| You've got the office space you need and | | | | |
| you've purchased all the furniture and | | | | Pens |
| electronic equipment required. The phone | | | | |
| lines are in, the computer network is | | | | Rubber bands |
| connected, and you're ready to do business. | | | | |
| But wait - you still have some important | | | | Scissors |
| shopping to do. Don't forget the office | | | | |
| supplies! | | | | Staplers |
| | | | |
| Yes, office supplies may seem a bit trivial | | | | Tools |
| when compared to the other equipment you have | | | | |
| to purchase and set up, but think about it | | | | White boards |
| for a second: what office would be complete | | | | |
| without office supplies? Even the Fortune 500 | | | | Now, when you're done with your shopping, |
| companies need pen and paper, you know. | | | | there are a few basic rules to keep in mind |
| | | | in order to be sure that you'll have |
| But what supplies do you need to order right | | | | everything you need to keep your office |
| away, and what are those that can wait until | | | | functioning smoothly. |
| much later? If you think that all you need in | | | | |
| your office are a dozen pens and a couple | | | | First, always keep a small stash of supplies |
| reams of paper, then you are in for a rude | | | | available. You'd be surprised to know the |
| awakening. There's much more to setting up | | | | amount of time wasted in traveling back and |
| shop when it comes to office supplies, and | | | | forth from the supply room to your desk. And |
| this article may be what you need to guide | | | | that goes for your clerks and secretaries, |
| you in your office supplies shopping | | | | too. A desk drawer or even a small cabinet |
| adventure. | | | | near you will do just fine. Now you'll save |
| | | | time and energy getting supplies and use them |
| Here is a master list for your guidance. You | | | | instead for what's more important - taking |
| do not have to buy all items on the list, | | | | care of business. |
| although it will help if you include most of | | | | |
| it, if not all: | | | | Second, there are some supplies that you |
| | | | really don't need to have near you 24/7. |
| Printer cartridges | | | | These include stacks of stationery, piles and |
| | | | piles of message pads, Post-Its, and rolls of |
| Fax paper | | | | tape. All of these stuff can make your office |
| | | | look messy and disorganized, which I'm sure |
| Stationery | | | | you don't want. Organize the supplies |
| | | | according to how often you need them. For |
| Bathroom and cleaning supplies | | | | example, the items you need on a monthly |
| | | | basis should be kept in a cabinet or on a |
| Calculators | | | | shelf. Other supplies you use less often than |
| | | | that should be kept in a supply room or |
| Calendars | | | | closet. |
| | | | |
| Computer disks | | | | Third, remember that master list? You can use |
| | | | it to take note of the supplies that are |
| Cork boards | | | | running low, and how often. You don't have to |
| | | | shop for supplies very week. Once a month |
| Glue | | | | will be fine, as long as your master list is |
| | | | updated. That way, you'll no longer need to |
| Envelopes | | | | fear running out of markers in the middle of |
| | | | an important presentation. |
| Invoices | | | | |
| | | | You'll also need to check and analyze how |
| Mailing labels | | | | much you are spending for office supplies. |
| | | | You can assign a staff member or two to do |
| Manila folders | | | | some comparison shopping, especially for the |
| | | | supplies you use most often. Usually, there |
| Markers | | | | are office supply stores in your local area |
| | | | and on the Internet where you can find the |
| Note and message pads | | | | best prices for what you need. Some vendors |
| | | | are even willing to give discounts in |
| Packing tape | | | | exchange for your loyalty. If you can, buy in |
| | | | bulk for even bigger savings, but don't |
| Paper clips | | | | overdo it. You don't really need to buy |
| | | | supplies that will last until December when |
| Pencils | | | | it's only June, right? |