DGOS Blog

Some Great Manchester Websites To Check Out

2011-05-16T11:29:00.001+01:00

There are lots and lots of websites out there but we have chosen a few to highlight to our readers. Don't get to excited. here they are:

Hairdressers Manchester
Indian Restaurants Manchester
Travel Agents Manchester
Manchester Estate Agent
Estate Agents Greater Manchester
Tattoo Removal Manchester

The Benefits of Setting up a Credit Account for Office Supplies Orders

2011-02-28T11:07:00.000Z

Those of you who work in an office environment are sure to be at least vaguely acquainted with the regularity with which stocks of office supplies and stationery need to be replenished. In the course of performing daily tasks and duties, consumables such as copier paper, printer ink cartridges and notepads are quickly used up and failure to have the necessary reserves ready can severely impact upon productivity.

Although far from the most exciting of tasks; ordering office supplies is an essential component of maintaining an efficient and functional office environment. Often the responsibility of the Office Manager (alongside a world of other pressing duties) the key to successful and cost-effective office supplies maintenance and replenishment is a thorough understanding of the rate at which different items are depleted alongside a quick and easy means of re-stocking.

Whilst the understanding of an organisation’s office supplies usage is something which can only really be acquired over time - streamlining and getting maximum value during the course of the re-ordering process is an incredible simple activity. In terms of both speeding up ordering and getting the best value on your purchases, setting up a business account or credit account with a specialist office supplies retailer can have an incredible impact.

By setting up an office supplies business account you essentially bypass the general issues encountered when ordering online or by mail order. You have your own dedicated account manager who is well acquainted with your requirements and also able to provide accurate delivery timescales. In addition to a high level of customer service, as an account holding customer your company benefit financially on two fronts – payment by invoice to aid cash flow and even more competitive pricing than is available to non-account holders.

In addition to making long-term financial sense, there are also often immediate cash benefits to setting up a credit or business account for office equipment purchases. Money off incentives, cash-back schemes and general offers can be found which reduce the overall cost of your first order (or on occasion first few orders). Seeing as you will ultimately be paying less than most for office supplies for the life of your business account – this front-end saving is simply an extra bonus as opposed to a means of snaring new customers.

As well as sourcing your stationery and office equipment at the lowest available price it is also vitally important to ensure that your consumables are being economically and sensibly used. The environmental impact of your office supplies usage is a vitally important factor to consider – ensure that only documents which need to be printed are printed and also that general resource wastage is minimalised. Cutting out waste not only benefits the earth but also reduces the quantity of paper, ink cartridges and general supplies which need to be purchased.

Merry Christmas from DG Office Supplies

2010-12-23T16:21:00.000Z

We’d like to wish all of our customers and website visitors a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the entire team here at DG Office Supplies

It’s been a great year for us, with new faces joining our ranks and plenty of new business coming on board. We hope that you too have fond recollections of 2010 and go on to have a healthy, safe and prosperous 2011.

Although we’re very much looking forward to a few days with the family and stockings full of festive cheer; it’s the New Year that we’re really excited about, with new services and opportunities due to be unveiled in the coming months.

Merry Christmas and we hope to hear from you in the New Year!

Resolving the ‘Christmas Gift for the Boss’ Dilemma

2010-11-10T16:29:00.000Z

It may seem a little early to be considering these things...but preparation is key and Christmas decorations are rapidly springing up left, right and centre. Christmas gifts for friends and family aren’t generally too hard to source, provided you’ve paid attention to their subtle hints during the course of the year and have a vague understanding of their hobbies and interests. The Christmas Gift for the Boss Dilemma however is somewhat less ‘cut and dry’. If your company have a well documented ‘no gifts policy’ then you can stop reading- abiding by company policy is bound to be a sure-fire hit with the boss. Similarly, a ‘Secret Santa’ system which is inclusive of all levels of staff will get you off the hook...unless of course you end up with the boss as your gift recipient – in which case skip a paragraph.

Those of you who are still unsure as to whether you should buy a gift for your superior- it’s time to consider a few factors. Firstly, do you think they’ll expect one? This question is simple enough, and the resolution is equally straight-forward: if the answer is yes then you should most certainly get them something, if the answer is no then you should probably get them something...particularly if there is a potential pay rise or promotion on the horizon. In short, unless your boss or activity within the company has explicitly suggested that you don’t need to furnish them with a festive treat- then you’d best crack on with the shopping!

So, having established that it would probably be beneficial to get your boss a gift, it’s time to actually do the deed. With little or nothing to go on in terms of what they actually like ‘in real life’ this can be a testing challenge (think psychometric test combined with performing a cartwheel). This obstacle is however incredibly easy to overcome by simply ignoring their social life altogether and focussing on something they can use in their office. Whether that is an elegant pen- which makes them fondly recall your taste and generosity every time they sign a cheque, a digital photo frame – which allows them to cast the occasional loving gaze over snaps of the family whilst ‘pulling an all-nighter’ or simply a decent bottle of scotch- with which to celebrate your promotion with you.

If any of these suggestions fall terribly flat (or fail to live up to the idealised imagery) then please don’t hold me accountable...you just need a more appreciative boss!

A Statement of Intent

2010-10-15T15:17:00.004+01:00

DG Office Supplies are a company at the top of their game: expanding rapidly, exponentially growing their client base, furthering their presence both online and offline. In spite of this success and the ever growing collection of awards and accolades, this North West based company are not happy to just sit there and make money.

At the core of DG Office Supplies’ ethos is moral accountability and ethical activity. This mentality extends beyond just business and social ethics to embrace environmental awareness. Since their inception, DG Office Supplies have made a conscious effort to stock recycled items and environmentally friendly products. Their newly published Environmental Policy outlines their logic behind embracing environmentally sustainable office supplies and provides an overview of the ways in which they continue to strive to make recycled office supplies as popular as possible.

In addition to an incredibly diverse range of environmentally friendly office products, the company also run a toner and cartridge recycling scheme which not only minimises waste but also raises much needed funds for charity.

If you want great value office supplies which are also friendly on the planet, then make DG Business Supplies your first point of call.

Do You Really Need to Print That?

2010-10-07T17:05:00.001+01:00

With digital communication quickly usurping conventional postal mail and faxing it is more often than not the case that any written communication we receive is more binary than it is tangible. Although this turn to the electronic may prevent future generations from finding caches of historical manuscripts in the centuries to come and similarly, the heart-strings are less likely to plucked by reading texts from a sweetheart than scented, hand-written notes: there is good to come out of this.

Email, text messaging, VOIP calling, social networking and instant messaging are increasingly sculpting the way in which we communicate with others. They are cheaper, faster and for the most part more convenient than conventional letter writing and posting or indeed faxing. More importantly in the grand scheme of things: they also minimise our reliance upon paper as a medium of communication; which can only be a good thing. Timber is not a limitless resource; the rapid decline in the presence of rainforest pays painful and poignant testament to this- as such it makes sense that a text message is considerably more ecology sound than a letter or indeed a hand delivered note.

Even books and newspapers are beginning to feel the pangs of competition from intangible alternatives. The E Book is gaining popularity, not least as a consequence of developments in e-reader technology and the considerable price cuts for these units which have accompanied the progression in innovation. In the modern day, it is even possible to read a book on your mobile phone. It is worth considering the environmental implications of this for a moment:

A book is written by an author and following negotiations, meetings and edits is finally sent to be printed. The printing of the book uses electricity to run the presses which in turn consume ink and paper at a rapid rate. The finished book goes on a journey from press to warehouse- by motor vehicle; from the publisher’s warehouse to the distributors warehouse= by motor vehicle, cargo ship or air freight; from the publisher’s warehouse to the stockist...I’m sure you can see the point here. Essentially a printed book has not only required the consumption of the materials that you hold in your hand but also travelled a great number of miles in reaching you. By comparison, an e book has travelled down a cable in electronic form in a matter of seconds- or in the case of an e book downloaded direct to a mobile phone- the intangible book has literally materialised on the screen from the sky.

In the light of all these considerations about just how much benefit digital communication and publishing has on the environment: I urge you to think twice before needlessly printing that email that you’ve already read on the screen.

If you do need to print then do so in an environmentally conscious manner, use recycled paper.

DGOS Expand their Regional Services Benefits

2010-10-04T16:20:00.001+01:00

DGOS are proud to announce that due to company expansion and a further focus upon supporting businesses of all sizes; a number of areas in the North of England are now able to benefit from an increased level of service. Previously only offered to companies based in the North West region; the DGOS local service offers unparalelled customer service and same day delivery when and where possible.

So if you're a company looking for Office Supplies Leeds, Office Supplies Stafford, Office Supplies Bradford or Office Supplies Stoke: then DGOS look forward to offering you the benefits, value and efficiency of their local area speciality service.

Happy Shopping!

Photo Paper – Hailing a New Dawn for Personal Photography

2010-09-28T11:31:00.003+01:00

The digital age is upon us and nowhere is this more evident than in the world of photography. Developments in digital photographic technology have made digital cameras accessible to all, and the quality of images is now easily on a par with a high quality conventional film camera. This shift has meant that increasing numbers of people utilise digital cameras on a regular basis and consequently upload the images to their computer, distribute through social networks and archive images in digital format as albums on their computer.

Although the increased popularity of digital photography has given more people access to a low cost means of taking high quality photographs, it has meant that for the most part traditional photographs are becoming increasingly obsolete. The practice of taking film to be developed is in decline, which is a positive in that it was a costly expense and negative as many photographs remain forever unseen once taken and simply reside in the depths of a computer hard drive.

There are however a number of solutions to this problem of never-seen photographs, and each brings with it its own unique benefits:

Digital Photo Frames

Digital photo frames are essential small, flat LCD screens which are built into a mount which resembles a traditional photo frame. These compact but accomplished devices then display images taken by a digital camera as if they were paper photographs- with the added benefit of the ability to scroll through the images automatically and even play video clips. Digital photo frames are a great way to display images in the home or on a desk in the office and despite using a small amount of electricity when in operation- are environmentally ethical in that they replace the need for paper or image developing chemicals.

Photo Printing Stations/Services

In order to avoid being too heavily affected by the shift away from conventional photograph development processes, many high street and mail order businesses who previously specialised in developing film have brought in services which offer to print images from memory cards. This system allows a digital camera user to select their favourite images, hand them over and receive high quality photograph prints on photo paper. The major upshot of this service is that rather than paying to develop poorly taken photographs, the user gets to choose which images become ‘hard copies’ and as such exercise a higher level of control over what they’re paying for.

Using Photo Paper to Print at Home

The majority of digital camera owners will be in possession of a home computer and a printer of at least moderate quality. With the use of specialised photo paper or glossy printer paper it is possible to cut out the middle man and print your own high quality copies of digital images at home. Even if your printer doesn’t appear to be of the best quality when printing normally- with a high quality photo paper; even a low cost inkjet printer is capable of producing crisp, clear photo prints which wouldn’t look out of place in a frame. Much like with photo printing services, this solution means that you only need print the images you wish to, but with the added benefits of lower costs and the ability to print images instantly, as and when required. Photo paper may well signify the end of commercial photograph development providers if enough people give it a chance and embrace the lower cost, ease of use and incredibly high quality results.

For all of your photo paper needs pay a visit to DG Office Supplies

2010-09-23T10:38:00.004+01:00

Darren Carr (MD) in the Manchester Evening News

Supporting local business in the Manchester Area is a key benefit to our customers. Our locality allows us to offer a Same Day Delivery service that other competitors can't. Since our move to Manchester, we have certainly been making waves, winning awards and appearing in local press. Click here to see what the MEN had to say about DG!

