Renovating your Garden for Summer

November 16, 2011 · Uncategorized · Comments Off

Designer Garden

During the winter season, people are at an advantageous position in which they can plan a complete overhaul of our gardens. Renovating gardens in the months before summer can give you much more time to shop around, find a style that is right for you and build your dream garden; ideal for entertaining guests and hosting dinner parties. Consider purchasing some modern additions for you renovated garden, some high quality designer garden furniture can be a fantastic way of impressing family and friends during a summer BBQ or get together.

If you are planning a large scale overhaul when renovating our garden then consider getting stuck into some serious landscaping. Remodelling your garden but only in content but in the physical layout and appearance can add new life and energy to your household. Measure how much space you have at your disposal and consider the features you wish to include. Do you want a large seated dining area for hosting? Or are you more interested in creating a tranquil paradise when you can unwind, enjoy the sunshine and relax? Asking yourself these questions will help to form a picture in your mind of what sort of features your garden should include.

Adding lighting to your garden can add a huge amount of style, placing a fire pit or solar lanterns around the area can look great when dining outside on a summers evening. As the sun sets the gentle glow of your garden lighting can ease the transition between day and night and being a warm feeling to the table. This is another addition that can look great and have an added effect when hosting a dinner party or gathering.

Water features are certainly a great way to add a luxurious touch when remodelling your garden, but be sure to source a feature that is a little different from the common water features you tend to see quite often. If possible, opt for a larger, more impressive feature; adding a common pillared water fountain is not going to make your garden stand out from others. Strategically situating your chosen garden lighting near your new water feature can look stunning at night; illuminated running water will add a real touch of class to and dinner party.

So there we have it, some simple tips and ideas that can make a fantastic difference when planning a garden renovation. Remember, the sooner you plan what additions you want to make, the more time you will have to create your dream garden and wow the neighbours!

This post was written on behalf of DG Office Supplies

Merry Christmas From Office Supplies Info!

December 23, 2010 · Uncategorized · Comments Off

Well ladies and gentleman we sincerley hope that you’ve enjoyed our recent festive posts and that some of the tips and hints have been of at least minor usefulness!

We shan’t be posting over the Christmas period but will return with a vengeance in the New Year. If there are any specific topics you would like us to write about in 2011 then please get in touch, similarly, if you would like to write a guest blogpost to be published on here or would like one of us to write a guest blog post to be published on your site then let us know.

We hope you have a truly tremendous Christmas and New Year and look forward to sharing more thoughts, ideas and stories with you all in 2011!

A Brief History

August 11, 2010 · Uncategorized · (No comments)

As a child, I always associated brief cases with being a proper grown up. Even to this day, I think you’ll agree, a businessman or woman hurrying down the street with a briefcase firmly clasped in their hand is an image of power and success. You assume they’re rushing off to some important meeting, racing to close a deal, or scurrying to deliver important documents to MI5. In reality they’re probably just running for the train, and their briefcase may only contain the remnants of lunch and a note to call their mother. Nevertheless, a briefcase is a sure fire way of getting the message across that you mean business.

The Budget
Arguably, the most famous briefcase in England is the one used to hold the details of the budget. Every year the chancellor stands on Downing Street clutching the same very worn, but very important red budget briefcase. This tradition is one that dates back to 1860, since this time there have been a few budget briefcases but they have always been red. The contents of the budget case are so important as they have the power to change the lives of every single person in the country. For better or for worse, when we see that briefcase, we all know that it’s time to pay attention. Would it be so impressive if he was just carrying a folder? I think not.

Film and TV
No blockbuster bank robber or dodgy salesmen would be complete without a brief case amongst their possessions. Even Lost’s Sawyer used a briefcase at the centre of his cash scam. Possibly the most talked about briefcase in a film is the one in Pulp Fiction. Jules and Vincent (played by John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson) are on a job to retrieve a briefcase. The viewers however never get to find out what is in the briefcase, all the viewer sees is a bright glow emitting from the case as it is opened. The Pulp Fiction briefcase contents will remain a mystery for all time. And just think, as much as we all love the iconic Reservoir Dogs image, you can’t help but think that it might have been just a little cooler if one of them were carrying a briefcase.

Browse through the briefcase section next time you’re ordering your office supplies. It might be just the thing you need to finish off your ‘professional’ look. No one need ever know that you’ve only got a banana some pens and a notebook in it.

Easy Rewards For Your Office Team

August 11, 2010 · Uncategorized · (No comments)

No matter how old we get, we all love getting a reward. Those little golden stars that we were all rewarded with at school paved the way for a long term expectation for rewards whenever we perform well or go above and beyond the call of duty. As we get older we’d all prefer for those little gold stars to be replaced with little gold coins, and any good employer should provide monetary reward whenever possible if it is deserved. However, not every good dead can always be rewarded with a hefty bonus (unless you’re a banker of course). So there need to be other methods of showing your workers that they are appreciated and valued. Rewards can be fashioned out of things you already have access to. Have a route around your office supplies cupboard to see what you can find……….

