A Healthy Halloween? It's Hard

While recommending that you find a way to appropriately participate in Halloween festivities around the office, may I suggest that you try your best to keep it healthy. Of course it's hard. It's way too easy to stuff yourself with bite sized (or what is now called fun size) junk. For that reason you need to be ready for it in advance. I personally have very little will power once "fun sized" candy is in front of me, but if it's not there, I won't go out to get it. So, prepare now. Refuse to buy garbage and find healthy alternatives. Popcorn, pretzels, nuts, and yes, even fruit will allow you to enjoy the day with no regrets. Not only that, but your co-workers (be they the dieters or the fitness fanatics) will appreciate you helping them avoid the temptations. I know you've heard this all before but my purpose in writing this is to remind you that there are others in the same boat. At times we all need a little reminder right?

Office Halloween

Break the normal routine of the work week if only for a minute. Next week is Halloween and provided your company allows for such behavior, show up in a costume! Celebrities and politicians are usually save bets provided you don't damage the fragile sensitivities of your co-workers. How about a little cubicle trick or treating? So maybe you won't go that far, but with Halloween just over a week away, why not have a few "treats" at the ready? Why not decorate your work area? Why not participate to some degree in the festivity? Over the years my job has taken me into a wide variety of office settings. From the stifling to the relaxed. One thing is for sure, those businesses that shared moments of light- hearted fun always seemed to have the healthier environment including better relations with their co-workers. Take it upon yourself to demonstrate your more human side even if it is not the norm for your office.

Mass Mailings Are Just Around the Corner

AVE9000

Thankfully holiday business correspondence has not yet gone the way of the e-mail. Until that glorious impersonal day arrives, businesses will still send out their Christmas cards the old fashioned way...through the mail. If you are any of your co-workers are responsible for addressing these cards, there is a machine you should no about. The Avery label peeler will same you valuable time and spare you the frustration of manually peeling the address labels. It works wonderfully and won't ruin any Christmas cheer that may be bubbling under the surface. Sure it's not yet even Halloween, but believe it or not, smart businesses are gearing up now...be it supplies or otherwise for the upcoming holiday "season." I promise not to get into Christmas too early but this particular office product merits mention now.

Make a difference in your way

Yes, I've posted on this topic before, but with this being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it merited another mention. Most of us have been impacted by this dreaded disease either directly or indirectly. However, like most illnesses or "causes" until it affects you an a truly personal and emotional level, we tend to dismiss the pleas for help. Besides, can we all admit, that there is now a ribbon or a rubber band bracelet for every issue imaginable? The proliferation of causes has created a certain level of casualness in people who are generally good hearted.

That said, here is a cause we can all rally around. But aside that it strikes our mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters, instead focus on the notion that this is in large part a treatable disease if found early and a true cure is in within reach.

Don't have any extra money to donate to the cause? Well, some manufacturers have addressed this by creating a special edition product with a percentage going to ongoing research. The office supply industry is no different. Now you can participate with just a small adjustment in your normal purchasing. Take a look at 2 such products that will demonstrate your concern while providing financial support.  Pink office supplies is fast becoming one of the most popular categories in the office supply business.  It's a wonderful thing to see.

Item PAP70672

Item: MMM689PH2BCA

It's Time to Play

Ranging from the simple puzzle to the more elaborate PC controlled rocket launcher, office toys have been around since the beginning of the office itself. No longer must your artistic talents be relegated to rubber bands and paper clips, now with the variety of products designed to appeal to the kid in you, you can easily waste the most productive part of the day. So, IT knows what websites you go to right? But can they see you "toss the boss"or score a basket all from the comfort of your cubicle?

Actually, office toys provide a necessary distraction from the mundane, from the intense stress, and from an overall feeling of malaise. In short, office toys are vital. ...to a degree. If played with properly and at the right time, they can actually provide the healthy diversion we all need from time to time. Moreover, office toys are often the catalyst for workplace social interactions that otherwise may never occur. Improving the team feel of an office is a common goal and essential for fostering a professional environment. So, display your office toys proudly and lift the spirits of your cell-mate (kidding) by sharing your toys.

Small Business Statistics

While the large corporations grab all the headlines, here's some interesting statistics I came across...Small businesses represent 99.7% of all employer firms, and they employ 50% of all private sector employees, including 39% of high tech workers such as scientists, engineers, and computer workers. I've always read about how small businesses are the backbone of the American economy but I had yet to see just how impressive the numbers really are.

It's In My Head

First off, that's not me. My nose is at least 3 times bigger than this guy's. But, you know what they say about guys with big noses right? They say, "Check out the boot on that guy's face!" Well, they say something like that anyway.

The song...or the jingle if you will. It doesn't effect you, at least I hope not, like it does me because office supplies, office products, or however you want to refer to them, is my chosen industry. But I have to admit, if I hear the song "Taking Care of Business" one more time from our national big box competitor, my head might pop. I call them competitors but the obvious truth is they consider us a mere flea. I have to hand it to them, the jingle is effective. It's been stuck in my head from time to time for hours at a time. Of course, I'm overly sensitive to it.

I still find it quite amazing how readily people flock to the national supply companies. These big box retailers like Depot enjoy the benefits that only a constant media blitz can provide. Many younger buyers don't even know they options...the exact scenario these companies hope to create. Well, that makes our job that much harder in one sense and easier in another. If the landscape becomes so dominated by one or two major companies, our focus, our prospective targets likewise become more defined. So, sing the song if you must but check out other possibilities you might just surprise yourself. In our industry no matter what supplier is chosen the reality is that buyers today buy office supplies online.

Battle of the Sexes

My professional world is the ever exciting, ever changing world of office supplies. Filled with danger around every bend, it truly is a volatile occupation and is not for the faint of heart. Of course, there may be an ounce of hyperbole here but if nothing else, the office supply industry is not static. The old school businesses continue to dry up.

Women buyers now dominate the corporate buyer landscape accounting for close to 80% of all purchasing...at least the type of purchasing that impacts my business. Because women buyers are so prevalent, it has been said by supposed marketing experts that businesses better adapt to their wants or continue to forfeit market share.

So what does the woman buyer want? I wish I truly knew. If I did our business would be a thousand times the size it is today. But one theme remains consistent across all these marketing gurus, women buyers want solutions. Compared to men who as a group seem more interested in price, women interestingly prefer efficiency. They tend to understand better than many men that if they can work easier and faster, there is a dollar amount attached to that. Men want to save a nickel and may waste time and participate in an utterly illogical and inefficient process in order to save this precious nickel.

This is not to say that women are not frugal. Instead, it suggests that they see methodology as extremely important. Moreover, women seem to be more daring, more open minded to possible new approaches. Men tend to be more loyal no matter the discomfort this misguided loyalty may be.

Ours is a web based business. As such, women are said to prefer cleaner sites. In other words, a simple site that allows them to complete a transaction without the sensory overload. This is consistent with their solution based mentality.

Men's attention spans may necessitate flashing ads and numerous links as a means to lead him towards unintended buys.

The battle of the sexes is everywhere and ongoing. I find it interesting when you stumble across marked differences for the same objective.

Our business was created with these concepts in mind. We offer a clean clutter free website that allows for quick orders and even produces an automatic savings. It's an interesting and smarter way to buy office supplies online.