Last Christmas we told you of the almighty Hercules, God of all paperclips. We let you into the secret of the great paperclip escape and how every year since then, as a commemoration to the scared Hercules escape and the new found freedom of the enslaved paperclips, all paperclip Nationwide plan their own mighty missions, their own plans to leave their torturous captivity. Paperclips still today campaign for their rights, fight for their freedom which they can still only achieve by breaking free. Still today paperclips fight for the opportunity of a free life, one that will not enslave them at any point and force them into situations where they must revolt and break laws….all this thanks to you Hercules, oh lord almighty.

Now one year on since revealing the story, Hercules is now more famous than ever! THE most talked about paperclip, Hercules is still an ‘A’ list celebrity in the stationery world, and some are worrying that it may have gone to his head a little! Wonder of all wonders, you’ll even find ‘pin ups’ of him in some young staples bedrooms, despite the fact that staples have a deep resentment towards paperclips (as unlike them, paperclips are able to bind papers AND be individual, staples do so hate the fact they come bound so tightly together in strips, they’re so unbelievably envious of the paperclips independence). But all is not well with Hercules…

We’ve gathered since the paperclip ‘awakening’, that Hercules is no standard wire binder. He has a certain intelligence which is unusual in a stationery item of his type. We’ve all here’d that calculators have it and that even Post-it notes have something pretty special (how are they able to stick and stick again and stick again and not fall down?), but a paperclip? To find the brainpower to conjure up such a plan, goodness only knows how something without a head has such wisdom! However, with Hercules new found freedom and fame, he has been led astray, exposed and has seen things that no paperclip should ever be exposed to. Loving the celebrity lime light he threw himself into it, making it to every party going, every grand opening, and even found himself on various TV shows such as CBeebies Mr Maker and ITV’s, A Touch of Frost!

The demand was high and the pressure was great, Hercules was beginning to buckle. He formed a nasty drug habit and ended up in rehab. Within weeks of being released he turned to booze. You may wonder how on earth a paperclip could consume anything; however you haven’t considered Hercules intelligence! He discovered that paperclips are not solid at all, in fact, they are relatively straw like. If you examine a paperclip under a very, very, very, very strong microscope, you will find that it is in fact hollow, with the tiniest hole running through the very middle of the paperclips length.

Goodness knows what will become of Hercules now, he doesn’t appear to be showing any signs of corrosion or wear, but then he is coated in day glow pink with green stripes which could be protecting his outer’s.

Hercules spent this Christmas rather alone, reflecting on the time that has elapsed since his great escape, and secretly (although he’ll never admit it), missing his life in the office, where everything was routine, everything was safe and where he knew exactly what each day would have in store for him. We shall re-visit Hercules next Christmas and with any luck, he may even give us an interview. Until then, from all of us here at Office 365, we wish our Hercules all the best and can only hope he finds his old strength and makes a full recovery.

For most of you, this is your final chance to get your supplies in ready for the new school term! You’ll need colouring supplies and desk tides, paper, glue, staplers, staples, erasers, sharpeners, OHP film, paper clips, sticky tape, scissors, pens; the list is endless and that’s just for the classroom! For the school office you’ll need to stock back up on ink cartridges for your printers and fax machines, rubber stamps, telephone message pads and so on. But what all the kids leaving their primary schools are preparing for is of course their top school supplies!

They’ll need a list of supplies that include; pencils, pens, colouring supplies, geometry sets, rulers, erasers, sharpeners, calculators, binders and pockets, highlighters and so on. Luckily Office 365 are your one top shop and so rather than trawling though your high street shops for your long list of supplies, try finding everything you need here! Plus, if this is your first order with us, we’ll give you 10% off. Coupled with our Price Match Guarantee, you’re sure to find the best deal going with us!

