Project Organization: Amanda's Office Area Re-Organization, Part 5

Well here we are, the last of my re-organization posts! I hope you have enjoyed them... I thought it was fun putting together this series!

I thought we'd end on the inside of my most used desk drawer. Its definitely not the most interesting part of this series, but when I look at the before and after pictures, it sure had a big impact! Here is the before for reference:

Twelve years of junk built up in this drawer, folks. I have been HORRIBLE about purging and keeping this drawer cleaned out. Which is funny, because it's a highly used part of my desk. So the main part of this re-organization was cleaning out. I won't bore you with those details. But the organizer that was in there was probably 25 years old, and I decided it was time for an up-grade to better organize this space. So I chose this (to match the rest of my desk, of course!):

ITEM NUMBER: ROL 22131 (pg 787 in new catalog)

What I like about this organizer: its a bit larger (wider) than my old one, so it takes up almost the whole drawer-- which makes it feel like it's part of the drawer, and I really like that. No sliding around.  Also, all the slots are larger than the old one so it really does hold more stuff (if you want it to, of course- I purged so it's much emptier than before!). I just think it's a better fit for me. Here is the after:

Better, huh?! Everything I need, nothing I don't. It's fabulous!


Well, that's my office space. I hope you have taken something away from it (even if it's just some of our cool products!)-- let me know if you have any questions!

Project Organization: Amanda's Office Area Re-Organization: Part 4

One thing I always struggle with is the placement of my computer monitor on my desk. It takes up a lot of room, and the angle at which I look at it is a constant work in progress to get perfect. I can't tell you how many times I have tried to change the placement of my monitor to make it better. And it never fails, a few weeks in and I'm frustrated again. And it's little things- the tilt of the screen, how close it is to me, how far away it is, etc. I finally decided that it needed to be a bit higher so that I could look up at it (just a bit, not enough that I was straining my neck. In the office furniture business, that's a big no-no!)... so up it went. Are you noticing a trend? VERTICAL SPACE. Can't say it enough.

Here is a before picture:

We actually had a pleasant looking black platform laying around, so I used that, but we have lots of different option when it comes to monitor risers in our catalog.

I also have struggled (and this is going to sound crazy) on where to put my cell phone during the day. I normally don't do a lot on my cell during the work day, BUT it is the main contact number that my children's school and care takers have, so I need to have it close by just in case. Also, our delivery drivers text me with questions, so that's another reason it needs to be out and accessible.  And it hit me- a business card holder for the desk is the PERFECT solution for a cell phone holder! Sure, we cell lots of desk organizers that have this feature, but most of them are larger than I needed or wanted. I wanted a small something to just set the phone in. So I got this:

ITEM NUMBER: ROL 22251ELD (pg 787 in new catalog)

And it's been perfect! Great multi-tasking item, Rolodex!

I also needed a good place for everyday necessitites-- paper clips, pens, post-its, etc. Before I had a very bulky desk organizer (you can see it just to the right of my monitor in the before picture) that didn't work great. But I decided to try this:

ITEM NUMBER: ROL 1746466 (pg 786 in new catalog)

What I love about this: it holds all I need and still makes it completely accessible! The one I had before was all closed in and not functional at all. This one has open sections for paper clips and what not, and a drawer that is perfect for the post-it notes I use daily. It's great and still stylish (very important! ha!)

Now I feel organized and in control of my desk, thanks to very small changes I made. I've said it once I'll say it again-- use that vertical space! It makes things so much better!!

Here is an after picture:

See what I mean?? Tons more room!

How to know you're ready for a new office chair

Let's start this off by trying to put the decision into perspective: Would you spend only $60 on a new mattress?  A mattress that you sleep on every night.  A mattress that could lead to back pain with poor springs and little cushioning?  Probably not.  So why is your office chair looked at any differently?  And I know from talking to you that for some, more hours in our office chairs than we do in bed!

There are many options that can benefit your back and legs.  You may think you are saving when you buy an inexpensive chair, but 99 times out of 100 you end up paying with either poor quality or back pain. With our extra discounts on HON this month, now is a great time to consider a small investment in yourself.

Most of us spend about a third of our day sitting at our desk. The right chair can make a huge difference in your productivity, comfort and health. Are you ready for a new one? You probably are if...

