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The Benefits of Setting up a Credit Account for Office Supplies Orders

February 28, 2011 · news, office environment, office furniture, office supplies, stationery · Comments Off

Those of you who work in an office environment are sure to be at least vaguely acquainted with the regularity with which stocks of office supplies and stationery need to be replenished. In the course of performing daily tasks and duties, consumables such as copier paper, printer ink cartridges and notepads are quickly used up and failure to have the necessary reserves ready can severely impact upon productivity.

Although far from the most exciting of tasks; ordering office supplies is an essential component of maintaining an efficient and functional office environment. Often the responsibility of the Office Manager (alongside a world of other pressing duties) the key to successful and cost-effective office supplies maintenance and replenishment is a thorough understanding of the rate at which different items are depleted alongside a quick and easy means of re-stocking.

Whilst the understanding of an organisation’s office supplies usage is something which can only really be acquired over time – streamlining and getting maximum value during the course of the re-ordering process is an incredible simple activity. In terms of both speeding up ordering and getting the best value on your purchases, setting up a business account or credit account with a specialist office supplies retailer such as DG Office Supplies can have an incredible impact.

By setting up a business account with DGOS you essentially bypass the general issues encountered when ordering online or by mail order. You have your own dedicated account manager who is well acquainted with your requirements and also able to provide accurate delivery timescales. In addition to a high level of customer service, as an account holding customer your company benefit financially on two fronts – payment by invoice to aid cash flow and even more competitive pricing than is available to non-account holders.

In addition to making long-term financial sense, there are also immediate cash benefits to setting up a credit or business account for office equipment purchases. New account sign-ups who register now will receive not only 20% off their first order (order value up to £500) but also a credit rebate of 15% of the total value of all purchases made within 3 months from the creation of their account. In essence, by signing your company up for a credit/business account with DG Office Supplies you will get the equivalent of more than 15 % discount off your orders for the first 3 months.

If you would like to find out more about DGOS Office Supplies Business Accounts and register with them then simply visit their new office supplies credit accounts page.

Add A Touch of Romance to Your Office Supplies Order

February 14, 2011 · a bit of fun, office supplies, stationery · Comments Off

I’ll be the first to admit that although office supplies can be considered to be many things – romantic isn’t necessarily one of them in the eyes of most people. Given that it’s Valentine’s Day though, today seemed as good a day as any to try and uncover some office trinkets, accessories and stationery which provide at least a glimmer of heart-warming sentiment.

After a little searching I’ve managed to uncover a selection of little items which should help to set the scene for office romance…whilst also serving a legitimate and useful office function.

Heart-Shaped Post-It Notes

These heart-shaped, sticky memo notes are just the ticket for spreading a little love round the office on any day of the year. Whilst the more traditional yellow post-it note often induces a sense of dread for the recipient, these bright and cute sheets will warm the cockles (whilst also demanding they write a report within 2 hours). Spread naughty messages around the office, decorate your monitor with attractive reminders or indeed write ‘kick me’ on one and affix it to a nearby jacket.

Heart Pattern Filofax

The Filofax is an institution; it evokes memories of outrageous hair, even more outrageous suits and a time before the laptop and mobile phone monopolised our attention. You’ll be glad to hear that this iconic scheduler extraordinaire is still very much alive and kicking but clad in contemporary covers – including an ‘awww’ inducing pink with hearts design. Give the gift of well organised love and your anniversary will never be forgotten again – alternatively get it as a gift to yourself to show sensitivity and a flair for nostalgia to all who glance in your bag or briefcase.

Pink Rollerball Pen

The pen is at its mightiest over the Valentine’s season. For a start, how romantic can you really be with a sword? (Please don’t answer that). From scribing sweet nothings in a card through to jotting down pertinent thoughts in your new heart clad Filofax; a suitable pen is an absolute must. A two-tone pink, ergonomic rollerball is precisely what you need. A specially contoured grip prevents aching while you pen a heart-felt sonnet and a rollerball tip which prevents blotting means no unsightly ink spots and blotches. Furthermore, if you do decide to treat your sweetheart or colleagues to heart shaped post-it notes then they’ll need something to write on them with.

