Problem Solvers, Did You Know?
Wizard of OEX
Check Out Our New Online Custom Stamp Site!

You asked for it, you got it!  

No, it's not a Toyota.  It's a BRAND NEW, SUPER FANTASTIC.......................

CUSTOM STAMP ORDERING WEBSITE! 

 

 

We heard you!  Our customers have been asking us to bring back online custom stamp ordering capabilities.  We wanted to wait until we had a great website to give you - one that is easy to use, easy to navigate and has all the items you want to order - and we think we've accomplished all that with this new site.

Check Out Our New Online Custom Stamp Site!
Problem Solvers, Did You Know?
Wizard of OEX
Keeping Your Office Clean - Part 2

Here's another product that I recently tested for cleaning and disinfecting office surfaces - Scott 24 Hour Sanitzing Wipes.

Keeping Your Office Clean - Part 2
Did You Know?
Wizard of OEX
Welcome!

Welcome to our Blog!

Let me introduce myself - I am the Wizard of OEX (not to be confused with that other semi-famous wizard.)

Here you will find many useful tips and interesting facts about office products and related items (and some just plain strange things).  I hope to show you things you've never thought of, educate you, and provide some entertainment to brighten your day.  Feel free to comment on what you like, what you'd like to see more of (or less of), and send any suggestions you may have.

Welcome!
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Save Time With Recurring Orders

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Save Time With Recurring Orders

Ordering supplies for your office - whether it be pens, paper, janitorial, breakroom or some other category - can be time consuming.  Especially if your company has a formal purchasing department and there are requisitions and purchase orders involved.

We are excited to announce a new function on our website that will save you time if you find yourself ordering the same items over and over again - Recurring Orders.  Recurring Orders allow you to create an order and schedule the frequency of the delivery - the order will be automatically sent to you on your schedule.  You can edit items and quantities or reschedule the delivery date as needed.  

Best of all, it's SIMPLE! 

Trivia Contest - Win a Prize!

Trivia Contest - Win a Prize!

People have asked me many times where I get the trivia questions that I use.  I get them from a variety of sources - books, online trivia sites, newspaper articles, submissions from readers, etc. Most I get from my own life - a song that was on the radio as I drove to work, a TV show I used to watch or that I recently watched, a vacation I took, etc. 

Recently, I was doing my grocery shopping at Meijer and the cashier who rang me up gave me an interesting trivia tidbit, which I will classify as

Miscellaneous Trivia

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Keep the Air in Your Office Clean

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Keep the Air in Your Office Clean

Every so often, I like to highlight an unusual item.  By that I mean an item that you normally wouldn't think to call your office supply dealer for when you need it.  I think a lot of companies still don't know that the office products industry supplies more than just paper, binder clips, ring binders and the like.  Another category that we can help you with is your janitorial and facility maintenance supplies. 

Keeping the air clean in the office is vital to the health of everyone in the office.  Mold, mildew, bacteria or other microorganisms can flourish without proper prevention and treatment.  Having quality air filters in place is essential.  Did you know that you can purchase air filters from us?

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Colors in the Office

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Colors in the Office

There are a lot of moving pieces in an office remodel.  The overall style is probably the first thing on the docket - do we want contemporary or traditional? Something else?  Once that's decided, the furniture can be chosen, then the flooring, the lighting..........the list goes on and on.  

Take time to consider the color of the rooms.  If you've ever redecorated your house, you probably spent a bit of time trying to decide on the paint colors. Perhaps you bought some sample-size cans and painted patches on your wall to see how it would look before you jumped in with both feet.  The same concept applies to the office environment.  Different colors have different effects on employee moods, feelings and thoughts and great care should be given to the new design.  

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Buying Guide: File Folder Basics

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Buying Guide: File Folder Basics

Today we're continuing our discussion on filing as a way to keep you organized and on task at work (or at home, for that matter).  What kind of file folders do you need?  Why do you choose the ones you use now?  Is there a better solution for your needs?

Let's talk some file folder basics.  There are 3 things to consider when choosing your file folders - style, size and tabs.  We'll begin with style.

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Stay Organized and on Task at Work

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Stay Organized and on Task at Work

This month our weekly eblasts will be focusing on items to help you stay organized and on task at work.  Since I know that's easier said than done for many of you, I'm going to start off the month with some handy file folders to aid you in your quest. 

Now, there are seemingly ZILLIONS of filing products out there - all made by very good companies - and a file folder is a file folder, right?  All the companies pretty much make them out of the same material, with similar features, so it usually comes down to the price.  Not so, my young Jedi.  Teach you the ways of the force, I will.

Summer Picnics at Work

Summer Picnics at Work

Lots of companies have picnics for their employees during the warm summer months  - perhaps your company is one of these.  Some are held at local parks as a whole family event, others are held at the office after working hours.  But what if your employee base is really spread out in terms of where they live?  Maybe the staff likes the idea of a picnic but doesn't want to stay after working a long day, especially knowing that they have a long drive home.  Or maybe you just can't find a central location for a weekend picnic that makes everyone happy. You want to include everyone, but there just doesn't seem to be a good way to do it.

