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.

There will always be many uses for the ring binder, the invention is utterly timeless and since its creation back in 1886 by German Friedrich Soennecken, its use has become popular across the globe. You are sure to find many ring binders which are consistently used in locations such as schools, offices, training facilities and homes. Perfect for filing, storing important documents, providing safekeeping for manuals, health and safety information, certificates, reports and even recopies, the possibilities are endless.

However have you ever found that the average A4 ring binder is just too big? Maybe you’re looking for a storage solution for A5 documents, leaflets, and generally for smaller items? Alternatively you’re able to choose the size of your ring binders contents, but you’re looking for the mini variety of ring binders to suit your miniature bag or you’re looking for smaller ring binders so that you can have a more compact filing solution.

Well here at Office 365, whatever it is you’re looking for in a ring binder, we can help. We have a fantastic selection of mini ring binders available, our favourite of which is the heavy weight variety by the prestigious Elba. Take a look at the Elba Vision Heavyweight Ring Binder featured to your right. This unique binder features;

• Ring binders made from strong plastic covered board
• Side loading, clear front cover pocket for immediate and easy personalisation
• Reversible spine ticket label for quick reference
• Product can be personalised for FREE using www.elbaprint.com
• Two 30mm rings
• Heavyweight
• Black
• Capacity: 25mm
• Size: A5
• Now with £0.90 off! Just £2.50!

Elba are a brand who have been in business since 1961 giving them more than 50 years experience in the filing world. As part of the Hamelin Group (who are the second largest office products manufacturer in Europe), they have sales and production facilities in 20 locations across Europe! Hamelin are market leaders in paper products, filing products, envelopes and office accessories and boast other leading brands such as Bantex, Modling, L’oblique, Papeteries, Hamelin, Enri and Favorit.

Elba are renowned for their production of office stationery and back to school products for the commercial and home office market sectors, but their popularity is not only down to the quality of their products, but also their focus on value for money and unique features. Being synonymous with excellent quality at affordable prices, the company’s commitment to quality is reinforced through their achievement of various international standards including the BS EN ISO 9001:2000.

So you’ve decided to go for the ring binder option to organise your filing or your paperwork, to present your coursework, project or presentation, well good choice. A ring binder is one of the most impressive ways to present your proposals and business plans and also one of the neatest and most organised ways in which you can store your filing too. Filing using the popular ring binder system allows you to categorise your bills, invoices, customer, and employee records in accordance to date, name, or bill, using one binder per category. Luckily ring binders are available in many different colours so that you can colour code your filing. Alternatively use the spine labels in order to identify their contents.

If you’ve made the investment of a ring binder system, why settle for the standard tabbed ring binder dividers sets when you could have your own personalised dividers specific to your own requirements? However there are many different ring binder options available, not all of which are designed for use with dividers. Our binders are available in various ring mechanisms such as round O-ring, D-ring, and Lever Arch; the two most viable options for use with dividers is the lever arch file and the D-Ring binder as the covers are slightly wider in order to incorporate dividers.

Here at Office 365, our favourite ring binder dividers are the Avery Index Multipunched Dividers featured. Avery have developed a divider system which allows you to regularly look in your files to find documents easily, ideal for in the office when various people will need to access the same files. They understand the importance of strong dividers and understand that they need to withstand much use! That’s why these ring binder dividers are strong and designed to last. These Mylar reinforced dividers have reinforced coloured tabs for extra strength and will last well through repeated long term use.

• 10 part dividers can be used for a range of filing needs
• Multicoloured tabs
• Contents sheet for easy identification and retrieval of documents
• Hand write or print on the table of contents for fast referencing and retrieval of information
• Easy instructions in pack
• Europunched for all file mechanisms
• Suitable for inkjet and laser printers
• A4
• 34% Off! – Now just £2.06!

So if you’ve spent hours creating reports, manuals or presentations, why not grab yourself some of these ring binder dividers and create that impressive overall image you work deserves. Don’t settle for handwritten tabs and old dividers to separate your files, got for a more professional look, because here at Office 365 it doesn’t need to be time consuming nor does it have to cost the earth.

