New Products?

Has everything for the office that can be invented already be invented? Well, there are always product improvements on the basics but I wouldn't look for any creative new product in 2008. Simple adjustments to the old standbys actually have very nice effects. Smead for example has altered their production methods to create a built in tab that eliminates the need fro those annoying plastic tabs. Sounds simple and it is but the effects are hugely efficient. For those folks who concentrate strictly on the pennies saved and not so much the quality and functionality of a product, you may in fact be altering the industry. Look for more products to come from China. In my opinion the quality is lacking but you do in fact save a nickel or two. For some items it may not matter at all but for others the difference is quite noticeable. Pens that last 3 days, staples that are too brittle, these are just two examples. The impact is being felt by the American manufacturer as less emphasis is placed on innovation and more on price reduction. There will always be some newness brought into the market but for our industry the volume isn't what it once was. When you buy your office supplies, consider who is using it, and how it is being used. The answer may suggest that you focus more on quality and function then price. When dealing with high volume commodity items like office supplies, the true savings are found in the impact it has on efficiency. Save .60 cents on a box of pens or save the time looking for something that writes well? Perhaps there is no right answer?