So there we have it – office (supplies) romance at it’s very best. Best of all, as opposed to calorific chocolates or a soon to wilt bouquet, all of these suggestions offer functionality year-round as well as lashings of mirthful sentiment.

Massive Diary Sale at DG Office Supplies

January 31, 2011 · office supplies · Comments Off

2011 Diary

We’re now a month into 2011 and the year is beginning to shape up and take form. DG Office Supplies understand the importance of organisation this early on in the year and have absolutely slashed the prices of their 2011 diaries. Despite less than 10% of the year having elapsed so far, the DG Office Supplies range of 5 Star diaries are now available at discounts between 72% and 91% off the RRP – ensuring you a great deal.

With hardback A4 diaries available for £2.99, A5 Executive Appointment diaries priced at £1.50 and pocket-sized, slim portrait diaries priced at just 40 pence (reduced from £4.27) – there is no better time to get yourself equipped for a well organised 2011. Take a look at the ‘Stock Clearance’ section of their website in order to uncover unbeatable deals on diaries, planners and all manner of other organisational stationery. Grab a great value diary here.

With free delivery on all orders over £30 and next day delivery as standard, DG Office Supplies is the perfect place to get all of your office and stationary supplies from cut-priced diaries through to cutting edge electrical equipment. With a plethora of industry awards for quality, value and service alongside an ever increasing number of business account clients coming on board every week – DG Office Supplies are quickly establishing themselves as one of the leading office equipment suppliers in the UK .

Is it Time to Update Your Printing Equipment?

January 26, 2011 · office environment, office politics, office supplies · Comments Off

In this digital age it is common knowledge that minimising the amount you print is something to aspire to. With emails replacing faxes and documents generally being created and shared without ever involving the intervention of a pen, business in general is shifting towards the paperless dream. It is however unavoidable that paper is still an integral tool in almost all office environments and that photocopies and printouts are essential in some cases.

As well striving to use as little paper and ink as possible (for both financial and environmental reasons) it is important that businesses also ensure that when they do print things out; that they do so in the most efficient manner possible. Recycled paper and the recycling of printer ink cartridges are a vital step towards sustainable and cost effective printing but it doesn’t end there: the printer itself can make a huge contribution to not only the cost of printing a document in terms of consumable usage but also in terms of energy efficiency. Although frivolous replacement of perfectly serviceable and effective equipment should be avoided – it is sometimes the case that an investment in more up to date hardware is the best way to go.

Energy Star is an initiative which serves to promote energy efficiency in electrical devices. If a device complies with Energy Star guidelines it will generally boast a blue badge to attest to this, and as well as boasting an attractive sticker – these devices reduce the amount of energy you use compared to similar machines. Energy Star is however just a guideline, a more impressive consideration is that technology has developed so quickly that many devices which are on the market today offer power savings between 20 and 30% compared to their counterparts of 2 years ago. If the printer you’ve been using is 15 years old then just consider how much less power a new device will require in order to do the same job!

In order to further reduce electricity usage by your office printing equipment it is often worth looking at multi-functional devices. As opposed to having separate scanners, printers and photocopiers plugged in all day; consider a multi-functional device. Multi-functional printers are incredibly affordable to buy, utilise modern ink efficient systems and replace 3 plugs in the wall with just one. Not only do these all-in-one printers mean you’re powering one piece of equipment rather than three – they also often use less electricity than any given one of the machines they replace.

Many modern printers don’t even require a computer in order to print. The energy consumption of even modern laptops can be expensive, investment in a printer which is able to print directly from memory cards of USB flash drives can do away with the need to turn a computer on just to print a document – and also save a great deal of time.

Modern printing equipment is leagues ahead of that produced more than 5 years ago and given the lower cost of purchase and ink replacement, these machines pay for themselves considerably faster than many realise; whilst also helping to reduce a company’s carbon footprint without compromising on practicality.

