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!

It’s that time again! We’re now well into the school summer holidays and with just 2 weeks left to go, it’s high time we get organised! The kids will be needing all sorts before they return to their schools and those of them starting school or moving up into their next school will need a whole range of different equipment to get them off to the right start. With my own daughter moving up to secondary school, I feel well equipped to advise which stationery items will be needed for those in the same position. Please see the list below for a checklist of what to get over the next two weeks!

• Pens – As my daughter’s new headmaster advised during her open day at her new school, pack two! One pen just isn’t enough; loose it and your new teacher will be highly annoyed! Always pack a spare pen! Worry not, we have plenty of cheap pens here at Office 365, including highlighters which are a must have for those moving up to top school!
• Pencils – For artwork and drafts, a pencil is essential for students of all ages. Choose from a selection of wood case and mechanical pencils here in a range of shades.
• Colouring Supplies – Unsure of what was best to buy, I purchased both colouring pencils and felt pens for my daughter; or rather she did with her birthday pennies! This way they are equipped for every scenario. Choose from a full spectrum colouring supplies here!
• Correctors & Erasers – Always make sure your child is equipped with an eraser! Given their tiny price, it is also advisable to provide a spare. For those moving up into secondary school, it is also advisable to provide correction fluid as children work more with ink and must produce neat written essays.
• Pencil Sharpener – If you’re going to provide pencils and colouring pencils, of course they will need some means in which to sharpen them! Choose from a range of manual, mains or battery powered items here.
• Ring Binder/Lever Arch File – Aimed more at children in secondary school, the binder means that any coursework and essays written by students can be kept safe, neat and organised inside a binder. Choose from a rather extensive range here!
• Plastic Pockets – If you’re going to purchase the binder, you’ll also benefit from choosing plastic pockets. Perfect for separating work as well as protecting it, plastic pockets also mean that there is no need to punch holes into your papers! With A3, A4 and A5 varieties here, you’re sure to find exactly what you need!
• Ruler – A rather obvious one, but often forgotten, the ruler is essential for children in education so that they are able to produce neat, perfectly straight lines and so that they are able to complete measurements in both mathematics and other areas such as design, art and graphics.
• Geometry Sets – Used in Mathematics, trigonometry, design and sometimes geography, a geometry set is essential for children moving up into senior school. We have a selection of individual items such as protractors, rulers, set squares, compasses and more, or alternatively, you can purchase the entire school set!
• Calculator – Of course, the oh-so-essential calculator. Now a required tool during GCSE examination, the calculator is used in all mathematics classes and is also useful in various other lessons too. Choose from our selection of handheld, desktop and scientific models here.

For a complete selection of stationery supplies, simply visit out site, however if you need any help or advise, please feel free to get in touch with a member of our team on 0870 766 1624.

Today we will find you the top 5 ring binders! A useful filing aid in the home, office and for individuals to store their own work and studies including pupils, ring binders are available in various sizes from smaller A5 ring binders to the larger A3 variety, ring binders are designed to assist you in various areas. A5 binders are generally used for displaying glossy leaflets, manuals and brochures, but also serve their usual purpose of preserving work, art and documents. A3 ring binders are available in both oblong and upright options depending on whether your artwork, design or other form of work is presented horizontally or vertically. These binders are popular among artists, designers, students, architects and graphic designers. However as A4 paper is the standard, we will endeavour today to find you the top 5 A4 ring binders as we are sure that these are likely to be the most searched for item.

At number 1 we have the Leitz Wow Ring Binder range available in white, pink, blue, orange and green. We’ve chosen this one firstly because of its D-Rings, we’re big fans of the D-Ring here at Office 365 as they allow pages to lie flatter and you can also fit more pages. What’s more, with its straight side, the pages are kept in line. However boasting other features such as a glossy finish, a great variety of colours, a compressor bar and optimum quality; this one seems to tick all the boxes, and all for just £37.32 inc VAT for a pack of 10!

