WATER COOLER TALK

New Office Products For 2012

07 February 2012

The office products industry doesn’t get the credit it deserves for innovation, and this year is no exception. Some products create a buzz for their functionality, some for their style, some for both. Here are five new office products that we definitely consider to be “buzzworthy.”

3M PocketProjector MP180

Everyone wants to be the first to own the latest gadgets, whether it’s the new iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, or even a 3D TV. How about a video projector that fits in the palm of your hand? Introducing the 3M PocketProjector MP180, the ultimate in portable projection technology.

Instead of plugging a clunky projector with a deafening fan into your laptop, imagine the look on your client’s face when you pull a projector out of your pocket! The 3M PocketProjector MP180 allows you to display PowerPoint presentations, videos, photos or documents, all at the touch of a button, all with crystal clear image quality. The MP 180 also has an easy-to-use touch screen, integrated MP3 player, 4 gigabytes of internal memory, a micro SD card slot, USB and a two-hour battery. Wi-Fi makes it easy to update or download files or find information online while you’re on the go.

HP Envy 100 D410A Multifunction Printer

Finally, the sleek, compact design that you expect from tablets, laptops and smartphones – the kind of design that makes people jealous – has made its way to your wireless printer, making this product’s name very appropriate. The HP Envy 100 D410A Multifunction Printer stands just four inches high but packs a major wallop, with web-connected printing, duplex printing, copying and scanning, along with a slick, high-resolution color touch screen.

Print and share from multiple computers and stay connected using integrated wireless networking, or print without a computer using memory card slots and the touchscreen. The HP Envy 100 D410A Multifunction Printer also allows you to use customizable apps to print everything from coupons and maps to movie tickets and greeting cards.

Fellowes Climate Control Footrest

Research has proven time and time again that comfortable employees are more productive employees. The ergonomic design of the Fellowes Climate Control Footrest improves posture and reduces strain as you work. With customizable height and tilt, this footrest elevates your feet to relieve lower back pressure. But that’s just the beginning.

If you’re feeling a tad toasty or chilly, use the freestanding climate control feature to fine tune the temperature to one of three settings – cool fan, low heat or high heat. The Fellowes Climate Control Footrest even has a textured surface so you can kick off your shoes and enjoy a gentle massage. At the end of the day, the auto-off feature shuts down the climate control after eight hours to conserve energy and prevent overheating. Now that’s a good day at the office.

Balt Fold-N-Go Computer Workstation

Maybe your sales reps who spend 90% of their days on the road need a compact workspace. Maybe you’re hosting a seminar and you want to offer attendees more than a few rows of chairs. The Balt Fold-N-Go Workstation is the king of office space flexibility, especially when space is an issue. When open, it’s just 27 ½ inches wide but easily holds an oversized monitor, keyboard or laptop, and printer or desktop computer. Just press a button on each side and the Balt Fold-N-Go Workstation folds into a space-saving 4 ½ inch wide unit that can be carried away or stored away.

Samsill Speedy Spine Ring Binders

You’re preparing for a sales presentation and it’s you vs. the binder. By the time you’re done wiggling and stuffing spine inserts or graphics, everything is mangled. That’s like walking into a presentation with spinach stuck between your two front teeth. The Samsill Speedy Spine Ring Binder uses patent-pending channel construction to allow for easy drop-in of inserts. How easy? It’s five times faster than traditional binders. You can forget about damaged spine labels and there’s no need for special tools. The Speedy Spine also contains 45% post-consumer recycled content and has a lifetime guarantee.

What problems do you encounter that office products might be able to solve?

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Fighting The Flu At The Office

19 January 2012

The average workplace is like a giant house party for germs that cause the flu. Germs can live on surfaces like doorknobs, phones, desks and counters for more than two hours, so the party can spread to every corner of an office more quickly than an embarrassing online video. Talk about going viral, right? That’s where the phrase came from!

Did you know…

Up to one out of every five Americans gets the flu each year and misses a mind-boggling 70 million workdays. The indirect costs range from $3 billion to $12 billion a year.

A healthy adult can infect other people one day before experiencing symptoms and up to five days after getting sick. In other words, people can spread the flu without even realizing it.

In a perfect world, or workplace, anyone who has the flu would stay home. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, but there are a few simple steps you can take to fight the flu at the office.

Get vaccinated! We make that statement with an exclamation point because a simple flu shot or nasal flu vaccine can reduce the chance of getting the flu by up to 90% in healthy, young adults. As always, consult your doctor first. Just keep in mind that vaccinations aren’t 100% effective, so flu prevention doesn’t stop there.

