Why buy local?

• More money stays in your community, including tax dollars, which are used to improve infrastructure and education to benefit everyone.  As the local economy grows, more jobs are created.  And we all know that small local businesses are the biggest job creators nationwide. In fact, recent local survey results prove that among the members of our own Dane Buy Local alone, our workforce has grown 11%. And that doesn’t even include all the small businesses in our region who have yet to become members of Dane Buy Local.
• When you support local, independent businesses, you help to create an identity for your community.  These one-of-a-kind retail stores, restaurants, service providers and entertainment venues create a one-of-a-kind community with character and style that inspires innovation.
• Two of the biggest but often overlooked beneficiaries of buying local are non-profits and the environment.  Local businesses are much more likely to give back to local charities and less transportation from out-of-town means less traffic and less pollution in our environment.
• Buying local is an investment in the well-being of your community.  Instead of trying to put someone out of business, a business owner with local roots benefits by helping their fellow local business owners thrive.
• Local business owners are more in tune with your needs.  They have the same challenges.  They drive the same roads, shop at the same stores, eat at the same restaurants and join in the same school gyms and auditoriums where their kids play sports, put on band concerts and perform in plays.  Instead of applying a cookie cutter approach from a distant corporate office, a local business develops solutions to solve a problem or fill a need that’s specific to people in your community.

Why is buying local so important to us?
When EZ Office Products was first founded, it was inspired by local businesses and created as an alternative to the big box stores. That’s why we don’t just sell office supplies and solutions to local businesses.  We make purchases from local businesses every day and stand side-by-side with charitable organizations that do such great work.  We’re proud to be a member of Dane Buy Local, one of the largest “buy local” organizations in the entire country.

More than smart business, buying local is the best way for members of the Dane County community to help and support each other.  We enjoy doing business with neighbors and friends.  Who wouldn’t?

Just keep in mind that spring cleaning is about more than dusting, wiping and scrubbing.  While some people actually find it therapeutic, just about everyone will agree that a layer of stress is lifted from their shoulders when the process is done.  When you’re removing dust, grime, clutter and garbage, you’re also removing a certain level of anxiety.  And that’s a good thing, even if you’re not exactly having the time of your life.

Before you get started, make sure you have a good plan and the right tools for the job so you can make spring cleaning at the office as quick and painless as possible.

Set an appointment.  And keep the appointment.  Don’t break it for a client meeting, and don’t interrupt it to take calls or respond to emails.  Unless there is something earth shattering that needs to be addressed right away, focus on the task at hand or you’ll just drag out the process.

Create a checklist.  And make it comprehensive.  The reason you do a soup-to-nuts spring cleaning is to finally get to the things that are overlooked throughout the year.  Desks, file cabinets, conference rooms, copy rooms, picture frames, plants, shelves, windows and glass doors, office equipment, and yes, even the bathrooms, the kitchen and the dreaded refrigerator.  Feel free to add to the list.

Redecorate.  This is a suggestion, not a requirement.  But is there a better time for a fresh coat of paint, new artwork and reorganization?  You can even take it a step further when you’re done and host a client appreciation party, a chamber or networking event, or a charity fundraiser to show off your “new” digs.

Get the right supplies.  When we do our spring cleaning at EZ Office Products, we use Genuine Joe cleaning and break room supplies, starting with Genuine Joe Household Paper Towels.  Made from 40% recycled material, these perforated, two-ply paper towels have high absorption capacity so you can do more with less.

The Genuine Joe Splash Guard Mop Bucket/Wringer prevents splashes on walls, office equipment, furniture and appliances.  The casters won’t mark up your floors, and it holds 6.5 gallons so you can cover more floor with one load of water.

Finally, wrap up your spring cleaning with Genuine Joe Heavy Duty Trash Bags.  Taking out the trash is like a period at the end of a sentence, and these 60-gallon bags are 1.5 ml thick so they can stand up to even the heaviest loads.

To find out more about our complete line of Genuine Joe cleaning products, from Concentrated Citrus Neutral Cleaner to Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish, contact us at EZ Office Products and we’ll be happy to equip you for your spring cleaning.

Congratulations to Jackie Hahn, winner of the 2012 EZOP Admin Professional of the Year Award! Jackie received tons of great comments from her coworkers at Applied Tech. Check them out at the bottom of the page! To all the Admin Professionals, thanks for all your hard work and long hours. We couldn’t do it without you!

Every day you have someone in your life that makes a difference professionally as well as personally. More often than not, it’s the former that gets overlooked at the office…which inspired EZ Office Products to proclaim the:

“EZ Office Products Admin Professional of the Year Award”

Administrative Professional’s Week will be celebrated April 22-28, 2012 and Admin Professional’s Day celebrated on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. This year, the International Association of Administrative Professionals celebrates their 60^th Anniversary of this event. IAAP is the founder of the Day and responsible for proudly continuing the tradition.