2010-09-22T08:50:00.005+01:00

Darren Carr (MD) & DGOS: Winner of Business Person of the Year & Runner Up in Business of the Year

DG Office Supplies was recently shortlisted for 2 awards at the Trafford Business Awards and on Friday night we were not disappointed when Managing Director, Darren Carr, became Business Person of the Year for a second time in a row. Despite stiff competition in the Business of the Year category we also came away as runners up. It is at times like these that like to extend our most sincere thanks to the loyal customer base we have developed over the past 10 years. Without your continuing support we would not be able to enjoy the many accolades presented to us year on year.

Although the economic down turn has hit many in the industry we have been able to grow by giving our customers what they need during the recession. Ensuring that we save customers money across the board, from Office Supplies, Furniture, Toners and much more, has put us in pole position in Manchester as the No.1 Office Supplies Company.

Press Release: DGOS Nominated for Two Business Awards

2010-08-17T15:46:00.003+01:00

The DGOS team celebrating last year's award success.

Following on from previous successes in the 2008 and 2009 Trafford Business Awards; DGOS are proud to have been nominated again in 2010 and could be set for two sets of honours if all goes well.

Following the initial judging session held last week, DG Office Supplies Ltd were shortlist as one of the five contenders for the ‘Business of the Year’ award, whilst Managing Director Darren Carr was once again put forward for the coveted ‘Business Person of the Year’ Award alongside two other contenders for the prize.

When asked about his thoughts on the dual nomination, Mr Carr stated:

“I'm over the moon that DGOS has been recognised in Manchester for the hard work my team has put in. We have grown by 30%+ year on year & by over 300% in Manchester City centre alone. We were lucky enough to win the Superstat £2m+ dealer of the year in June and ranked 2nd in the IDS league this year too. But I must say it is especially pleasing that we are now being acknowledged outside of our beloved industry by being shortlisted in the Top 5 companies in Trafford, Manchester.”

The winners of all Trafford Business Awards will be announced at a lavish ceremony to be held at Old Trafford Football Stadium; home of Manchester United on Friday 17th of September. To judge for yourself whether you think DG Office Supplies deserve to scoop the honours take a look at their office supplies website.

The Copyboard

2010-08-04T17:16:00.002+01:00

Many of us have grown up with the trusty whiteboard making an impact at various stages of our lives. A little dramatic you may say, however I remember going to secondary school and being introduced to the white board for the first time. Primary school was full of blackboards, chalk, the inevitable chalk dust and the naughty child who liked to stamp you on the back with the board cleaner. Then when secondary school came, the white board made everything seem so grown up and sophisticated. The bright white board invited me to learn – well, more play than learn. The rainbow of colours that where available on a white board – colours that didn't have a dust grey hue to them – were so exciting.

Extending consideration beyond the classroom, the whiteboard has become an office staple. No meeting room or brainstorming session would be complete without someone frantically scribing away at the white board to jot down all of the ideas. This job is far from enviable to the majority of us, firstly there will always be someone complaining that the handwriting is too small to be seen from the back of the room. Then there is the spelling battle- where you risk displaying to your whole office that you regularly rely on spell check to verify your work. There are however people who love the responsibility of writing on the white board, it makes them feel powerful – but who are we to mock. Bless those souls, we all need them. Without these enthusiasts, there would be no volunteers for anything which would leave us all prime for the picking and potential subsequent embarrassment.

Once the meeting is over however, some poor soul is always left with the painstakingly boring task of writing everything down on a piece of paper before the white board is wiped clean ready to use again. Enter the Copyboard. The copyboard is a white board with a twist, from first glance it looks like a regular white board apart from the addition of feint grey grid marks. ‘Useful for drawing diagrams and writing on straight lines’ I hear you say. Well that's not all, this clever little invention prints out anything you've written on its surface via a little printer attached to the base of the board. What's more, you can connect the copy board to a pc, allowing the contents of the board to be saved to your hard drive to be emailed and faxed to all who need it. By saving your work to a computer, you can ensure that your hard brainstorming data is never lost due to a plucky employee who decides to 'helpfully' clean the board as soon as you leave the room. The Copyboard is without doubt at the forefront of the technological office supplies revolution.

Put a Label On It

2010-07-28T11:43:00.002+01:00

In the vast majority of work environments organisation is absolutely imperative. In any office, clutter can start to build up if suitable organisation isn’t in place and this can lead to the misplacing of important documents, information or items. With this in mind it is advisable to ensure that your office has the relevant filing and storage systems in place to prevent disorganisation from disrupting efficiency and day to day business. Labels are an essential part of the organisational arsenal and an invaluable resource for all manner of applications. Here’s a guide to the various uses of some of the more popular forms of labels:

Ink Jet Labels

As the name would suggest, inkjet labels are blank, multipurpose labels that can be printed on using a standard inkjet printer. They are generally great value and using an inkjet printer as opposed to writing on them by hand ensures a more professional finish. Alongside their uses on the front of files, on filing dividers and on filing cabinet drawers themselves; ink jet labels are also great for use as postage labels and are available in a variety of different sizes, shapes and finishes. A number of manufacturers even produce transparent labels for a sleeker look.

Laser Labels

Much like inkjet labels, laser labels are multipurpose and designed to be printed as and when required: but in this case using a laser printer. For the most part, laser labels can fulfil the same myriad purposes as inkjet labels and are particularly good for printing CD labels and high quality graphics labels.

Electronic Labelmaker Labels

Electronic labelmakers are incredibly useful tools for the creation of neat and clear labels without the need for a computer and printer. These machines can be used for ad hoc label printing in any environment and their functions extend from labelling shelves or pigeonholes through to name badges for conferences and everything in between. There are a variety of different sizes of labelmaker and consequently a wide selection of label tapes available.

Labelling Gun Labels

We’re all familiar with labelling guns and their role within the retail environment. Although these simple devices are losing popularity in the major supermarket chain they are still invaluable to the smaller shop owner. Developments in labelling gun technology allow for more than just numbers to be printed out; with barcodes, text and all manner of information now possible to be printed as and when required.

There are quite literally thousands of different labels to cater for all scenarios and environments; you can be sure that if you have a business of virtually any nature, then labels of some sort of another could make your life at least slightly easier and are a vital addition to your office supplies stock.

Stocking Up On a Budget

2010-07-20T11:19:00.001+01:00

It goes without saying how essential it is for every office to be fully stocked with all of the office supplies, office equipment, stationery and consumables that they are likely to need to go about their day to day business. What isn’t however a given is that this procedure is necessarily expensive. It is true in many industries that you don’t have to buy products from widely recognised manufacturers in order to be sure of quality and in the office supplies world, that rule holds true: provided you shop carefully and intelligently.

Although at first glance the one off special offers displayed in high street office supplies stores may hold appeal, for the most part, physical office supplies stores charge a premium for the majority of their stock. This is no surprise when you consider the costs they incur in terms of overheads, rent and staff. By all means take advantage of special offers if they represent great value and you genuinely need the item, but avoid paying over the odds for other items purely because you’re already in the store. It is almost universally better value to purchase the lion’s share of your office supplies and other associated equipment from an online retailer given their significantly lower overheads and consequently: lower prices.

Having sourced an office supplies retailer who offers a wide range of products at highly competitive prices the next step towards stocking up the office supplies cupboard on a shoestring is to look for items which fulfil the necessary criteria but aren’t priced at a premium. Although you may feel more confident opting for items from high visibility, widely recognised brands: a specific label is by no means a guarantee of higher quality. It can save you a great deal of money if you look at lower priced items from manufacturers you’re less familiar with. To secure peace of mind simply type the name of the manufacturer and item into a search engine in order to read reviews of the product.

The final major means of making a saving is to buy everything in one go. For a start, many online office supplies retailers offer free delivery on orders over a certain value: so by buying enough to qualify for the free delivery you are already making a saving. In addition to the free delivery, for the most part buying items in bulk results in a lower price per unit due to the phenomena known as economies of scale. Don’t go overboard, or buy more than you’re likely to need: but aim to buy all that you’re likely to need for the foreseeable future and you’ll notice the savings immediately and the benefits for months to come.

2010-07-20T08:57:00.009+01:00

Superstat Member Awards: Category £2m+ Winner

DG Office Supplies Ltd

At the Annual Superstat Conference, DGOS came back winners for a third year in a row. It is the continuing support of our customers that helps us grow year on year and allows us to excel in industry events. So we would like to take this opportunity to say a massive THANK YOU to all of you who have helped us reach this point.

DG Office Supplies has grown year on year since it commenced trading in April 2000 and this year we reached the landmark anniversary of 10 years. We are very proud to receive awards like these as it demonstrates that we are offering the service that companies want. Our move into Manchester in June has further supported our desire to meet the needs of businesses in the area, allowing us to offer same day deliveries with ease.

Along with the addition of our fantastic Commercial Manager, Mr Simon Axon, in January and the Acquisition of Warrington Business Machines, 2010 has turned out to be an exciting and eventful year, and we look forward to more of the same.

Unconventional Uses for Whiteboards

2010-07-08T09:59:00.003+01:00

When it comes to planning future strategies, what would we do without our beloved whiteboards? If you are an employer, you know a whiteboard is an exceptional mean of communication and that it helps your employees grasp your ideas more quickly and directly.

In fact, just like me, there are many people out there who are blessed with a photographic memory, which means that our minds take actual pictures of the things that surround us so that we are more likely to remember them. Practically speaking, our brains are photo album shaped. I deeply believe that an image is better than a thousand words and that is why, whenever our managers organize a meeting or are simply up to something, they are always accompanied by one of those giant white boards and colorful drawing pens, so that their audience will follow them more easily and will take mental pictures of what they see.

However, I am not trying to say that managers are the only ones who can use whiteboards. On the contrary, I’d like to invite all of you to get yourself one, especially if you are involved in creative and complex jobs and/or studies. If you are a wedding planner, for instance, you had better be well organized and put together an efficient team of collaborators. Now, a wedding is sure to be an important event and that is why most brides and grooms decide to hire an expert planner to make their perfect day even more perfect.
But how could a wedding planner possibly organize all of their ideas and things to do without the help of a whiteboard? I am sure they would end up buried under piles of papers, pictures and folders.

Of course, the same applies to event managers, secretaries, assistants and students.
But there’s a question I’d like to ask you: Have you ever thought about whiteboards for children?

You probably have not. Well I had never heard of them either until yesterday, when I saw my cousin writing incomprehensible words onto a pretty little Hello Kitty whiteboard that was actually meant for children! As I saw it, I must confess it got me a little confused: do children have such busy minds too? Well maybe they do and if we all bought our children whiteboards, we may give them an actual tool to communicate with us.

Well, I suggest a team of experts meditates on this delicate issue and lets us know more about it.

Between shipping out office supplies Bolton companies need and advised on office supplies Liverpool organisations should consider we still find time to muse on interesting topics here at DGOS...or so we'd like to think!

What's Going On Inside that Printer?

2010-07-07T14:50:00.004+01:00

Ever wondered how a printer transfers the images or typing from you monitor to the paper, for a perfect end result every time?

Yes, I know you select print from the drop down list or hit ctrl+p key sequence when using Windows or an MS application, but the process that happens when the data is sent to the printer and the finished job appears in the tray.

No technical jargon here, just a straightforward explanation, and please take notes, there will be a test later.

By selectively heating printer paper which has been coated with chemical composition, commonly referred to as thermal paper, when the paper passes over the print head the coating will either turn black, or colored, depending on whether a color or black only printer, and will produce an image or a text document, or a combination of both.

