Your desk – A monument of yourself, an illustration of your character and a shadow of your home. From my experience it is fair to say that your desk really does reflect who you are; warts and all and this goes for both the office desk and the home office desk! Now as well as having a fantastic range of desks to choose from, made by a quality array of different brands, we also have everything you could possibly need to accessorise it, organise it and  give it a touch of class. If you’re a desk hopper, there’s never time to allow it to get a mess, but if you’ve been lucky enough to have your own desk in the workplace, value it – and your reputation! Many people say that a messy desk is a messy mind, symbolising someone who is un-organised, incapable and out of their depth. Many employers frown upon their staff who cannot keep their space organised and will favour those who can, even in terms of promotion and pay rise. Why sacrifice such benefits and your good reputation when there are products at hand that can help you keep your desk in order?

At Office 365 you will find many desktop accessories which provide homes for all you’re little bits and pieces, making sure that your possessions are at hand when you need them, not under a heap! With desk blotters available in full and half demy options, book and magazine racks to free up space and keep your literature handy, clipboards, desk mats to protect your desks surface, desk tidies for all those bits and pieces, desk drawers, letter trays and filing units for the filing of frequently needed paperwork, hole punches, perforators, pins clips and fasteners, rubber stamps, scissors and letter openers, stamp pad ink, staplers and removers, staples, tape dispensers, telephone indexes and useful telephone arms which are great for freeing up some desk space, Office 365 certainly have everything you could need!

So now you know how to keep your desk tidy, the tools to do so, and where to get them from, you have no excuses. Turn it around now and let 2011 be the year you impress your boss, get yourself organised and further your career.

Is it time for a new look? Maybe your business had a good year last year and now it needs a freshen up? After all, the office is normally the face of the business; if you want to appear to be successful and important, then a suave new look may be called for? Maybe you’re starting a fresh or expanding, or maybe during the Christmas party the office clown decided to dance on top of the tables and broke one. Whatever your situation and whatever the requirements, Office 365 have the means to fulfil them. We know that business owners are always looking for new ways to save money, so regardless of whether you’re an office manager, company owner, or the purchasing manager; you know how expensive it can be to buy furniture for the office.

However at Office 365 we have some good news for you. We offer a huge choice of quality office tables and chairs, meeting room tables and more for the lowest prices online. We’re so confident that our prices won’t be beaten that we even offer a Price Match Policy.

The pictured Trexus Office Table is just one of many options perfect for any office environment. Featuring;

• 5 Star Meeting room furniture
• By itself an excellent value-for-money general office table; when put together with one or more others they form a variety of shapes ideal for conference, training and canteen areas
• Solid hard-wearing table with 18mm thick top
• 38% off
• Just £73.36

Our elegant range of office tables has been designed and constructed to provide excellence and durability to any office environment at unbeatable value for money. Remember, depending on the size and weight of the product, fulfilment may take between 2 and 7 days depending on the delivery location and is subject to stock availability.

Prices valid from 28/01/2011

Home filing is as important as office filing is. Without the use of some kind of storage for all those essential documents, we’d just have heaps and heaps of paper stacked all over the place. Some things just require that little bit of extra security, plus it helps to know where those important documents are! As I’ve explained in previous blogs, filing has proven a bit of an issue in my house. I have worked my way through many different methods of filing tools including ring binders, expanding files, letter trays and desk drawers; however none of them quite fulfilled what was expected of them. I have rather demanding needs when it comes to filing, obviously, and have come to the conclusion that I need something a lot bigger! A filing cabinet however is just too much for me, with the requirement for suspension files and the huge space needed to store it. However there is a happy medium option available here. At Office 365 we have a selection of filing cabinets for home office.

After purchasing the Bisley 15 Drawer Steel Storage Cabinet for myself just a week ago, it was a real delight to be writing this blog today. When my cabinet arrived I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it looked exactly as it did in the picture! At almost a meter tall, this cabinet easily files away all your household paperwork, yet at just 28cm wide and 41cm deep, it will fit into the smallest of nooks. I managed to find a use for every drawer, from birth certificates and bank statements, to the kid’s school reports and council tax bills. It comes with little white card inserts so that you can label each drawer with its contents, I even got a spare! However if like me one spare won’t be quite enough, try labelling your index cards using a pencil. That way when you want to change the contents of a draw, say when that debt is paid, you can just rub it out and label what the new contents will be.