Score Board
Invest in a couple of pin boards, and give one to each team or employee. Whenever a worker does something that deserves recognition reward them with a pin. At the end the quarter, add them all up and give your winner a prize or bonus. Think of it as an updated version of the old school stars system.

Sweets
The easiest way to reward a hard working team is to ply them with chocolates, biscuits and other tasty treats. A box of good quality biscuits can go a long way to making your team feel happy and appreciated.

Extra Play Time
Give your best team a bit of extra time off one afternoon and allow them to take over the meeting room for a bit of extra play time. Get out some board games or get a few rounds or hang man going for some team building fun. Or for true chill out time, stick on a DVD, put the kettle on and give them a well deserved break.

Stationary Picker
Give them a budget and allow them to pick whatever they’d like from your office supplies supplier. I’m sure every worker has had they eye on a new briefcase, posh pen set or electronic diary at some point. If you’re getting you office supplies from the right place you’ll be able to get some good deals.

Birthdays
There is no excuse for forgetting your colleagues and employees birthdays. Make use of the good deals your stationary supplier has by ordering things that would make great birthday present. Cameras or personal diaries make great gifts but don’t have to break the bank.

The Shredder – A Simple Precaution Against Identity Theft

July 5, 2010 · Uncategorized · (No comments)


Identity theft is a serious business and is the fastest growing crime in the UK and the work place has a responsibility to protect its business and its clients business. It is estimated that identity theft is costing the UK economy about £1.2 billion a year, it doesn’t only happen to individuals but also to commercial businesses but it can be an expensive problem, not only in terms of lost revenue but also in time taken to solve or fix issues related to it.

Identity theft can happen in different ways for businesses. If criminals get hold of company information, he may change details at Companies House and use them to purchase expensive consumer goods or apply for bank loans; leaving the real company to foot the bill. They can also use stolen information to hijack websites and direct customers to fraudulent websites, so although individuals and companies are aware of identity theft, they currently do very little to protect themselves so using simple office supplies can help.

It is also important for a business to remember that if it collects clients’ information, under the Data Protection Act; it is the business’ legal responsibility to keep the information safe. If a business is negligent of the information it collects from its clients, it may be liable to a massive fine.

An office shredder that is regularly made use of can truly make a difference both short and long term. By not taking proper precaution against identity theft, the business is not only taking financial risk but is also risking its reputation if customers find that it is the source of the identity theft.

Rubbish bins are great source of information for identity fraud criminals whether the office is a home based one or a huge company building. Most worryingly, a quarter of employees throw paper works in the bin without destroying first.

Fortunately, it’s easy to make sure that all company info and client details are safe. The best way to make sure that information is destroyed is to shred the paper which makes it important for a business to invest in a heavy-duty shredder. There are many shredders available on the market with varying costs, but the security benefits of an office shredder far outweigh its cost.

When choosing a shredder, it’s important to consider the size of the company and how much paper waste it produces everyday. It is also important to consider sensible disposal of CDs which are used to backup sensitive data. Buying a cheap shredder can make for a bad business investment so researching is important. Using a shredder is a simple precaution against ID theft and offices around the globe need to be on top of this security issue.

Submitted by J. Rock on behalf of Just Ears Ear Defenders and Speeding Solicitor Motoring Offence Solicitor

Tips for Furnishing an Office

July 1, 2010 · Uncategorized, office environment, office furniture · (No comments)

Perhaps its time to buy new office furniture and it’s a large environment where many people are working together. Research your environment and the space, furnishing an office should be considered seriously and long term.

Considering the amount of time that colleagues are sitting at their desks is all too important and should in some cases come above spending less. Looking at employees who are working overtime and spending a huge amount of their working day in their seats staring at the desktop will help when it comes to the bigger purchases, spending more time now could save money in the longer term. Employees want to be comfortable at work, think less complaints and a more productive team and it becomes clear as to why furnishing an office should be researched before purchasing.

Even when shopping for furniture for a small home office, the considerations should be the same. Consider injury that can come with use of furnishings that are uncomfortable, not suitable for the job or simply wrong for the purpose it was intended for. Chairs may have built in back support, some colleagues may need foot pads to rest their feet on, desks may need paper stands and computers may need anti-glare covers. Reducing the amount of strain on employee’s bodies at this stage will help avoid potential injuries and assist longer term in keeping colleagues comfortable at work.

A business nearly always has a reception area where a functional, accessible and well equipped desk is required. Office furnishings around this area will also include items like good filing cabinets, audio and communications systems as well as being clear of loose wires and having good lighting. Efficient and proper systems that help with organising and communicating will mean the person working in this area is comfortable and will help reduce the chances of repetitive strain through use of a comfortable chair and a useful easy-to-manoeuvre around desk.

The reception are may also involve an area where clients can wait. This requires a safe environment that is light and free from potential hazards. It is usually an area on which a business allows themselves to spend a little more on as the reception area is the first point that any client will see of the company. Cutting costs in this area is not advisable as buying low quality seating and furniture that does not match a companies reputation may put clients off as they form their opinions whilst waiting.

Although it is difficult to pay for high end office furnishings when a business may be struggling in other areas, considering comfort over price can truly make a difference when looking at the time being spent at work.