There is another method that uses a heat sensitive ribbon as opposed to thermal (heat sensitive) paper, and is the reverse process of the one mentioned above.

There are four main components to a typical modern laser printer, a thermal head for generating the heat to transfer the toner onto the paper, and a set of rollers that feed the paper through evenly from the paper tray, through to the end product tray.

A sturdy spring to pressure the thermal head, and ensuring even contact with the heat sensitive paper, and all the electronic controller boards for converting your print request into a finished, perfect print job every time.

An electrical signal, controlled by the internal electronics set up, will pass to what is known as a heating resistor, which from the interpreted data sent by you to the printer, will generate a pre prescribed heat pattern. The heat activates a thermo (heat) sensitive layer in the paper and generates the print job. Perfect every time, unless there is an issue with paper feed or print head issues.

The electronic boards inside the printer are pre programmed to recognize data from sensors referring to the paper input size and thickness, and to “read” the numerous font sizes and types available for users in most word processor or other applications in use today.

Modern thermal paper, it is estimated, will retain an image or print without deteriorating for anything up to fifty years.

Only trouble there is, maybe I won’t be around in fifty years to check the photos I have just printed up today.

DGOS: not just experts in the supply of office supplies Liverpool or the distribution of office supplies Bolton companies need; but all-round knowledgeable folks!

Essential Office Supplies and Equipment for Starting a Business

2010-07-06T10:17:00.003+01:00

Starting a new business is an exciting time but also quite costly, therefore researching properly the essential office supplies and equipment for starting a business is strongly advised - it is important to decide what supplies the business needs and what it does not.

In this day and age, the most essential equipment that a new business needs is a telephone system to enable the business to connect with its customers and suppliers. Broadband internet is now an essential part of the business and not just a luxury, with wireless becoming a very popular choice. There are a number of telephone and broadband suppliers so it is best to shop around.

The next essential equipment is computer, computer software, printers, copiers and scanners. When buying a computer, it is best to invest in a computer with high specification processor and high storage capacity. Also, investing in professional office software instead of just relying on the free package that comes with the computer is advisable.

There are a number of printers and combined printers, copiers and scanners available in the market, so do assess the business requirements before buying one. If the business will only print basic documents and needs to be able to fax occasionally, then a basic all-in-one printer will do. When buying a printer, don’t just compare the cost of the machine but also the cost of the ink cartridges which can be expensive to replace. It is more cost effective to buy a slightly more expensive printer that uses affordable ink cartridge.

The last two big buys for a new start up businesses are office chairs and desks. It is important to invest in a good office chair that offers support as employees will be using it most of the time. A comfortable chair will tremendously affect the productivity of the employees. It is not necessary to buy new desks, so shop around and compare prices of new and second hand desks.

Finally, a business needs stationery. For in house printed records and reports, there is no need to use high quality paper but printed correspondence with clients is ideally printed on high quality paper to give the business a professional image. Cutting costs can be easy by printing the businesses own headed paper using the quality printers chosen, and using a nice quality paper is essential. For all manner of office supplies Liverpool startups might require, or office supplies Bolton based new business need, DGOS are on hand.

Choosing the Most Suitable Printer for Your Business

2010-07-05T14:41:00.003+01:00

There are so many choices of printers on the market that it can sometimes make choosing the best printer for the business quite difficult. It is important that you approach buying a printer as you would with any other business purchase you make. The prices of printers can vary from just under £50 to over £6000 and all of those available to a business depend on the style, brand and type of printer – of course those at the higher price are useful for larger businesses although no small business should have to consider buying cheap. However price is not the only consideration when buying a printer for the office.

The important thing you need to consider when buying a printer for business is what it is going to be used for. Is the printer only for printing word and excel documents from a PC? How many documents will be printed every day, where only 100 print outs are considered minimal for large businesses but massive for smaller to medium sized offices?

If the company is printing hundreds of documents a day for 5 to 8 hours, then a laser printer for domestic market, from a high street retailer, will not be good enough as it will not be able to cope with the work and with hundreds of pages to print a commercial printer may be well thought out.

Will you use it for printing catalogues or images? For design, companies that need the images to be sharp then inkjet printers are one of the best options though cartridges and servicing can be pricey.

On the other hand, if you need to turnaround images quicker, but sharpness is not as vital, then a coloured laser printer is a preferred option as all round office equipment goes.

When choosing a printer for business, an additional consideration is the cost of cartridges - before selecting the cheapest printer available in store, check out the cost of cartridges that are available (with the most popular brands often being the most expensive). It’s worth considering that many so called inexpensive or cheaper printers have relatively expensive cartridges as that is where the manufacturer makes their money, unfortunately for us. A cheap printer may not be the most cost effective printer for the business.

Is an all in one printer a good option? Well choosing a printer for your business is not the easiest task, and most are try after you buy however a point to make is that all-in-one printers are not always a good option for high-end users. Dedicated printers that are supplied and service by either a specialist office product supplier or a local hire company are good options.

To discuss the best printer options for your office, or to find out about options when it comes to office supplies Liverpool based organisations or office supplies Bolton situated companies need simply get in touch with our team.

All the Office Supplies Info You Could Need in One Place

2010-07-01T15:02:00.000+01:00

For those of you out there who like to keep up to date with all goings on in the world of office supplies, office politics and other related fields there is a new website to allow you to do just that: www.officesuppliesinfo.co.uk is an independent blog focussing on the world of office supplies online which collects together the best articles from websites such as this one alongside their own original content.
If you want to keep on top of all things office related, then there’s no better place to go!

We hope you get chance to go and take a look.

Consolidating Purchases of Office Supplies

2010-06-30T10:11:00.003+01:00

At the current time in what can hopefully be described as the tail-end of the recession; many businesses will look into cost saving to discover which areas of the business can implement money saving in order to help the business survive.

Office supplies are items we need daily, with purchases such as stationery, data storage, ink cartridges being examples of the smaller purchases and larger and longer lasting purchases including desks, chairs, file storage etc Larger items are usually easier to negotiate discounts on, however buying from a supplier you have not used before can make it difficult. Office furniture and interiors can be bought at the same supplier as the smaller items like stationery, so it makes it very worthwhile to seek out a supplier that is able to offer a wider variety of products and consolidate purchases from just that supplier where possible.

Many companies tend to buy smaller stationery products every few days; however they may just be missing out on the extra discounts available to them as well as increasing the amount of administration needed just to cover those small purchases.

Consolidating purchases of office suppliers and buying from just one main supplier can save both money and time. Simple time saving on admin (constructing purchase orders and paying bills) and money saving can be instantaneous by negotiating costs with just one supplier. It takes little effort or time to make changes to buying processes and the well being of the business may just depend on these small changes.

Saving a business money on necessary equipment and office supplies, where using many suppliers for alternative products, often means paying higher prices. A business with a number of branches may each have their own preferred stationery supplier therefore each branch is buying its office supplies from a variety of sources. It makes good business sense to avoid this and arrange for head office to oversee a new ordering process where the same supplier is used, consolidating purchases is made easier and simpler this way.

Times are hard and increasing the buying power that a business has can save a considerable sum – a supplier will see more orders and negotiating discounts is made much easier and more worthwhile, a little like a homeowner having their utilities such as gas, electricity and telephone services provided by just one main supplier, it makes sense to cut costs and make just one payment, and its much easier to track purchase of office supplies when we follow this advice.
Little time is needed to implement such a change, though the returns are positive and sizeable. Small changes at this stage may make a big difference to a company, even when we’re talking office supplies.

Whether you're looking for office supplies Bolton branches require or office supplies Liverpool offices need: DGOS are on hand to service all needs and centralise your stationery and consumables purchases.

Theft In The Office

2010-06-22T14:33:00.002+01:00

We’ve all checked our emails, charged our electricals and maybe even made the odd cheeky phone call at the companies expense. I’m sure there are a few that would admit to popping a personal letter into the post room and sliding the odd pen into their pocket. These naughty little acts represent just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to office theft.

When it comes to the odd pen, ruler or notebook, many workers think that office supplies are there for the taking. Often scoring office supplies is seen as one of the perks of having to work in an office. We all spend so much time encased in those four office walls it seems only fair that we can get a few freebies right? WRONG.

Office theft – yes that’s what it is, theft – gets much bigger than this with some crafty tea leafs getting away with lifting chairs computers and even desks. Plants and other decorative fittings are other things that a very naughty 2% have admitting to stealing from the office.

The strange thing is that whilst most of us would never dream of taking a pen from a shop or a friend’s house, the thought of taking something from ones office doesn’t even register as a crime for most.

There have been many theories on why this is. Some people regard the office and all its people as a second family. This mentality leads to a kind of 'what's yours is mine' attitude to office supplies. Another theory is that big businesses such as banks and large corporate organisers are often regarded as faceless organisations. Stealing a few small items from a name or a brand doesn't seem to evoke a concious in the way that stealing from an individual would.

Dealing with office theft can be tricky but it’s surely best nipped in the bud before it has the chance to escalate. What may have started with an odd pen can easily lead to a whole pack of pens. Then a pen holder to put the pens in, some paper clips staples and drawing pins (got to fill out the pen holder). Next thing you know they'll have taken a desk to put the pen holder on and a chair to match the desk!

On the other hand, chances are you'll never be able to stop workers stealing pens. All you can do is keep your office supplies in order and make sure you've always got enough!

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After Work Drinks Everyone?

2010-06-22T12:13:00.002+01:00

As the days get warmer and beautifully longer, there is always an increase in the amount of alcohol that office workers consume. The allure of a beer garden is just too hard to resist when the sun is beaming down. After all, you never know when it will be this sunny again so of course you must make the most of it.

Problem being that a stark increase in drinking inevitably leads to a stark increase in hangovers, carryovers and many other gaslty things from the night before. Whilst prevention is better than the cure there's not much you can to do to curb your workers drinking habits. In this situation it seems that pre-empting is the only cure.

Whilst a few naughty workers will pull a sick day, plenty more will still come into work despite the fact that their productivity and general usefulness is at an all time low. Dig through your office supplies to see what things can help snap your workers out of their alcohol daze.

Hydration is paramount to beating a hangover. Water coolers or water filters are ideal ways to make sure workers have as much access to the liquid gold as they need. Do not over look another key refreshment – coffee, the caffeine will surely give them a much needed kick start in the morning. A few emergency packets of biscuits should also be on hand for a sugar boost.

Offices can be unbearably hot in the summer, especially when trying to recover from the night before. Invest in some good quality fans and instruct whoever arrives first to turn them all on, thus creating a cooling environment for when the stragglers arrive.

The day after a heavy night drinking is probably not the best time for your workers to be on the phone. So use this opportunity to encourage them to catch up with filing and any other tasks that are usually ignored. By the end of summer you could have yourself the most impressive and organised files in the country. The glare from a computer screen can also be unbearable when you've got a headache. Treat your office to some anti-glare screens to help employers work to the best of their ability.
This may seem like a lot of extra effort to attend to the hangovers of our workers. However when you consider that hangovers cost the economy around £2.8bn each year due to productivity loss, it seems a small price to pay.

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Cleanliness is next to godliness

2010-06-22T11:52:00.001+01:00

I’ve heard some frightening stories of office cleanliness - or the lack of it in my time. I’ve also seen a fair few first hand that could certainly do with the Kim and Aggie treatment.