One of the most wanted top school supplies in demand right now is the binder. Also highly beneficial for those starting college or 6^th form, the binder is an essential tool for storing class work, case studies, coursework, homework, artwork, and so on. To narrow down the incredible list of options for you, we’ve picked out one which seems to tick all the most essential boxes. We needed to look at first and foremost, value for money, then durability as we wouldn’t want to recommend one which will fall apart and finally capacity. We found this;

The Elba Index Ring Binder featured most certainly has it all, and more!

• Extra wide covers enable the file to be used in conjunction with dividers or punched pockets without them protruding
• Four D-ring binding mechanism with 40mm capacity!
• Clear ticket holder on spine for easy identification of contents
• Full clear pockets to front and back covers
• Size: A4
• White
• Packed 4
• Just £41.83 inc VAT!

This robust pack of binders will hold all your punched pockets, indexes, tabs and a huge abundance of paperwork effortlessly whilst allowing full personalisation. Coming in packs of 4 means that you can have one for each subject, or one for each child! This one certainly gets our approval, however there are plenty where that came from. So for a full list of available binders, come and explore our world of stationery at Office 365 UK!

After working in many offices over the last 10-12 years there are certainly a number of tools which I know we couldn’t have done without! There are various replaceable items in the office today and as paper is being phased out and we turn to the technological world, there are many paper and stationery items which have become redundant over the last decade or two. However there is one irreplaceable tool which deserves recognition for the impact it makes in an office. It allows organisation at a high level and for messages to be relayed within the offices without risk.

Duplicate telephone message books are a fantastic concept which make for the perfect alternative to repositionable notes and note paper. Yes, they are the same concept, a piece of paper on which a message can be written, however thanks to their headings and pre printed text, they save time and enable you to get to the point of the message. Ideal for the office and the home, our telephone message pads will not fail to get your message across. Giving a professional, organised approach and impression, thanks to the duplicate nature of these pads, there can be no allegation of failing to pass on the message! The duplicate paper means that you can see and prove that you have passed on the message and where the copy has been lost, you can refer to the original!

Our telephone message pads are available from 5 Star, Challenge and Post-It, each one featuring the duplicate facility using carbonless paper for less mess when creating copies! Available in packs of 1, 10 and 12, you’ll find a number of added features such as vibrant colours to stand out, perforated, easy tear pages, sticky repositionable adhesive so that messages can be stuck to places where the recipient is likely to see them and more.

Our favourite is the 5 Star Telephone Message Book featured.

• No carbon required (NCR) paper provides a duplicate message and therefore a permanent record of message, date etc
• Wirebound
• Sticky edge so message can be repositioned
• Size: 279 x 152mm
• 320 messages (4 per page)
• 80 Pages
• Just £8.33 INC VAT!

Bearing in mind this pad should be priced at £23.59, you can see that you’re getting a real bargain! What’s more not only does it feature carbonless, mess free paper, but it also has sticky edged pages so that notes are repositionable and can be adhered to stand out areas such as monitors, keyboards and telephones. With every feature you could possibly need from a telephone message pad, this one has to be the best option, plus at this price, it ticks every box!

‘Memory is such a fickle thing’, which is why it’s always a good idea to keep handy and in full sight a 5 Star 2013 Wall Calendar. An at a glance reminder of what day it is; whether one day seems very like another, or it was a heavy one the night before, this handy wire bound wall calendar will keep you up to date.  What’s more its 249 x 231mm size and large easy to read numbers will assist those of us still resisting the call of the opticians for glasses! No need to go fumbling for your diary, you can squiggle those important events straight up.  Public Holidays are shown, so you can start planning that important vacation or just dream of lying in your hammock in the garden!  You can order this product in bulk if you have other needy friends. Our Price – Just £1.44!

While a wall Calendar is handy for a quick reminder, those on the go may need constant reminders.  This is where the Post-it Multi Notes Cube comes in extremely handy.  Phone numbers, names, email addresses, book marking, messages or moments of inspiration often need to be jotted down, before they fade, or drop out of our ears. With this cheerful array of colourful notes/page markers, you can suit your mood, maybe a pink note for an urgent message, or an orange one for a fruity message! Whatever your desire you have it at your finger tips, to be organised. The notes come in yellow, green and blue and in size, 76 x 76mm, while the page markers come in colours orange, green and pink and size 25 x 76mm. Our Price – Just £2.91!

