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

It’s that time of year again where we’re all contemplating our New Year’s resolutions. Those of us that don’t necessarily believe in New Year’s resolutions consider new ways of making the year ahead run more smoothly, more efficiently and without the added stress and drama. This is true both in the office and in the home.  For the most of us finances both at home and at work have become incredibly tight these last couple of years. It has made organising the financial running of things quite difficult. At work many businesses have suffered cut backs and the remaining staff has had to chip in, in areas they don’t normally work. This has led to a year or two of utter chaos of the filing systems! A lower moral in the office due to cut backs will also lead to a lack in motivation to work efficiently and effectively. You may have noticed scrappier work and messy desks. In the home as most households struggle to make ends meet, bills are coming in ‘red’ and housework and paperwork organisation is coming second to overtime in the office to cover rising bills and housing costs.

As January approaches we all take a deep breath and cross everything in hope for an easier and more comfortable year, a year where we’re no longer treading water, but making progress to bettering our lives and our family’s lives. With this hope comes a sense of new beginnings and a more positive attitude. Individuals tend to do a complete overhaul of their homes, re-organising paperwork, clearing out and cleaning cupboards and draws and generally freshening up the home. In the office businesses tend to do much the same. With a positive mental attitude and plenty of ideas just waiting to be put into practice, filing systems are also updated, offices cleaned and tools put into place to enable the better functioning of the office for a brand new year.

A very simple yet extremely effective tool in both the home and the workplace are letter trays. Placed strategically and labelled effectively, letter trays can become an irreplaceable object helping no end to the increased efficiency of the home or the office alike. For example, place a letter tray at each desk in the office and each member of staff will be able to keep on top of their daily accounts and enquiries. For example, instead of piling all their paperwork high and having to sift through it each time they need a particular document, they could file it temporarily in a letter tray. This is perfect for accounts and customers who orders or enquires are in the process of being dealt with. Once complete, their paperwork can be filed into a filing cabinet. A three tray letter tray could be labelled; top tray – Open cases, middle tray – Awaiting customer response and bottom tray – recently dealt with, matter closed.

In the home letter trays can be kept in the home office for the similar filing of utility bills and other documents. They can be kept in the kitchen for filing recopies or alternatively they could be kept wherever convenient for housing letters and documents which require attention. For example school newsletters with dates of Christmas plays, fairs or other important dates, letters addressing fee’s that are due, outgoing post, etc. Another perfect place to place a letter tray would be in your child’s bedroom. It is always a good idea to teach your child organisational skills at a young age; providing them with a letter tray enables them to file their home work, report cards, certificates or other relevant information in a convenient place.

Office 365 has an extensive selection of letter trays available from a huge selection of brands including economy labels for those on a budget, to well known, high end labels for those looking for additional quality and features. If you’re looking to buy in bulk and would like a quote or you would like help or advise with ordering, please call our team on 0870 766 1624 where we will be more than happy to assist you.

If you’re going to take the time to produce an excellent piece of work, a lengthy assignment, a suave showcase of your work or maybe you’ve finally finished writing your novel, it is almost as important as the work itself to present it well. Picture the scenarios; on the one hand you could hand you can breathe a sigh of relief as you finally finish and hand in your project to the boss/lecturer, a heap of ruffled paper just waiting to blow around the office the minute a desk fan is switched on, a target for coffee ring marks. Ok, so maybe there’s nothing wrong with this, but there certainly isn’t anything great about this either. Work presented in this way will not be taken as seriously as if it had been handed over with a little more thought given to detail. The second scenario is you reach the end of your assignment and literally jump for joy as you simply slip it inside a presentation ring binder and watch as your bosses/lecturers lifts, impressed by your dedication to presentation. What’s more, your work is safe from damage or being jumbled up with other paperwork.

Here you’ll find our Elba Polyvision A4 Maxi Presentation Binder popular for its ability to be personalised.