Eating at the desk has become a recent habit in the workplace. With so many people eager to please they are denying themselves proper lunch breaks so they are not in the firing line when the redundancy train rolls by. Grabbing the nearest sandwich or even worse, chocolate, crisps and a cup-a-soup (not necessarily in that order) has become an everyday occurrence for some worried workers. They should, however, be slightly more worried about the state of their desks. It is thought that the average desk harbours 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. I bet that’s made you want to get you anti-bacterial wipes out

We’re constantly touching our keyboards with our grubby ‘I’ve been eating my lunch at my desk’ fingers so it’s no surprise that they too are probably housing their own eco systems. With all the little nooks and crannies that a keyboard has, the possibilities are disgustingly endless. Keyboards need delicate care and attention when cleaning, but the results are definitely worth it.

We’ve all had that moment at home when we finally get round to dusting the television screen and then suddenly realise that the colour settings on the TV didn’t need adjusting after all. No? Just me? Well if you can for a moment imagine the state of all the computer screens in your office right now…..dusty indeed.

Another way that people have been trying to avoid the redundancy train is by never taking a day off work. The amount of germs that are floating around offices due to this has surely risen. With air conditioning providing a hop-on-hop-off system for the germy air, no where is safe. If you spy someone who is clearly far too ill to be at work, do them and the rest of the workers a favour by getting them sent home.

Kitchen facilities are a lovely addition to every office. As well as providing endless supplies of tea and coffee, they offer a place to escape from the desk to for a bid of mid morning natter. Commonplace in the any office kitchen is a fridge, and this is where the nasties play. A regimented weekly clear out is the best way to prevent it from come becoming a health hazard.

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Happy School Days

2010-06-22T11:34:00.002+01:00

I believe the whole nation can be divided into two categories. Those who love stationary and those who just need it. The later of the two was the child at school who always had the chewed pencils, broken rubbers and pencil cases with things scribbled all over them. The kind that you would never want to borrow from and you certainly would want them touching anything of yours.

The other category is one which I am ever so proud to say that I belong to – stationary lovers. I needed to have something new at the beginning of each school term, whether it be as small as a new pencil or as large as a full pack of colour changing felts tips I had to have something. On school trips, some children would spend their pennies on sweets, bouncy balls and model dinosaurs. I, on the other hand would spend my time fingering the over sized pencils, retractable pens and coloured crayons. With every new year of school came a new stationary craze. From crisp packet pencil cases to fountain pen erasers I had it all!

This is a habit which I, and many of my stationary loving friends have brought into the office. The joy of a brand new notebook or the feeling of the first scribe from a new pen is indescribable. Each notebook brings with it a promise of change, a promise to be much tidier, and more organised than last time. A promise to start each page with the date and write neatly on the lines at all times. With the pens we promise never ever to scribble, and to never allow any other pen to grace the pages of the new notebook so long as we shall live. All of these silent vows are rarely kept longer than a week, but the ritualistic aspect of them is what matters.

When it comes to the appearance of my office supplies, anything that looks academic is a sure fire winner. With my colour coded exercise books and pencils with erasers at their tips, my desks looks like an advert for boarding school and I love it!

And the gadgets! Whilst we’ve moved on from pencil cases that look like cans of pop, us stationary lovers still get all a flutter when a new type of mistake corrector or heavy duty stapler is released. So next time your ordering your office supplies, take a thought for all the stationary lovers in you office and order them something that will fill them with child like excitement.

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The Photocopier Man

2010-06-21T09:59:00.002+01:00

Last year, while working in a certain place in the UK, the lady on the reception desk where I worked was a real country girl. One of her lovely ways of letting a colleague know a repairman was here was something like (made up name to protect the innocent) “Jane, there’s a little man here to see you”. Absolutely brilliant and she just couldn’t see the irony, when the guy was maybe six foot and two hundred pounds in weight.

Anyway, I remember this because the repairman who came to service this and the printers was a truly big man. But the point of this article isn’t about a man and his dog, it is about photocopiers and printers.

Totally innocuous machines, sitting forlornly on a desk or filing cabinet in the corner of the office or stationery cupboard humming away and contributing to global warming, never given a second thought until Oh no paper jam, toner leak or non communication on the network… or worse.

It is at this point in time that due deference is given to how much work these machines actually churn out, while making a frantic call to the photocopier man, promising coffee and biscuits if he can get here in the next half hour.

What did we do before photocopiers and printers? Well, “photocopying” and “printing” was by means of a duplicating machine, smaller versions powered by a hand crank, (I recall my head teacher churning out page after page of scripts for the school plays we all had to endure and act in) and the larger versions powered by a small electric motor.

Originating from what is known as the second phase of the industrial revolution; these machines kick started the major changes in clerical and administration work practices, paving the way for a recognizable early version of what was to eventually become the modern office environment.

Typewriters, duplicating machines and the telephone changed the way office work was carried out, and the ability to mass produce cheaply in the office what once cost a lot of money by printers using a press, could now literally be created for the cost of a “dime a dozen”.

So although the photocopier and printer is a reasonably modern invention, the ability to mass produce from duplicating and typewriting has been around for over a century.
Whichever way you look at it, the photocopier man has been, and will be, around a long time.

For Office Supplies Liverpool or Office Supplies Bolton with sameday or next day delivery do bother looking around any more.

Do Not Stick A Post-It Note On My Screen

2010-06-21T09:50:00.003+01:00

Post it notes are the bane of my life. Ever since their invention and subsequent take off in about 1978, I seem to have been drowning under a veritable ocean of them. Prior to this, I recall having to jot most things down in a diary, whether it was a meeting, reminder, or a specific event.

I did this because I have always had a memory like a sieve, anything that can fall through, will fall through.

Not so now, look at the average desk in an office environment, and you will see all of life spread out before you. Post it notes with “Tommy’s birthday” or “wedding anniversary, book table”. If you have to write the latter down, it really is a sad day for your long suffering spouse or partner.

For goodness sake, get a diary and write it in there or insert a timely reminder in the calendar of you email client software. It is not beyond the realms of reason to put a reminder on ones’ own mobile phone.

Fortunately working from home, the plethora of post it notes no longer exists in my life, but I guess I can sympathize. These handy little notes are so popular because they are quick, easy and convenient, and in a modern office environment can nudge or cajole ones’ memory into action.

With but a couple of words or a date and time, whatever the message is about, they are valuable reminders of something important to the writer or the receiver. When sometimes the boundary of work and home life become blurred, and everything seems to be carried out in a rush, it is easy to forget a detail here, an appointment or meeting there.

However, if it is your habit of covering your office wall or pin board with pastel coloured post it notes of all sizes, fine, but please remember, “one mans’ meat is another’s poison”. A colleague of mine a couple of years ago would just take any notes left on this desk or monitor, or whichever surface, and throw them in the bin.
Love them or loathe them, post it notes, even in today’s office environment of computers, printers and fax machines are here to stay fro many years. They are an essential part of the office environment.

But remember, if you ever work with me; please don’t stick a post it note on my monitor.

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The Importance Of The Office Chair

2010-06-21T09:40:00.002+01:00

So you’ve just moved to a new apartment and while in the process of setting your home office, you realized that the chair that you have used for goodness knows how long, was almost as old as your grandmother, had almost as many creases and worn patches, and was generally in tatters.

It is amazing how sentimental and attached to a chair one can become. “Get rid of it and buy a new one” your spouse would say, “it looks like it will fall apart any day soon”.

Well, when these things happen, all you have to do is dutifully go shopping for a new chair to go with your desk. Would it be a chair built for comfort, not speed, or would it be a chair with slick castors, that you could use to have races with your children when they come to visit, or would it be a staid, conservative offering?
Whatever the choice, remember to measure the height of your desk and to take into account the décor in your office when browsing for office chairs. You may now rightfully ask: why is it so complicated? It’s just a chair! – Well, not really. A chair, just like any other office furniture, may contribute to creating a pleasant working environment and, for your comfort, should be soft, but not too much, considering that you will spend long hours on it.

As soon as you enter an office furniture shop, you will be amazed at the many styles, sizes or colors chairs are available in. But where can you buy office chairs? I suggest you pay attention to the ads in the paper, or the ones on the local TV, because they are very likely to offer great products and promote amazing discounts.
And, if you want your chair to be the right one, you might have to sit in over a hundred chairs in the space of about three or four days. You will slouch, sit, and swivel, check out the slick castor action, and also lean back (comfort rating test) with feet up on the desk for those essential introspective coffee and writers block moments that one has from time to time.

I too had to change my office chair and settled for a nice light blue upholstered chair, swivel base and the sales lady assured me it would outlast me. Not sure what to make of that one. Oh, and by the way, it has got really smooth rolling castors.
I am confidently expecting to win the next race and choose the ice cream.

The only place for Office supplies Oldham or Office Supplies Stockport for sameday and next day delivery

Waste Not Want Not

2010-06-17T17:53:00.001+01:00

There comes a point in all offices when you need to get rid of the old and bring in the new. But what to do with the old? There are a few schemes that allow you to rid your office of your unwanted things in the best possible way. No more filling landfills or meaningless destruction, let your items go to a new home where someone will truly appreciate them.

Pens
Once you've fitted out your office with your own branded or colour co-ordinated stationary, the last thing you want is for the scene to be ruined with other companies branded pens. Everyone seems to send pens nowadays, from advertising companies wanting your business to pharmaceuticals selling drugs and everything in between. Whilst these companies mean well, these items often get stashed in a draw and are very rarely used. If this is the case in your office, why not send them to people who really need them. A scheme has been set up to send pens to children in third world countries across the world where a shortage of stationary supplies has a massive impact on childrens’ education. Visit www.pensforkids.co.uk for information on how to donate.

Furniture
If your office furniture is looking a bit tired, you may want to think about updating. Comfy new sets and sturdy cabinets will surely make your workers much happier. Once you’ve decided what you need to get rid of, contact www.green-works.com. They will come round, collect your unwanted items and either send them to specialist recycling plants or sell them on to community centres. So whilst you’re reclining in your new plush executive chair, you can rest assured that its predecessor is on its way to a well deserving home.

Electricals
In order to be as efficient as possible, it stands to reason that you should have the best computing equipment available. After the upgrade is complete, you need to start thinking about disposing of the redundant products. Electricals can be tricky to get rid of, so to make it easier for you and to help the planet and the people in it along the way, there are various programmes set up to collect your unwanted electricals. A good one is www.m-d-recycle.co.uk – their policy is to never reuse electricals, only recycle. This policy gives you confidence that any confidential company information will never slip into the wrong hands.

Office Supplies Liverpool and Office Supplies Bolton deliveries are usually made same day so get ordering from DGOS today

Safety First

2010-06-17T17:51:00.000+01:00

Accidents in the office are serious business. Whilst it's fair to say that accidents do and will always happen, it is in the interest on an employer to ensure that their office is as safe as possible.

We all know that fires can be extremely destructive. Therefore there are many things to consider when addressing fire safety. With so many different fire prevention and fire stopping aids it's hard to know exactly what you need. Fire blankets, powders and extinguishers are all necessary in an office. Working fire alarms are another necessity that must not be overlooked. Your local fire brigade can provide information on what kind of equipment you need, how much you need and where are the best places to put them. You’ll be able to order an abundance of firs safety equipment from your office supplies operator.

Being aware of how to detect and act upon a fire is very important. However, just as important is knowing who is in your office at all times. The easiest way to do this is with a sign in book placed at the front desk. In the event of a fire it is imperative that you know of any visitors that may be in your office and unaware of your fire safety protocol. Providing visitors with temporary ID badges is also a great way of letting employers know that there are people who may need assistance in the event of an emergency. It is common for any visitor list to be handled by a designated fire marshal. Therefore it is important for the fire marshal to be clearly visible with the use of high visibility wear.

Along with your designated fire marshal, you need to have a designated first aid administrator. This person will need to be certified as a first aid administrator through one of various means. A qualified first aid administrator must also have a fully stocked first aid box to enable them to do there job effectively.

Signs are an important safety staple in any office. The correct signage can go a long way in preventing accidents and providing assistance in emergencies. Emergency exits need to be clearly sign posted at all times

Along with the personal safety of employers, the safety of the company should not be overlooked. Appropriate lockable security devices for things like petty cash and confidential files are an easy way to heighten levels of security.

Office Supplies Warrington and Office Supplies Macclesfield deliveries are usually made same day so get ordering from DGOS today

Oi Thats Mine

2010-06-17T17:48:00.002+01:00

As shocking as it may seem, it is has been reported that competition over resources is one of the top 5 causes of office feuds. Dealing with feuds in the office can be very time consuming yet can spread like wildfire amongst colleagues if not dealt with effectively. Competition over resources can range from the most basic ‘you stole my pen’ argument to the more destructive ‘why does s/he have everything they need to do their job properly whilst I’m struggling.’

The best way to deal with such issues is to never allow them to arise in the first place. Here are some tips for keeping resources feuds at bay.

Put Someone Neutral in Charge
Putting someone in charge of all stationary requests and budgets may seem like a simple solution. The tricky part is finding some neutral; someone who is liked and trusted by all but doesn’t have an obvious working connection with any other individual or team in the office. Common suggestions for this are receptionists as they tend to be known and loved by all but are not part of any particular team.

Order Online
Ordering online makes the whole process of getting office supplies so much easier. To start with, anyone in the office can visit the supplier’s website in order to find what they need. No more chasing a dog eared catalogue around the office. They can then email their requests to the person in charge, this gives ever lasting written proof of the request which will eliminate any ‘I asked for blue not red!’ arguments. Finally an online shopping basket can be checked, re checked and checked once more. Trying to do this over the phone – or even worse, in store – can be a challenge.

Bulk Buy
Buying in bulk just makes sense, office staples such as paper, stamps, and pens should always be maintained at a certain level. This is another benefit of shopping online – you can order as much as you want and really take advantage of any special offers your supplier may have.

Be Firm
Each department will inevitably have different needs; the marketing department do not need their own kettle any more than the catering department need a top of the range projector. Each department should be fully ware of, and therefore only order what they need in order to do their jobs efficiently.

With the resources issue sorted, you just need to tackle the other four main causes of office feuds! Good luck.

Office Supplies Liverpool and Office Supplies Bolton deliveries are usually made same day so get ordering from DGOS today

Dress to Impress

2010-06-17T17:45:00.001+01:00

With the effects of the recession still rearing its ugly head, the days of the wining and dinning potential clients with big lunches are but a distant memory. People are opting for more low-key lunches with a large sum deciding to entertain in the office instead. With first impressions being everything and appearances so paramount in today’s world, office space had better be dressed to impress.

Co-ordination
I’m not talking shoes with bags, and ties with shirts here – however that’s always a good start. Simple things like ensuring all pens, notebooks and general stationary supplies are matching around the office go a long way to showing attention to detail and brand building. Buying these things in bulk will ensure your office always looks smart for whoever may stop by on short notice.

Colour
There’s no need to be bland to display professionalism. Colour can be injected into your office through your accessories. Bins, post-its, pens, mouse pads etc. are great ways to add a little life to your office. Giving different teams or areas an individual colour will look interesting yet ordered at the same time.

Display
When inviting new clients into the office, chances are you want to broadcast your successes so they know just how great you are. Support your pitch with delicate reminders strategically placed around the office that will radiate the success of your firm. Certificates here, wall charts there, trophies, medals, photos. What ever you’ve got need to be displayed well and in prime position to impress.

Meeting Room
Where ever your having your meeting, be it meeting room, or personal office, make sure the are is prepped long before your guest are due to arrive. Small touches such as pens, notebooks, mugs and water glasses set up at each seat will have a positive impact as they enter the room.

Cleanliness
Encouraging workers to take pride in their work stations is helpful on two levels. The old adage ‘clear desk clear mind’ really does ring true for some people. Also, any unexpected guests that arrive the day before the cleaner is due won’t be met by crumbs, spillages and general office desk grime. Giving each department or groups of desks there own basic cleaning equipment should encourage this. Sponges, wipes and anti-bacterial spray should do it. If not, I’m sure a few incentive bribes for the cleanest banks of desks wouldn’t go amiss!

With your office looking as modern and as stylish as possible, making a good impression should be a breeze.

Office Supplies Warrington and Office Supplies Macclesfield deliveries are usually made same day so get ordering from DGOS today

2nd Home

2010-06-17T17:39:00.003+01:00

The average person spends 8 hours a day in the office, with the average commute taking 1 ½ hours, that equates to 9 ½ hours devoted to work. When you consider that we spend and average of 7 hours sleeping; that leaves an average of just 7 ½ hours that most people have at home. If they’re lucky.
With this in mind it seems only fair that employers make life at work as comfortable as possible without disrupting productivity. Through a series of small measures, offices can be turned into a much more relaxing and comfortable place. A place which workers do not dread going into, but instead see as a home from home.

The first thing that springs to mind when thinking of home is a good old fashioned cup of tea. After the long commute that many workers make, it stands to reason that they may want a refreshing cup of tea or a coffee as a pick me up. Ensuring that these things are always available is a great way to give workers a good start to their day. I’m sure they’ll also appreciate the savings they’ll make by no longer having to stop at the local coffee shop before work. Throw in a good pack of biscuits and you’ll have a thriving team in no time.

Comfort is also essential if workers are expected to spend more of their awake hours at work than at home. Now, no-one is suggesting that workers should be allowed to work from armchairs and bean bags – that would just be silly. However a small respite area with a cushion or two where workers can relax, eat their lunch or read over some paperwork will surely be invaluable for productivity.

Whilst there’s not much you can do with the appearance of a standard office, you can still take some steps to make it not look so office-like. A perfect example of this is the introduction of a few, easy to maintain plants. This will add colour and little vibrancy to the office, and will no doubt make workers feel a little more homely and relaxed.

In offices or departments that rarely deal with customers face for face or over the phone, the general background hum can be very off putting. The sound of fax machines, scanners photocopiers and typing do nothing but remind people that they are at work. Drown out these depressing drones with a simple but effective radio. Music playing at a low volume has been known to boost the moods of office workers and allows time to fly by much quicker.

Office Supplies Oldham and Office Supplies Stockport deliveries are usually same day from DGOS but generally next day

Environmentally Sustainable Office Supplies: A Guide

2010-06-14T12:49:00.003+01:00

Environmental awareness is no longer the preserve of the ardent activist: it is something which is gaining momentum in terms of popularity and importance. With widespread concerns with regard to the extent to which we abuse the planet and increased endeavours to endorse sustainable products and reduce carbon emissions; an environmental corporate conscience is now nothing short of imperative. There a great deal of ways in which a company can make steps to neutralise their carbon emissions and generally improve their energy efficiency and eco-sustainability. One of the simplest and least disruptive or costly means of bringing an organisation up to date in terms of environmental awareness is a simple switch to sustainable office supplies.

Recycled paper has been around for a number of years and is even more important than ever. The rainforests have suffered greatly over the decades in order to provide the vast quantity of timber we utilise for all manner of applications: paper need not increase this burden. Recycled paper is of exactly the same quality as non-recycled paper and due to its increased importance and the level of competition and interest in the market: is no more expensive. Given these factors, there is literally no excuse for not using recycled paper for all applications in your office. However dogmatic that may sound: it is an entirely valid statement.

Sustainable office supplies is now a field which extends far beyond just paper: not only are there now an array of recycled paper and card products such as envelopes, folders and notepads but also a selection of recycled office products which are relatively new developments. From calculators made from recycled plastic and components which run off solar polar, through to pens and pencils manufactured from recycled materials: there is virtually no stationery or office equipment item which isn’t available in an environmentally friendly form.

One of the most important breakthroughs in the field of recycled consumables is in the field of printer ink cartridges. There are a huge number of manufacturers who have launched extensive lines of remanufactured cartridges or re-used cartridges. As well as reducing the environmental impact of replacing ink cartridges with brand new alternatives: these ink cartridges are also for the most part considerably cheaper than the standard cartridge alternatives: yet offer an equal level of performance.

In order to try and halt the rapid deterioration of our planet and reduce our drain on the earth’s resources, a huge range of different materials are now recycled. In fact, it is highly likely that there are recycled office products available that you’d never even thought possible: for the sake of the environment; I urge you to take a look.

For environmentally friendly office supplies Liverpool, office supplies Bolton or office supplies Macclesfield as well eco-friendly office equipment for anywhere else in the UK- stick with DGOS.

Motivation: An Exploration

2010-06-09T16:53:00.003+01:00

Motivation is the inspirational force which drives individuals to surpass expectations and achieve goals. It is an intangible and to some extent merely ideological force which cannot be quantified, bought or manufactured. Despite the absence of a universal method of generating widespread motivation or a precise definition of its properties or proponents: it is without doubt, absolutely essential to success in business. As such all employers or self-employed individuals have a responsibility to themselves to take steps to motivate with the aim of distilling a solid, upbeat ethos which pervades their organisation and will make the difference between success and failure in the working realm.

It is often demanded in job descriptions on recruitment websites or in job supplements of newspapers that any prospective candidate for a given role must be ‘highly motivated’ or words to that effect. Indeed it is true that no employer would like to employ an individual who entirely lacked self motivation or was incapable of being motivated by at least vaguely conventional means. But the nature of the phrase ‘highly motivated’ is a little misleading and misses the very crux of motivation in itself. To elaborate: it is very much the role of the employer to motivate the staff to make them want to achieve the goals which most benefit the company.

Motivation can be derived from any number of things, in order to gain the highest chance of cultivating a dynamic, motivated workforce it is best practice to try and ensure that any potentially motivating factors are addressed and promoted. Obviously the major motivational factors for most people are financial gain or career development. In the majority of sales departments for instance, money is the primary motivator: commission earned on sales and bonuses for hitting targets for instance are a widely used system of financial motivation. Equally, staff are likely to be motivated to succeed and achieve if they believe that in doing so they are improving their chance of climbing the corporate ladder. Internal rather than external promotion can be a massive motivational factor for staff as well as often resulting in the best candidate.

Such simple things as ensuring that your office furniture is appropriate or creating a vibrant working environment can be equally as motivating to some as money is to others. It is often the small things which induce comfort and happiness; the same applies to employee motivation. Such minor gestures as offering employee benefits are likely to strike a chord with staff and help garner a will to aid the company to success.

To discuss how DGOS can help you to make your workplace a motivational space or to purchase Office Supplies Warrington, Office Supplies Liverpool, Office Supplies Bolton or Office Supplies Macclesfield get in touch.

Which Type of Printer is Best For Your Office?

2010-05-27T12:24:00.002+01:00

Over recent years computer printers have simultaneously plummeted in price and gained myriad exciting new features and capabilities. The only major downside to the recent proliferation of new models and types of printer available is the matter of choosing the most suitable for your circumstances. Although there are literally hundreds of different models of printer available from a great number of manufacturers, the different types of printer break down into just a few categories. Here we’ll explore these different types of printer and outline what type of usage they are best suited to.