An absolute must is the 5 Star 2013 Diary Week to View Full Week on Two Pages featured. There are so many moments in life that we need to note, reminders that are too big for the wall calendar and not appropriate for a post it note.  Those vital appointments, reminders or passing thoughts can easily be accessed or alternatively kept secret in a personal diary. A diary can also be a personal history of our past, and so often they are kept as a keepsake. This particular diary is fully section sewn and shows a full week on two pages. With its colour matching ribbon marker it is easy to separate the 70gsm white wove pages. This handy size A5 (210 x 148mm) will fit in most bags to have it constantly by your side – Just £1.42!

Do you have to ask someone for a pen again?! You obviously don’t have one of these!  This Avery DTR Eco Pen Pot has 10 compartments and is easy on the eye with its stylish leaf design. Rather than turning your desk upside down trying to find a pen, store them in this handy and presentable desk tidy. Small items such as paper clips, pins, erasers and more can also be stored in the pots compartments along with other such as scissors and 30cm rulers! Of course you can put anything in it, handy for those packs of mints and toe nail clippers! This has to be one of the most important desktop products to save our sanity! Just make sure when putting your pens back that you only store the ones that work! This contemporary leaf design is made of 96% post-consumer recycled plastic, and is fully recyclable. Available in blue or black, this product is just £7.38!

Our final office must have is the ultimate of office organisation and has to be a filing cabinet! This fine example comes in a helpful lightweight steel and is made by Trexus Bisley. The SoHo Steel Filing Cabinet is fully lockable and has three, A4 drawers. The unit’s overall measurements are W413 x D400 x H672mm. Without one of these you can be sure of utter chaos; however what makes it better than the rest is its small lightweight nature. Ideal for the home or small office its lightweight manoeuvrability makes it easier to transport around, so you can change your mind as many times as you like! This modern solution to storage offers versatility and is also economical.  Now you can keep safe and accessible all office/home documents and even those irreplaceable drawings your three year old Picasso has lovingly produced.  It comes with 2 shallow drawers and one A4 filing drawer, and is designed to accommodate A4 suspension filing with 330mm centres.  A single action lock on the two bottom drawers, makes everything secure. Our Price – Just £70.29

So you’ve been promoted to PA huh?! Well good for you, however now you need to live up to the job in hand! You need to impress, be willing, and be capable to do everything involved in being the most vigilant personal assistant. The idea is that you make your boss’s job easier. Lighten their work load, alleviate their stress, keep track of their goings on and keep everything running smoothly and effectively. But what does this involve exactly? Well, other than professionalism and confidentiality, you will need to be organised, VERY organised, self motivated and of course computer literate.

Other than the obvious, it is imperative that you have a confidence when dealing with others; you will need to be ‘thick skinned’ and professional when dealing with difficult people and CEO’s. You must be able to keep a calm head when under pressure. Pleasant communication is key; influencing and negotiating with others for their time and their resources. However you must also take into consideration that you are effectively your boss’s go between. Correspondents will go through you first, and all written communication will be by yourself, on their behalf, so brushing up on your written communication skills is as important as your verbal ones!

Of course you will need to be clued up on all the relevant computer programs and IT skills as well as having a good knowledge of internet skills and e-commerce. Technological skills is a must these days.

But how can we help? Here at Office 365 we have a fantastic selection of essential stationery items for the successful PA. Take a look at the list below;

Diary – You will need to organise your boss’s to do list, meetings, interviews and various other arrangements, and so will make a diary of all time commitments reminding them of arrangements made. We have a vast selection of diaries here from desk to pocket, week-to-page, to, day-to-two-page options.

Dictation Machine – Take dictation – this will often prove a much more effective method of reminder than note taking. We have a selection of dictation machines and dictation tapes here at Office 365.