A Blast from the Past (Memory but not ‘that’ kind)

January 18, 2011 · office environment, office supplies · Comments Off

Okay, this may be a slightly ‘geeky subject’ but I enjoyed compiling this and hope you enjoy reading it!…

Computers are indisputably an integral part of not only modern business but modern life in general. Although the internet is an excellent tool for the sharing of information and media through email, file sharing services and Peer 2 Peer- physical media is essential for the distribution and safe storage of files of all sorts. Much like the computers themselves, media storage devices and methods have developed in line with technological progress and are consistently growing in terms of memory capacity, flexibility and speed whilst decreasing in physical size.

In honour of the often underappreciated world of recordable media we’ve taken a look at the changes this industry has undertaken from its first incarnation for personal use through to the modern day:

The Floppy Disk

Storage capacity (formatted) – From 79.7kb (8 inch 1971) up to 200mb (3 ½ inch 1999)

Year of commercial launch- 1971

The floppy disk ruled the roost for almost three decades; from its initial 8 inch form unveiled by IBM in 1971 through to the 3 ½ inch sized floppy which dominated until the late 1990s. The floppy disk had no substantial competition for the majority of its time and despite challenges from formats such as the Iomega Zip Drive; remained the most popular form of data storage and an essential piece of office equipment until the recordable compact disk became affordable enough to become its successor. The floppy disk is now virtual obsolete with floppy disk drives (FDDs) absent for new computers. It is however possible to get external USB floppy disk drives if nostalgia kicks in.

CD-R and CD-RW

Storage capacity- 650mb-870mb

Year of commercial launch- 1988/90

The appropriate hardware required for saving to a Recordable CD or CD-R was initially prohibitively expensive to the extreme. In 1990 for instance the most affordable means of writing to a CD came in at around £25,000 for a hugely bulky piece of equipment. It was a further 5 years until the first CD recorder available for under $1000US was made available. From that point however, the hardware rapidly became more affordable until the point where CD-Rs and their re-writable counterparts overtook floppy disks as the storage medium of choice before the end of the 21st century. The major benefit of the recordable CD compared to the floppy disk was a combination of the considerably larger storage capacity and compatibility with audio and video CD players. The launch of the CD-RW secured the usurping of the floppy disk as it offered a re-writable alternative to the conventional CD-R and in doing so served to rectify the recordable CD’s major perceived flaw (that it could
only be recorded onto once).

The recordable CD grew to such an extent (not least due to the advent of file sharing websites allowing users to download music from the internet and create their own audio CDs) that in 2001 sales of recordable CDs outstripped recorded CDs for the first time (182 million compared to 172 million). This dominance continued to grow until the recordable DVD came along and things got a little more interesting.

This part of the story is a little less clean cut than the previous instalment, not least because the CD-R is still with us (unlike the floppy disk for the most part). Despite the continued usage of CD-Rs and CD-RWs they are no longer the most prevalent means of removable data storage, that accolade is divided between a number of different types of media. It is fair to say however, that the rightful successor to the recordable CD is the recordable DVD given the close similarities between the two forms and that the CD compatible DVD reader/recorder is to be found in the vast majority of modern computers.

Recordable DVD

Storage capacity- 4.7GB-8.5GB

Year of commercial launch- 1997

The DVD was first unveiled in Japan in 1996 as a medium for pre-recorded video and the concept was gradually rolled out internationally. In 1997 Pioneer developed the DVD-R format which began the process of bringing home recording to the masses. The major upside of the DVD over the CD is the considerably more substantial memory capacity, whilst the standard CD can store 700MB of information; the standard DVD is capable of storing 4.71GB. This marked difference in capacity is well demonstrated by their different uses in the entertainment industry, i.e.: the CD is used for music whilst the DVD caters for video.

The recordable DVD is useful for backing up data, transferring large files and also converting and storing films and computer games for use in other DVD compatible devices. Despite the availability of re-writable DVDs however, it is by no means the most popular form of portable data storage for day to day use.