Inkjet Printers

Inkjet printers are by far the most popular form of printer for the home user and also very prevalent in offices. Recent advances and improvements in inkjet technology have not only improved the quality of prints using inkjet printers, but also meant that documents are printed faster and less ink is used and less wasted.

The huge majority of inkjet printers are capable of printing full colour and they lend themselves well to printing images. As an additional benefit, many inkjet printers also incorporate additional hardware such as a scanner or the ability to print direct from a memory card, which greatly adds to their overall usefulness. Due to the relatively high cost of ink compared to laser printers, inkjet printers are more suitable for light use as opposed to heavy duty and offer a low entry cost but a higher cost per print over the life of the printer. In summary, inkjet printers are best for those with only occasional printing needs and who are particularly likely to print high quality images rather than black and white documents.

Monochrome Laser Printers

Monochrome laser printers have historically been the printer of choice for larger offices but have waned slightly in popularity in recent years due to the gradual decline in price of colour laser printers. They are designed to handle high volumes of document printing and obviously not the best choice for photo printing as they are incapable of printing in colour. Monochrome laser printers offer the lowest price per printout and incredibly high speed, as such they are ideal for companies who need to print a large volume of documents.

Colour Laser Printers

Essentially offering the ‘best of both worlds’ when considered alongside inkjet and monochrome laser printers, colour laser printers are capable of printing in colour and at high speed. This speed and form of printing means that it is not as adept at printing high quality photographs as an inkjet printer, but more than capable of handling both text and graphics to a highly competent level. Although the cost of entry is higher than with monochrome or inkjet alternatives, over the life of the printer, the cost per page resides between the other two. If your output volume is high and likely to cover the printing of documents, graphics and photographs (which don’t have to be of impeccable quality) then a colour laser printer is likely to be the best choice.

Having decided which type of printer is best for your circumstances there is simply the task of comparing the individual models available in order to find the best priced printer to fully cater to your needs. At DGOS we offer a great selection of printers and highly competitive prices.

Don’t forget that for all of your requirements for office supplies Liverpool, office supplies Macclesfield, office supplies Oldham, office supplies Salford and office supplies Bolton DGOS offer an unbeatable local service and free next or even same day delivery.

Office Role Focus: The Secretary

2010-05-21T15:14:00.004+01:00

Over the coming weeks we will outline the role and requirements of various positions within the office, starting with 'the face of the company': The Secretary.

The role of secretary is one which is absolutely central to the smooth running of an organisation, particularly an organisation of notable size. It is the responsibility of the secretary to not just ensure that telephone calls are curtly answered and appropriately handled, but also to deal with all other communication and make sure that appointments are made, kept and handled meticulously. Regardless of the industry, a secretary must present themselves as an example of the ethos, mentality and professionalism of an organisation in terms of both their correspondence and on a face to face basis. Organisation is absolutely imperative to first rate secretarial work but by no means the only factor to be taken into consideration.

A secretary should have an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of the company they work for; they should know the structure of the organisation whilst also possessing the ability to make potentially critical decisions; think on their feet and have exceptional communication skills. In the modern office environment, the key attributes of a secretary have grown substantially. A high level of competency with computers, complex telephone systems and both digital and physical filing systems are now likely to be equally as important as good interpersonal skills, initiative and time management. Whilst skills such as touch typing are to all intents and purposes obligatory in the modern business environment.

There is no limit to the tasks a secretary could be expected to undertake and different sized organisations have different needs. In many cases the secretary could be responsible for handling expenses, organising transport arrangements and even be highly involved with payroll and other areas of financial administration. One of the universal requirements however is that a secretary is able to take the initiative to make decisions quickly and to all intents and purposes: correctly.

Within a company, the secretary is the individual most likely to have the highest level of interaction with the office equipment. From the printer, to the photocopier to the filing cabinet they need to be aware of the machinations, requirements and maintenance of all forms of office equipment and highly competent in terms of its use. From the perspective of the employer: it is in their best interests to ensure that the office supplies and equipment they invest in is up to the task and capable of performing day in day out without issue. Even the most experienced and proficient secretary will struggle to keep the office running smoothly if they don’t have access to the most appropriate tools for the job.

To keep your secretary well catered for, take a look at our range of office supplies Liverpool firms, office supplies Manchester firms, and office supplies Bolton firms need to stay at the forefront of business in the North West.

DGOS Ltd (DG Office Supplies) 2nd Place in the IDS League

2010-05-20T15:23:00.002+01:00

DGOS are proud to announce our new league position which we are all very excited about. Please see a few words from our Managing Director below:

"Firstly I would like to thank all at Dealer Support for capping off a great sales year for DGOS by awarding us 2nd place in the IDS League. This superb accolade is testament to how hard all of the DGOS team have worked throughout 2009/10, a year that has seen every previous DGOS record broken and by some margin.

What a great year this has been for us. Firstly in April DGOS reached it’s 10th anniversary and to cap off our 10th year nicely we have shown an improvement in sales revenue of over £1million year on year, elevating DGOS’s turnover to well over £3.2m and improving every month. An area of improvement I must put down to the excellent committed team DGOS has in place. We also completed our 5th acquisition in January with the takeover of WBM in Warrington and now (June 2010) have just opened the doors to our new waterfront offices in Manchester. So all in all -exciting times for everyone involved at DGOS.

On the future, we aim to bolster DGOS’s growth model with our highly successful and consistent organic sales programme and more acquisitions as they become available. We have two in the pipeline at present which are both looking extremely positive to be part of DGOS in the next 6 months or so. So with a fair wind behind us we aim to hit the £5m mark some time in the not so distant future, then who knows we may then move in to the IDS top spot? "

Success Lies in the Details

2010-05-13T14:18:00.003+01:00

When establishing a new office it is vitally important that all of the equipment essential to the smooth running of the business is in place. In order to operate efficiently, office furniture to facilitate the easy undertaking of day to day tasks needs to be sourced and fitted in the manner most befitting the office space. Desks, chairs and filing cabinets are not however the be all and end all of creating an office environment conducive to productivity and ultimately success. The work environment requires certain flourishes, touches and accessories in order to fulfil its maximum potential: the workforce will be considerably more efficient and motivated if the office is a genuinely pleasant place to be. Creating the right ambience and look in an office need only require a small level of investment in both time and capital. The following aspects and additions are worth considering when looking to improve the office environment:

Lighting

Natural light is a great boost to any office. Although efficient, fluorescent lighting can make an office unappealing unless supplemented by natural light. As such, windows are a great asset when it comes to creating a positive workspace, in those spaces which lack natural light, supplementary lamps or uplighters can make a world of difference.

Climate Control

Many purpose built offices are installed with modern air conditioning and heating systems in order to ensure that the temperature in the office falls within specific parameters so as to be a comfortable environment in which to work. In those instances where the climate control equipment is inefficient or absent it is vital that investment is made in alternatives. Portable heaters in colder climes and air conditioners are an effective means of keeping the ambient temperature at the premium level and although sometimes costly: the benefit they have on employee comfort and productivity more than justifies the expenditure.

Aesthetic Touches

Although the office is first and foremost a place of work, that does not mean it should be devoid of any object which doesn’t directly benefit the profitability of the company. Small touches such as plants , pictures and posters can make the work environment more personable and attractive which goes some way to improving the experience of spending long periods of time in the office. Although distractions from work should be avoided, artificial plants and motivational images for instance are particularly appropriate as they improve the aesthetics of the office, break up the harsh lines of desks and make the office more appealing to staff and visitors alike.

Personalisation

The majority of office workers spend between 30 and 40 hours a week at their desk, as such it becomes something of a ‘home away from home’, although it would be inappropriate for them to populate their workspace with myriad ornaments and creature comforts, it certainly a good idea to allow some personalisation. The addition to a desk of a framed picture or personal touch can go a long way to motivating employees and making their working area a little more appealing.

Cleanliness and Tidiness

A large sum can be spent on creating the ideal work environment, but all this counts for nothing if it is not adequately maintained, furniture can quickly look tatty and the office can easily become an unpleasant place to be unless cleaned and tidied regularly. Aside from the health aspects of working in a clean environment, there is also a benefit to efficiency when work is carried out in an ordered and tidy office.

At DGOS, as well as excelling in office supplies Liverpool, office supplies Salford and office supplies Manchester, we offer a range of office furniture and products to improve the office environment.

Spring Cleaning!

2010-05-10T10:13:00.002+01:00

Out with the old and in with the new! It's time to give your office and store-cupboard a serious clear-out. Over the course of the year clutter accumulates: although the cleaners get rid of all the rubbish and visible mess, hidden in desk drawers and storage cupboards you're sure to find all manner of useless items, obsolete objects and bits and pieces you'd thought had been lost.

Why not start with your office supplies cupboard? A good thorough clear-out of your stationery storage will not only allow you to make space for all the paper and clutter which is spread indiscriminately around the office, but also no doubt reveal an abundance of office supplies you didn't realise you had and in doing so save you a few pounds on your next stationery and consumables order.

We'd love to receive some pictures from businesses across the UK of your freshly spruced up office space!

Office supplies Bolton, Office supplies Liverpool.

DGOS Leads the Way

2010-04-21T11:22:00.004+01:00

Now that flights across Europe are resuming, life in the office is starting to get back to normal. One thing this experience has shown us is just how much we rely on those things we generally take for granted. Far too often we only realise how useful something was, when circumstances have changed. At DGOS we embrace positive change and make sure we keep up to date not only with the industry but also our competitors: in order to offer the best possible service and value. By the same we token we understand that although your business may grow or alter, you’ll still pretty much need the same fundamental office supplies to keep going. We also understand that you don’t want to be at the mercy of fluctuations in price which could adversely affect your overheads. With that in mind we have devised our industry-leading contract pricing system.

With DGOS contract pricing you create a core list of items which you re-order on a regular basis. Not only do you get these items at an incredibly low price: generally 20% less than our competitors, but this lowest price is also fixed for 12 months: protecting you from price fluctuations, inflation and increased manufacturing costs! To find out more about this and the other incredible benefits of using DGOS for your office supplies Manchester, office supplies Stockport and office supplies Macclesfield then please send us an email here.

How are Pencils Made?

2010-04-16T11:01:00.004+01:00

The pencil has been a mainstay in the hand of the scribe, note-taker, artist and doodler for centuries. Its simple but effective design is central to the sustained popularity of this most humble of mark makers. The technique of manufacture used today is heavily based on the method devised by N.J. Conte in 1795. He discovered that by pulverising graphite and combining it with certain types of clay, he was able to fashion an effective drawing and writing tool, that fundamental process remains the foundation of modern pencil manufacture. Although the principle is simple and the final product relatively basic, the creation of a pencil from raw materials to sitting on a desk is a relatively lengthy and complex business.

The life of a pencil begins at a sawmill, where incense-cedar logs are cut into blocks referred to as ‘pencil stock’ and then dried in order to reduce the moisture content in a uniform manner. This pencil stock is then sent to a slat factory, where it is cut into ‘pencil blocks’ which are slightly longer than standard pencils in order to allow for trimming waste. These blocks are then cut into pencil slats which are sheets of the lumber that are slightly thicker than a pencil to further account for the waste resulting from the final shaping process.

Having been reduced to slats, the wood is treated with wax and stained to both ensure consistent colouring and prepare the slats for the machining processes to follow. These treated pieces of wood are then shipped off to a pencil factory. The first task undertaken at the pencil factory is the cutting of grooves into the slats to allow for the insertion of the writing core (often referred to as the ‘lead’). The writing cores, made from a mixture of graphite and clay not dissimilar to Conte’s original recipe, are then placed into the grooves of a prepared pencil slat before another grooved slat is securely glued on top. The resulting sandwich is then machined into individual pencil shapes, whether that be hexagonal, circular, triangular or otherwise.