- Your shoulders and neck are stiff and sore
- You have to stretch to reach your mouse or keyboard
- Your lower back aches
- The seat cushion provides little or no padding
- Your chair does not slide under your desk
- You have eyestrain
- Your chair is too narrow, long or short in the seat
- You're just plain uncomfortable!


Whether you sit at your desk for hours at a time or in spurts throughout the day, it is crucial to select a chair that supports your shoulders, arms and back. Having an ergonomic chair that offers support prevents you from hunching over or overstretching which can lead to chronic muscular problems. Ergonomic chairs allow you to make several adjustments to the height, back, arms and lumbar region. This is not a one size fits all, and there are many options from which to choose.

Here are a few tips on selecting an ergonomic chair that works for you.

Consider how you work. Do you spend a lot of time on the phone? Do you need to quickly access files or other items in desk drawers? Do you use the keyboard and remain in the same position most of the day?

Height: You should be able to sit comfortably, feet flat on the floor with your knees at a 90 degree angle. Look for a seat with a pneumatic lever you can raise or lower while seated.
Arms: Armrests take the pressure off your shoulders and neck which is especially important if you sit at the computer for a significant part of the day. When typing, your forearms should be just above the armrest, with your elbows resting on it. Look for armrests that adjust for both height and position to accommodate different activities.
Back: We all have a natural curve in the lower part of our spine, and it?s this area, the lumbar region, that can cause the most problems if not properly supported. That?s why a good ergonomic chair should include a lumbar support with adjustments for up and down, forwards and backwards to suit the natural angle of your spine. It should be high enough to support your shoulder and neck, while allowing for movement so you can reach for items when you need them. Spend a lot of time on the phone? Then you may want to check out chair backs that recline to suit your posture.
Seat width and depth: Look for a chair that gives enough depth in the seat so you have two to four inches between the back of your knees and the edge of the seat. The width should be at least one inch wider than your hips and thighs.
Headrests and footrests: These features aren't for everyone, but may be right for you. Headrests provide good support and prevent neck pain when talking on the phone in a more reclined position. If you want a footrest, select a free-standing one that allows you to rest your feet, keeping your knees at a 90 degree angle.

With literally thousands of chairs available to you, let our staff help in picking the right chair.  We can find you something that is both comfortable and stylish, and make your workday a little more enjoyable.

Portions reprinted care of biggestbook.com

Project Organization: Amanda's Office Area Re-Organization, Part 3

I don't know about you, but I watch a LOT of HGTV and DIY network. And one thing I have learned (among the many) is to use your vertical space. And when you have a small office space or desk area, that can make you or break you. It can give you SO much more room on your desk to work and spread out, and depending on what you're doing, that's a big deal!

I have always had a bulletin board hanging over my desk. However, it's basically been a landing space for a lot of personal items like my little boys' art work, pictures of said little boys, phone numbers I needed to remember, post-it notes with passwords on it for me to remember, etc. You know, important stuff! And honestly, this is probably the one area of my desk that prompted me to re-do my whole area- it was bad. A cluttered mess that was unprofessional and not fun to look at. So I set out yet again in our catalog to find a good solution.

Here is my before picture:

It's OK. You can say it. YIKES. It was bad! Pretty much the only thing I loved looking at in this area of my desk were the little faces smiling back at me. Definitely not the area or board! A big part of the problem was the busy pattern in the bulletin board. I love Vera Bradley as much as the next girl, but a sleek more professional look was in order. And I decided I had too many picture of my kiddos up and the post-its were out of control. All the information needed to be consolidated! So I started with finding the perfect board, and here is what I found:

ITEM NUMBER: BVC-SF0722581012 (pg. 382 of new catalog)

It was nice looking (warmer than what I had before), larger than the board I had before, and professional looking. Check, check, and check. So I took down everything and started from scratch. I consolidated all my notes that were on post-its and made a master list to hang on the bulletin board so that they were always in my line of vision (and got rid of all the colorful, seizure inducing notes) and cleaned it all up! Here it is in all it's glory:

See, I didn't get rid of ALL the pictures of my kids :) Just don't have as many. And I think it looks good.

