Many office supplies have been the same for decades. Paper clips, legal pads, steno books and view binders really haven't changed much since they were first invented many years ago. But there is some innovation in office products, and every year a few new items catch our eye and are worth mentioning. Here's a list for 2011 of new office supplies we've seen online that are definitely worth a try.
These are items that improve productivity in an office by reducing effort, or making every day tasks a little easier. Sometimes they are products reengineered and made with recycled materials that are kinder to our earth. We've already written about innovation in staplers which had been the same for years. New reduced effort "one touch" staplers really are worth the extra dollars for their convenience and ease of use, and kudos to PaperPro for being the true innovators and bringing these to the market.
The first new innovative item I love is the new Zip Notes Sticky Notes Dispenser. This unique item takes rolls of Zip Note paper, and lets you dispense Post-It notes like scotch tape. The cool dispenser allows you to customize the size of Post-It that you want, be it a small one for little notes, or a very long one. Being able to customize the size reduces the need for you to buy multiple sizes of notes, and the roll paper is far less expensive than buying individual pads.
The dispenser itself looks great on a desk, (Zip Note #ZIP0023) and typically retails for around $20. 00. Refills come in a variety of colors in 150' rolls, and are usually priced under $7. 00 per roll. That's enough paper to make 600 3 x 3 sticky notes! The yellow refill is number ZIP0022, and you can find Zip Notes products at quality independent online office supplies stores.
My next favorite item is a new line of pens from Pilot called BeGreen B2P Bottle Gel Pens. They get their name because they are made using recycled plastic water bottles that are clogging up our landfill space. They are smooth writing roller ball pens with awesome gel inks that glide on smooth. They come in three colors and an assortment pack of black, blue and red. The assortment item number is PIL31607 and they retail for around $6. 00 for a pack of three. Help reuse our recycled plastics with BeGreen pens!
Last, I just love the new line of Eco-binders from Cardinal brands called EcoSmart. Binders are notoriously bad for the environment because of the plastics used for the vinyl, and the metal for the rings inside binders is not biodegradable. EcoSmart ring binders are molded with 90% recycled polypropylene, and get this. The binders are 100% recyclable, even the rings, with no disassembly required.
EcoSmart binders are available as view binders with a clear front overlay for a presentation page, or as reference binders for storage and standard binder uses. They come with 2" rings, and have a five year guarantee not to break or crack. The environmental benefits are huge, but the binders are also very easy to use with a one touch trigger to open. Retailing for around $15. 00, these binders are well worth the added cost because of their durability and "green" benefits.
The best place to find these new office products is through independent online office supply dealers. Never shop at big box retailers for your office supply needs. They are typically more expensive, the service is terrible, and I prefer to support local businesses, not mega-corporations. I do good work with a new office supply company that ships next day for free, and gives back 50% of profits to great charities. Search them out, and feel good when you purchase office supplies. These three unique new products will help your productivity and the environment!
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