At number 2 we have the Bantex Heavyweight Ring Binders featured. We’ve chosen these purely because they’re so popular with our customers! These are a real favourite and are said to be very reliable on the ‘heavyweight’ front. The premium quality ring binders have a heavyweight plastic covering for maximum durability, and also have a self adhesive spine label for personalisation. With a 25mm ring size, these binders are available in green, yellow, blue, red and black colours, in packs of 10 and for just £19.48 inc VAT‼

At number 3 we have our eco friendly option; the Snopake Bio2 Biodegradable Ring Binder. These innovative ring binders have been manufactured from robust and durable 0.65mm oxo-biodegradable polypropylene and have a 25mm capacity with 2 O-ring mechanisms. The spine features a full length index holder for individualisation and the overall clear design means that the contents can be easily identified. Available in packs of 10 for just £33.61 inc VAT.

A great option from Elba, at number 4 we have the Elba Index 4 D-Ring Ring Binder. Ideal for when you’re likely to be storing large quantities of paperwork! These binders have extra wide covers to enable the file to be used in conjunction with dividers or punched pockets without them protruding from the edges, a quality normally only found in lever arch files! The four D-ring binding mechanism with 40mm capacity means that you can safety store far more papers than the standard binder, plus the clear ticket holder on spine allows for easy identification of contents. Enjoy full clear pockets to the front and back covers for personalisation. Available in packs of 4 for just £41.83 inc VAT!

Finally we have chosen the 5 Star 2 O-Ring Ring Binder as our budget options for those of you on a budget. With a 35mm spine, this binder holds more than many of our more expensive options, plus with its hardwearing PVC you can feel confident that you’re not sacrificing in quality. But what got the final tick to enable this binder to make our top 5 list is the fact that it has been made using 80% recycled material! You can have this pack of 10 eco friendly ring binders for just £11.17 inc VAT!

Are you looking for a new way to jazz up your ring binder system? The very first ring binder or lever arch file you’ll ever own will be for organisational purposes, and this will continue to be the case for every binder you own throughout the years. Most people find that their first is during the educational period of their lives, most likely beginning during the year prior to GCSE’s, when course work and studies have begun and work must come home, must be kept safe and is of great importance. Using a binder then will ensure that any work you produce that will count towards your grade can be kept safe and pristine, and any study materials can be kept together ensuring optimum organisation and ease of successful studying. Having said this however, my daughter had her first ring binder a couple of years back in 4 or 5 in junior school! This was purely for ‘club’ purposes with her friends and for her drawings.

Later on, as the years go on, you’ll find that binders are useful in your home for keeping you bills and paper work together. Used together with plastic pockets, ring binders are perfect for storing not only your utility bills, but your various certificates too, whether this be children’s awards and achievements (and your own), or your birth, deed-pole and/or marriage certificates! You’ll also find them very useful for other area’s in the home such as to store your recopies, and in my strange and wonderful families case; to store the bizarrely adjusted lyrics to traditional Christmas songs for ‘Sing Alongs’ on Christmas Eve.

In the workplace the binder is used, normally as a collection in order to file various customer and client accounts. Used as a set these binders can be grouped together and filed upon a shelf, stored alphabetically for ease of retrieval. With the addition of dividers and indexes, you’ll find you can create the perfect filing tool! Another popular use for the binder in an office environment is for various guides and manuals. Commonly used for training guides, health and safety reference folders, but also to showcase work and services for prospective clients and customers; the binder in a priceless tool.

Most ring binders and lever arch files have the facility to add a cover so that it can either be personalised or so that the binder can be labelling in some way. A cover will indicate a variety of things such as who it belongs to, what it contains, which date or letter of the alphabet the binder covers, the name of the club or association and so on. One unique way of producing a binder cover is to use OHP Film, also known as Over Head Projector film. This clear film can be written upon or fed through and printer for more accurate fonts and designs. We’ve found that black printing on transparencies is very effective, attention grabbing and can look exceptionally professional.

At Office 365 you will not only find a complete array of ring binders and lever arch files, but you will also enjoy the full spectrum of transparencies too. You can place orders online, or for enquires, quotes for bulk orders, or simply to speak to a human when placing your order, you can call on 0870 766 1624.

Today I’ve been asked to tell you about ring binders and the various different sizes available. This is not an easy job or an easy article to make sound interesting; in fact I’m convinced my blogs would make for excellent bedtime reading; however I shall do my best to write the most engaging article as possible – considering it is about ring binders, please cut me some slack!