If you’re sick, take a sick day. If you simply must work while you’re sick, bring your work home so you don’t infect your co-workers. Stay home and rest until you’ve been without a fever for at least 24 hours. You won’t impress the boss if the boss catches the flu because you went to work sick.

Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. But not with your hand. Sneeze or cough into a tissue, throw it away and wash your hands. If you don’t, it’s almost like hand delivering your flu virus to other people. No thanks.

Wash your hands. A lot. We all should be doing this year round, but especially during flu season. It’s also a good idea to keep hand sanitizer in every office, cubicle and common area. Just remember, it does no good to have it if you don’t use it.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are commonly spread when someone touches something that’s contaminated and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

Keep your desk and common areas clean. Use disinfectant wipes to sanitize your keyboard, mouse, desk phone, mobile phone, doorknobs, water fountain and water cooler handles, microwave and refrigerator door handles, drawer handles, etc. Sound like overkill? Think about the last time you had the flu and ask yourself that question again.

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The Envelopes You Choose Can Save You Money on Postage

10 January 2012

USPS postage rates will experience yet another increase on January 22, 2012 to address the urgency of their current financial challenges and to coincide with the price changes for Shipping Services.

The envelopes you choose can Save You Money in Postage Costs based on the USPS Shape-Based Rate Structure.

Here are some tips to help your business save money on postage:

Downsize your mail. For flat mailing weighing 3.5 ounces or less, your business can save by folding the contents to fit booklet envelopes.

Use a #6 5/8 envelope (dimensions 6″ x 9-1/2″) or a #10 1/2 envelope (dimensions 4-1/2 x 9-1/2″).

Use ClearClasp™ envelopes that feature Resealable Redi-Tac technology on the closure to save on postage.

Unique resealable closure replaces the metal of the standard envelopes. Eliminates the additional USPS handling charge required for metal clasp envelopes.

Here are some envelopes that will save your business money on Postage

Video with more tips to help you save on postage

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Looking for Work or Just Starting College?

31 July 2011

Waiting for my caramel latte at the local coffee house, I learned during a visit with one of the employees that he was entering his last year of college. Like most soon-to-be college grads, he was worrying about the lack of opportunities in today’s dismal job market. I commented that I recently read a study posted by the American Bankers Association that provided a list of the 10 dying industries and promised him I’d post it.

If you’re out of work or looking for a field to settle in to, you’d be wise to remember the ten industries below are on the verge of extinction:

1. Wired Telecommunication Carriers
2. Mills
3. Newspaper Publishing
4. Apparel Manufacturing
5. DVD, Game & Video Rental
6. Manufactured Home Dealers
7. Video Post-production Services
8. Record Stores
9. Photofinishing
10. Formal Wear & Costume Rental

Read full article showing projections from American Bankers Association

Staples Vice Chairman Just Unloaded His Stock

02 July 2011

The other day, Vice Chairman of Staples Inc (SPLS) John Mahoney just sold 150,000 shares of his own SPLS stock (June 28, 2011). Not only that, but Staples chairman and CEO Ronald Sargent sold 325,000 shares a few days earlier. Recently Staples had a flourish officers and directors dumping some of their shares as stock prices plunged.

Could it be that our beautiful country is finally recognizing the true cost of mega-retailers and pure e-tailers that “local wash“. (Local washing is the new variation of corporate green-washing.) If true, then I believe consumers and businesses are becoming more aware of how these companies have been the instrumental driver in the degradation of our communities across the country. God Bless the intelligent American.

Rose Molz, President

Oh No! Someone Just Asked Me To Order A Legal Pad

10 June 2011

“Order me some legal pads, will ya?” Sounded easy enough…until you launched the options.

A Legal Pad can be ordered with legal ruling and in legal size paper, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, neither the width of the rules (or lines) on the paper nor the size of the paper on the pad have anything to do with whether a pad of paper is considered a “Legal Pad”.  Does that clear things up? If not, here is some help to make it EZ-ier to understand which Legal Pad you need to order.

What exactly is a Legal Pad?
The only requirement for a pad of writing paper to qualify as a “legal pad” is that the paper must have a 1-1/4” vertical line (aka “down line”) placed from the left edge of the page. The original and traditional appearance of the legal pad had yellow paper, blue horizontal lines, a red vertical line creating a left margin, and a red gummed top. Today, that is no longer the case.

Note: A “legal pad” does not mean that the paper size on the pad itself is legal-size (8-1/2”W x 14”L), although it can be ordered that way. A Legal Pad just means the paper on the pad has a vertical line drawn down creating a 1-1/4” margin from the left side.

Then why do we call it a Legal Pad?
Because back in 1900, a local judge in Holyoke, MA asked if he could get the pad with a margin on the left side by drawing a line down from top to bottom. Thus, it became known as a legal pad.