I also want to share another product I used in this part of the re-organization. They are the display pockets that you see my lists in:

ITEM NUMBER: MMM WL854C (pg. 1450 in new catalog)

Melissa and I both are a little obsessed with these pockets. They are made my 3M and are 8.5x11" (so fit a standard piece of paper, or 8x10 photo) and are stiff; so much better than your normal sheet protector.  Here are the specs: Display Pocket.

I also splurged and got aluminum push-pins because lets face it- they look better than the standard push-pin! :)

ITEM NUMBER: GEM CPAL3 (pg. 379 in new catalog)

So that's my vertical space. I am sure I will add more to it, but for now I'm happy with how clean and "empty" it is! Do you have vertical space you're not utilizing to it's fullest? Try it! I promise you won't be disappointed! We have a ton of products you can use for this exact purpose that you can use in an office or a cubicle!

Project Organization: Amanda's Office Area Re-Organization, Part 2

I have a lot of "apparatuses" on my desk that take up a lot of room. A LOT of room. In fact, a big problem for me was that these apparatuses took up so much room, I didn't have a lot of work space! Something needed to be done, for sure. I will talk more about this in later posts, but vertical space is a beautiful thing. After dealing with this mess for a long time:

It was time for another layer of space. I needed a shelf, I determined, to hold some of said apparatuses. So my search started. I don't have a huge desk, so I needed something compact but that would be functional- not just add to my cluster I already had going. I found this in our catalog:

ITEM NUMBER: SAF 3604BL (pg 789 in new catalog)

I thought this could be a good solution- it was only 7" deep, so not obtrusive, had storage on each end for me to utilize, and had good shelf space for me to use. I decided to give it a try and I'm so glad I did! The scanner you see in my "before" picture was able to slide under the shelf, I have a check scanner for making bank deposits that sits on my desk that was able to go on top of the shelf, and my lamp also went on the shelf! It has not only given me more room, but visually it looks like I have more room, which is great. Here is the after picture:

Much better, right?! And I even have room to the right of it for my phone to sit. Which was always in my way before. This has been a great fix! And the storage on both ends has been great- things I need at my finger tips but that needed a home! Love it!

Project Organization: Amanda's Office Area Re-Organization Part 1

I love neat, organized spaces. Who doesn't!? But getting a space organized and KEEPING it that way are two totally different animals. Anyone can organize something and make it look good. But when it comes to your desk and office space, you want it to STAY that way so that it's functional and flows better.

I have worked at Tierney for twelve years. I have basically had the same desk accessories and organizational techniques that long, too. And one day I took a look at my space and it gave me hives. It was cluttered, tacky, and never STAYED organized no matter how many times I dug in to fix that problem. So I created a new mission for myself: to create an organized, FUNCTIONAL space that would stay that way! And look good while I did it :)

So, I have decided a blog series is in order. Each week I will highlight a section of my desk that I re-organized, share the products I used, and what works about the new system that didn't about the old.

My first project was to organize the corner of my desk that I use a LOT. It houses all our customer invoices, my catalog, pending purchase orders, custom orders, and important information I need to keep track of. It also (not purposely) severed as an In-Out box that I didn't like. So I needed to fix that. Here is a before picture:

Not horrible, I know. It just didn't function like I wanted. And LOTS of paper work would make it's way in there that didn't need to be there.

So I perused our catalog in search of a better option. And I came across this:

It has several different landscapes it can be used in, which makes it super versatile, it's not huge (a big criteria of mine, as the "before" picture shows my last file holder was huge and not meant for corners) and sits nicely in a corner. It is also meant to hold file folders, so the walls of it are higher than my "before", as you can see didn't hold file folders well. So this was it! Also, I saw that I could use it in a landscape that didn't allow for an in-out box :) That made me happy. (Don't you hate when there is an area that EVERYONE thinks is OK to just throw stuff on your desk? And it  gets buried under everything? Yea, this was the place on my desk where everyone put everything.)

And this is where I ended up:

ITEM NUMBER: ROL 1742322 (pg 785 of new catalog)

What I love about it: Everything has a spot. I think this is vital in any good organization plan, and certainly helps things STAY neat. The tall walls of the file folder sections are great so that nothing flops around and bends down, as did my "before" picture.  I even have a little place for my stapler! I love how clean and streamline this has made this area on my desk! I know it seems small, but it is a high-use area on my desk!

