A Beginner’s Guide to Office Supplies

From new start-up companies to businesses that have been in the industry for decades, one common element that no office can do without is office supplies. Office supplies ensure the smooth running of your day-to-day work and that different departments can do their jobs well. If you are a new business looking to procure office supplies for the first time or a small business owner shouldering many responsibilities, you might have many questions. What office supplies do I need? How do I save money on office supplies? 

With all the various options in the market, it is tough to differentiate between a ‘must have’ and a ‘nice to have’. To help you make an informed decision on office supplies, we are sharing a beginner’s guide to office supplies. This article has everything from various supplies available to some tips and tricks. Read on to find out more. 

1. Stationery Supplies

The basics of any office, school or work environment are stationery supplies. These common office supplies, from pens and pencils to scissors and notepads, allow employees to take notes, be creative, and make daily correspondence more impactful. To ensure that you have a well-stocked stationery cupboard, start with writing instruments such as pens, pencils, highlighters and markers. Once you have your writing supplies, invest in notebooks and post-it notes to keep your tasks organised and streamlined. If you deal with many documents at work, staplers or paper clips are must-have stationery items for the office. 

With most employees returning to work in some capacity, providing them with stationery kits is essential to reduce sharing and maintain physical distancing in the workplace. Here’s a list of must-have items to add to your employees’ stationery kit!

2. Organisation Supplies

An office is a busy place and can get messy really quickly. Office supplies can affect productivity significantly and, when not kept tidy, can ruin your flow at work. A cluttered workspace can also make employees waste time finding what they need during a busy day. Therefore, staying organised is essential. Stock up your workplace with staplers, hole punchers and binder clips to ensure your employees can keep their documents in order. Adding files and folders to your list is best to ensure your business does not lose important paperwork, such as legal documents and invoices. Finally, give your employees pencil cases and stationery organisers to keep their desks clutter-free. 

It’s easy to run out of office supplies, and unless you monitor their cost and usage, you will end up spending more than you have. We have written an article on how you can track, shop, and save money on office supplies while ensuring your office functions smoothly.   

3. Storage Supplies 

If your office produces a significant amount of paper-based work, having access to sufficient storage is a must. Filing cabinets, bookshelves, lockable cupboards and other storage units provide you with all the space you need to store important documents such as contracts, financial records and personnel data. They also allow for easy organisation and access when you need it. If you must store information for a certain amount of time, archive storage or storage boxes are an excellent investment. The storage boxes we offer you at Codex Ireland come with lids and can be self-assembled, stacked and labelled to make storage more convenient.  

4. Adhesives and Tapes 

With the evolution of e-commerce and the evolution of delivery services around the globe, the demand for high-quality adhesives and tapes has increased. Adhesives ensure that the packaging and products remain safe and secure until they are delivered to the customer. In addition to packaging, adhesives and tapes also provide excellent hanging solutions without the need to drill nails or screws into the wall. There are numerous adhesives and tapes on the market, ranging from lightweight, invisible tapes and adhesive tack to glues, hooks, and tape dispensers. 

The tapes we offer at Codex Ireland are available in various types and strengths, making them ideal for activities such as craft, repairs, and electrical work. They also work excellently on materials such as finished wood, tile, metal, painted surfaces and more.

5. Diaries, Planners and Calendars

For your employees and team members to be able to do their best job at work, it is essential for them to keep track of what’s coming up. Help them stay on top of deadlines and events by equipping them with desk diaries, planners and calendars. Calendars can assist your employees in planning their weeks, whereas planners can help them focus on their priorities. Various desk diaries and calendars are available in the market in multiple colours, designs, and sizes, with clearly laid-out days, weeks, and months to help you efficiently plan your busy schedule. Whether you’re looking to jot down your schedule, list personal goals, or keep track of meetings, appointments or important days, our must-have diaries and calendars have you covered.

6. Desktop Essentials

An average employee spends upwards of eight hours of their time at work. As a result, your company must provide them with all of the equipment and accessories they will require to make their day productive. A computer is a must if your business performs any advanced tasks. There are a few desktop essentials like copyholders, desk tidies to keep your cables out of the way, a laptop riser to maintain proper working posture, and letter openers and scissors for documents. While you are at it, don’t forget mouse pads, as they are important for the health of your wrists and your mouse. It’s also important to consider what your machinery will require as part of your office supplies, from the correct type of paper to the cables and wires needed to connect laptops to screens or monitors, and even a spare kit to ensure you always have a backup in case something goes wrong.  

Don’t know where to start? At Codex, we want to help you take the guesswork out of shopping and enable you to shop confidently. We have, therefore, prepared product guides for our most commonly purchased office products. Browse here. 

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Buying office supplies can be time-consuming, whether you're starting a new business or have been running one for a while. Shop for all your office furniture, such as sit-stand desks, office chairs, and essential office supplies, under one roof, and open an account with Codex. 

A Codex business account makes ordering easy and transparent. With over 25,000 products on our website, you will find everything you need, and we will deliver it wherever you need it. Each new account will also be assigned a dedicated Account Manager to discuss your needs and ensure that your account runs smoothly.

Open a Codex account today!