What paper sizes are Legal Pads made in?
In North America, where we are generally accustomed to reading width, length and height displayed in fractions versus decimals or millimeters, Legal Pads generally come in four different sizes:

• A6 Size: 4-3/25” wide X 5-22/25” long
• Junior Legal Size: 5” wide X 8” long
• Legal Size: 8-1/2” wide X 14” long
• Letter Size: 8-1/2” wide X 11” long

What does Ruled or Ruling mean on a Legal Pad?
“Ruled” or “Ruling” simply refers to the horizontal lines on the paper. But! The ruled lines come in different widths and consequently create more or less lines on the piece of paper.

What widths of Ruling can be chosen for the paper on a Legal Pad?
In North America, ruled paper is available in a variety of semi-standardized formats. Remember, all legal pads have a vertical line drawn 1-1/4” from top to bottom on the left side of the paper to create a margin:

• Wide ruled. It is also called or known as Legal Ruled.
  • 11/32” line spacing between lines – has the least number of lines on the page
    • Choose wide ruled or legal ruled if you write large
    • Often used in American grade schools

• Medium ruled. It is also called or known as College Ruled.
  • 9/32” line spacing between lines – has more lines on the page than wide ruled
  • Its use is very common in the United States

• Narrow ruled.
  • 1/4” line spacing between lines – has the most number of lines on the page
    • Choose narrow ruled if you write small, if you need more lines per page, or if you’re a glutton for punishment when required to write a 2-page paper for school (you’ll have a lot more lines to fill with text)

• Gregg ruled. This ruling is specialized for stenography and should not be referred to as a Legal Pad.
  • Line spacing has 11/32” between lines (like wide ruled) but the horizontal line for the margin is drawn down the center of the paper

• Pittman ruled. This ruling is also specialized for stenography.
  • Line spacing has 1/2” between lines

• Manuscript ruled.
  • Used to teach young children how to write. A blank sheet consists of rows of three lines (the space between them depends on the age group being taught) with the middle line in each three-line set being dotted.
  • The D’Nealian writing style is a well-known teaching method that makes use of this type of paper ruling.
  • A Beka Book utilizes this ruling along with a house metaphor(upstairs, downstairs, and basement) to help young children learn where parts of each letter should be written.

Does a Legal Pad mean the paper is always yellow?
Nope. The original Legal Pad was made by dying the paper the paper yellow. Other than speculation, nobody really knows for sure why. In fact, it’s more expensive to buy a yellow legal pad than a white one. Today, legal pads (with the 1-1/4” margin on the left) come in a variety of colors:

• Yellow (also called Canary)
• White
• Blue
• Gray
• Green
• Ivory
• Orchid
• Pink

So the next time someone says; “Order me some legal pads, will ya?” You’ll know to follow with: “Sure, be happy to. First, tell me”…

1. What size do you want the paper to be…Letter, Legal, Junior legal, or A6 paper?
2. What ruling would you like…Wide, medium or narrow?
3. What color would you like the paper to be?

A little history: How the “Legal” Pad got its name
According to legend, Thomas W. Holley of Holyoke, Massachusetts invented the legal pad around 1888 when he came up with the innovative idea to collect all the sortings (excess paper scraps that were substandard) from various factories and stitch them together in order to sell them as pads at an affordable and fair price. In about 1900, the latter then evolved into the modern legal pad when a local judge requested for a margin to be drawn on the left side of the paper. This was the first legal pad.

Thomas W. Holley founded the company called Ampad (American Pad & Paper) back in 1888. It was acquired by Mead Corp in 1986, known as the Ampad Holding Corp and became a subsidiary. In 1992 the holding company purchased American Pad & Paper from Mead. It went public in 1996 but couldn’t sustain profitability so it delisted from the NYSE in 1999. They filed for Chapter 11 and then sold to an affiliate of an investment company in 2003. In June 2010, they were acquired by Esselte. Today, Ampad exists among the North American brands of Esselte (Pendaflex, Oxford, Xyron, Rapid and Ampad brands).

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Water Cooler Talk

18 January 2011

It’s not news how quickly gas prices are soaring. Next in line…possibly copy paper. We often don’t realize how much the cost of fuel affects the cost of so many other things. Take copy paper. Not only does it cost money to do the obvious – transport copy paper to it’s desired destination – but the energy to produce the paper is pricey. Copy paper pricing is driven by the mills that produce it. Therefore, a fluctuating cost of fuel results in how much the price of the paper is actually going to be. Maybe some of you have inquiring minds like me (and you like EZ pictures). Here’s a schematic I found showing how paper is made. (Wood > Pulp > Fiber > Paper). Take advantage of EZ Office Products’ copy paper as low as $26.99 while supplies last!