Hope you liked the first installment of Project Re-Organize Amanda's office! Stay tuned next week for bulletin board organization! Spoiler alert- this one was a MAJOR eye sore in my office! :)

Calendars have a finite shelf life

News, right? That's the kind of hard hitting information that I hope we provide you at Tierney. 

Jokes aside, there is a reason I bring this up.  By now, the majority of you have purchased your calendars, appointment books, miscellaneous dated good for 2014.  And that's good, because many if not most of them are going to be sold out any day now.  You see, the calendar manufacturers don't want extra product sitting around any more than you or I.  A set number of every SKU is created and distributed each year.  Basically enough to last through January based on the anticipated need.  The science behind determining that number isn't perfect of course so sometimes it lasts into February or March.  Sometimes a product is sold out the last week of December.  The exception to that rule is usually the most common of dated goods -- plain #17 calendar refills, plain wall calendars, etc.  Supply on these lasts into mid-Spring.  The point is, if you are still needing to order dated material for 2014, do it sooner than later.  If not, you may have to look up from your desk at a plain calendar instead of kittens in picnic baskets.

NEW catalog means NEW items to be excited about!

It's that time of year... NEW CATALOG TIME! Around here, it's always a really fun and exciting time to browse the new catalog and find all the new items. It is not uncommon to hear a gasp and an "ohhhh did you see that?!" coming from the office. If you don't have your 2014 catalog yet, you will be getting one soon. And if you don't get one in the next week or two, call and let us know so we can make sure you get one, too!

Each year, hundreds of new products are added to our catalog. They are either new items altogether for us or they are replacing an existing item. Either way it's exciting. SO, I thought that I'd take a few minutes to share and highlight MY top 10 items I'm most excited about in the new catalog!

Here it goes:

10. The Mighty Badge Name Badge starter kit.

Featured on pg. 304 of new catalog

I love this product. We have so many customers that want to order 1 or 2 new name badges for a new employee- which we gladly do custom work like that. However, it can get costly doing 1 at a time. I love that this takes that element out of the equation- you just make your own whenever you need it! And it comes in silver or brass, for laser or ink jet printers, so they look very professional and not "home-made"-- logos can also be added to customize your look.









9. Samsill Two-Tone Binders

Featured on pg. 326 of new catalog

Let's face it: office supplies can be (and look) boring. I am a person that is very attracted to fun and colorful things. And when you have to have a binder out in the open or sitting on your desk- isn't it more fun for it to be colorful?! There are 4 color combination available, and comes in a 1" or 1 1/2" capacity.














8. Redi-Tag Index and SeeNote Sticky notes

Index Sticky notes features on pg. 1167 of new catalog

SeeNotes featured on pg 1167 of new catalog

How many times have you wanted to mark your page in a catalog (specifically Tierney's catalog, ha!) and needed to make a note? Or write a note IN the catalog, but you were afraid to mess up the catalog? OR are you editing a report or document and need to make notes that aren't permanent? I love both these products- the SeeNotes are great, because they are transparent (and also come in different colors to draw your attention, not just the clear as shown) so you can make notes on anything, see the original document, and then remove the note when you're done. The Index notes are great for marking a page in something and making notes. Both products are also great to use on your work or personal calendar as well!



7. HON Purpose Seating

Featured on pg 115 of new catalog

HON has always been a leading manufacturer in style and quality of office seating, and they proved it again when they came out with their new PURPOSE line. With their innovative new "YouFit" technology, office chairs have never been more comfortable! It provides continuous support and a personal fit that is unique to each person that uses the chair. It also comes in an array of fun colors- black, orange, aqua, green, and burgundy to name a few. Visit HERE to watch a video on this chair!









6. Femme Floral Computer Totes

Featured on pg. 461 of new catalog

We have always carried a line of laptop and briefcases. And they are notoriously boring. And ugly. Or they are a backpack. And lets face it: if you're a woman in a professional position, you're not carrying a backpack. We FINALLY have a nice looking computer tote that doesn't look like a computer tote! I would carry this anywhere! It also comes in a hot pink, which is cute too.