• Attractive and professional presentation binder
• Clear A4 size pockets on front and back cover and unique wrap around spine for complete personalisation
• Unique wrap around spine pocket
• Made from high quality clear polypropylene material
• Product is Maxi in size to fit all dividers
• Fully customisable for FREE using www.elbaprint.com
• 4 O-Rings
• Capacity: 16mm
• Size: A4
• Packed x10
• 28% Off – Just £54.98!!

Thanks to Elba’s dedication to please, you can be sure of the best possible quality presentation ring binders. The Elba brand is synonymous with quality at affordable prices and with their commitment to quality, you’ll see this reinforced through the achievement of the international standard BS EN ISO 9001:2000.

The Green Bit

Today Elba are able to offer all major products in eco-friendly plastic. Elba is also committed to its published environment policy and has ISO 14001:2004 certification. For example, their Touareg range is an environmentally friendly range of filing products made entirely from recyclable board and polypropylene. The pulp used to make this board is produced from sustainable forests and is certified totally chlorine free. The polypropylene range is made using material mixed with natural wood fibres which enhances the visual impact of the range.

Many of us a trying something new for Christmas this year; we all seem to have been faced with the same problem, what do you buy for someone who has everything? Thanks to the internet and its ever increasing market for online gift shopping, we are now seeing more and more websites aimed at ‘alternative gifts’ for him and her, innovative ideas, gifts which they certainly wouldn’t have received before. For example, the popularity of these ‘Red Letter Day’s’ gifts has gone through the roof, plus quirky gifts such as making your friend or loved one a lord or lady of a plot of land someplace in Scotland have really taken off. You’ll also fine ideas such as ‘name a star’, adopt a rescued animal, ‘name a rose’ and many more. Another amazing gift which has taken the market by storm these past couple of years is hot air ballooning, which makes for a wonderful gift idea this Christmas.

However what all these gifts have in common is that they are not wrap-able presents. Ok sure, so when your voucher or certificate arrives in the post, you could wrap it yes, but then it’s likely to be torn in the unwrapping process. Alternatively pop it inside an envelope, but then that spoils half the fun of unwrapping. The best way to gift wrap presents such as these is to present them well in the first place. Have you considered purchasing a plastic folder? In doing so, you will not only be making your gift look more high class, special even, but you will also be protecting it which means it can be wrapped up for full enjoyment!

Try our Rexel A4 Polypropylene Active Tab Folder with Seal featured below, a fantastic and affordable option for storing or presenting important documents.

• Easy access – no need to open binder mechanism when inserting folders
• Specially designed creases in front flap and gusset will stop distortions and splitting when full to capacity
• Assorted packs contain two each of red, blue and one of green
• Will store up to 150 sheets of paper
• Wrap around printable tab secures contents
• Size: A4
• Portrait
• Clear
• Packed 5
• 44% off – Now just £3.26 for a pack of 5!

The Green Bit

Rexel are an Acco brand, part of a company who are committed to providing and conducting its business in an environmentally responsible manner, ensuring that their products, packaging and operations are safe for their employees, business partners, customers and ultimately, the environment. They strive to continuously improve their processes and products to ensure innovation, quality and value for money without compromising on their environmental responsibilities.

Their core objectives are to reduce the amounts of material that they use whether in their products or their packaging, identify plastics to aid separation and recovery and recover parts and establishing re-usability potential, recycle as much as possible, use significantly more recycled materials in their processes while promoting and supporting the recycling of their products by their business partners and consumers. They also aim to recover the energy produced from waste by safe, effective disposal, return materials back to nature and review what they have done to try to improve their processes even further. As a testament to their commitment to be more environmentally driven and focused, many of Acco’s products have been verified by the MBDC Consultancy and awarded the Cradle to Cradle certification. This certification provides a company with a means to tangibly, credibly measure achievement in environmentally-intelligent design and helps customers purchase and specify products that are pursuing a broader definition of quality.