Minute Book – Of course you will need to attend events and meetings, you will even need to book, manage, prepare and minute meetings. Here you will find a supply of minute books perfect for this.

Accounts Books – As PA, you could even be responsible for managing a budget, in which case an accounts book certainly wouldn’t go amiss!

Presentation Supplies – You will even be required to prepare presentations, and so basic supplies such as flipcharts and pads and projector systems would be beneficial.

You will find a huge variety of stationery and office supplies here at Office 365 and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, all you have to do is ask. We’re always on hand to help in any way we can. 0870 766 1624 – You’ll find offers across the board, an unbeatable price match policy, plus 10% off your first order‼

Ah hah! We have the perfect security essential for your business right here and it’s significantly cheaper than any CCTV system, that’s for sure! Our little gem not only keeps tabs on who comes into your premises, but also gives a very professional first impression to visitors and clients which will only impress! By using our duplicate visitor’s books we can help reduce criminal activity carried out against organisations by preventing the unauthorised entering of visitors and ensuring that all authorised visitors can be easily identified using the included visitor badges.

When using our visitors books with badge inserts, your visitors will be managed efficiently through your reception area, and you can be sure that in doing so, you’ll also be giving an impeccable first impression. It’s very simple to use; your visitors will basically write their details onto the visitor badge insert, which in turn duplicates into the book as a permanent visitor record. What’s more, the integral security sheet ensures that your visitor’s details remain completely confidential.

Our Durable Leather Look Visitors Book is the ideal choice for any business and with our selection of badge insert refills, you can be sure that it will last you for years on end!

• Practical visitors book contained in a stylish ‘leather look’ padded cover
• Contains 100 easy to complete badge inserts which can be used with the 60x90mm DurableVisitors Badge
• Perforated top copy tears out for insertion into a security badge
• Duplicate details are retained as a permanent visitor record
• A security sheet ensures complete visitor confidentiality
• A simple ‘time out’ sheet ensures keeping track of visitor departures is easy
• Just £23.70!

As it’s made by durable, you can be absolutely sure of its environmental impacts too:

The Green Bit

DURABLE products are particularly eco-friendly thanks to their durability. The plastic materials they use are robust, have excellent recycling properties and can be disposed of together with normal refuse with no problem at all.

In accordance with its guiding principles, Durable continuously aim to further optimise their ecology-oriented management. Their aim is to develop products that are largely recyclable (of course they should also be produced at low cost and yield a reasonable profit!). To meet this ideal as closely as possible, Durable continuously carry out critical analyses of the environmental impact of their products and production processes. Thus the material thicknesses of their products and above all, their packaging are constantly reviewed for possible enhancements. Through packaging modifications developed in-house, Durable have been able to achieve significant material savings and reductions in volume. Durable also demonstrate their responsibility towards the environment through their purchasing policies. Important decisions in favour of ecologically sustainable production are being made in regular project meetings between their purchasing department and suppliers. Careful selection of optimal materials is one way to protect the environment.  The right choice of suppliers is also as important to Durable. They never fail to check whether the manufacturers and their suppliers are certified, and how they are being regulated. These questions must always be answered before they decide on any purchase.

Using a visitor’s book can mean the difference between an unidentified thief with many losses to your business, and a thief identified or deterred without any negative consequences to your business, other than your time. If when a person enters your premises they are required to fill out their details not only will they be aware that their presence is logged and so be deterred from carrying out a crime, but you will have their details for questioning should anything untoward happen. Many companies now use visitor’s books for just this.

Our range of Durable Visitors Books have an additional feature which would also be beneficial should there be an incident in your business. With the use of visitors badges each person that enters the building will effectively carry a ‘name tag’. This will not only deter them, but would also indicate to everyone present who they are so that in the event of crime witnesses can not only describe the criminal, but state their name too. This form of security has proven extremely beneficial to businesses mainly as a deterrent.

