Creating a Fun and Healthy Work Atmosphere

What kind of workplace atmosphere do you have? Making sure employees are happy and productive might be the basic questions to ask, but creating a positive workplace goes beyond those. Some of the keys are fundamental- working equipment, good lighting, and dedicated space for taking breaks are easy things to undervalue when planning a work space, but can make a huge difference in employee morale and efficiency.

Other things might be considered supplemental, but suggest that a company goes the extra mile to care for everybody in the family. At OfficeSupply.com, these nice extras make for a fun and friendly environment that cares for everybody who works here.

OfficeSupply.com is committed to employee health, offering many ways to stay healthy throughout the day. Anyone in the company is free to use our treadmill desk, which is set up to do work or take phone calls while keeping your feet moving. Those wishing to stay at their workstation can take advantage of a desk bike to get the blood pumping. Also, everyone is free to install a standing desk system, giving us another way to work on our feet and avoid the health problems caused by too much sitting.

 Our collaboration area invites employees to get together and discuss ideas. The couch and chairs are nice for informal meetings, the dry erase easel invites brainstorming, and the table is networked to allow multiple people to use the same computer. This allows projects to be introduced or worked on without occupying a meeting room.

 

Throughout the month, we have a number of holiday events to bring us together. We invited everybody to decorate their office or workstation, with a prize for the winner (chosen by visitors to our Facebook page). Besides a fun contest, the end result is a more festive atmosphere throughout the entire office. Other events later this month will include an ugly sweater contest and a hot cocoa bar.

OfficeSupply.com Olympics

There's a classic episode of The Office where the Dunder-Mifflin team organizes a series of “Olympic” games around the office- trash can basketball or Flonkerton, the Icelandic “box of paper snowshoe racing” sport. The idea proved popular, and many offices started their own version of the Office Olympics. And why not? They provide fun activities for the entire team, unite departments that may not collaborate much, and possibly reuse yogurt lids. Or have a proper trophy!

Once a quarter the entire office squares off in a different competition, with this trophy, a gift card and pride on the line. Events have included a bean bag toss tournament in the warehouse, giant Jenga in one of the conference rooms, or ladder ball and ring toss outside. There have even been team games like a Pictionary competition. This month is a Thanksgiving-themed Wild Turkey Hunt, sending our Olympians through the warehouse looking for printed cards with random point values.

With the help of some big point turkeys, customer service representative Veronica won the round and will go on to the finals to play for the trophy!

The Year In Office Supplies

As we head into the new year, experts are always trying to predict where the office supply industry is going. It's a weird business we're in as the same innovation that is necessary to stay competitive in any industry also makes it harder to survive in this one. The more technology grows, the more it becomes an essential part of every office. That means companies are printing less, which means they need less ink and toner, less paper, fewer presentation materials and even fewer staples and paper clips. And the industry also has to adjust to the increased role of online and mobile shopping.

So with this shifting landscape in the industry, what were OfficeSupply.com's best-selling categories in 2014? Same as 2013- printer cartridges, copy paper, and binders. That's not to discount the industry-wide trends, which are supported by reliable research and, well, common sense. The lesson here is that the change is more gradual than seismic, and that just because businesses are printing less doesn't mean they've all gone paper-free overnight. There is always a need for traditional office supplies, and for now there is plenty of demand for top categories like classification folders and notebooks. The trick is helping customers find what they want, offering it at a good price, and getting it to them quickly. That part of the equation has never really changed. We just want it easier, cheaper, and faster now, and the companies that keep up will succeed.

In our list of top categories, one of the changes that is noticeable is the increased attention on cleaning and breakroom products; paper towels and bathroom tissue are both climbing up the charts. Businesses are starting to realize their source for copy paper can just as easily be their source for toilet paper, and there are plenty of benefits to getting it from the same place. Diversification can be seen all over the industry, with an increased selection in technology, safety gear, and craft items. Still, none of this changes our commitment to providing the classic workhorse items of the office, and there's no reason 2015 will be any different.

Keeping Up With Office Trends

It used to be pretty hard to be stylish at the office. Much of the furniture is uniform throughout the room, there's only so much desk space available for adding a personal touch and a lot of basic office supplies don't lend themselves well to fashion. That's why it's important to seize on the items that can offer a bit of liveliness. When you spend so much time at your desk, it always helps to add flair wherever possible.

Here's The Answer

This section will host a growing collection of stylish office supplies and furniture. Products range from office chairs, desks and accents to letter trays and essentials like staplers and tape dispensers. Kantek's clear acrylic numbers are smooth.

 

The Red Swingline May Have Competition

Look around and see what appeals to you, whether it's bamboo pencil cups and desk organizers or laptop cases and mice. Keep checking back for more trendy office products!