A proven effective way of filing your paperwork at home and in the office, the ring binder is a very useful tool, however with the variety of different options available; you’ll find that the ring binder can be an innovative solution to a range of other requirements too. You’ll find ring binders are used for recopy books, homework folders, subject folders and you’ll even find they are an ideal product for storing artwork. Available commonly in A5, A4 and A3 sizes, the ring binder is also available in different ring styles. For example, the ‘D’ ring style has it’s rings fixed onto the inside back cover and is designed so that the contents sit flat on the back cover and square on the right hand edge of the ring. This style has a wider cover which consequently allows for the use of dividers which is useful in filing of any kind. ‘O’ ring binders on the other hand are fixed into the spine and do not normally have a ‘lever option’. This ring style will hold less paper and the covers are smaller than the ‘D’ ring alternative meaning that divider tabs may poke outside of the binder. On the plus side, this option is cheaper and ideal if only being used for plastic sleeves and average quantity contents.

Our A3 size binders are available in two further options, upright and oblong. Portrait (upright) ring binders are the standard and have their rings along the long side, where as oblong or landscape ring binders have their rings on the short edge. Many artists and designers appreciate the selection here so that they have a choice of how to best display their work.

Finally there is a choice of either 2-ring binders or 4-ring binders. The distance between rings on a 4-ring binder is 80mm, 80mm and 80mm. Using these binders allows pages to sit more evenly, spreading pressure and therefore preventing wear or specifically, preventing holes from tearing. Choosing a 4-ring binder is the best option for filing bigger quantities. 2-ring binders have the same distance between rings and are the cheaper option.

A great example of a portrait 4-ring binder is the Emgee A3 Black 4 –Ring Binder featured.

• 4 D-ring mechanism
• 50mm spine width
• Ticket pocket on spine
• Made from heavy-duty board
• Three-piece construction for extra durability
• 40mm capacity
• Upright
• Black
• Packed 2
• Up to 50% recycled
• 25% off – Just £26.51!

Not only is this a sturdy 4 ring option and not only does it feature the wider cover that is standard for a D-ring binder, but it also boasts an environmentally friendly side being up to 50% recycled. The icing on the cake has to be the 25% off, plus with it being Emgee, you can be sure of its quality! However there are plenty more ring binders where this one came from, so if this isn’t the one for you, come and take a look at what else we have on offer!

Are you in need of a new ring binder or maybe a collection of ring binders to create or replace your filing system? Maybe you’re studying at college or university and you need a binder for each of your subjects to hold your work. Initially it seems that people steer towards the cheapest binders they can get their hands on, either that or the first they find and inevitably it appears this is a bad move. Without researching your purchase you could end up like so many others; staring at a shelf of ring binders each with peeling covers, exposed dented and worn card corners, torn spine label pockets and stiff or faulty ring mechanisms.

At Office 365 we strongly urge you to put a little time into shopping for your ring binders, and not to always go for the cheapest. However you could always let us do the job for you of course, and simply sit back and read on, as today we’ve been looking into strong, reliable ring binders which we can be certain that our customers will enjoy. Which better brand to choose than the reliable Elba who have created a name for themselves in the wonderful world of stationery for not only their reliability, but their quality and fair prices too!

Feast your eyes on the Elba PVC Heavyweight Ring Binder to your right. As far as blue ring binders go, this is the ‘bee’s knee’s’!

• Premium quality ring binders with a heavyweight plastic covering for increased durability
• Four O-ring binding mechanism ideal for use with presentations, larger quantities of papers, or where extra security of contents is required
• Clear ticket on spine for easy identification of contents
• A4
• 25mm ring size
• Blue
• 27% Off – Just £3.76‼

They don’t get a lot stronger or resourceful than this! With four strong O-rings designed to hold your contents more securely and a plastic cover designed for increased durability, you can be sure that this binder will do the job for which it is intended well, whilst also standing up to the test of time! What’s more, they don’t come more fairly priced than this; with prices this low you can afford to kit out the whole office. And remember, if you do have a bulk request, please phone or e-mail us to confirm stock availability and to discuss a reduced price; we like to do our bit! 0870 766 1624 – order.enquiries@office365.co.uk.