USB Flash Drive

Storage capacity- 8MB (2000) 64MB-256GB (Present day)

Year of commercial launch- 2000

The USB or Universal Serial Bus is a means of communication between a computer and all manner of peripherals and other devices. This small, rectangular port serves as a way to connect a mouse or keyboard to a computer as well as serving as a power source and means of data connection for a whole host of external devices. One of the most simple and common of these devices is the USB flash drive.

The very first USB flash drives were launched in 2000 and offered storage capacity up to 8MB,the capacity of top end flash drives today is up to 256GB: showing an absolutely vast growth in the industry. The device, also known as the pen drive is the closest replacement to the floppy disk, in that it is simply inserted-the data transferred-then it is removed, whereas the CD and DVD tend to take longer to complete the saving process. Flash memory is now present in a whole host of other portable items which require data storage.

The Modern Face of Portable Media Storage

New means of experiencing media such as the IPod, MP3 and MP4 player have brought about a serious shift in the world of portable data storage. This change is also highly reliant upon the USB port found in all modern computers. Not only do we now have the option to plug in a small device and quickly transfer information onto it for storage purposes, but also to transfer files directly from a computer onto a personal entertainment device which ultimately means that a huge number of the devices we use for portable data storage, double up as autonomous devices in their own right…a huge leap indeed from the 8 inch floppy disk.

New Year – New Diary

December 21, 2010 · news, office supplies · Comments Off

With less than 2 weeks left of the year it’s the perfect time to start preparing for 2011. ‘Being better organised’ is often high up on people’s lists of New Year’s resolutions and one of the most effective ways of achieving better organisations is to purchase a suitable diary or planner. At DGOS we stock a huge range of diaries and we’re certain that you’ll find at least one which is perfectly tailored to your lifestyle and requirements.

Pocket Diaries

As the name would suggest, pocket diaries are compact diaries which are usually casebound or ringbound. Designed to be easily carried, pocket diaries are perfect for those who are always on the go and who need instant access to their appointments and schedule. Given the size constraints, pocket diaries are generally week to view or two weeks to view and offer just enough space to go into a little detail.

Desk Diaries

Generally A4 or A5 in size, desk diaries allow for more detailed entries than pocket diaries and for the most part offer somewhere between 2 days per page through to 2 pages per day. There are a number of varieties of desk diary including appointments diaries which split each day into half hour and hourly segments for ease of appointment arrangement and academic diaries which span the academic year and are particularly well suited to students. At DG Office Supplies we’re also very proud to stock a large number of diaries made from recycled paper and materials.

Ring Binder Organisers

Ring bound personal organisers such as the Filofax are available in a wide range of colours, styles, sizes and materials. With covers bound in anything from black Italian leather through to pink linen effect fabric, personal organisers are as much a style statement as means of organising day to day appointments and meetings. In addition to the standard diary style pages, many organisers also include additional features and sections including credit card pockets, an address book, notes pages and even a contents or index section for ease of reference. If you’re serious about getting organised then a ring binder organiser is your best bet.

Refills

If you’ve already invested in a high quality organiser or pocket diary then it is well worth taking a look at refill options as opposed to replacing the whole thing. With refills it’s possible to switch from 2010 to 2011 in seconds with minimum fuss and minimum expenditure.

With so many different varieties of diary and personal organiser you have no excuse to lapse into messy bewilderment in the New Year! As well as serving as a great investment for the coming year, a nice diary or planner is also a thoughtful and useful Christmas gift which will get used everyday by the recipient.

Far From Rubbish – It’s Remarkable

December 7, 2010 · Recycling, news, office supplies, stationery · Comments Off

Eco-geniuses Remarkable (Remarkable Pencils Ltd) are a company who truly and fully live up to their name by creating unique and exciting products…from waste! These British based pioneers started on their green journey a number of years ago when they found an effective way of turning discarded plastic cups into pencils. Having refined and expanded the process they now produce somewhere around 40,000 or these ex-cup pencils a day.

