This month our theme is “Lean, Mean and Green!” and we’re featuring eco-friendly and recycled products.

Of course, the starting point (if you haven’t already done it) is to get recycling bins for your office. There are indoor ones for desk and kitchen, outdoor styles, color coded options, plastic ones, stainless steel ones - just tons of options. Start by getting your office organized and make sure everyone knows where the bins are and what they’re for. Then arrange for a service to pick up your recyclables weekly.

You’re off to a great start!

No, that’s not what I meant. (Shame on you!)

If your business handles cash, you are constantly on guard for counterfeit bills. Forgers are coming up with new methods all the time and you need to be diligent in your efforts to protect your business. We’re all familiar with the counterfeit detector pens, but those only tell you whether the bill is on genuine U.S. currency paper. UV lights will show you other features of genuine bills, giving you added protection. There are several counterfeit detector products available that offer UV light and I’d like to showcase two of those products today.

Well, here we are again - it’s time for some more Trivia! I had another idea pop into my head while driving one day recently. So……without further ado……today’s topic is:

Common Denominators

Spring is in the air! Flowers and flowering trees will be blooming and it’s time for spring cleaning. It’s also the perfect time to refresh your office and express yourself. Get rid of those boring black plastic trays and run-of-the-mill desk accessories! Update your workspace with stylish new desktop collections and colors!

Want to add some elegance to your personal space? Try the Ellypse Collection. This product line is not only sophisticated, it is also made from extra strong and shock resistant materials.

If you’re a regular reader, you know that I’m a geek for writing instruments. Well, today I’d like to show you two items - both of which claim to solve some significant problems for you. Will they earn fame or shame? Read on to find out!

First up is the Zebra PM 701 Permanent Marker.

Boy, does time fly! It seems like I just dropped off my son on move-in day for his freshman year of college. In reality, he’s a senior! As I was thinking about his graduation and his plans for grad school, I started reminiscing and remembering all the times I sat next to him on the couch, watching his favorite TV shows with him. Which, of course, leads me to today’s Trivia Topic:

Children’s TV Shows

Like it or not (I know many of you don’t), our world is technology-based. And technology moves at a very rapid pace. New inventions, faster speeds, networks, routers, more bells and whistles………………….honestly, it can make your head spin sometimes.

But it can also help your business run more efficiently.

There are two “red” events in February - Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month. In celebration of those two events, today we’re showcasing a few red items you may like.

Here are a few for your desk:

It’s award season - are you ready? Oscars, SAG Awards, Grammy Awards, etc. Personally, I haven’t watched any of them for years. I used to watch, but then the shows started getting

R E A L L Y, R E A L L Y L O N G

so I lost interest. Anyway, the Grammy Awards are coming up in a few days and I thought it would be fun to do some

Grammy Awards Trivia

Around this time of year, I always start thinking about redecorating my house - maybe paint a few rooms, redo the floors…..you get the idea. It’s also a great time to refresh your workspace and I have a quick and easy way to add a little character to your office.

Change your clocks! No, I don’t mean for daylight savings time. A lot of businesses have the same basic clocks on the walls. How about one with a little more style? Here are a few new items we’ve added this year:

t’s January - and you know what that means. New Year’s resolutions. The time of year when people vow to lose weight, exercise more, eat right and………….get organized. It’s also the time of year when I like to start showing you new products that will make your work life easier. Today we’ll kill two birds with one stone - figuratively, of course.

We all know that a happy employee is a productive employee - and most employees need their cup of coffee (or, if you’re me, hot chocolate) to get started in the morning.

It seems that lately I’ve been into history mode - older songs, older TV shows, etc. Today’s trivia is goes back even further than the others I’ve done lately, as I test your knowledge of:

Movie Musicals Trivia

I read an article where the author said that as online shopping becomes more prevalent, customer service is no longer necessary.

Wow.

Really? Are you serious?

I was shocked.  No, scratch that.  I was completely and utterly dumbfounded and flabbergasted.  Is this the way companies are thinking now? 

Sit-to-stand furniture has been the hot thing in furniture for some time now - it's the "in" thing for healthy office environments and helping employees to be more active at work.  A sit-stand desk can be the perfect solution for someone with nagging back problems or circulation problems because it allows them to get up and stretch their legs and back while still being able to do their work.  Even if you don't have issues, it's still a good idea to change positions every so often and not stay seated all day long.

Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful holiday break. Today I have the last trivia question of 2018 for you and I decided to go with your favorite category:

Common Denominators

Are you looking for a sophisticated pen with a high-end style, but not the high-end price? You all know how much I love to play with writing instruments and this one came on my radar a few days ago. It’s called the Sarasa Grand Gel Retractable Pen and it’s made by Zebra Pen.

The Sarasa Grand is a metal pen - not cheap plastic - and it has significant weight to it, so it feels good in your hand. It comes in 3 barrel colors - gold, navy and rose gold.

Have you seen it? It’s AWESOME!

We’re pleased to announce another enhancement to our website - online returns! You asked if there was a way to submit a return request online and we heard you! It’s quick and easy - and it’s live now!

There are several ways to get to the return screen - I’ll show you two of them.

It’s December - you know what that means! No, no, NO - not snow, ice and traffic accidents!

Christmas is coming!!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

With the kids jingle-belling

and everyone telling you be of good cheer.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Am I being a bit obvious? Yeah, I guess I am. Today’s topic is:

Christmas Trivia

A number of studies have been done on the issue of whether carpeting is good or bad as a floor surface. Proponents note that it reduces noise levels, especially on open floor plans, and that it is aesthetically pleasing. Opponents say that it has an adverse effect on air quality and collects dust, dirt and allergens which then make people sick. You can read an interesting article on the debate here on the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s website.

My dad struggles every fall and winter when the days start getting shorter. He’s seriously influenced by the lack of sunlight and it takes a heavy toll on him. This condition is called Seasonal Affective Disorder. People who have it may feel unusually tired or sad and have a lack of drive or energy during the short winter days. Extreme cases can result in depression.3

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can occur in your office as well. Employees may lack energy and lose focus, even fall asleep at their desks. You may be wondering what can be done to offset this or prevent it altogether. I’m glad you asked because there are some relatively simple changes that can be made to help keep your employees cheery and productive.