The Green Bit

Today Elba are able to offer all major products in eco-friendly plastic. Elba is also committed to its published environment policy and has ISO 14001:2004 certification. For example, their Touareg range is an environmentally friendly range of filing products made entirely from recyclable board and polypropylene. The pulp used to make this board is produced from sustainable forests and is certified totally chlorine free. The polypropylene range is made using material mixed with natural wood fibres which enhances the visual impact of the range.

Most people are able to say that they have gathered a large collection of business cards over the years, however if you work in business your collection will be rather substantial! For every potential client you meet, every supplier and every partner in business or associate, you will acquire a card. These are not disposable items, in fact they are quite the opposite proving extremely useful when you least expect it! The problem is, as we all have so many of them, we tend to lose them or find it difficult to find the one we’re looking for among the mounds that we have. Many people have ‘rotary files’ which are useful desktop wheels featuring many pockets for your business cards. These are great for some, but others find it easier when all their cards are laid out in front of them, clear to see.

Business card books hold large quantities of cards in a normal book or album format. They contain sleeves which each have numerous pockets to store your collection of card so that all you have to do is turn the pages to find the contact you’re after. Many people use their business card books to store their cards alphabetically making the search easier again.

A fantastic example of a useful business card book is the Concord CD5 PVC Business Card Book featured below. With 27% off (as of the 07/10/2011) you can grab yourself a real bargain which boasts many useful additions;

• Black padded PVC loose-leaf business card book
• White A-Z index with clear Mylar reinforced tabs and punch holes for durability and clear plastic card holder sheets
• Index can be used for recording written details of contacts where business card is not available
• Additional card holders available
• Capacity: 224 cards
• Black
• Size: 292 x 279mm
• Just £35.22!

Thanks to its binder mechanism, pages can be added to the binder easily should it become full, and likewise should it look a little empty and sorry for its self, you can also remove sheets. The A-Z index completes this useful book making it the optimum organisational business card book on the market.

The Green Bit

Concords policy is, as far as is reasonably practical,

• To promote the use of “environmentally friendly” materials
• To use only registered waste specialists to collect and process wastes
• To promote the recycling of wastes
• To purchase paper from mills that:
  • Use wood pulp from a renewable source
  • Recycle internal waste materials
  • Remove all effluent from water before discharge and
  • Do not use chlorine in the paper production process
  • To review this policy, and the way in which it is operated, every year and to keep it up to date, particularly as the business changes in nature and size.

Many artists, designers, students, architects and graphic designers go to great expense in order to purchase an implement which can contain their work safely, but there really is no need to go to such lengths! There are more affordable options out there which do not only the job of housing your hard work, but will also double up and present it too! Take A3 Ring Binders for example; they start at around £25.28 for a pack of two, so that’s £12.64 each which is nothing in comparison to the professional artists portfolios and artwork storage solutions out there, then there’s the small additional charge of the plastic pockets. Plastic pockets slip into the holes of the binding mechanism and allow you to insert your work without the need to punch holes in it. What’s more the plastic pockets act as a barrier against moisture and grime and also again damage from wear and tear. A3 plastic pockets are available from just £6.82 for a pack of 10!

One of the best A3 ring binder solution on the market is the Emgee A3 PVC Ring Binder which is pictured to the right. It features;

• 38mm capacity, 4 D-ring mechanism
• 50mm spine width
• Ticket pocket on spine
• Made from heavy-duty board
• Three-piece construction for extra durability
• 25mm capacity
• Oblong
• Black
• Environmentally friendly – up to 50% recycled
• Packed 2
• 25% off – Now just £25.28 for a pack of two!