• 15 Drawers
• W279 x D408 x H860mm
• Doulton Blue
• 26% off

At just £92.00, I think this is a real bargain! But remember, as this is a furniture item, it will take a little longer for delivery. Allow between 2 and 7 days for completion.

The Green Bit

Bisley realise that all manufacturing has some effect on the environment and it is their policy to make themselves aware of this and to conduct their business in ways designed to reduce adverse effects and maximise favourable ones. They are signatories to the environment policy statement issued by OFMA (Office Furniture and Filing Manufactures Association) and endorse the policies they keep. Plus, they have recently attained a Fira Club Green and club 18001 membership.

Bisley’s capital investment in plant and machinery has had a major impact on the efficient production of their products; state of the art machinery has reduced waste, improved quality and increased safety. All steel off-cuts and other scrap metal is recycled and manufacturing waste bi-products disposed of by licensed contractors. They have consistently received safety awards from the British Safety Council.

Bisley’s environmental objectives are as follows;

• Reduce stack emissions
• Reduce waste from production processes
• Conserve energy
• Recycle waste and other products wherever possible
• Raise suppliers awareness of the environmental impact throughout the supply chain
• Minimise nuisance and disturbance to their neighbours

Today’s office has become very demanding, requiring strong, durable and efficient storage solutions for all our stationery, paper, data and general office supplies. Without effective storage there can be no hope for a smoothly ran office. Our ordinary office cupboards are designed with maximum storage capacity, however are economical on space. Available with and without shelves, these cupboards even have options such as under shelf filing rails and roll out filing frames. However what makes a Tambour cupboard different from an ordinary cupboard?

A Tambour cupboard is a very versatile style of storage cupboard which can be adapted to even the smallest of spaces. With its shutter style doors, it takes up far less space which let’s face it, is very expensive when your being charged rent per square foot! The Tambour cupboard is the most effective and resourceful method of storage, when compared with ordinary office cupboards. When opening a Tambour cupboard, you can actually increase your storage capacity and inevitably reduce the floor space required. For example, an 87” Side Opening Tambour requires just 0.97 square meters.

To your right find our Bisley Side Opening Tambour Cupboard. This cupboard provides high density storage with a huge range of fitting options such as standard shelves, slotted shelves and roll out shelves, roll out drawers and filing frames, lateral filing rails and pigeon hole units. The two independently operated shutter doors allow it to be used in small, restricted spaces making this perfect for the smaller office. 1651, 1968 and 2229mm cupboards have three-point locking for extra security and can accommodate 5, 6 or 7 rows of lateral filing, plus a pull-out shelf! With a rigid fully welded carcase and positive tambour closing action, this cupboard will satisfy even the most demanding user. With a minimum of 33% off the Side Opening Tambour range, you won’t just be saving space! Please remember that due to the size and weight of this product, delivery will take between 2 and 7 days depending on location and is subject to stock availability, so if it’s urgent, give us a call on 0870 766 1624.

Why is it that the human race has been segregated into two halves? It’s this gradual build up which has been happening almost blindly for years and is now so blatant it should be screaming in our faces. But we’ve all grown so used to it that we don’t even see it!

We seem to have formed two groups; the men and the women. But what staggers me is that one half of the human race – the women- seem to need completely different products, catered specifically for their ‘unusual breed’, hmmmm.

One of the top searched for office products on Google is ‘Office accessories for women’. Items which fall into this ‘category’ are of course ‘pink,’ ‘pretty’, ‘colourful’ or completely aesthetic. Some examples might include artificial plants, Filofaxe’s or modesty panels.

Well at Office 365 we stock every product you could possibly need for your office, however ours are aimed at men and women. Because here we know that men too like a bit of colour and life in the office and that just as many men as women order artificial plants and soap dispensers. We also understand that men too are affected by, and support Breast Cancer Awareness and buy the products in support of this charity.

No segregation – No demeaning marketing – Just real office products designed for the entire human race.