You’ll find that our selection of ring binders is available in various sizes from smaller a5 ring binders to the larger A3 variety. The standard and most commonly ordered size however are our A4 selection which is used by business and individuals in all walks of life. Take a look below at our explanation as to what each size ring binder is used for.

A5 Ring Binders – These are one of our less frequently used sizes however, they still very much serve a purpose in both the home and the office. Providing an ideal way of displaying glossy leaflets, manuals and brochures, these ring binders even serve their usual purpose of preserving work, art and documents. Used together with A5 Plastic Pockets, you have a fully functional alternative to the A4 ring binder.

A4 Ring Binders – Available in both 2 ring and 4 ring options and also in either O-ring or D-ring, there are plenty to choose from here. These are options are given to you so that you can choose the one that best suits the use your ring binder will see. For example if you believe that you’re going to be using your ring binder to hold large quantities of paper and pockets, you may decide that it would be wise to consider the 4-ring option. Using 4 rings means that pressure can be spread more evenly over the pockets and the holes punched in your papers which will results in fewer tears and a sturdier filing system. However if the binder is intended for light use, it may be more cost effective for you to consider the 2-hole variety.

Choosing a ring type (O-Ring or D-Ring) comes down to whether or not you intend to have an organised ring binder system. ‘O’ ring binders are fixed into the spine and ‘D’ rings are fixed onto the inside back cover; the only difference being is that D-Ring binders will allow you to use dividers and index tabs without the tabs protruding outside the binder. ‘D’ ring binders are specifically designed so that the contents can sit flat on the back cover and square on the right hand edge of the ring, so they have a wider cover which consequently allows for the use of dividers. This wider cover however, means that the binders are a little more expensive than the O-ring variety. Our selection of A4 plastic pockets will work with any of the A4 ring binders regardless of the amount of rings, or whether they are ‘D’ or ‘O’ shaped.

A3 Ring Binders – Popular among artists, designers, students, architects and graphic designers, the A3 ring binder is perfect for storing and showcasing their work whilst also keeping it safe. What’s more, using the ring binder option for storing your art and designs means that you will save a pretty penny as specific art and design storage folders will cost you 5 times what the binder will! Worry not, your paper work can remain perfectly intact, no punching required! We have a selection of A3 plastic pockets which will store all your papers without the need to make holes in them keeping them safe and protected from creases, smudging, the elements and spills!

All artists, no matter where they are in their career will have a strong desire to present and display their work well. Students are a typical example of this as they strive to produce work of a standard that will allow them a pass at the end of their schooling. Art and design requires a huge amount of concentration, focus, imagination, inspiration and dedication. When you have put all this and more into a piece of artwork, or into a design, it becomes your baby; precious, vulnerable and completely invaluable! So what should you do next?

1. Protect it! – The last thing you want is for your hard work to be ruined by spilled drinks, coffee cup rings, rain and wear.
2. Transport it safely! – If you need to get your artwork or decision from A to B then you’ll need an effective method of transporting it which will keep it in pristine condition.
3. Store it! – Don’t just stick it on a heap and assume it’ll be safe; you can do better than that! Find a solution to store it protected and preserved so that you can refer back to it again and enjoy its excellence.
4. Present it! – Time to hand it in? Hoping for a ‘wow’ reaction? Do your work some justice by displaying it well; it’s no good just shoving it on a desk for viewing, the chances are it will become crumpled in some way or worse still, go missing. Display your work in a way that will impress the observer!

Here at Office 365 we have the solution to all of the above; A3 Landscape Ring Binders! Take a look at the Elba ring binder featured for a great example.

• Four O-ring binding mechanism, ideal for use with presentations, larger quantities of papers, or where extra security of contents is required
• Spine ticket label for quick reference
• 30mm ring size
• A3
• Oblong/Landscape
• Blue
• Packed 5
• Just £63.13 for 5!

All you need to create your fully fledged artwork and design protector, presenter, transporter, storage solution now, are plastic pockets to use with your landscape ring binders. Take a look at our selection of A3 plastic pockets here, which can be inserted into your ring binder for artwork to be stored, preserved and displayed effectively.

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.

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.

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!