[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Office supplies are the mainstay of any business. Letters, presentations, agendas, reports, memos – not one of these could happen unless there is toner, paper and all the other stationery essentials employees use. Despite this, it is all too easy to take these supplies for granted.

Quality Stationery Suppliers

Saving money is high on the list of priorities for every firm. However, there is a fine line between getting a good deal on products and false economy. Bargain products may not be what they seem, and spending a little more upfront to ensure you are getting a good-quality product can save not only money but a lot of work too.
Take paper, for example. There are varying grades of paper, and using the right sort for your machines could avoid frequent paper jams and the resulting expensive downtime. In the same way, toner can have a huge effect on the quality of documents – and the impression made on customers, partners and clients.

Cut Down on Complexity

Office supplies do not need to be complicated. So keep things simple. In this way employees can be free to carry out their jobs without having to worry about problems associated with printing and ordering. Businesses which do not have a set protocol when it comes to maintaining equipment and ordering various supplies risk losing control. Setting out approved suppliers, which products are required, how much, when and who is responsible for ordering them will save time, space and money in the long term.

To save even more time and money, firms should consider using a supplier where ordering online is quick and easy. No more lengthy catalogues to go through! Saving certain products as favourites to ensure you can check out in just a few seconds is another time-saving trick. Avoid any uncertainty by having a strict limit on who can complete orders (and authorise them). This will also help prevent ordering too much or the wrong items.

Ordering office supplies can turn into a lengthy task, taking regular employees away from their core competencies and responsibilities. Although it may seem like just a few minutes at a time, this can soon add up. Employers should consider limiting this additional admin from staff by creating simple order methods with quality stationery suppliers, either automated, over the phone or online. Add in clear instructions in terms of who is allowed to order and it will make the whole process easier and more efficient for everyone.

Finally

Try to use quality stationery suppliers who are able to provide the majority of your supplies and then combine all items into one easy-to-read invoice. This makes the payment process far easier. Many office suppliers are happy to provide management reports to their customers. These will clarify any hidden costs and give finance departments a better idea as to total stationery costs. With a clearer outline of what is being used, cost-saving adjustments can be made where necessary.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

All too often whiteboards are seen as just a classroom or boardroom tool to be scribbled on, erased and forgotten about. However, creative workspaces are showing us just how versatile they can be. Suppliers of magnetic whiteboards in Essex have seen a huge rise in novel approaches to getting work done and here are some of the best ideas to date.

1. As an idea catcher

The great thing about writing on a whiteboard is that it is temporary, however, that can also be its greatest drawback. Its second biggest advantage is that it allows ideas to evolve, be written down, erased and re-worded. But again, every time a word is erased it could be lost forever. For this reason, we love taking a photo every few minutes to track the progress. These photos can then be projected and new connections and ideas between the generations found.

2. The interactive virtual assistant

One of the most effective uses of magnetic whiteboards in Essex has to be the group calendar and schedule planner. This requires that users populate the shared daily, weekly or monthly planner with their schedules to create an office overview. This has the advantage over Outlook of being of a much larger format and this helps teams get a concise overview. The end effect is an office assistant who isn’t really there. Every user makes micro adjustments to improve the flow of the day.

3. Multimedia eye catcher

Just like a scrapbook, a magnetic whiteboard can be used to display a range of media. Attach printed images and physical samples to the board and then link them together with words and drawings in pen. This approach to displaying ideas has far more impact that a printed presentation and certainly more than a whiteboard full of scribbles. Users can also personalise their designs by adding a magnetic photo frame with their photo inside.

4. Your new desk

If you’re the type of person who needs to scribble while you talk or write information down which is only used once, a whiteboard desk might be the answer. Users of magnetic whiteboards in Essex are singing the advantages of this approach in the paper-free office. At the end of the day, once you’ve packed your notebook away, just write ‘Clean Me’ in the middle to let Building Services know they can wipe it clean.

5. Team building games

Not every team has the time or the budget to head out to a country house for the weekend, but a whiteboard marker and magnetic dart can quickly be turned into an impromptu team building experience. Simply draw a target and invite team members to join in. Don’t forget to leave space for a scoreboard too.
With these top ideas, every office can use their whiteboard to increase productivity and team adhesion without investing in new equipment. However, with so many good concepts, you might want to finance a few more magnetic whiteboards.