by Diana L. Martin

The cold & flu season has been upon us for a little while now, along with the ever-present coronavirus, which means cleaning and sanitizing are top priorities in the office (and at home). A recent addition to the janitorial space promises to make your cleaning faster and easier, save the environment and save you money. It’s called Zep Pro-Tabs All Purpose Cleaner Dissolvable Tablets. There’s also a second version for the bathroom.

by Diana L. Martin

Here we are - the beginning of a brand new year. I love this time of year because with the new year comes new products and new toys for me to play with and test! Based on the emails I get from all of you, I know that many of you are like me - you’re pen geeks and you love to try out new models. Well today, I have a brand new writing set that you can take with you on the go. It has all the tools you need for jotting down those notes in the car (while you’re parked, of course - no writing while you’re driving).

Introducing the Serve Set 5-in-1 Stationery Set…

Ergonomics in the workplace is the gift that keeps on giving. From increasing employee productivity to reducing the risk of workplace accidents, ergonomic accessories are oftentimes viewed as a key component of a successful, comfortable workplace. Here are some of the benefits that ergonomics can bring to your office space:

By: Kim Schroeder, Lead Interior Designer

We are currently working on a showroom refresh! New furniture is starting to arrive, and it looks fabulous! We’re excited to show you some of the latest designs coming into our showroom from Hon.

by Diana L. Martin

Shipping products presents various challenges, depending on the item. Most people think of fragile items or liquids when they’re thinking about items that need special care in packaging, but really all items need to be packed securely to prevent damage. Let’s face it - carriers are not exactly gentle on packages.

by Diana L. Martin

I’m a geek when it comes to writing instruments. I love to try new pens, markers, highlighters, etc. - especially if they supposedly do something great or unusual. Today I’m featuring three pens, each of which claim to help you in one way or another.

Let’s get started.

Expensive taste doesn't mean better taste! Available for a limited-time special buy, Jeff & Michael taste test Office Expresso vs Caribou coffee.

by Diana L. Martin

Back in 2018, I wrote a product review on a new line of tape products from a company called T-Rex Tapes. They advertised that their items were ferociously strong - the strongest tapes on the market. You can read that review here: New Product Review: T-Rex Tapes. Fast forward to 2021 and 3M has come out with a new tape to give T-Rex a run for its money. Let’s take a look at the new Scotch Box Lock tape and see how it stacks up.

by Diana L. Martin

With the pandemic still ruling our lives and creating havoc, we’re still cleaning like crazy. Multipurpose cleaners and disinfectants are slowly coming back into stock in retail stores but favorite brands like Lysol and Clorox are, for the most part, still nowhere to be found.

We are inundated with conflicting information - masks work, masks don’t work, cleaning surfaces helps to prevent spread, cleaning surfaces does no good - it seems that every day is different. I tend to err on the side of caution, and keeping things clean just makes sense to me.

Electronics require special care and there are a variety of disinfecting phone cases on the market now to assist with that effort. For 2021, we’ve added two models of UVC disinfecting phone cases to our product lineup. They’re made by OttLite - a well known company in the lighting industry. According to OttLite, there are over 25,000 germs per square inch on a mobile phone and the average person picks up their phone 80 times each day.

by Diana L. Martin

We know that washing our hands is the best defense against Covid-19. It’s been said over and over again in all the press conferences and articles written about the virus. But although we wash our hands, we may not be doing a good enough job. Experts say we need to wash with soap and water for a full 20 seconds but time itself is not a guarantee of an effective wash.

Meritech, a U.S. company founded 30 years ago and based in Golden, CO manufactures the Clean Tech line of automated handwashing systems. These systems, made in the USA, take the variability out of the process to insure that every person has properly cleaned hands. Each automated handwashing cycle last a mere 12 seconds but has been clinically proven to remove 99.9% of harmful pathogens.

by Diana L. Martin

Reopening during Covid requires some additional safety features - some as simple as signage and masks, others as drastic as reconfiguring your workspaces to allow more distance between people. Let’s look at the simple solutions today - signage and barriers.

You’ll need some way to indicate where & how far apart people should stand while waiting to be served and most businesses are using floor decals for that purpose. Consider these large 20” diameter decals:

by Diana L. Martin

We’re getting close to the end of winter. The days are getting longer and we’re starting to see more sunshine. That always lifts my mood! It’s the perfect time to revive your office space - infuse it with a little energy. Freshen it up with something new! Bring new life to it!

I have the perfect suggestion for you today. We have a new collection of desktop accessories that will put some zing into your desktop setting. Mesh has been the thing for quite a while now. Clear acrylic is out there too, as well as some wood collections as alternatives to the standard plastic. They’ve all been around for years. If you want to shake things up a bit……………………………………….

by Diana L. Martin

This is the time of year when I like to showcase new products. Our 2020 catalog has been out for a month or so and it’s full of great items!

Today I’d like to show you two items in the markerboard arena. Markerboards may not be the most exciting thing in your office, but they’re pretty much a necessity - even for home offices - and when something new comes along, we want to give you first look at it.

Every business needs to mail larger envelopes and packages - some of us more frequently than others - and it can be frustrating and annoying when you don’t have the right size box or padded mailer for the item you need to send.

3M has introduced a new product that it says eliminates the need for boxes, styrofoam/padding, tape and envelopes. It’s called Flex and Seal Shipping Roll and it’s composed of three layers - an outer waterproof layer, a middle bubble layer and the inside adhesive layer.

May is Enjoy Your Work month and in our weekly eblasts we’ve been featuring items to make your work life better - and fun! Fun office supplies, breakroom treats, cool tech, comfy seating and more.

Today I’d like to show you the ChargeTech Power Table.

Normally I write about items you can use in your office, but the product I’m reviewing today is more for you to use in your personal life. I suppose you could use it if you travel for work and need to transport samples and such.

Introducing the Velcro Brand StayHold Cargo Holder.

Spring is in the air! Flowers and flowering trees will be blooming and it’s time for spring cleaning. It’s also the perfect time to refresh your office and express yourself. Get rid of those boring black plastic trays and run-of-the-mill desk accessories! Update your workspace with stylish new desktop collections and colors!

Want to add some elegance to your personal space? Try the Ellypse Collection. This product line is not only sophisticated, it is also made from extra strong and shock resistant materials.

If you’re a regular reader, you know that I’m a geek for writing instruments. Well, today I’d like to show you two items - both of which claim to solve some significant problems for you. Will they earn fame or shame? Read on to find out!

First up is the Zebra PM 701 Permanent Marker.

Like it or not (I know many of you don’t), our world is technology-based. And technology moves at a very rapid pace. New inventions, faster speeds, networks, routers, more bells and whistles………………….honestly, it can make your head spin sometimes.

But it can also help your business run more efficiently.

There are two “red” events in February - Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month. In celebration of those two events, today we’re showcasing a few red items you may like.

Here are a few for your desk: