How to create a better office environment with furniture, supplies, and products

What do you do with all those office documents that accumulate over time? How do you organize so many disparate papers and folders that contain important information and data to your business? Those collections of documents can really build and become extremely burdensome and unwieldy. Many different storage and organization solutions exist—file cabinets, folders, bins, boxes, etc. However, instead of dealing with the hassle of paper, have you ever considered going paperless? 42Tags.com specializes in helping businesses increase their efficiency and productivity by going paperless.

42Tags.com offers a simple, intuitive way to scan your documents and store them digitally. It is a robust software program that helps you scan your paper documents into digital files then naturally categorize them using ‘click optimized’ tags, which is more advanced and easier than the normal folders-within-folders storage format of most computer storage systems. It is reasonably priced and even offers a downloadable 42-day free trial version to check it out. Here is a video that explains and shows how the 42Tags storage software works.

You've probably seen those LifeLock commercials - the one where the company owner is handing out his social security number all over town. It's intriguing that's for sure, and no one wants to be troubled by identity theft, but is LifeLock a good idea, or not.

I recently saw a post, Watch Out: LifeLock Sued Again at Steve Bass's Tips & Tweaks. I'd never really given the matter much thought, just sort of seen the commercials.

But the post links to a longer post regarding LifeLocks, semi shady history of lawsuits, a post that points out how your credit rating may be affected by signing on with such a company.

Not good news if you need your credit rating in good standing - such as if you're a small business owner. 

The second post also offers some interesting advice about how individuals can likely fix their own identity - and maybe do a better job of it, along with links about how to get started.

A great read, on a topic you don't see too often.  

CNN has a time worthy article; Never pay retail again. 

Article basics:  

In a time of crazy rising gas and housing costs (over much of the world) people are looking for other ways to save their hard earned money. When it comes to office supplies, many of the tips mentioned in this great article can be applied.

Comparison shopping: With so many shops both in the real world and online world, not to mention mail order catalogs, people can and are comparison shopping. If retailers can't find a way to have the best deal, they're out. 

Hidden discounts: Going offline and into an actual store can bring big savings. Seconds, opened boxes, and slightly dinged merchandise can mean huge savings for consumers, and retailers play along.

Swapping discount codes & coupons: People are searching for coupon codes, and no matter the site swapping them out at website shops to get a better deal. Retailers like this whole coupon deal, or at least they've jumped on board and many online shops offer great coupon deals. 

To learn about all the way consumers and retailers are changing their focus to save money, check out the entire CNN article. It's a great read.  

Snagging up lower cost, and earth friendly paper notebooks for the office, is a little easier nowadays. Costs have really gone down, which begs the question; why not always buy recycled notebooks?

Here are some inexpensive choices:

Foray Wirebound Recycled Notebook: A nice simple look, neutral color, and 50% total recycled content with 30% postconsumer recycled content. Just over $2. 

For a cuter option - for when you're feeling cheery at the office go with one of the great TOPS Think & Smile Recycled Notebooks. Mod and cute, plus made with 100% total recycled content / 100% postconsumer recycled content. Cost - around $3.

More expensive but fun choices:

In the just how awesome can you be category, the Recycled disk notebook - so cool. Made from recycled disk and has 100% recycled paper within. About $15, and worth it.

And just in case you're looking for something to jot your own thoughts down in, why not try the Jumbo 100% Recycled Notebook-100% post-consumer-waste writing journal from Journals and Books. Big and fat, ultra heavy, and very cool to look at. At $22 it's not so much a work notebook, but hey, we all go home at some point, and we should splurge on our thoughts. 

Advertising is expensive. But even small offices need to jump on board with some advertising - even if you're as small as an office of one.

Here are some top ideas for advertising that are low cost or free.

Start a company blog: This we won't rehash, because I did a small series on business blogging here at Office Stuffer's previously. If you plan it right, a blog is a great low cost, in some cases free, way to advertise your business.  

For blog help read:  

• Three Benefits of Starting an Office or Business Blog
• More Benefits of Starting an Office or Business Blog
• Common Small Business Website Mistakes - you can make many of the same mistakes on blogs.
• And from Business Blogwire read: 200 Blog Review Questions - or really any post there for oodles of blog tips.

Supply company gift certificates: If this can be applied to your company than gift certificates only cost you the paper, but can bring in more business. A gift certificate is not meant for the person who buys it (normally) they'll give it to someone else. It's free advertising, and introduces others to your company. You can even make totally basic and nice gift certificates on your own computer; no fancy design, and thus cost necessary. Don't forget, even non-items like three hours of consulting can be bought on a gift certificate.