Once any defective pencils have been discarded, the remainder are put into a machine which applies anywhere between four and ten coats of lacquer to achieve a smooth, attractive finish. At this point some pencils are imprinted with a brand name and others wrapped in decorative foil, dependant on the manufacturer. Those pencils which are to feature an eraser tip are put through a tipping machine which adds the eraser attached to a metal ferrule.

Once these manufacturing processes have been carried out, the pencils are ready to be shipped out to distributors and ultimately end up in your desk drawer, pencil case or shirt pocket.

For pencils and other stationery supplies dont forget to visit the DG Office Supplies Stockport website today for a whole host of bargains.

DGOS Celebrate 10 Years of Excellence

2010-04-07T17:20:00.002+01:00

Although it’s hard to believe, today marks the 10th birthday of DGOS. For a decade now we have been striving to provide the best office supplies and stationery solutions to businesses based all across the UK and wish to thank our loyal customers for helping us to reach this sensational milestone.

Established by Darren Carr in April 2000, DGOS has progressed from servicing the needs of organisations based in the North West to providing a nationwide service to all manner of companies. By utilising face to face and telephonic communication in conjunction with a constantly updated and improved website, we have focussed our attention on customer service, diversity of products and providing great value- which seems to be working very well for all involved!

So to you our wonderful customers we extend our gratitude and hope you’ll join us in looking forward to many more decades of consistently excellent service.

DGOS Customer Reviews

2010-03-22T13:25:00.001Z

You are only as good as your last mistake and we cant for the life of us remember when that was. In creating the new content for our localised delivery hotspots we decided they would be a perfect place for some of our customer testimonials.

Now we could have placed each testimonial on our blog in one big hit but by positioning a sample of them on each of these new pages we are putting them right where our local customers, both new and old can see them. Its always nice to show off when you get praise so why not take a look and read why we are an award winning office supplies company.

DGOS prides itself on going that extra mile for all of its customers so if you are thinking of changing your stationery supplier then please visit the site and give us a call as we are more than happy to quote on your office supplies requirment big or small.

In the meantime take a look at our reviews here:

Office Supplies Manchester
Office Supplies Altrincham
Office Supplies Old Trafford
Office Supplies Stockport
Office Supplies Oldham
Office Supplies Macclesfield
Office Supplies Salford
Office Supplies Bolton
Office Supplies Warrington
Office Supplies Liverpool

How To Minimise Overheads: Parts1 and 2

2010-03-22T12:08:00.003Z

Minimise Overheads– Part 1: Telephony and Utilities

On the most basic level, the key to making profit for any company is to maximise revenue while minimising costs. In order to achieve the highest possible profit, the main thrust of most companies is to push for the highest possible turnover at all costs. Although this is an integral part of increasing profit, it is also absolutely imperative that companies look at the best possible means of lowering their expenditure: a pound saved is an extra pound of profit in just the same way that an extra pound earned is. There are multitudinous ways in which overheads can be reduced and general costs shaved if a little time is assigned to the task. The following are areas that may be worth considering:

Telecommunications

It is not only call-centre type offices which rely heavily upon telephony, internet and fax communications: almost all modern offices are to an extent dependent upon telecommunications for the smooth running of the organisation. Since the abandonment of BT’s monopoly over telephone services there are now a multitude of service providers who are in competition with each other, and as such it is possible to get great deals on all of the telecommunication applications that your company needs. Using online comparison tools it is possible to get an overview of the possible savings you could make by switching from one service provider to another. Alternatively, it is often possible to get an impressive discount by discussing migrating all of your services to a current provider: for instance getting a package which includes line rentals, broadband, company mobile phones. Shopping around can reap dividends, as can looking to services such as VOIP which often results in lower call charges by using an online interface as opposed to the phone line directly. Every company has different requirements, so it’s well worth exploring the most affordable means of obtaining the services you require.

Utilities and Services

As well as telecommunications, savings can be made on other essential services by shopping around and consulting price comparison sites. Electricity charges for instance can potentially be greatly reduced by considering the costs of competitiors to your current provider. In addition to this, by choosing an ‘online tariff’ and moving away from paper billing, additional savings can be made. Online price snooping can be rolled out across other areas such as insurance, computer equipment purchase and pretty much any other necessary office purchase.

For advice on other areas of potential overhead and cost reduction take a look at the follow-up to this article: Minimise Overheads- Part 2: Office Supplies and Efficiency.

Minimise Overheads- Part 2: Office Supplies and Efficiency.

In a previous article the overhead reducing benefits of consideration of telecommunications, utilities and insurance providers were outlined. If your company is looking to reduce outgoings then considering switching respective suppliers is a great way to reduce the dent that overheads make in your profit margin. There are however additional ways in which you can reduce your organisations costs with minimal fuss and no disruption to operations.

Office Supplies

Office supplies are a stalwart of the business arena and although rarely at the forefront of priorities, the very fact that every office requires stationary or consumables of some description means that the office equipment industry is in itself absolutely vast. The magnitude of the industry is great news for all companies: as it leads to some serious competition, manifested as price-wars, promotions and fervour to generate and maintain repeat custom. As with most purchases, the internet is a great way to research the most competitive supplier of office equipment and stationery. By browsing online it is possible to find the products you need at the most competitive prices, find the distributor with the most suitable delivery practices for your needs and even read 3rd party reviews and testimonials to gain an overview of their reliability and customer services.

In addition to looking for the best supplier, in order to cut costs on office supplies it is good practice to consider how effectively your organisation orders and uses stationery and associated items. A good starting point is to create an inventory of the supplies your office currently has in stock and to chart which items are consumed most rapidly. Having established the most quickly depleted lines you can look at purchasing these products in bulk and in doing so benefit from economies of scale. At the other end of the scale, this practice allows you to uncover which items are rarely used and as a result should not be repeat purchased regularly.

Efficiency

Efficient use of office supplies, electricity, water and general consumable items reduces bills whilst also helping those companies who are environmentally conscientious to minimise their carbon footprint. So having taken steps to ensure that all of the services and items needed to run the office are obtained at the lowest price possible, costs can be further reduced by ensuring that waste is kept to a minimum in all respects. From ensuring all electrical devices are turned off as opposed to put on standby when not in use and that waste paper is re-used as opposed to thrown in the bin: ecologically ethical practices not only help to reduce your company’s impact on the environment but also to make sure that your profit margin isn’t negatively impacted.

In summary, the reduction of overheads and general operating costs is a relatively simple procedure which benefits not only the company but potentially the planet in general. The simple steps noted are within the means of any company: large, small or somewhere in between and can be the difference between logging a profit or a loss at the end of the financial year.

DG Office Supplies Specialist Areas Announced To The World

2010-03-18T13:55:00.006Z

DG Office Supplies supply a large number of areas both within our local community and all across the UK. We have decided however to let our customers know exactly the areas we specialise and know that nobody can compete with us in, in terms of service.

The question we then asked ourselves is why we havnt made more of a big deal of this earlier? As such we decided to put some specific pages up on our website telling our customers just why we are the best in these areas so please check them out and more importantly start ordering:

Office Supplies Manchester
Office Supplies Altrincham
Office Supplies Old Trafford
Office Supplies Stockport
Office Supplies Oldham
Office Supplies Macclesfield
Office Supplies Salford
Office Supplies Bolton
Office Supplies Warrington
Office Supplies Liverpool

Many thanks

DGOS Team

Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser

2010-03-17T14:46:00.002Z

This swift design in technology that has been put into this rubber is superb.

This rubber has been made specifically to erase graphite from paper, drafting paper, charcoal and also OHP pen from over head film, it also has been designed out of stronger materials to reduce the crumbling of the rubber so you do get your pennies worth for this product.

I was at college for four years studying Art & Design and during my time at college i found out first hand that this was the most superior rubber on the market.

The Ethical Shift in Stationery Consumption

2010-03-16T14:01:00.003Z

In an increasingly digital business landscape, physical consumables and office supplies are still imperative to the smooth and efficient functioning of virtually all companies. In the light of recent increased levels of environmental awareness and sustainability concerns, the manner in which they are used has however altered greatly from the practices of previous decades.

Prior to the implementation of computer technology, logging and communication was heavily reliant upon pen and ink. Although the dawn of the fax machine and photocopier took some of the hands-on notation out of the equation: they brought with them the necessary purchase of the appropriate paper formats and cartridges/ribbons. As such until very recently (with the advent of email and networked servers), the carbon footprint of even clerical organisations was at a level which would be of serious concern to modern businesses.

Given that it is now the norm to communicate electronically without the need to use paper or other disposable media, wastage from administration is considerably lower than previously: but it is still necessary to utilise consumables. Although information can easily be saved and shared using computers, sometimes print outs are compulsory. Equally, there are myriad circumstances in which a pen and paper are considerably more useful for taking notes than a laptop.

Bearing in mind the fact that office consumables are still necessary whilst environmental ethics are of imminent relevance, it is of no real surprise that recycled paper and refilled printer cartridges are increasing their market share consistently. This growth is enforced by a simultaneous fall in price and rise in quality of these products. True sustainability is however only achievable if these more ethically sourced and manufactured products are allied with equally sensible usage. Simply ensuring that only that which needs to be printed is printed and that wastage is avoided on all fronts can make a world of difference with regard to the environmental impact of a company’s operations.

It is a welcome cultural shift that many businesses are pushing an emphasis on digital communication and attempting to detract from excessive consumption of office supplies, stationery and their ilk. It is no surprise that this is the case, as even putting conservational concerns aside: minimised waste and consumption means lower overheads to the organisation. In fact, purchasing recycled products from a highly competitive online office supplies retailer and using them only as and when required can save the company and the planet a great deal.

Almost Time for a Spring Clean

2010-03-16T12:08:00.004Z

The snow's melted and the sun is beginning to make cameo appearances, better still it's light when you get into work and light when you leave (if you work 9-5 obviously). Bearing these factors in mind we're going to go out on a limb and claim that Spring is approaching!

With Spring come three things: baby lambs, chocolate and the obligatory cleaning frenzy. Not content with being your first port of call for all manner of office supplies Manchester, at DGOS we also stock an extensive and incredibly competitively priced range of cleaning supplies. From huge bottles of environmentally friendly washing-up liquid at 10% off rrp through to dual packs of furniture polish with an immense 22% saving on the recommended price.

We're here to help you get the house sparkling and the office stocked!

Take a look at our full range of janitorial products.

Win A Radley Handbag With Canon Paper

2010-03-09T14:20:00.005Z

Never let it be said that DGOS the office supplies Manchester specialist do not offer customers exciting promotions. Unlike other stationers who offer buscuits and chocolates as incentives we have gone that extra mile (again) and are offering up something much more exciting.

What do you have to do I hear you cry? Its simple just click the link below for your chance to win a brand spanking new Radley Handbag.

Good Luck

DGOS- Proud to Serve the Local Business Community!

2010-03-05T14:53:00.002Z

From their head office in Altrincham, Cheshire DGOS have been at the forefront of stationery and office supplies since 2000.

Offering low priced, high quality office supplies delivered to anywhere in the UK free of charge, the business is booming and they’re gaining new business at an impressive rate. Although they are proud to serve the whole of the country, DGOS particularly specialise in keeping local businesses well stocked with paper, printer consumables and all other forms of stationery.

