10 Essential Office Supplies You Can't Be Without

If you run your own business, or are in charge ofinvoices, or padded envelopes for sending items to
ordering stationery at work, then you'll know just howcustomers. You might want to make sure that you
important it is to have the right stationery and officehave plenty of larger envelopes for when you need to
supplies at all times. Here's what you need for thesend documents that you don't want to fold.
modern business.7. Pens are always going to be essential, and you'll
1. Despite so much paperwork being replaced bywant to make sure that you've got a wide selection of
computer records, and buying and selling online, you'llpens and pencils for your staff. You probably wouldn't
still have some filing to do. Have you got enough filingwant to use a fountain pen for scribbling phone
cabinets to hold all the important documents andmessages, but you definitely wouldn't want to sign an
letters, and employee details that you need to keep?important contract with a biro. Why not make sure that
2. You'll need to make sure that you have plenty ofyou have a nice pen for each of your sales staff, so
storage space for all the product brochures, manuals,that they can look the part, when they close deals with
instructions and everything you're your staff need tonew clients?
carry out their jobs. You might want to give every8. Although electronic diaries and calendars are
employee their own cupboard space, or choose toincreasingly popular, thanks to computers and mobile
have a central cupboard that stores everything.phones, paper versions are still essential for many
3. Flipcharts are invaluable in meetings if you have a lotpeople. Perhaps you want to have a large calendar on
of meetings, or spend a lot of time thinking of ideasthe wall so that everybody's meetings can be seen, or
and refining processes and procedures. If you work inwant to make sure that you have a paper record of
groups, then a flipchart is one of the best ways to getevery important date and event you need to be
all your thoughts down in one place.aware of. Perhaps you like writing notes in your diary
4. Every member of staff should have a notepads.rather than on your computer or phone.
Whether you use it for jotting down phone messages,9. Don't forget that you'll need the right sort of office
important product information, or just as a "cheatfurniture for your company. Have you got the right
sheet" for when on the phone to clients, or for takingdesks and chairs, and reception and canteen furniture?
notes in meetings, you'll be lost without a notepad ofThe layout and style of your office will make a
some sort.difference to productivity, and you'll want to make sure
5. Paper is still just as important as ever in the modernthat you give the right impression to your clients and
office. You'll need to make sure that you have copierother visitors too.
paper, laser and inkjet printer paper, photograph paper,10. Computers and other technology are essential, and
as well a paper for internal or external documents.making staff more productive and saving money in the
You'll want to make sure that you've always gotmodern office. Are you making the most of laptops,
plenty of paper, so that you don't run out. You don'tmobile phones, video conferencing, networking and
want to have to delay sending out a proposal, or andocument and information sharing in your office?
invoice, because you've run out of paper.Now you know more about what's required in the
6. Like paper, envelopes are still important, and will bemodern workplace, have you got all the office supplies
essential for sending out documents to clients andand paper products you and your staff need?
potential clients. You might need window envelopes for