Magnets: If you want to go with an object for advertising, skip bags and pens and go with magnets. Bags and pens, and other small objects are effective too, but magnets stick around (no pun intended). Most people have refrigerators, filing cabinets, and other items they love to stick magnets on. Almost everyone has something to hang. Magnets are less likely to be tossed, and don't cost too much. 

Check out Vista Print for some super good deals on Small Business Magnets. 

[image via Vista Print] 

What's new and noteworthy, in an office sort of way? Well...

Work From Home Momma is running a series that anyone with a car will want to read, the How Will The Rising Cost of Gas Prices Impact Your Home Business? series. So far, you can take a look at: 

• How Gas Prices Affect You and What To Do About It (Part 2 - The Grocery Game)
• Dealing With High Fuel Prices (Part 3 - Saving Gas)

And then tune in tomorrow for more.  

Other good finds:

• Thinking About Financing Your Business On Credit? Guest Post by Tisha Kulak
• Microsoft demos touch-screen Windows
• BlackBerry Bold has style and class
• Organizing business cards - note, skip it if you're not into pretty stuff. This is more a lovely solution. 
• Nokia N96 preorders for $1,200 - holy!
• Apple Jumps on the Solar Bandwagon
• Alarm Clocks: The Sacred and The Profane - because we all gotta wake up at some point.

Lastly, something I wrote elsewhere, but that you might find interesting; Never Buy A Calendar Again - Unique Perpetual Calendars.

What have you been reading?  

Looking for something not so yawn inducing when it comes to office desk fare? This is a good start.

This awesome desk, featured at MoCo Loco, is actually part of a 1944 DC-3 wing. What the? I know, totally unique. I love it. Although, I do wonder if it's a little too bumpy too write on. Maybe?

Or how about this:

Now, this desk is unique, and you might be the only one who has it; but you'd have to question why that is. I've read nice reviews about this at a few places, but overall I'd have to agree with the review at Core77 the most: A workstation that doesn't work for us. It seems way more complicated to sit down than sitting down should be. But hey, unique it is.

You also might love:  

Got Milk?

In not so surprising, yet still bad news, Communication News reports that a new trend may be double the email spam in 2008.

According to CN, Proofpoint, one provider of email security and data loss prevention notes that spam volumes have risen more than 50% in just the first quarter of 2008 - along with a short term spike of more than 60%. 

What's this mean to you? Well lots if you're interested in data protection. If your company - small business or otherwise, has email, you have a problem sitting in waiting. You can tell employees not to click on any email, but not all will listen. It only takes one big baddie to corrupt your computer. Or in some cases your whole darn network.

If you're not sure where to start, check out some of the following:

E-mail Security: Your Best Options

Tips for Safer E-Mail Use

The 10 Biggest Security Risks You Don't Know About

The three day weekend is over - I bet you could use a smile.

Since MacBook Air came out, I have been following it a little bit more than a non-Mac user probably should. I LOVE small and tidy stuff, especially small office items. I hate lugging so much stuff around - computer, pda, phone, etc... it's a bit much. 

So, I'm all for a slender, clean cut laptop. I even was semi-mesmerized by that annoying envelope commercial. Come on, you were too, until you saw it too much. Then of course MacBook Air brought out the worst (and best) in YouTubers. As usual, a bunch of folks came up with a bunch of clever parody ads. However, most were just kind of dumb. 

Except for this one (Sorry Mac fans) - but this is too funny. AND the guy who made it notes that he edited the video on his Mac. A nice touch.  

When I worked in an out-of-the-home office setting I usually had some big bulky day planner - either super fat, or so tall that it'd never fit in a small bag. I like almost all organizers, but, sometimes it's cool to only carry small stuff.

Filofax has a new mini organizer out, the Domino, that could help you slim down considerably. It's got the size and function of a wallet, plus a cool wrap around band to keep any loose paper from falling out. 

Features: 3 3/4" X 4 3/4" with five 1/2" rings, three cut out credit card pockets, full length pocket behind the credit cards, another full length pocket, and pen loop. It also comes in a slew of colors (chocolate is below).

Includes the following:

• Ruled Notepaper
• A-Z, 3 Letter Index Tabs
• Address Sheets
• Week on two pages diary

Of course, with all the fun refills available, you can set this mini day planner up however you like. This is also a huge budget minded planner - just $20. There are other, more expensive minis, with some perks, like zippered pockets, but if you jut need something simple, you can't beat $20.  

Head over and see the 3D views.