With their standard free UK delivery guaranteed to arrive the next day (subject to conditions), local companies looking for office supplies Altrincham are able to benefit from free same day or before noon next day delivery. Not only are they a local company but also home of some of the cheapest printer consumables, best deals on A4 paper and great offers on filing cabinets.

Mark Farrell - SEO Manager

2010-03-03T09:29:00.002Z

When im not watching the Footbal (Man Utd sorry) or running round after my two children I looks after all of the search engine optimisation for DGOS.

Working hard to ensure our presence is felt all over the internet you can find me posting regularly on the blog, in chat rooms and other social media outlets striving for the greater good for DGOS. Not to mention tweaking all of teh on site metrics.

Working in SEO for just over five years I believe I am at the top of my game on the subject as of right now, but with such a fast paced industry I am learning new skills everyday. The reason for this is Google seems to be moving the goal posts every single day.

To get in touch with me directly email me at mark@dgos.co.uk or call on 0845 612 4444 or for the best office supplies Manchester give one of the sales team a call on the same number

Altrincham Chamber of Commerce

2010-03-02T15:57:00.004Z

The DGOS Team will be at the Spring Business Showcase Event hosted by the Altrincham & Sale Chamber of Commerce at The Bowdon Hotel on the 16th March 2010. We will be introducing ourselves to businesses in the area and showcasing our expert award winning Customer Service & Sales Team, who are trained to support you and your company whilst offering huge savings. We look forward to seeing you there! The DGOS Team.

Stewart Superior Health and Safety Law HSE Statutory Poster 2009

2010-03-02T15:17:00.005Z

Make sure your office is up to date with the New Health and Safety Law Poster. Published in March 2009 you may find that your current poster is now out of date and inaffective in informing your office staff of their rights and obligations. As an empoyer of one or more people it is a legal duty to display this poster in an accesible location for staff. This is the genuine HSE Poster and we hold plenty in stock for you to buy for a next day delivery. DGOS also offers a full range of Health and Safety products such as first aid kits (also HSE Compliant), protective clothing, safety spectacles and a full range of posters and signs advising on safe moving, handling, computer operation, accident reporting and even electric shock treatment. With the help of DGOS we can make sure your office is a safe environment for workers and you can comply with any legal legislation.

For office supplies Manchester look no further than DGOS the number one in stationery for the UK

Scotch Magic Tape 900 Natural Fibre Film 19mmx33m

2010-03-02T14:40:00.004Z

Great news from Scotch Magic Tape! They have brought out a brand new product for 2010 that uses only 100% recycled cardboard in its packaging and the sticky tape itself is made from FSC Certified sources. You will not find a more environmentally friendly tape product than this. Scotch Magic Tape also has a matt finish to enable the user to write on it whilst the tape itselfs sticks securely and will remain in place permanently. When you buy 9 rolls of this you will also recieve a Tape Dispenser FREE (please use code 143153 on the DGOS website). The benefits of this adhesive tape can be torn by hand, dispensed quickly, and won't get yellow with age.

I find Scotch Magic Tape is my first choice of sellotape when I am wrapping birthday and christmas presents as the finish looks professional and it is easy to use.

March Special Offers Storage Cubes & Bookcases

2010-03-02T13:58:00.007Z

DGOS has updated all their Special Offers for March and has included this fantastic range of storage solutions so you can Spring into Action and create a clutter free work environment in your office. The Influx Basics Range includes Cube Storage and Bookcases to help store away any unsightly filing in both Beech and Maple wood finishes. Here is sample of the great offer prices you can expect from DGOS in March:

830233 Four cube Mobile Storage Unit Beech £76.99
655664 Six Cube Mobile Storage Unit Beech £74.99
809890 Eight Cube Mobile Unit Beech £94.99

It is simple, tidy and effective and won't break the bank!
They can be used store files, organise your paperwork and make work space neat and ordered. Don't waste any time in getting your storage now as the offer only lasts as long as the stock does. Visit http://www.dgos.co.uk/ now and order online or call the DGOS Team on 0845 612 4444 for assitance.

The Importance of a Reliable Stationery Supplier

2010-03-02T12:55:00.004Z

It is safe to say that there are very few factors which hold equal importance across all of the thousands of offices spanning the length and breadth of the country. For some organisations the focus is upon sales generation, for others creativity is at the fore...the list is endless. One of the few aspects of business which is a constant across almost all organisations however is efficiency: whether in reference to time, resources, people or capital- or in the case of the best run companies: all four.

Office equipment and stationery is something which few companies really look too much into, it is often one of many tasks for an administrator in large organisations and an afterthought for someone with other more pressing roles in smaller companies. As a consequence, many businesses simply opt for office supplies companies they have heard of regardless of their price or service. It is however beneficial to spend a little time looking into the best supplier for your particular needs and this process needn’t take much time provided the following factors are considered:

Price

Many larger stationery retailers, whether based on the high street or online, will offer buy one get one free style offers for limited periods on some items. Offers of this nature tend to serve two main purposes: to draw in prospective customers by offering a ‘loss leader’ product in the hope that they will also buy items with a higher profit margin while taking advantage of the promotion or to shift excess stock in a specific item which has under-sold or is taking up too much shelf/warehouse space. Putting promotions aside, large retailers rarely offer the lowest price across the range of their stock as they know that due to brand loyalty, customers will often be willing to either pay more or are unaware of the availability of lower prices elsewhere. Newer, smaller or purely online retailers are more likely to compete on price-point due to a desire to entice new customers and lower operational costs.

Location

In terms of delivery time it goes without saying that a stationery retailer based around the corner from your office is able to dispatch products to you faster than one whose distribution centre is based offshore or at the other end of the country. As such it is likely that the speed of service offered by a local supplier will on the most part be faster than that of a large company who serve the whole country and beyond. Furthermore, the delivery costs encountered by either party will be lower: giving the purchaser a little more leverage when it comes to price negotiation.

Customer Retention

From experience, the service offered by an organisation that depends on your custom is far superior to that of a company with such a large client base that the loss of a contract is barely noticeable in their accounts. With smaller, local office suppliers, your calls and emails will most likely be addressed by a small team of individuals who will come to know you by name and as such feel obliged to serve your needs to the best of their abilities. Huge corporations on the other hand tend to utilise vast call centres which make it hard to not only speak to the same person more than once, but also often a challenge to even get in touch with a relevant individual if you encounter a problem.

In summary, when looking for an office supplies company it is a great starting point to consider those in the local area initially. Once you’ve compiled a list of nearby suppliers and checked which are the most competitively priced it is well worth giving the most attractive proposition a go and seeing the difference they offer in terms of price and service compared to the household name retailers.

At DGOS we're proud to offer not only the service and prices of smaller, competitive office supplies companies but also the buying power and credibility of a large, well established business. We're the first choice for not only Office Supplies Manchester but nationwide.

2010-03-01T09:44:00.004Z

Wow !

Fantastic colour choice for archive box, superb, sturdy casing and with 20% extra , this is a must buy product.

Yet Another Happy Customer

2009-12-10T15:08:00.002Z

We at DGOS pride ourselves on first class customer service as after all we are Office Supplies Manchester specialists. Its always nice to hear back from satisfied customers.

We thought we would share a rather nice email with you all praising our very own Lisa Maxwell (aswell as the rest of the team of course) take a look and happy reading.

"Hi Darren & Hayley I hope you are both OK

Darren – many congratulations on your recent arrival, I hope you enjoy your first family Christmas – make the most of it before he starts placing his designer orders with Santa

I just wanted to email you a quick note of appreciation for all the help and hard work ALL your staff constantly do on our behalf.

I would particularly like to mention Lisa Maxwell as she is a shining example of customer services/sales, Lisa is always helpful and communicates brilliantly (we could all do with a Lisa – watch out! Smile)

I look forward to our next round of price negotiations in the New Year!"

Interview with DG Office Supplies MD, Mr Darren Carr - November 2009

2009-11-23T11:15:00.005Z

Interview with DG Office Supplies MD, Mr Darren Carr - November 2009

Dealer Support Profile: DGOS, why they are better that the rest

1. How have you managed to grow both your profit and turnover in these economically challenging times?

Answer: Given the economic climate we have entered I would like to say we are fairing well, July & now October of 2009 we have broken every DGOS record from, sales turnover, GP, number of trading clients, orders & deliveries. But the year hasn’t been without its tough times. The past 12 months has consisted of a good 1st quarter to a poor 2nd quarter & now a Superb 3rd quarter, breaking company records as we go. Hard work, inventiveness & reinvestment have been the key to us turning a flat market in our favour.

2. Though you’ve seen some customers go, you mentioned you’ve gained over 400 new customers. What’s your secret to going after new business?

Answer: I mentioned in my previous answer about ‘Hard work, inventiveness & reinvestment have been the key to us turning a flat market in our favour’. I stick by this advice, you may have the best skill in the world but if you do not maximise your talent & work hard it will amount to zero. On inventiveness, we know the market place is hard but that also yields great opportunities. Never before have people/companies needed to cut costs as they do currently, making for fantastic opportunities i.e. ‘new business has never been easier to win’. Be inventive & make the most out of any & all situations & work hard!

3. You mentioned that Spicers was a big help to your success. In what way?

Answer: Spicer is our closest trading partner and supports us to a very high level. Their work ethic & structure are similar to DGOS so it makes for a happy & harmonious marriage. There have been significant changes within Spicers recently coupled with a major investment in a fresh management team which has & will take Spicers further away from their natural competitors by way of assisting their dealers to grow. DGOS stands testament to this – Well Done Spicers & Thanks again from all at DGOS!

4. How do you foresee the next year going?

Answer: The early indicators are showing a the 20%+ downturn from existing clients has now plateau & our KPI’s are now plotting a slow but steady incline from existing business. This hopefully is encouraging news if this trend continues. If we can claw this deficit back & in tandem with the Bolton on of new business also factoring in the catapult effect the 20% organic increase this newly acquired business will yield given the same logic applied to emerging growth from existing business makes for exciting times ahead.

5. You mentioned in passing that you were undergoing some acquisitions – can you give details and explain why etc?

Answer: Not as yet Julia, but I am confident in saying our most recent addition will go-live on the 1st December 2009 & another is penned in for spring 2010. I am also in early talks with a couple more office supplies companies to hopefully become part of the DGOS Group in 2010, so watch this space as they say!

All Things Stationery

2009-10-01T12:26:00.001+01:00

Hello for all your stationery updates dont forget to check back here

Fun Stuff

2009-09-29T15:40:00.002+01:00

In this area you will be able to keep up to date with all of the funny posts from our team.

We appologise in advance for the sense of humour of some of the team although anything goes here so enjoy

Company News

2009-09-29T15:40:00.001+01:00

DGOS are always improving so check back here for all of the latest company news on one of the UKs fasting growing Office and Stationery suppliers

Special Offers

2009-09-29T15:39:00.003+01:00

Being the UKs number one supplier of Office and Stationery products we can offer the best pricing there is. Along with our website you will be able to keep up to date with all of our special offers right here first.

Recruitment

2009-09-29T15:39:00.001+01:00

Looking for a job????

This is the area to keep an eye on. Any new positions that become available at DGOS will be posted here first.

Product Reviews

2009-09-29T15:38:00.002+01:00

We at DGOS regularly check our products and from time to time will offer up a review on some of them so our customers can continue to be sure of the quality they are recieving, not to mention an insiders view of specific items.

Customer Testimonials

2009-09-29T15:38:00.001+01:00

How was your experience of DGOS. Post your thoughts on our company here.

Meet The Team

2009-09-29T15:37:00.001+01:00

OK here you go say hello to the DGOS team. Find below some brief information about each member and general stuff they like.