We’ve discovered the remarkable usefulness of ring binders and lever arch files at home, in school and in the office. These files are being increasingly used in every area these days, particularly as a method of filing documents. We’ve found that in the office they are extremely accessible and can be stored with labelled spines facing out on shelves for easy identification and quick access. Their spines can be used to identify their contents, however they also come in various colours so that they can be filed using colour coding methods.

If you are using your ring binders in order to file or for a means of holding school work, guide books and other like documents, then they will also benefit from the use of file dividers and index tabs. These are ideal for organising and categorising document sections in your filing, presentations, reports and project files and make searching for particular sections and categories, or even individual documents so much easier.

If you are choosing to use file dividers and index tabs them we highly recommend that you use D-ring style ring binders as they are designed to house these additions perfectly. D-Ring binders have extra wide covers so that they can accommodate file dividers and index tabs which are larger than A4 size so that they stand out from the page.

These 5 Star File Dividers featured have coloured mylar tabs for easier identification and are available in 10 parts so that you can divide the contents of your files into 10 categories. However if this isn’t enough you can always purchase additional packs which is particularly beneficial for larger capacity files and folders.

• White board indexes with a clear Mylar reinforced filing strip and multicoloured Mylar tabs for increased durability
• Multipunched for filing
• 230 micron board
• Size: A4
• 10 part
• Up to 50% Recycled
• Just 0.64p!

Alternatively our 3L Index Tabs to your left are fantastic for use with your file dividers when they become old and out of date. Instead of purchasing complete new dividers and re-organising your filing system, you can simply stick these repositionable index tabs over the tabs of your old file dividers to refresh them. What’s more, these tabs can be written or typed on for individual requirements, perfect for when alphabetical and numerical filing isn’t appropriate. These tabs are 25mm in size and are available in various colours and in packs of 72.

Without a doubt the most used item for document storage and filing globally, the ring binder is a priceless asset to our homes and offices. They were invented in 1886 by a German man named Friedrich Soennecken who later also registered a patent for his Papierlocher für Sammelmappen (hole punch). It wasn’t until later that the ring binder became what we know it today when German Louis Leitz, the founder of our much loved stationery brand Leitz, made some important changes and introduced the hole in the side of the file. Ring binders now come in many different ring and mechanism options that many of us struggle to choose which one to you. It seems to be the battle of the rings; two-ring vs. four-ring binders…

So how about we give you a few details which will provide you with a better understanding of what both ring options offer, then you have the information you need to make an educated decision.

The Two-Ring – The 2-ring binders have rings which are 80mm apart, according to ISO 838. As two ring hole punches are more common, often people find these binders more accommodating. Usually the cheapest, these ring binders are very popular, however they offer little document support and pressure is likely to wear and tear hole in documents. As with all ring binders, it is easy to add and remove pages from the 2-ring variety.

The Four-Ring - The 4-ring binders have no ISO standard and the distance between each ring is 80mm, 80mm and 80mm. We are now seeing more 4-hole, hole punches and so it is now becoming easier to accommodate the 4-hole ring binders. Using these binders allows pages to sit more evenly, spreading pressure and therefore wear. However this option is slightly more expensive than the 2-ring variety.

Once you have chosen how many rings you would like your binder to have you will need to choose the style of ring. There are two different ring types to consider, the O-Ring and the D-ring. 2 O-ring binders are the most popular due to their price and ease of document punching. The ring mechanism is attached to the spine and is circular in shape. The 4 Ring O-Ring binders provide the same qualities however offer added stability and support reducing wear on document holes.

2 D-Ring Binders enable files contained to sit straight against the edge of the binder and are have slightly wider covers in order to accommodate indexes and dividers. You will find the mechanism fitted to the back cover rather than the spine which allows the binder to lie flat more easily. The 4 Ring D-Ring binders provide the same qualities; however offer added stability and support reducing wear on document holes.

Finally you need to decide upon the quantity of the contents. It’s a simple rule; the more you’d like to put into your binder, the larger the ring size/spine will need to be. There are a variety of slim ring binders which have a 15mm spine perfect for filing small reports and documents; however the standard size is 25mm (1 inch). You will find a selection of binders in bigger sizes right the way up to 65mm (2.5 inches), but if you’re looking for larger capacities then you will need to consider a lever arch file which house much larger capacities and feature a lever locking mechanism.