When giving a presentation in front of an audience, it is pivotal that you get it right! If you’re audience pick up on your nerves, a lack of confidence in what you are saying or obvious errors; then you’re wasting your time. Ok, so it’s not like they’ll throw rotten vegetables at you, boo or hiss, however what will happen is they won’t buy your product, nor will they learn from what it is you’re trying to lecture; they won’t sign up for your cause and they certainly will not recommend you, your company or your product. Nowadays, people expect more than a lengthy speech which will ultimately send them to sleep, even if you do add a little humor. They expect imagery, demonstrations, technology and general interactive content. So before you begin, make sure you have the supplies you need to get your audience involved!

• Find a retailer of good value presentation supplies
• Be Organised – Make sure your content flows well and has a clear focus set out from the start of your presentation. Have some patience; set out your objective first and make sure that you presentation is planned in such a way that the message is clearly put across to your audience, and they understand the goal. Remember, if you’re unsure of your objective, then your audience will stand no chance of understanding what you’d like to achieve.
• Use Various Interaction Methods – It may also help you to know that according to a study done by the Navy, the average adult’s attention span is 18 minutes, so make sure that you vary your speech, it’s format and your interaction methods. Use a flipchart pad for your Q & A section incorporating the audience into your presentation. To illustrate key points, use projector transparencies, making sure not to shadow your projection! Use display systems from table to table providing basic information of your cause, product or business.
• Q & A Section – No matter how objective your questioner is, remain cool and respectful. Rehearse obvious questions before the presentation so that you can be prepared and give clear, concise and intelligent answers. It often goes down well to redirect the question, getting your audience involved and communicating with each other. If you believe the question that has been asked is not clear to others, rephrase it first and then answer.

There are a number of ways that you can make sure that you give an effective presentation, however other than the skill to demonstrate, the most important element are the supplies in which you use to put your message across. At Office 365 you will find a number of presentation supplies which are priceless in terms of their positive effects on your demonstration. Take a look at our Copier film from top quality brands, our Flipchart Pads which are available in various sizes, our inkjet film, laser film and write on film to work in conjunction with your projectors and various other presentation supplies. If you’re looking for the apparatus to perform your presentation, take a look at our presentation equipment section.

Printing today consumes a huge quantity of ink with the printing of high resolution photos or graphics from the web. In fact, more often than not, after purchasing ink for your printer just 5 times, you have spent the same if not more than your actual printer cost. Many would argue that the printers should just be given away so that they can sell you the highly priced ink cartridges. You’ll even find that some ink cartridges alone cost almost as much as the printer did! So we’ve concluded that ink cartridges are very expensive and understand that our customers could use a little help. By following the simple suggestions below, you can make your ink cartridges last a whole lot longer, leaving your pocket that much better off.

• When printing out documents that are in black and white such as plain text, make sure you use your black ink cartridge. Many people are unaware that if you print black with a colour ink cartridge, your printer mixes various colours to create the black ink. This kind of thoughtless printing drains your colour ink cartridge a lot faster than it would exhaust a black ink cartridge – what a waste!
• When printing off rough drafts make sure to select draft mode which is the lowest resolution setting. This will use far less ink than a higher quality setting. Just remember, when you’re ready to print the final version, switch back to high quality mode.
• The above suggestion is also applicable when it comes to printing receipts and documents to be filed for future reference. So next time you need to print off your online electricity bill, use the lowest resolution possible, making sure however, that you can read it.
• There are often times when you do not need the entire document printed, or the entire website page. For example when printing recipes from websites you end up with the entire website page contents which is unnecessary. If you only print 1/2 of a document every time, the duration of the life of your ink cartridges will double. If you can skip printing the images your ink cartridges will last even longer! All you need to do is select the requested part of the document, right click, and then select “print”- simple.
• Branded ink cartridges are a favourite. However, if you haven’t spend a fortune on your printer you could give reconditioned ink cartridges a go. All printer manufacturers are keen to tell you that refilled ink cartridges can damage your printer, however this rarely happens.
• When shopping for a new printer, take a look at the cost of the ink cartridges. If you don’t check, you could land up with a printer which requires ink cartridges that cost £30 or more. Look further and you’ll find a cheaper option!

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

With identity fraud at an all time high, it has become crucial for every business and household to shred their personal documents and sensitive information. Identity fraud is a real threat to us all today, almost every week we hear of a story reaching the news that relates to the loss or misuse of personal information. It doesn’t matter who you are; it’s unsettling to know that your information is vulnerable and that it could happen to you. It is fundamentally imperative that we all take steps to protect ourselves and those around us. Once your identity has been stolen, that criminal can live a life under your name, ruin your credit scoring and ultimately damage your reputation. They may even commit fraud or other crimes in your identity and potentially this will affect every aspect of your life. With around 4.4 million victims in the UK and Ireland alone, the chances are you will know someone who has been affected.