Recycled Pencils

Not content with merely transforming plastic cups into something genuinely useful, Remarkable have turned their attention to recycling a world of other disposable and discarded objects into funky, new and eco-friendly items. From rulers made out of recycled CD cases, to notebooks of recycled paper with covers that were plastic retail packaging in a previous life and even ballpoint pens made out of obsolete games consoles.

Recycled Notepad

By making a point of the provenance of the recycled material within their products, Remarkable are pushing the boundaries of recycled office supplies. Their commitment to converting useless items into useful ones and using this as a selling point sets a great example to other companies and helps the end user to feel that they have made a positive impact on the environment. With a constant stream of new Remarkable products hitting the market and all manner of new materials being used (including recycled car tyres and corn starch), this UK business are a breath of fresh air…and have an ethos to help maintain fresh air for the rest of us!

If you would like to stay up to date with the remarkable folks at Remarkable then be sure to visit their blog.

To get great deals on a range of Remarkable products click here.

Top Ten Eco-Friendly Office Products

November 24, 2010 · office environment, office supplies · Comments Off

1- Canon Bright Recycled Paper

Canon are renowned for their printers and consumables, with their Bright Recycled Paper range they can confidently add recycled paper to that list. This high quality 80gsm paper is made from 100% reclaimed paper waste and produces brilliant results on all office machines. Available in A3 and A4 sizes this paper is perfect for general printing as well as important presentations and reports.

2- Basildon Bond Recycled Envelopes

Recycled Envelopes

Whether for home or office use, these versatile envelopes are available in white or manila and feature peel and seal fastening. Not only is the paper used 100% recycled, but the viewing window is made from corn as opposed to petrochemical plastic meaning less impact on the environment in production and a biodegradable end product which can be processed as paper recycling waste.

3- Ecolabel Recycled Paper Barrel Flipchart Markers

Recycled Flipchart Markers

These flipchart marker pens from the appropriately named Ecolabel use water-based ink as opposed to the harmful, solvent based alternatives. In addition to an ecologically sound ink, the barrels of the pens are made from recycled paper which has been treated to offer maximum durability and practicality.

4- Scotch Natural Fibre Film Magic Tape

Natural Fibre Tape

Scotch Natural Fibre Film Magic Tape is one of the most environmentally aware sticky tape products available. The core is made from 100% recycled cardboard, the dispenser is made from 100% recycled plastic and the tape itself is manufactured using natural fibres as opposed to petrochemicals. This eco-friendly tape is even sold in 100% recycled cardboard packaging (without plastic film) and both the packaging and core can be recycled when the tape runs out.

5- Colop Green Line Word Stamp

Colop Green Line Stamp

This stamp certainly gets our seal of approval. Manufactured from 80% plus recycled plastics, this self-inking stamp is made with eco-awareness in mind. The ink pad provides literally thousands of crisp impressions and the packaging is 100% recycled, uncoloured cardboard. The only aspect of this item which isn’t ‘green’ is the colour of the ink…which is red for maximum visibility.

6- Rapid Eco Tacker

Rapid Eco Tacker

Also referred to as a ‘staple gun’ this environmentally ethical Tacker from Rapid’s Eco range is manufactured using 80% recycled plastic. Available in a range of sizes for hobby use through to industrial application, all models are shipped in 100% recycled cardboard with soy based ink printing – which mirrors the sustainable nature of the item itself.

7- Jiffy Green Bubble Wrap

Jiffy Green Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap and packaging materials in general tend to illicit concern from environmental circles due to the waste they tend to produce. With their Green Bubble Film, Jiffy successfully address this by utilising 100% recycled polythene. Suitable for all forms of cushioning, wrapping and void filling – this recycled material provides maximum protection with minimum environmental impact.

8- Aurora EcoCalc Calculator

Aurora EcoCalc

The EcoCalc is one of the most environmentally friendly pieces of electrical equipment on the market. With a recycled plastic keyboard, zero air miles travelled and 90% recycled packaging you won’t find a more eco-ethical calculator anywhere. In addition to the green credentials of the item and its packaging, the use of solar cells for power mean that this calculator from Aurora doesn’t impact on the planet when used either.