Take a look at our Durable Visitors Book for example. It features:Your

• Practical visitors book contained in a stylish ‘leather look’ padded cover
• Contains 100 easy to complete badge inserts which can be used with the 60x90mm Durable Visitors Badge
• Perforated top copy tears out for insertion into a security badge
• Duplicate details are retained as a permanent visitor record
• A security sheet ensures complete visitor confidentiality
• A simple ‘time out’ sheet ensures keeping track of visitor departures is easy
• Just £23.70!

You’ll also find Durable visitors book refills here at Office 365, so that when you run out, you don’t have to buy the whole lot all over again!

If you’d like any further help and guidance on how to make your workplace safe, secure and efficient, why not get in touch with one of our team who will be more than happy to run through other security measures you could take – 0870 766 1624.

Last year we recommended to you our faithful and loyal customers, a fantastic Christmas gift idea; the Christmas Hamper. However we ended up inundated with people looking for Christmas Hamsters! So today we yet again bring you the announcement that Office 365 sell gorgeous Christmas Hampers, the perfect gift for staff, clients and customers with plenty of different options to choose from. But please, if you’re looking for the perfect Christmas Hamster, you’ll need to go to your local pet shop! I really don’t think you’re child would be particularly pleased with a basket filled with nice grub instead of their new squeaky friend, just as Vice Versa, I’m not sure what your clients would think if you bought them a hamster?  We are Office 365 for a reason, buy your animals elsewhere!

This year instead of offering you ready made hampers, we’re giving you the chance to create your own! All you need to do is find the box or basket that you’d like to present the goodies in and we’ll do the rest. Take your pick from a large variety of different goodies and treats that would put a smile o the face of any recipient. But what’s more, it doesn’t even have to be a food hamper, take a look at your options;

• Food – Choose from items such as Cadbury’s chocolate fingers, Cadbury’s biscuit selection, Crawford’s biscuits, Fox’s biscuits, Fair-trade biscuits and many more from Maryland, McVities, Oreo, Go-Ahead and Traidcraft. We also have various different chocolates and sweets available from Cadbury’s, Divine, Fox’s, Mars, Mentos, Nestle and Twix. Finally select from various different hot and cold beverages and you have the perfect hamper selection!
• Stationery – Why not create the perfect hamper for your child starting school, college or university, or indeed the ideal hamper selection for your friend or loved one starting their new job? Select from a wide variety of pens, paper, rulers, ink, pads, envelopes, labels, files, pockets, diaries and calendars. With a great selection of all these bits and pieces, your child, friend or loved one can be all prepared for the year ahead!
• The Clean Freak – Do you have a Mr Muscle in the family, or maybe a washer woman? Do you know someone close to you who just loves to clean? Then why not buy them their dream cleaning hamper collection? Choose from various kitchen and bathroom cleaning products, towels, polishes, bin liners and so much more, what a treat!..

You get the idea; at Office 365 you can tailor the hamper to the individual, you just need a touch of imagination and a box or basket. If you’d like some help choosing or are in need of more information, please get in touch, we’re always happy to help! – 0870 766 1624

With Christmas looming scarily soon, it really is time you pull your socks up‼ Organise your gifts, food, booze, music, fun and games now and you can actually enjoy this festive period. On the other hand, you could leave it all to the last minute and then PANIC! But this option is by far the more stressful one and will only detract from the merry cheer you could otherwise be enjoying!

Office 365 has a selection of products which can certainly help you this Christmas. We have a surprising range of gift ideas and stocking fillers, considering we’re a ‘stationery supplier’! With a variety of posh Porter and Woodman hampers, luxury and stylish pens, a beautiful array of artists supplies, a smart selection of desk lamps, various collections of picture frames, beautiful desk diaries, Christmassy nibbles for the office, branded printers, high quality monitors, high tech scanners, digital dictionaries and much more, our products are sure to bring a smile!

A popular choice for stocking fillers and token office Christmas gestures are Heart Post-It Notes. An unbelievably simple item which has quite a profound affect! These shaped Post-It notes really give a sense of fun; used in homes and offices across the globe, these repositionable notes are ideal for various different applications. For example, use these notes to write messages for colleagues or family members, as bookmarks, to mark pages for reference, to jot down telephone messages, to doodle on, for taking notes during calls and enquiries, the list is endless.