We are all aware that thieves cannot steal what they cannot read and for this reason the only reasonable step we can take is to completely dispose of personal and confidential information so that it doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. Experts agree that shredding is the best way to dispose of sensitive information and at Office 365 we have quite a few.

To prolong the use of these vital tools, paper shredders need to be maintained. We have some hints here which will help you save money in doing so. Ignoring the simple steps can cost you greatly in new parts, labour and even a new shredder. Shredder oil need only be used every 3 or 4 uses when shredding paper, however you must take great care to follow these steps, otherwise you may end up using the entire bottle within just a week!

1. To avoid paper jams in your shredder, avoid shredding objects that might cause a jam. These could include staples, paper clips and tape. Check the paper you are shredding to make sure that it’s nice and flat so it will be easy to shred. Creased or folded paper can often be difficult to shred.
2. When you’ve removed any objects which may cause a jam, divide the paper you wish to shred into smaller sections. Your paper shredder should state its capacity somewhere on the side, or refer to the manual. If you are unable to locate this information, don’t take the risk. Shred small amounts and always shred less than the recommended value. If your machine has a limit of 20, we recommend that you shred no more than 15 sheets. Be kind to your shredder and it will be kind to you.
3. When you have finished shredding your paper, always empty the basket. This step is often forgotten and can result in the paper working its way back up into the shredder engine, jamming your machine. Shredder sacks can come in very useful when collecting your shredded paper.
4. To avoid paper jams in your shredder, you should oil it after every 3-4 uses. Shredder oil is available in both oil bottle and oil sheet formats and can be found here at Office 365. Without the use of this oil, small pieces of paper can become lodged in the machine resulting in friction which inevitable will cause a paper jam. Oiling your shredder regularly will ensure that the paper slides right to the blades and doesn’t get stuck on its way out.

Today, the most frequently laminated items are used for signage, reference documents, filing documents, labelling, identifying items, continuous banners and for general everyday use. With this in mind, GBC has a vast range of pouches specifically designed for the above applications amongst many others. GBC understand and appreciate the different environments in which lamination takes place and have developed High Speed, Self Align, Self Adhesive, Selection Packs and Premium Quality pouches to suit each environment.

Did you know?

• The thickness stated in microns is the total thickness of both sides of the laminating pouch. So a 150 micron pouch is made up of two sides of 75 micron
• As laminating pouches are typically sealed along the shortest side and left open along the other three sides, positioning is easy for all capabilities
• Photos and glossy prints can also be laminated when the correct pouches are used
• Pouches range in thickness from 150 micron to 500 micron
• GBC laminating pouches are available in several sizes from A5 through to A3
• For a more flexible finish choose 75micron or less and for a more rigid document choose 175mic or 250mic per pouch side

The most popular A3 laminating pouches are those made by GBC. This is probably due to their extensive research into laminating environments and their understanding of consumer needs. In fact, GBC are the leading brand in laminating products and have been for more than 60 years! Our most popular pouch just got better with an added 57% off! Featured to your right is our GBC Premium Quality 250 Micron A3 Laminating Pouches.

• Hi quality pouch construction
• Large size pouches ideally formatted for signage, poster and publicity applications
• Rounded corners for safety
• Suitable for use with or without carriers
• Supplied with stitched carrier
• High Gloss Finish
• Usable with all Standard Pouch Laminators that have a Lamination width of at least 426 mm
• 250 microns
• A3
• Pack 25

These pouches give a tough, glass-clear laminate to both sides of a document which provides rigidity, water-proofing, tamper-proofing and a great looking finish in one simple process. GBC are renowned for providing solutions for all laminating requirements so that their customers can protect, preserve and present their documents as simply and efficiently as possible.

Kores is a family owned company that was founded in 1887 in Vienna, Austria. Today the company is managed by the third generation of the family, CEO Mr. Peter Kreskas. The company have an enormous variety of products in the school, office supplies and hardcopy segment, which is why they are the worldwide biggest private establishment in this segment.

Kores is a company owned by two brothers Peter and Robert Kreskas. Their products are sold all over the world under the Kores brand in over 70 countries and in 14 languages; in fact the trademark is more than 123 years old! At Office 365 you will find our range of Kores products, namely their typewriter ribbons which were launched in 1912. Take the Kores Compatible Ribbon Featured below for example. This compatible carma 1024 twinspool ribbon is suitable for use with the Olympia CA/CP/CDP/CPD, the Sanyo CY2000 and the Smith Corona SX. It consists of a nylon fabric and is available with us for just £1.09, that’s 48% off the recommended retails price!  

Kores Ribbons are modern, high-tech products of careful development and precise technique. They understand the 4 important components for the quality of ribbons: the correct supporting material, the covering ribbon colour, an accurate body as well as the precise production. There are different supporting materials needed:

Correctable C-Film for ambitious correspondence with your typewriter or HD-Nylon, which is the most frequently used fabric for the production of modern ribbons for wire printer and cash desk systems.

Kores Ribbons ensure the following characteristics: Intensive and consistence typeface, long life formula, smear resistant, contract proofing secure (for Nylon Ribbons).

An ethical company, Kores do not believe in discrimination of any kind and employ over 50% of their female staff into management positions ensuring a more rounded management team whose strengths lie in all areas. They employ over 30 nationalities and a total of 1.000 people. Kores are now into their 4th generation of Kreskas, a family who have managed the company since 1887 to 2010.

Today, by popular request we are going to introduce you to our top brand for printers and printer cartridges. They are a brand I am sure you are aware of and you’ve probably even had some of their products yourself at one stage. If this is the case, I’m pretty confident in saying you were impressed at the time.

Epson are a company world renowned for their superiority and who concentrate their main focus on their customers, which is why we like them so much. They understand that by putting the customer first, they create true value for their users. Epson intend to achieve this customer popularity through the continuous redefinition and reinforcement of their product portfolio, by striving to produce products of excellent value (suitable for any pocket) and by strengthening their corporate culture of creativity and challenge. They aim for all of this to support their global aim to increase revenue and profit, whilst also contributing to the society in which they work society.

The company are now a name we all know through every household and every office. They are a progressive brand who have become trusted throughout the world through their commitment to customer satisfaction, environmental conservation, unique innovations and teamwork. It is because of all this that they are able to be confident in their collective skills and meet challenges with innovative and creative solutions. As time changes and technology is on the increase; print, projection and display needs are also progressing. Epson respond with products that break through these barriers of what is currently possible so that the customer can see a brighter, smarter, future.

If you have an Epson Printer, you will want to purchase the relating Epson consumables to guarantee the superior quality that we have all come to exepect from Epson. You can achieve the finish you desire and the quality you need from Epson Printer Cartridges. Why not browse our selection and choose from a great range of other consumables too.

The Green Bit

At Epson, they are aware that planning for the future requires a strong commitment to the environment. That is why they strive to create innovative products that are reliable, recyclable and energy efficient. They understand that better products that use fewer resources help ensure a better future for us all. So, based on Epson’s understanding of the Earth’s current situation, they have established the Environmental Vision 2050 to help guide the company’s environmental activities over the next four decades. In recognition of the Earth’s carrying capacity and it’s limitations and believing that everyone must share responsibility for reducing environmental impacts equally, Epson is aiming to reduce CO2 emissions by 90% across the lifecycle of all products and services by the year 2050. As a member of the ecosystem Epson will also continue to work towards restoring and protecting biodiversity together with local communities. During the next 10 years however, Epson will pursue four actions geared toward achieving the goals of Environmental Vision 2050.

It is the parts that account for the highest percentage of CO2 emissions in the lifecycles of their products. To limit the environmental impacts stemming from parts, Epson will conduct fundamental reviews at the product design phase to shrink parts sizes and weights, and to reduce part counts. At the same time, they will enlist the understanding and cooperation of suppliers in realigning production centres and overhauling distribution and logistics. In addition to extending the service life of its products, Epson will seek to build a business model that enables an efficient resource cycle. Among the areas to be examined will be product reuse, leasing and rentals.

Cleanrooms are the single largest source of direct CO2 emissions at Epson, accounting for the release of approximately 300,000 tons of this gas! Epson promise to put together a team of experts from product manufacturing, basic facilities and other relevant departments to promote the development of technologies that will limit cleanroom energy needs. This team will ensure that energy is used for the shortest duration possible, and only in the space and amount necessary. They will also further reduce energy use through cleanroom consolidation.

Epson will enlist the cooperation of local governments and NPOs/NGOs in creating re-forestation programs in line with the needs of the communities in which they operate. They will also gather ideas from employees and provide assistance for environmental preservation programs they can participate in. This 10-year plan will be a company-wide effort. They will take a flexible approach to their planned initiatives, adapting them, as needed, to changes in areas such as academic views or elevated stakeholder interest in environmental issues. In this way, initiatives will gradually evolve to allow the company to maximise its potential.

In line with their Environmental Vision 2050, Epson have established European-wide collect and recycle programmes for printer consumables. They also ensure that they are fully compliant with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive in countries where their products are sold. Epson commit to recycling all laser printer cartridges collected. By following a specific process and using the most advanced technology, all toner parts can be recycled, reducing waste and increasing the amount of material re-used.

We have recently had in influx in requests and enquiries about laminators and comb binders, so today’s blog will feature our best machines for price and for quality. The brand that stands out from the rest is Ibico. Ibico are a brand brought us by GBC who are a division of Acco brands.