One of our biggest sellers is the filing cabinet, offering roomy and versatile file storage space for important documents. Every business will use at least one filing cabinet as they provide the safest and most efficient storage method for this type of item. One of the main benefits of the filing cabinet is its ability to lock your documents away. More often than not, your important company documents are private. So not to be at risk of breaching the data protection act, your business must be seen to be storing such information, protectively. Your company’s key figures and sensitive information is also something to be protected; in all of these instances, the filing cabinet is the way to go.  However, we have had numerous enquiries regarding the locks on filing cabinet. Many people ask if we sell the parts for the locks on their old filing cabinets, who to call to fix the locks on their filing cabinets or wish to order an entirely new cabinet because the lock on theirs has broken. You don’t need to get rid of a file cabinet with a broken lock. If possible, look for the number on the front of the lock. With this number, a locksmith could simply make a new key. If this is not an option, you can easily replace a non-working file cabinet lock. Fortunately, you don’t need to get rid of your filing cabinet just because the lock has broken.

If you study the lock on your filing cabinet, you may find the number on the front of the lock. Using this number, your local locksmith may be able to make a new key. However, if for any reason this is not an option, there are ways in which you can easily replace a filing cabinet lock.

First, open your filing cabinet drawer. If the drawer is locked shut, simply turn the filing cabinet upside down. You will find that most filing cabinet locks are affected by gravity, so if you turn the cabinet upside down, the locking mechanism will fall into the unlocked position. However, if turning it upside down doesn’t work, try drilling the lock through its center. This should enable you to unlock the drawer so that you have access to remove the lock. Try using a drill or hammer and a punch and don’t worry about damaging the lock. However, take care not to damage the hole in which the locking mechanism fits into.

When you have your drawer open; look inside. You should see a small clip that with a pair of pliers, you can grasp. You will probably find that the clip is very secure. With the pliers, pull the clip very hard in and up and outward motion. Once the clip is removed, you will find the entire lock should just pull out the front of the filing cabinet.

The next part is simple; you can purchase a new filing cabinet lock at most big office supply or hardware stores. Where possible, take your broken lock with you so that you can be sure you’re getting the correct replacement. However, if your lock has been damaged beyond all recognition, make sure to take a digital picture of the hole your new lock will fit into with either your phone or your camera; you may find this comes in handy!

Fitting the new lock is quick and easy. Simply insert the new one into the hole. Make sure it is flush to the cabinet wall. Your new lock will come with a new pin. The pin will effortlessly slide into grooves on the lock, much easier than it came out! Before you close the drawer, test the new lock with the keys provided.

At the route of an ergonomic office is a good chair. If you have this, then the rest is easy. But what makes a chair ergonomic? It seems that it is all down to tilt, angle and lumber support. This is why manufacturers today have chosen to develop on the adjustable backed office chair in order to meet with ergonomic regulations. However choosing your seating when we have so much choice is not altogether easy! Following some simple guidelines can really help.

Firstly make sure that you are purchasing a chair which has an optional reclining backrest. Remember, it is fine to sit upright or recline slightly in your chair, but make sure that the backrest is designed for this kind of use. A somewhat reclined posture will open up the angle between the hips and trunk, which leads to decreased stress of the lower back.

Adjust your back rest so that it supports your lower back, cushioning the natural curve of your spine. If you are currently using a chair which does not have lumbar support, all is not lost. You can purchase lower back supports separately which are also known for doing a great job. Alternatively, use a cushion, small pillow or even a rolled-up towel.

Each individuals back and spine are shaped differently, some with very little curvature and some with very prominent curves. For example, a pregnant woman’s back will curve in greatly during the later stages of pregnancy completely altering her posture to compensate for the extra weight at the front of the body. Some chairs have cushioned lumbar supports that can be adjusted up and down, that are curved and which can sometimes even be adjusted forwards and backwards so that they can best fit different types of curvature. This type of adjustability is essential when there are multiple users of the chair. However, if you are the sole user of the chair and the fixed lumber support is comfortable, then a chair with fixed support may be adequate.

