Can you believe we're halfway through the year? It's just flying by for me. It may be inventory time for your company now and if you have a supply stock room, you may be evaluating needs for that and stocking up on some of the essentials.  One such essential may be refill lead for mechanical pencils.

Really, an article about pencil lead? (How lame!)  Well, you might be surprised how many people have a difficult time choosing the right type of lead.  This won't be a novel by any means, but rather a quick "how to" guide to make your life easier.

How many times have you tried to seal a package and had problems with the packaging tape?  It's too thin, it doesn't tear easily, it doesn't stick well (except to itself).................. etc.  If you're like me - and I know at least some of you are - you've tried several brands in an attempt to find the one tape that can perform to your standards.  Enter T-Rex tape.  The T-Rex line of tapes bills itself as "Ferociously Strong Tape" that is "easy unwind and tear for fast repairs." 

That sounds like a challenge to me.

You know what comes next, right?  Uh huh.  I pick up the gauntlet - let the testing begin!

Is your office prepared for an emergency?  Would you know what to do if a coworker suddenly collapsed?  Do you know how to recognize sudden cardiac arrest?

A victim of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) may be fine one minute and collapse without warning the next.  The victim almost always dies without immediate intervention.  According to www.sca-aware.org, SCA is the third leading cause of death in the U.S, killing one person every two minutes.  The number of people who die each year from it is roughly equivalent to the number who die from Alzheimers disease, assault with firearms, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, diabetes, HIV, house fires, motor vehicle accidents, prostate cancer and suicides combined. 

Your usual copy paper may have been on backorder when you tried to buy some recently and you may have asked,  "What's going on with paper?"  A lot, actually.  The paper industry is in a bit of an uproar right now, at least as concerns uncoated white paper.  Demand exceeds supply and the market is getting tight.

Of course, the logical next question is "Why?" 

Employee safety is a top concern for any business.  Regardless of the type of business you have, there are always safety issues to address.  OSHA has rules and regulations that must be followed.  (Common sense provides some more.)  If you work in an office environment, you need first aid kits, fire extinguishers, exit signs and the like.  Warehouse/industrial buildings need things like hearing protection, hard hats, ladders, etc.

This article has the potential to elicit a spirited debate.  Some people have no qualms about paying membership fees for places like Costco or Sam's club, Barnes & Noble, etc.  Others absolutely refuse to participate.  How do you feel?  Does the industry/business charging the fee play into your decision?  I'm not referring to rewards programs - most rewards programs at places I shop are free.  I'm talking about membership programs that have an annual fee.

If you're planning a furniture purchase for your office this year, this article will interest you.  The following excerpt is taken from the April 2018 issue of the Trendway Dealer News:

"Potential Benefits from the New Federal Tax Laws

I think it's safe to say that most people either own a personal computer or work with one at their job, so I'm sure you will understand when I say that I really, really HATE the jungle underneath my desk.  I have a hard time comprehending how 4 pieces of equipment - computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse - can have 16 zillion cords attached to them.  Then they're plugged into the power strip or UPS backup device, which adds another cord.  And it seems like I'm kicking them all day long!

WRANGLE THE TANGLE!!

SPRING IS HERE!!  YAY!!!

You know what that means, right? 

S P R I N G   C L E A N I N G

My house is in serious need of a thorough spring cleaning and I'll bet yours is too.  And so is your office.  We carry lots of different brands of cleaning products and I could show you all the same old, same old stuff you see on everybody's website, but you already know that we carry that stuff.  Instead.................

TA DA!

I'm going to show you some things I bet you have no idea you can get from us.  This is going to be fast and furious, so try to keep up!

Everyone wants to be appreciated in their job.  Regardless of your level, we all want to know that we're doing a good job and that our boss notices. It's part of our nature and it's part of what drives our performance.  If we work hard and no one notices or recognizes us for our performance, we become passionless and uncaring.  We need that "atta boy!"

There are many different ways for bosses to reward employees and the trick is to find out what each employee values most.  Some people only want verbal recognition - a simple "Good Work, James!"  A stellar performance review in their file.  Others value monetary gains - bonuses, pay raises, profit sharing, etc. 

Fountain pens are not very common in the work place - in fact, I can honestly say that not only do I not use one (and never have), but I don't know anyone else who does.  And although we do offer them, I've never had anyone buy one from me.  So I was surprised when I found out that Zebra Pen has come out with a new line of fountain pens.  It just didn't seem like a product that is in demand.

Introducing "an easier fountain pen":

Fact or Fiction?

  Always buying supplies from the vendor with the lowest price saves the company money.

Regardless of the type of business you’re in, every company has safety and security issues to deal with.  You need the proper equipment and supplies to keep both your employees and customers safe and to avoid workplace accidents.

 What types of items do you think of when I say “Safety and Security”?  Let me guess:

We're all familiar with the standard black plastic desktop accessories and the black mesh accessories.  You may also have seen the higher-end clear acrylic accessories and wood collections aimed more at the executives in your company. 

Today I'd like to show you a unique look from Lorell.  This collection has an industrial design to it and comes in a matte bronze finish. 

Work gloves are a necessary part of many jobs - often their use can prevent serious injuries.  But do you know how to choose the correct type for the work you're doing?  All gloves are not the same and understanding the glove type, material and use will help you make the right decision.  Let's begin!

You asked for it, you got it!  

No, it's not a Toyota.  It's a BRAND NEW, SUPER FANTASTIC.......................

CUSTOM STAMP ORDERING WEBSITE! 

We heard you!  Our customers have been asking us to bring back online custom stamp ordering capabilities.  We wanted to wait until we had a great website to give you - one that is easy to use, easy to navigate and has all the items you want to order - and we think we've accomplished all that with this new site.

Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) is the largest community-based human and social services organization serving the Middle Eastern communities in the United States, with 40 outreach offices in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties in Michigan.  Founded in Detroit in 1979, it is a non-profit organization that, among other things, helps newcomers to the area adjust to their new environment.  ACC provides educational, employment and training, behavioral health, youth recreation & self-enrichment services, cultural activities, health services and economic revitalization.

I recently read an article by Dan Howarth on www.dezeen.com about a new innovation in the field of 3-D printing that may surprise you.  Researchers at MIT have partnered with Steelcase Inc. to develop a process they call Rapid Liquid Printing that changes 3-D printing as we know it and may make it possible to manufacture custom furniture in a matter of minutes.

Thieves get more ingenious every day.  When we find a way to foil them, they come up with a new scheme.  Does that mean we should stop being careful?  Quit locking our doors?  Not watch when we're in a dangerous area?  Of course not.

In the area of identity theft, thieves no longer need to steal your actual credit card - all they need is an RFID scanner and they can steal your credit card information just by walking past you if you aren't protected.

Here's a simple product that can help thwart those attempts - the Quality Park RFID Blocking Credit Card Sleeve.

Spring has sprung, trees and flowers are starting to bloom!  The grass is growing - and so are the sneezes, itches and watery eyes associated with allergies.  Pollen is actually present all year round, but it's much worse at this time of year.   You might have allergy meds on hand, along with lots of hand soap and facial tissues.

Yes, this is definitely not the time to run out of facial tissues and we've got a great item for you - the Kleenex zip half pack.