With our range of comb binders you can give your ideas the competitive edge. Go the extra mile and grab your audience’s attention, make a great impression with a professionally bound document. Our Ibico binding machines and supplies will give your reports and proposals that finished look, they will appear sharper and more impressive than ever before. When you pick comb binding as your chosen method for document finishing, the spine allows the pages lie flat, and you can easily make edits with this system. CombBind spines are available in black, navy, white, blue, hunter green, and red and in diameters from 6mm to 51mm. The machine featured to your right is the Ibico Multibind 300 Binding Machine. This is a combination Comb Binder with a tough 4 hole punch unit for full coordination with all popular filing and archiving systems.

• Full Width Handle: For extra power
• Independent Binding Lever: Allows comb to be held open during the punching process further increasing productivity
• Paper Side Guide: Enables perfect alignment along paper length
• 2 year parts and labour warranty

Featured to your left is our Ibico Pouchmaster iL-19VT A2 Laminator. This machine enables you to protect, preserve and present your documents and images on paper in a professional manor. The addition of a tough, glass-clear laminate to both sides of a document provides rigidity, water-proofing, tamper-proofing and a great looking finish in one simple process. So whether you’d like to laminate identity cards or photos, certificates or menus, telephone lists or desk pop-ups or even signs and posters; the idea remains the same, protect what matters.

• A2 variable temperature laminator

• Laminates ID to A2, accepts pouches up to 500 microns (2x 250 microns)

• Laminates ID to A2, accepts pouches up to 500 microns (2x 250 microns)

• Carrier-free operation

• Warm-up time 2 minutes

• Can also laminate two A3 pouches simultaneously

• 2 Year Guarantee

If these machine are not what you are looking for, worry not, we have plenty more where they came from. For a complete selection of Ibico Comb Binders and Ibico Laminators, just visit the site where you will also be able to view the entire Ibico Range.

 With Dymo’s continual positive reputation we can feel confident that we are providing our customers with the best quality label writers on the market. Dymo is fast-becoming the worldwide leader in providing innovative labelling solutions that help people organize and identify their home, office or worksite. But that’s not all Dymo are good at; a complete selection of the products they specialise in is vast and varied. Dymo offers a complete range of products, from simple embossers, manual labelmakers and desktop products to industrial portables and computer-connected products. And Dymo labelmakers offer diverse functionality, including: bar coding, address checking, wire and cable marking, colour matching, medical instrumentation and security.

With workplace security being more critical than ever, Dymo offers everything from time expiring badges to manage visitors, to versatile labelmakers that can make anywhere from reception to office desk a productive workspace. Dymo uses the latest label-printing technology to always keep you ahead, even when your head isn’t!

One particular piece if kit that we’re pretty fond of is the LabelPOINT 250 Kit. It features a new, more ergonomic design for greater user-friendly handling and also has a large LCD display and nine label memory. With an ABC keyboard and 13 character semi-graphical display, that is easy to read in any light. It has four font sizes, seven print styles and can produce repeated messages and sequential numbering. Dymo has spared no effort in creating a more user-friendly and efficient software interface for a high quality handheld labelmaker. To top it all off, Office 365 have it on special offer! You can pick it up for a bargain at just £72.73, that’s a 43% saving!

For all Dymo products or just the Dymo Label Makers, visit the site, plus see more special offers on our home page.

Prices correct as of 06/11/09

As we have established many times already, 5 Star are the leading brand in value for money products. But they really are worth bragging about, so what’s the harm in bringing them to your attention again?5 Star have developed a range of quality products to suit every pocket and over their 15 years of ‘Stardom’ have developed their ideas and techniques further in order to improve their image and reliability. For example, each of their products now has attractively designed packaging for clearer product display and product information, plus all 5 Star products feature a 12 month, no quibble guarantee!

Featured to your right is our 5 Star Office Laminating Pouches which are the ideal solution for all laminating machines. The pouches are 150 microns and have that super glossy finish that is so sought after. They produce perfect finishes every time on all your A4 documents. And for a box of 100 the price isn’t at all bad either. These 5 Star pouches are on a super saver special offer at the moment. You can save your self a massive 86% when you purchase these pouches. So while stocks last you can pick these up for a mere £4.21! And for a full selection of A4 Laminating Pouches, check out the site.

Did you know that Office 365 have joined the 21st century? You can now find us on the social networking site – Facebook by selecting the following link; http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=44360482033&topic=11429. Take advantage of all our special offers by checking out our page where you will be the first to see all our latest offers and even make some suggestions of you’re own. So if you have a product in mind that you’d like to see on sale, why not let us know, you could be pleasantly surprised! 

Prices valid as of 22/10/09 – Pick up your bargains whilst stocks last!