The Emgee brand specialises in files and binders so you are always sure to find the filing products you need, with a range that includes Box Files, File Accessories, Lever Arch Files, Plastic Pockets, Presentation Ring Binders and Ring Binders, here at Office 365, you’re spoilt for choice! Also, with a huge variety of sizes and capacities, you’ll even find the exact answer to your filing dilemmas!

It’s now officially NOT summer anymore, but then again I’m not sure we had a summer at all this year. The ground has indeed had its fill of the rain and yet we can be sure to expect a whole lot more now that it’s autumn! I’m not intentionally trying to make you feel miserable, just being realistic, but also trying to guide you in the right direction so that you can be prepared for the weather to come. Whether you travel to work, school, college or university, or even to your local high street, there are always times when you’ll need to protect your possessions, your work and your documents while travelling in the rain, and the wind for that matter!

Do you work as an architect, or maybe a technical designer? Are you a fashion designer or an art student? Maybe your work in advertising or are simply looking for a solution to carrying around your delicate papers? With a tiny investment you could get yourself A3 Plastic Folders which will protect all your papers, artwork, maps, designs, blue prints and more from the elements. Take a look at the Heavyweight Rexel Carry Zip Bag featured below for the perfect solution to your needs.

• Transparent zip closure bags
• Contents readily visible
• Write-on identification panel
• Made from heavyweight, durable PVC
• Assorted colours
• Size A3
• Quantity 5
• You save £4.54 – Now just £9.26!

Recognise them? That’s right; these value for money, high quality plastic folders are in fact very similar to the ones you’ll see used in schools for children to transport their school books, homework and communications in. Schools famously use them for their hardwearing properties, their complete protection from the rain or other damage, and because of their highly convenient way of carrying paper items. However the only difference is that these ones are A3. You can of course also find the smaller varieties here at Office 365, so if you’re looking to order for your school, or your child, see below:

Rexel A4 Carry Zip Bag

Rexel A5 Carry Zip Bag

Ever wondered if there was a better way to store your small (yet very important) documents? Maybe you have a stack of receipts which are flying loose around the office or your home, alternatively you wage slips are housed in various locations without a home to call their name, or maybe you need a way of storing tax discs, medical cards, business cards, bank cards, post cards, stamps or coins? The passport can also pose a common problem, the most valuable form of identification (bar your fingerprints and retinas!), why risk it becoming aged or damaged? Whatever it is you need a little home for, clear plastic wallets may be just what you’re looking for!

Polyfiles are Snopake’s most famous filing product and are similar to an envelope with a pocket and flap with a couple of simple differences; the flap has a press stud to keep it closed and the envelope is made from strong durable (and weatherproof!) polypropylene. However what makes Snopakes Polyfiles so popular is their quality! To demonstrate just how popular the Polyfile is, we can tell you that over 79 million have been sold since 1995!

The featured clear plastic wallet is the Snopake A6 Polyfile P Wallet available in clear. The Polyfile™ P is a useful portrait (upright) format addition to the Polyfile™ range, portrait being a more convenient way of storing documents and files.

• Portrait envelope style files in durable polypropylene
• Clear file for easy identification of contents
• Snopake press stud closure keeps document secure
• A6
• Clear
• Packed 5
• Capacity (based on 80gsm paper) – 40 sheets
• £1.11 off – Just £3.67 for 5!

The Polyfile is designed from higher density, environmentally friendlier polypropylene for extra strength, durability and longevity; however Snopake’s entire filing range is plastic filing at its very finest! Snopake only use the best materials and components when manufacturing their products and are always striving to bring you products which make life easier. Did you know that the planned lifetime of the average Snopake file is a minimum of 3 times its cardboard equivalent?! So why not head on over to Office 365 where you will find a huge range of Snopake files and folders all with big savings and fast delivery.