You will find a great selection of chairs with back supports that are large enough to include the already mentioned lumbar support, mid-back and upper-back support, and support which cares for your shoulder-blade area. It is vital to consider that the back of the chair should not under any circumstances, interfere with manoeuvrability; you should be able to move your elbows back behind the torso without obstruction.

Also contemplate hip room when purchasing your chair. When you sit back against the back rest, is there sufficient space for the hips? If not, the user will find them self sitting too far forwards on the seat leaving them with little or no thigh support. Allow for at least one inch of space on either side of your hips and thighs.

Another concept to ponder over is the option of a reclining chair. It is a proven fact that moving the back while you are sitting helps to maintain a healthy spine. Make sure that when choosing your ergonomic chair, you find one that allows the user to easily recline, providing excellent back support in all reclining postures. It is not recommended that the back rest is locked in one position as this is not beneficial to the user. Locking the back rest position restricts any back support which is intended for ergonomic use. Research confirms the benefits of using chairs that support dynamic sitting, discouraging a static posture.

Additional features to consider when buying an ergonomic chair are arm rests, wrist rests and foot rests. A footrest for an ergonomic chair may help align the whole body better. So to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome, it is essential to understand certain seating and feet positioning criteria. The body should be in a straight but relaxed position, and your knees should also bend at a comfortable 90-degree angle with the feet on the floor. In many cases this position is made possible only with the use of a foot rest.

Without the use of a wrists rest, somebody who works with a keyboard or mouse will frequently experience hand and wrist fatigue. This is because the user’s unsupported wrists and lower hand will fall below the level of the keyboard, which is an especially dangerous position for repetitive typing. Putting too much pressure on the bottom of your wrist can cause damage similar to carpal tunnel syndrome. A padded wrist rest will cushion your wrists and provide a better angle for typing.

The freestanding bookcase is one of the most vital yet overlooked pieces of furniture in any home and office. With numerous uses including housing your files, certificates & awards, fiction & reference books, photos and art, without it you could be left with heaps of clutter. That’s why at Office 365 you can choose from a complete variety including big brands such as; Trexus, Influx, Sonix, Emperial, Adroit, Elysium and many more.

Our favourite in terms of style and price is the Sonix Tall Bookcase in Maple featured to your right. Measuring 1055 x 350 x 1900mm (WxDxH) and with 4 internal shelves, this piece is just the right size to house all your bits and pieces. With a saving of 38%, this bookcase is now priced at just £176.89 which isn’t at all bad! However we have plenty more to choose from if this isn’t the one for you.

However once you have chosen the right bookcase for your needs, it’s important to know how to keep it looking its best, so we’ve compiled a list of techniques which could really help.

Remember that your bookcase is open and on display at all times, looking their best when they are no more than say, three-quarters full. Try to space out your belongings giving them space to breathe and looking their best.

When housing books; try arranging them by colour and size. The overall look is far more appealing and your bookcase will be more efficient and organised this way. When you’ve finished, stand back and have a look. If it appears a little ‘boring’ then you could even try arranging them alternately lining some books up side by side and stacking others. The stacks of books even double up as efficient bookends.

It’s amazing what a little art can do. A few framed pictures, certificates or photos resting casually against the back of the shelves can make a functional bookcase more pleasing to the eye.

If you’re bookcase is in the home, you may even consider painting the back a nice bold colour or even wallpapering it for an art deco or even shabby chic look. This colourful back drop gives your books and other belongings the beautiful setting they deserve, becoming the focal point or feature of the room.

For the office, we all have untold amounts of unsightly clutter and papers which need a home. Your best bet would be to invest in some magazine racks or letter trays so that they can be neatly organised.

Welcome to our Office 365 blog spot where you will find all the latest products, brands and discounts, with all the information you could possibly need to make those informed choices which are so important when making an online purchase. We are one of the UK’s largest suppliers of stationery and office provisions online, offering unbeatable prices and a huge choice of over 30,000 stationery and office products. Office 365 are an Investors in People accredited company who look after their employees. Staff are well trained, fairly paid, appreciated and respected with their ideas and input helping to move the company forward every day. This is why at Office 365 we retain our staff who are ultimately happy in their work which shows in their level of customer service! We are proud to offer a friendly and professional service at all times, leaving our customer more than satisfied. We want you to be totally satisfied with every purchase you make from Office365. It is our aim to offer you value and quality at outstandingly low prices. This is why we offer you a price match promise, guaranteeing that we won’t be beaten on price. Our most popular office products include paper, ink cartridges, labels, office furniture and office stationery, offering the latest technology throughout. We recommend brands such as 5 Star for those on a budget, and a range of prestigious brands for those looking for a little extra. If you’d like some help choosing the right brand for you, feel free to contact our stationery specialists on 0870 766 1624.