Take a look at these vibrant heart shaped Post-it notes featured to the right.

• Heart Shaped Post-it Note pad
• This fun heart shape helps get your messages noticed
• Add personality to your messages
• Pink tones
• 225 sheets per pad
• 70mm x 70mm
• 23% off – Just £3.58

What’s more, as these are part of our Breast Cancer Awareness range, Office 365 will donate money from the sale of each one sold! Alternatively feast your eyes on our Arrow Post-It Notes to your left.

• Arrow Shape die cut pad
• This fun arrow shape helps get your messages noticed
• Neon Orange and Green tones
• 225 sheets per pad
• 70mm x 70mm
• 23% off – Just £3.58

The Green Bit

3M, the makers of Post-it, is a company committed to sustainability. This isn’t a new initiative or a recently introduced strategy. For more than 30 years, it’s the way they’ve done business. All Post-it notes and easel pads are made with paper from well managed forests where trees are re-planted, plus recycled Post-it notes and easel pads are made from 100% recycled paper and contains 30% postconsumer content. Post-it promise to;

• Solve their own environmental pollution and conservation problems
• Prevent pollution at the source, whenever and wherever possible
• Develop products that will have a minimum effect on the environment
• Conserve natural resources through the use of reclamation and other useful methods
• Assure that their facilities and products meet and sustain the regulations of all federal, state and local environmental agencies
• Assist wherever possible, governmental agencies and other official organisations engaged in environmental activities

3M have conducted recycling trials on Post-it® Notes at recycled paper mills. The adhesive on the paper does not interfere with paper recycling because the adhesive is substantially removed in the paper deinking process. The dyes in the paper are removed in the deinking process. The 100% recycled content notes contains 70% preconsumer and 30% postconsumer fiber. Post-it® Easel Pads are also available with 30% postconsumer content paper.

As a student the amount of paper you can go through in a term is really quite astonishing! For every subject you learn you will have a separate ring binder or lever arch file fully loaded with ruled paper for making notes, writing coursework and completing essays. In fact I remember it well; almost weekly I’d be buying more ruled refill pads, it was simply ridiculous! It seems that it’s no different in the office either. Ruled paper is used is every area of the office, normally with a pad per desk for note taking during telephone calls, for bullet points during meetings, for jotting down relevant information when dealing with customer and client relations, queries and complaints; the list is endless! So what we all seem to be looking for is a cheap supplier who can keep our cupboards laden with luscious lined A4 refill pads and at a cost which will make this endless demand less of a ‘pinch’ pocket wise.

Here at Office 365, if you’re looking for value, there’s no brand better than 5 Star, and we have plenty of different 5 Star products to offer! Let’s face it; if you’re looking for lined paper it will be for the general uses mentions above, or similar, so why opt for the more expensive brands? 5 Star ruled refill pads like the one featured, will do all that is required of a note ‘taking paper’ and will stand up to the test for students work too! This particular pad boasts;

• Refill pads in a headbound format with a durable cloth binding
• Backboard provides additional rigidity and support
• 60gsm white paper
• Four-hole punched
• 160 pages per pad
• Feint ruled with margin
• Size: A4 (297 x 210mm)
• Packed 10
• 81% off – Now just £7.49! (while stocks last)

5 Star products are now firmly established as one of the best-known office products brands in the UK and with 15 years experience behind them, they are now experts in their field and even offer a 12 month no quibble quality guarantee! They deliver unbeatable price and quality, across the most popular everyday product lines, plus they’re also one of the most widely available ranges of office products. With over 22,000 products on offer, our customers are always happy with the selection as well as the value of the items they are ordering.

Each 5 Star product now has attractively designed packaging for clearer product display and product information, plus they also have a fantastic choice of ‘Green’ options for those who are economically aware.