5. SMEAD Erasable Hanging Folder Tabs

Featured on pg. 847 of new catalog

 This may seem like a tiny thing not worthy of making a top ten list, but really. If you have EVER filed before and ran out of new tabs to use (or you just couldn't re-use the old tab because you used pen to label it) you understand how great this invention is. You can write on this tab WITH PERMANENT MARKER and it will erase so you can reuse the tab! Genius! I think this should be the standard that comes in the file folder box!










4. SAFCO Onyx Stackable Mesh Storage Bin

Featured on pg. 920 of new catalog

I love organization. And I don't know about you, but I have a limited amount of space in my desk/office area. The reason I think this is a smart product is because it multi-tasks- hanging file folders, stackable items, but also small clips, pens, phone, etc. I like having it all in one place!













3. iPad and iPhone accessories/cases

iPad accessories start on page 680 of the new catalog

So this is a pretty broad catagory, but a good one nonetheless. We have always carried a limited line of these accessories, but this year they kinda exploded this year. I like the variety we carry and for all sizes of tablets, too. There are also accessories for some of the other tablets on the market (Samsung Galaxy for one).











2. BIC Brite liner Highlighter tape

Featured on pg. 1287 of new catalog

I got a lot of laughs when I got excited about this product. But come on! An eraseable highlighter that is also a tape, not a pen?! Pretty cool. Great for textbooks, magazines, catalogs, or important documents, this is sure to be popular just for the fun of trying it! It comes in a pack of yellow/pink together, or just 2 yellows.












1. PILOT B2P Bottle-2-pen Gel Pen

Featured on pg. 1231 of new catalog

A pen had to make my list. EVERYONE is so particular about their pens! If you are a "green" person, you'll love these. Each pen is made from a recycled water bottle! Good for the Earth and makes for a fun texture to grip. Also come in great colors! And I need to say- I normally hate gel ink pens, but these write great!

Why Toner Recycling Matter

Their are obvious reasons of course.  We like to think recycling with us matters even a little more.

What do you do with your empty toner cartridges?  Maybe you mail them back to the manufacturer.  Maybe not.  Whatever you do, don't trash them.  We make it easy to do good by the planet and help out the people of Kansas City.

We have partnered with Children's Mercy Hospital to take all of your used toner cartridges and keep them out of the landfill with our recycling process, and turn them into money for the children.  It is easy for everyone.

Just let us know you want to participate.  We send you a box with a prepaid UPS label on it.  You fill the boxes with your empty cartridges, tape it up, and hand off to UPS. We take care of the rest.

Each empty toner has value based on the need in the market.  Cartridges from older printers don't earn as much money as cartridges from the newest printers.  The old cores aren't used only to create remanufactured product.  That is why companies like Hewlett Packard include a label for you to return the product when you're done -- even OEM product has recycled material.

The End-of-life 6 Step Grinding Process

	1. Cartridge inspection All inbound units are inspected and designated for remanufacturing or grinding.
	2. Cartridges disassembled End-of-life units are disassembled.
	3. Cartridges sorted Components (plastic, blades, gears and PCR drums) are sorted for recycling.
	4. Grinding Cartridge plastic is inducted into the grinder to produce plastic regrind.
	5. Plastic ready for reuse Plastic regrind is reused in various injection molding processes.
	6. New product development New product is created utilizing post consumer waste which completes Clover’s closed loop process.

 

 

Welcome

We get asked questions.  A lot. All different kinds.  Some are easy ("What page is such-and-such product on in the catalog?").  Some are more difficult ("How many chairs will fit around the 18' conference table I am ordering?")  My hope is that this blog will serve as a place where we can help answer some of the more common, but difficult, questions we get. Sometimes finding the right product seems simpler than it really is.

Of course we can talk about more than just product questions in The Supply Closet.  Over the years we've learned thousands of tips and tricks to making life easier for our customers through both product selection and ease-of-ordering.  We'll feel our way through this and hope to add value to your already busy days.  If you have questions or ideas, let us hear them.  You are the reason we do what we do.

PS: The answer is 18 people.  HON suggests 18 people gather around your new 18' conference table.