At Office 365, we also have a Green Products list which is aimed at assisting you in becoming more environmentally friendly without having to spend more money, but still guaranteeing high quality, competitively priced products. For all orders over £40 (across ALL of our stationery products) we offer free delivery. The majority of orders received are despatched on the same day, however if your order is urgent, please call to check stock availability.

• Lowest prices guaranteed with our Price Match Policy
• Fast office stationery free delivery on orders over £40
• 100% secure, safe & trustworthy online & telephone service
• More than 30’000 stationery products
• Quality guaranteed
• Serving thousands of customers who re-order regularly

Organisation in the office is hopeless without any storage facilities. You couldn’t possibly hang enough sturdy shelves to support all your files and folders, plus this sort of system can look cluttered, busy and untidy. At Office 365 we recommend using a tall, solid cupboard as this would house all your untidy filing behind closed doors. But who else would we turn to for a product such as this other than Bisley? With storage and filing at the forefront of their minds, Bisley are the obvious choice. In fact Bisley are world renowned for their quality steel office storage systems, employing the most advanced manufacturing processes from in-house tool making and computer aided design through to precision folding, laser cutting, fully-automated powder paint plant machinery.

Take a look at our Bisley Tambour Cupboards featured to your right. I asked my daughter to take a look at these and tell me what she thought. In her words, “this is a magnificent cupboard which would store almost anything and would look great in every home or office”; wise words for a 9 year old, as this is pretty much what our customers have thought upon purchase. These cupboards have received some fantastic feedback, but is this any wonder when their made by Bisley! Key features include;

• Bisley A4 EuroTambour
• Designed specifically for the increasingly popular A4 format, this new system has a smaller footprint than other tambour door cupboards
• Available in silver with a choice of either silver or beech tambours
• Unit comes complete with four shelves for the tall cupboard, or two shelves for the low cupboard
• Tall unit measures: WxDxH: 1000 x 430 x 1980mm
• Low unit measures: WxDxH: 1000 x 430 x 1030mm
• Silver/Beech

How about accessorising your cupboard with the Bisley Rollout Filing Framedesigned specifically to enhance your Tambour cupboard. Alternatively, upgrade your cupboard with an extra shelf with filing rail, also designed to work in harmony with this range of cupboards. Designed to perfection, these cupboards far exceed the quality of others on the market. Did you know that Bisley even made it into our ‘Top 6 Suppliers’ list and made it into 2nd place? Their key products feature anti-tilt mechanisms and fully welded carcases so there is no need for bolts or rivets which in turn creates greater strength, durability and a cleaner line. Clearly Bisley deserve this title and what’s more, they’re green!

The Green Bit

Bisley realise that all manufacturing has some effect on the environment and it is their policy to make themselves aware of this and to conduct their business in ways designed to reduce adverse effects and maximise favourable ones. They are signatories to the environment policy statement issued by OFMA (Office Furniture and Filing Manufactures Association) and endorse the policies they keep. Plus, they have recently attained a Fira Club Green and club 18001 membership.

Bisley’s capital investment in plant and machinery has had a major impact on the efficient production of their products; state of the art machinery has reduced waste, improved quality and increased safety. All steel off-cuts and other scrap metal is recycled and manufacturing waste bi-products disposed of by licensed contractors. They have consistently received safety awards from the British Safety Council.

Bisley’s environmental objectives are as follows;

• Reduce stack emissions
• Reduce waste from production processes
• Conserve energy
• Recycle waste and other products wherever possible
• Raise suppliers awareness of the environmental impact throughout the supply chain
• Minimise nuisance and disturbance to their neighbours