9- Concord Half Flap Document Wallets

Concord Document Wallets

With their Half Flap Document Wallets, Concord offer the perfect storage receptacle for all of those vital documents (printed on recycled paper we hope). Made from heavyweight, 285 gsm, 100% recycled cardboard these rugged folders help to preserve both the planet and your important paperwork.

10- 5 Star Compatible Inkjet Cartridges

5 Star Inkjet Cartridges

Remanufactured from empty OEM printer cartridges, these compatible inkjet cartridges consist of 70-90% recycled materials and components by weight. In addition to offering a low cost alternative to ‘official’ branded ink cartridges and a high proportion of recycled materials they are packaged in R-PET blister packs which contain up to 80% recycled plastic. All cartridges comply with the European REACH regulations (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) to assure protection of the environment in manufacture of all parts and materials.

Save Money and Save the Planet

November 18, 2010 · office politics, office supplies · Comments Off

Although it may initially seem like a paradox, particularly when considering a number of large companies who appear to sacrifice environmental ethics for profit; financial gain and environmental awareness are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Admittedly, the idea of simultaneously making money and benefitting the planet is not always a realistic aim for those who work in industries which necessarily impact upon the environment in the performance of their primary line of work- but for the vast majority of businesses it genuinely is possible.

The single biggest aspect to consider here is a very basic marketing concept which although relatively cynical in motivation is a genuinely ethical ethos if properly adhered to. Quite simply: ‘Eco Sells’. Given the increasing environmental awareness of the majority of the population, where there is no difference in price or quality, people will generally opt for a product or service which is actively eco-friendly compared to one which is not. If you are in a position to offer an environmental slant on your core line of business then it can really pay dividends. With the development of organisations who plant trees on your behalf in order to attain carbon neutrality, almost any company can quite literally buy their way into the environmentally ethical angle. Although this cost may be substantial to aircraft carriers, plastics manufacturers and other high carbon output businesses, to the majority of companies the relatively small cost is easily recouped by a cleverly targeted marketing initiative and the resultant upturn in sales.

If the step of ‘buying environmental credentials’ is a little too extreme for you then there are a multitude of smaller ways to embrace environmental friendliness and similarly keep cash in the company coffers. These simple practices essentially fall into two categories: using less and buying intelligently.

In terms of using less, common sense prevails. By turning off electrical equipment when not in use you use (hence pay for) less electricity which both saves money and reduces your impact upon the environment. The same applies to printing. Printing materials such as ink and paper can be costly and certainly play their part in depleting natural resources. A huge number of emails and documents are unnecessarily printed in large offices- bringing in codes of practice which prevent this will ultimately save money and benefit the environment.

Buying intelligently can refer to all aspects of a business, specifics depend upon the industry in which a company operates. Recycled or remanufactured office and stationery supplies and consumables for instance can now be purchased for the same price as standard items and in some cases even less. Finding ways to benefit both cash flow and the planet is a simple procedure which will ultimately pay dividends.

A Statement of Intent

October 15, 2010 · office environment, office supplies · Comments Off

DG Office Supplies are a company at the top of their game: expanding rapidly, exponentially growing their client base, furthering their presence both online and offline. In spite of this success and the ever growing collection of awards and accolades, this North West based company are not happy to just sit there and make money.

At the core of DG Office Supplies’ ethos is moral accountability and ethical activity. This mentality extends beyond just business and social ethics to embrace environmental awareness. Since their inception, DG Office Supplies have made a conscious effort to stock recycled items and environmentally friendly products. Their newly published Environmental Policy outlines their logic behind embracing environmentally sustainable office supplies and provides an overview of the ways in which they continue to strive to make recycled office supplies as popular as possible.

In addition to an incredibly diverse range of environmentally friendly office products, the company also run a toner and cartridge recycling scheme which not only minimises waste but also raises much needed funds for charity.

If you want great value office supplies which are also friendly on the planet, then make DG Business Supplies your first point of call.

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