In recognition of this day and to all who make life EZ-ier at the office, more efficient and usually more fun, we will reward one very special Admin Professional. You will help be the judge! If you have a very special admin professional in mind — your office manager, administrative assistant, secretary, etc. — tell us! If you are the Admin Professional – go ahead and nominate yourself – after all you’re probably the one who “gets things done around there” – so do what you always do and take charge with a self-nomination!

How to Nominate and Win the EZ Office Products Admin Professional of the Year Award

Nominating someone (or yourself!) is easy – here’s how:

Step 1: Like our Facebook page (a ground rule for entry since we will notify followers each time a new entry is received). Fans and followers alike get to see your terrific story!

Step 2: Visit our website at www.ezop.com/AdminProf2012 and write your story as a comment. At the bottom of the page, add your comment to the Facebook comment field or scroll further and use the Post Comment fields. Either way, we check this page daily and will make sure your entry is posted on our EZOP Facebook page no later than the following day. When writing your story, keep these points in mind:

• What makes your Admin Professional special / or You special (if self-nominating)
• How does your Admin Professional go out of the way every day to make the jobs of your colleagues EZ-ier / or You (if self-nominating)
• What does your Admin Professional do that makes the office run smoothly and efficiently / or You (if self-nominating)

Step 3: Encourage your colleagues to visit our website and Facebook page. The number of comments to an entry on our website OR the number of likes/comments we get to the announcement of an entry on Facebook plays a factor. The top five stories (posts) that receive the most likes and/or comments will be reviewed by an independent panel designated by EZ Office Products.

The winner will be announced at 4:00pm CST on Admin Professional’s Day, Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Find the winner’s name on our EZ Office Products Facebook page as well as ezop.com.

The Prize… Will Get Your Engine Started!

We wanted an award that screamed FUN! Something spontaneous, something you might not normally enjoy or may only do once in your lifetime.

Award Winner Receives:

• Two tickets to the Indy 500 with seats in the Paddock Penthouse (across from the pit & near Start/Finish Line)
• Two night stay at 4-Star hotel JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis (Sat 5/26 & Sun 5/27 2012)
• Two 60-minute massages at the spa located in the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis (Sat 5/26/12)
• Trophy as a remembrance of your Admin Professional of  the Year – 2012 award from EZ Office Products
  

Official Rules
Find complete Official Rules here

Make a checklist of steps your employees or co-workers must take in order to be more energy efficient.  Even if you’re not the boss, take the initiative to compile a list and bring it to your supervisor’s attention.  Challenge the staff to come up with additions to the list.

You can even make it company policy with consequences for failing to comply.  Just keep it light.  After all, you don’t want to turn green practices into a negative thing.  Maybe the person who leaves a giant stack of wasted copies on the printer should have to clean out the refrigerator or take out the garbage.

The Checklist

Here are some steps you can take to be more energy efficient at the office.  Some may seem overly simplistic – and they are – so you should have no problem with them, right?

• Turn your office or desk light off when you know you’ll be away for more than a few minutes.
• Recycle your incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs and replace them with energy efficient bulbs.  If you “like” the EZ Office Products Facebook page in March, we’ll even give you a free eco-friendly light bulb!
• Take advantage of natural light and focus electric lighting on work areas instead of illuminating an entire room unnecessarily.
• Shut down your computer, monitor, printer, fax machine, shredder, coffee pot, vending machines or any other electronically powered device when they’re not in use, especially at the end of the day.
• Unplug products that continue to use energy when not in use.
• Charge your mobile device in your car instead of using a wall charger.
• Use eco-friendly office supplies.
• Print only what is absolutely necessary.
• Create and maintain an electronic filing system.
• Open blinds during winter months to naturally heat your office and close blinds during summer months to decrease demand for energy to cool the office.
• Make sure your office is well-insulated and ductwork doesn’t have any leaks.
• Install toilets and urinals that conserve water.
• Carpool during your commute and for lunch.
• Recycle, recycle, recycle!

Let us know what your office does to conserve energy!

EZ Office Products is proud to have their application accepted for the 2012 year-long journey to become an Mpower ChaMpion through the Mpower ChaMpion Business Program, the first program in South-Central Wisconsin that systematically ensures businesses go green effectively and efficiently. Sustain Dane administers the ChaMpion program in partnership with the U.S. EPA,  The City of Madison, MG&E, Rapid Improvement Associates, Focus On Energy, Campos Comprehensive Engineering and others.

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?

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.

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

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