Hi there! I’m Kim, an interior designer at OEX, and I just returned from the Healthcare Design (HCD) Conference and Expo in Indianapolis. My mind is freshly buzzing with inspiration and ideas for my upcoming design projects thanks to the Expo. There is something truly invaluable about experiencing different types of furniture up close—seeing, touching, and feeling it in person rather than just scrolling through a catalog… a game changer in my line of work.

by Diana L. Martin

Efficient management of office supplies is crucial for any business, whether a small startup or a large corporation. Mismanaging inventory can lead to unnecessary costs, wasted time, and employee frustration when essential supplies run out. By following some simple best practices, businesses can streamline the process of managing and reordering office supplies, saving both time and money. In this article, we’ll explore practical tips for optimizing how businesses handle their office supply inventory.

by Diana L. Martin

Over the years, I've written many blogs on furniture - purchasing new office furniture, how to choose the proper chairmat, chair cushions/supports, etc.  Today I'm going to talk briefly about how to choose your new chair and what I want you to remember is simply this:  One size does not fit all.

by Diana L. Martin

Over the years I’ve written many articles about organization – things like filing organization, use of office reference systems, supply closet storage organization and desktop organization.  Today I’d like to discuss desktop organization again, but this time, instead of talking about your physical desktop we’re going to discuss your digital environment.

by Diana L. Martin

If you're reading this blog, you probably work in an office and you've come here for my sage advice on a variety of topics or my latest product recommendation to make your workday easier. Well, today, instead of imparting my usual wisdom, I decided to share some fun/interesting facts relating to the office.

by Diana L. Martin

It’s a Good Day to DieHard.  (No, this isn’t a movie review!)

I’m excited to let you know that we recently started carrying DieHard wet/dry shop vacs and I’d like to give you a quick rundown on them today.

by Micah Guzman

Since 1969, NeoCon has stood as the premier event in the commercial interior design industry, held annually in Chicago. This influential platform showcases groundbreaking products and services from over 400 top companies. Office Express collaborates closely with three manufacturers whose innovations created significant excitement at NeoCon 2024.

by Diana L. Martin

If you’ve been looking for a desk pad that’s more upscale than the normal ones you find in stores, but that won’t break the bank, I have a solution for you.  Smead has recently introduced a new product – the Vegan Leather Deskpad and it’s quite a nice item.

by Alex Plachta

I want to update you on the current paper cost situation in the United States and what to expect for the rest of the year. This blog is based on my own experiences with manufacturers over the past few years as well as articles like this one on the topic.

In a nutshell, paper and related products in the custom printing world (everything from business cards to envelopes to booklets and more) continue to rise in price, but not nearly at the rate they did during 2020-2022.

by Diana L. Martin

If you run a business, you know the importance of keeping expenses down.  When it comes to your internal printing costs, standard operating procedure is to print internal documents in black or grayscale and save the pretty color prints for customer-facing documents or presentations.  Other ways to save money include using compatible or remanufactured cartridges instead of OEM cartridges, printing in draft mode instead of normal or high-quality modes and having one or two central printers that everyone shares instead of having individual printers on employees’ desks.

So now that I’ve told you what you already know, I’d like to share something with you that you may not know – the font you choose for your documents can save you – or cost you – money.

Yes, really!

by Kim Schroeder

Commercial wallcovering offers a stylish and practical solution for sprucing up office walls! With a wide range of designs, textures, and durability options available, it can really enhance the aesthetic appeal of a commercial space, while also providing functional benefits like easy maintenance and durability. Whether it's adding a pop of color, a subtle texture, or a bold pattern, commercial wallpaper can help create a more inspiring and professional environment for both employees and visitors alike.

by Diana L. Martin

At one time or another, we’ve all experienced the dreaded black lines down our copies or stood frustrated at the copier trying to clear a paper jam. And you probably swore under your breath at it because you needed the copies for a meeting that was scheduled to start in five minutes. Malfunctioning printers and copiers can be a constant source of misery in an office.

The good news is……….they don’t have to be! The simplest reasons that technology malfunctions are that it’s not properly maintained and/or people aren’t trained on how to use it.

Here are 7 ways to keep your copier/printer running smoothly:

by Diana L. Martin

Stickers vs. labels - what's the difference?  

Is there one?

Why yes, there is.  Both labels and stickers are a piece of material (usually paper, vinyl or polypropylene) that have an adhesive backing.  However, they have different purposes and designs.

Labels are used primarily for informational purposes. They can be on sheets or rolls and are a designed to fit a specific space (rectangle and circle are the most common shapes).  Labels normally contain text that provides information about a product. For instance:

by Marisa Kenyon

Think all clips are built the same? Think again!

Join us as we take a deep-dive into the many shapes, sizes, and textures of this office must-have

by Kim Schroeder

Art has many purposes. It can be beautiful to look at or evoke a particular feeling. However, art is not just something that you hang on a wall and forget about. Yes, it can simply be interesting to look at, but it can also help boost mood and physical well-being of the person looking at it.

There have been dozens of research studies that show that art in the workplace improves employee performance. Let’s take a closer look at this idea that adding art in the workplace brings employees and visitors alike more positive vibes. What are the benefits of art? Well, for one, art inspires imagination and creativity which in turn stimulates production. Art also brings about lower levels of anger and restores mental energy, which in turn helps businesses to see less absenteeism and a decreased turnover. Art is also proven to reduce workplace stress.

by Diana L. Martin

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different descriptions for office paper? Some websites list it as copy paper, some list it as printer paper and some list it as multipurpose paper. Aren’t they all the same thing? Why can’t everyone list it the same way?

Well. truth be told, they’re not all the same - there are two main differences. It’s pretty simple, so let’s look at each of them and I’ll explain.

by Alex Plachta

Knowing where to start or look for ideas for promotional products can be tricky because there are so many out there.  Our promotional products website has thousands and thousands of options from a multitude of manufacturers. Today we’ll look at one that I trust and has many excellent, high-quality products - Koozie Group.  This manufacturer is working hard to stay on top of current trends and acquire products from big brands like Coleman, BIC, Orca. They also make the Koozie brand can coolers!

by Kim Schroeder

Contemplating a 2024 office upgrade? It could be the perfect moment to part ways with worn-out furniture and welcome modern styles. Transform your workspace with ergonomic chairs, sit-to-stand desks, and innovative cubicle designs. Wondering if it's time for an upgrade? Look out for these indicators suggesting your office could benefit from a revamp.

by Diana L. Martin

It’s the new year, and you know what that means - time to clean out last year’s files, put them in storage and set up new files for the new year. Ugh. Nobody looks forward to that job.

Do you know what else needs to be organized? Your workspace! Creating and maintaining a well-organized and efficient work area is crucial for productivity and today I’ll give you some basic tips to declutter, organize and optimize your work environment. These tips apply not only to your individual desk but also to common areas and storage closets. Organization is key to a well-run office!

by Marisa Kenyon

Amazon has grown over the last 20 years from a small, online book retailer to a trillion-dollar corporation with a finger in every pie. Individuals and businesses alike use it for groceries, electronics, home goods, and even ordering office supplies.

So, the question is: "Is Amazon a better choice?"