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Buying Guide: Mechanical Pencil Leads

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Buying Guide: Mechanical Pencil Leads

Can you believe we're halfway through the year? It's just flying by for me. It may be inventory time for your company now and if you have a supply stock room, you may be evaluating needs for that and stocking up on some of the essentials.  One such essential may be refill lead for mechanical pencils.

Really, an article about pencil lead? (How lame!)  Well, you might be surprised how many people have a difficult time choosing the right type of lead.  This won't be a novel by any means, but rather a quick "how to" guide to make your life easier.

Trivia Contest - Win a Prize!

Trivia Contest - Win a Prize!

Welcome to July!  A lot of important historical events took place in July in the United States.  We adopted the Declaration of Independence.  The first income tax bill was signed into law and the Bureau of Internal Revenue was established. The Battle of Gettysburg began.  Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall began his tenure on the court. Apollo 11 lifted off from Kennedy Space Center.  We have a rich history (some good, some bad).  I wasn't very interested in history class in school, but as an adult that has changed.

I'll bet you know where I'm going with this. Our topic today is:

U.S. History

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Balance Boards - Exercise While You Work!

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Balance Boards - Exercise While You Work!

 

Sit/Stand workstations and adjustable height desks are hot right now.  For years experts have been telling us that we sit too long at work and we need to get up and move around during our workday and sit/stand desks are seemingly the perfect solution to that problem.  

But standing too long can cause problems of its own.   You may experience fatigue, neck and shoulder soreness or stiffness, varicose veins, sore feet or joint pain.  I have back problems and I can't stand in one place too long or walk for too long without sitting down to rest my back.  I do like to stand up at my desk every once in a while although I don't have a sit/stand to work at. (I just rest my knee on my chair while I type.) 

 

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Pens and Such: Fame or Shame?

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Pens and Such: Fame or Shame?

If you're a regular reader here, you know that I'm a geek for writing instruments.  I love to try out the latest and <supposedly> greatest thing.  (OK, I'm a little weird - but you already know that if you're a regular.)  So today, I'm putting several pens and such to the test.  What is their marketing angle and does the product live up to it?  Will it earn fame  - or shame?  I had one other person help me test each of these items.  Let's see how they did.

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New Product Review: T-Rex Tapes

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New Product Review: T-Rex Tapes

How many times have you tried to seal a package and had problems with the packaging tape?  It's too thin, it doesn't tear easily, it doesn't stick well (except to itself).................. etc.  If you're like me - and I know at least some of you are - you've tried several brands in an attempt to find the one tape that can perform to your standards.  Enter T-Rex tape.  The T-Rex line of tapes bills itself as "Ferociously Strong Tape" that is "easy unwind and tear for fast repairs." 

That sounds like a challenge to me.

You know what comes next, right?  Uh huh.  I pick up the gauntlet - let the testing begin!

Trivia Contest - Win A Prize!

Trivia Contest - Win A Prize!

I like a good movie.  I don't go to the movies a lot because there aren't many that interest me enough to spend the money, but I am looking forward to seeing Solo:  A Star Wars Story.  I like light-hearted movies - comedies, romances, "fun" science fiction, etc.  I don't go to the movies to be scared out of my wits, to be sad or to watch a bunch of gory, shoot-em-up scenes.  And I don't want to have to think too hard to figure out what the movie means.  I want to be entertained.

I guess you've already figured out that today's topic is:

Movie Trivia

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Will You Be the 1 in 10 or the 9 in 10?

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Will You Be the 1 in 10 or the 9 in 10?

Is your office prepared for an emergency?  Would you know what to do if a coworker suddenly collapsed?  Do you know how to recognize sudden cardiac arrest?

A victim of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) may be fine one minute and collapse without warning the next.  The victim almost always dies without immediate intervention.  According to www.sca-aware.org, SCA is the third leading cause of death in the U.S, killing one person every two minutes.  The number of people who die each year from it is roughly equivalent to the number who die from Alzheimers disease, assault with firearms, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, diabetes, HIV, house fires, motor vehicle accidents, prostate cancer and suicides combined. 

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Keep Your Employees Safe and Secure!

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Keep Your Employees Safe and Secure!

Employee safety is a top concern for any business.  Regardless of the type of business you have, there are always safety issues to address.  OSHA has rules and regulations that must be followed.  (Common sense provides some more.)  If you work in an office environment, you need first aid kits, fire extinguishers, exit signs and the like.  Warehouse/industrial buildings need things like hearing protection, hard hats, ladders, etc.

Are Memberships Worth the Cost?

Are Memberships Worth the Cost?

This article has the potential to elicit a spirited debate.  Some people have no qualms about paying membership fees for places like Costco or Sam's club, Barnes & Noble, etc.  Others absolutely refuse to participate.  How do you feel?  Does the industry/business charging the fee play into your decision?  I'm not referring to rewards programs - most rewards programs at places I shop are free.  I'm talking about membership programs that have an annual fee.

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