaries

Start the year right with 2013 diaries. They are great gifts and they would make a great addition to your own personal planning and organization. Diaries can be a great tool for planning your schedules ahead of time and for keeping organized.  They can help you manage household, business, and work activities, as well as keep track of appointments and deadlines.

Year diaries or planners that cover an entire year come in many designs, shapes, and sizes. Choose the size, design, and shape that works well for your lifestyle or for what you do. If, for example, you are the type who usually carries just a medium sized tote bag, you might be better off with a small or mid sized planner. However, if you have so many activities week to week and month to month and you need more space in your diary or planner, a bigger planner might be the way to go.

Some prefer their 2013 diaries at size A4 because the size of the diary – about 8.3 inches by 11.7 inches – allows them to paste standard size paper on one diary page.

The cover of the diary is a deal breaker for some. That are people, for example, who prefer hardbound diaries or diaries with hard covers because they are sturdier and are therefore perfect for people with busier or more rugged lifestyles. Diaries with hard covers also usually have internal ribbons which also serve as the marker or the diary’s book mark. Other consumers prefer diaries that have rulers that work double duty as ruler and book mark. Others, however, look for diaries that have soft covers, particularly covers that are leather or leather grain, in either shiny or matte covers.

The great thing about these covers is that there are so many colors to choose from. There are also plain covers and those that have additional designs. Some brands even have special editions or special covers so you might want to check those out, too. 

The format of the diary is, of course, an important consideration. The typical diary or journal format covers the twelve month period from January to December of the year; but there are, however, those academic journals or diaries that are arranged according to the school period or the academic year. 
 
Choose the diary format that works well with your lifestyle or how your day goes. The typical diary has a daily or the weekly page and then a monthly page. But most diaries have more pages for just one kind of format – either daily or weekly or monthly – and then just a few for the other formats. If you choose an appointments diary, you would have a page or two pages devoted to one day, usually formatted at hourly or half hour intervals. So if your day is busy and full of meetings and interviews every few hours, you can play your schedule better with a diary that has more pages for daily schedules.  

If your deadlines are weekly and you need more space for weekly activities, use a diary that has a format that contains the week in a page or, if you need more space, two pages. Some people, because they have busier weekends than others, even look for diaries that have more space for the weekends.

2013 diaries that have a month to page (one month in an entire page) or a month in two pages let you focus on your deadlines and activities for an entire month at a glance. People that need more space for their daily schedules and entries choose, of course, the diary or planner that has is formatted one day per page. There are some that have huge blank spaces for each daily entry – a perfect format for people that need space for illustrations, photos, and other items that they want to glue into the diary, and of course, space for their musings and other entries for the day.

Tips on Keeping Your Office Stationery Organized

Office stationery should never contribute to clutter in your work space. A cluttered desk and a disorganized office crammed with office supplies lead to so much wasted time and energy on finding items that always seem to be missing. But they’re not missing; you just don’t have a better way of keeping or storing them.

So, to lessen the stress, the irritation, and the frustration of always looking for these office items, you need to have a better way of storing them. You need to organize. Being organized requires conscious and constant effort. These office items will not magically place themselves in storage spaces that make perfect sense. You need to plan, have a method of organizing items, and constantly work to implement this method.

The key idea is to plan so that you would always know exactly where to find the office items that you need. Always remind yourself of this key idea, particularly if you have new office materials or new files that need to be stored.

You might want to begin with baby steps so you don’t get overwhelmed by all the clutter. Begin with your work area. Zero in on the office items on your desk and see if you can organize them better. Office items that typically find their way to the desk include envelopes, pen, paper, and other items used for writing.

Office stationery also includes not just the items for writing but also other office supplies such as desktop stationery which are office items that are usually kept on the desktop or the work desk. These office items include drawing pins, clips, glues, trimmers, guillotines, hole punches, page markers, index tabs, ink stamp inks, cartridges, ink stamp pads, ink stamps, rubber bands, magnifying glasses, staplers, sticky tapes, sticky notes, rulers, staple removers, scissors, tack, treasury tags, tape dispensers, and drawing tools, just to name a few .

Small items like these so easily add to the clutter on your desk. In just a day or two, if you are not diligent and you don’t make a conscious effort to organize, you’ll find that these little things can easily form one big pile of annoying clutter. So organize and always work to keep your office stuff organized. The first step is to arrange your desk items in a functional and sensible manner. Think of the frequency of use of each of the office items and arrange accordingly. On top of your desk, leave only the office materials that you use frequently. Be strict about this; otherwise, you would always have too many stuff on your desk and that could just weigh you down – not to mention make one very sad looking work area.

All the other office items that you don’t use frequently should definitely not be on top of your work desk. They should be stored in containers or in your drawers. Don’t keep too many of one item on your desk. You don’t need, for example, a dozen pencils and two dozen pens right there on top of your desk. Leave just one or two of each item and store all the extras in a separate container or place. Keep as few items as possible on top of our desk. Just keep those that you really need; and that you really need often. But don’t forget to have a pen and a small notepad or sheets of paper near your office phone so you are always ready to write down important information relayed to you over the phone. 

Group your office stationery into categories and put them in separate containers. For example, store the ink stamp pads, ink stamp inks, and ink stamps in one area or container.