Now that the winter is over (am I going to incur the wrath of the weather gods for making that statement?) the season for moving and/or spring cleaning has begun!  If you're one of those people, the main thing you need is boxes.  Small, medium, large, wardrobe - you name it.  Or maybe you need storage boxes for the office (all those files have to go somewhere.....).

When you need to make a presentation at a meeting, you may be wondering how to make your ideas pop so that people will get excited about them.  Or maybe you just need a way to display multiple concepts and be able to edit as feedback is presented.  There are lots of ways you can do that - some that are high-tech like projectors and transparencies, some a little more low-tech like easel pads.  There are lots of brands of easel pads (regular and self-stick) out there, but today I'd like to introduce you to one product in particular - the Big Pad.

I had the truly amazing experience of vacationing in Scotland many years ago.  One side of my family is Scottish and I tried to find my family's castle while we were there.  I have a picture of me in front of a castle ruins that seems like it was in the right place, but I don't think that was really it.  (It makes a good story though.)  Scotland has some absolutely breathtaking scenery!  If you ever have the chance to go -do it!

So by now, I guess you've figured out that my topic today has something to do with Scotland.  This one is a gimme - it's going to be a race against the clock to see who can email the answer to me the fastest  (hope you're a good typist!).  Today's topic is:

If you're like most people, you have a desk tray of some kind that functions as your "In" box at your desk.  This is the central location where people drop off assorted documents for your attention.  It probably looks something like this: 

We get a lot of calls and questions about binders.  Many of you need help choosing the proper binder for your particular use and we're always happy to help answer your questions.  I thought I'd try to make it a little easier for everyone by posting this buying guide.  I'll walk you through it step-by-step so you know how to get the right binder for the job!

Have you been a baseball fan for all your life and think you know the game pretty well?

Let's put you to the test!  Today's topic is:

Major League Baseball

If you haven't been taking advantage of manufacturer rebates on your company purchases, you're missing out of lots of cool freebies.

Here are some more deals on things I'm sure you buy.  Click on each image to be taken to the full rebate form.

Life is too Short......

                      .........to wake up with regrets

                                                .........to have boring hair

                                                                         .........to drink cheap wine

                                              .........to be serious all the time

                                   .........to be mad

When I was a kid, I hated vacations where we just looked at scenery or visited museums.  Of course, now I enjoy those things.  Today I'm going to test your knowledge of not-so-famous locations.

Where Am I?

It's our anniversary!  

2016 is Office Express' 30th Anniversary and we'd like you to celebrate with us!  If you read our blog, you know that we have a weekly Trivia Contest (and if you don't read our blog, you really should!).  We post a trivia question and give a prize to the first person who emails us the correct answer.  Well, beginning May 1, our normal Trivia Contest will get a little more interesting.

Today's subject can actually be a Do and a Don't.  

DO:  Review the Proof Carefully

When you submit a job to a printer, they will usually send you a digital proof for approval before the job goes to press.  Make sure you check every detail on that proof - check for spelling, punctuation, alignment, fonts used, missing words, things that may have jumped off the page, etc. At OEX, we do our due diligence to ensure the accuracy of the proof, but human beings are flawed and they do make mistakes, despite their best intentions.

Mmmmm...................do you smell that?  Something smells really good!  It's making me hungry.  My mind is on food and I have to write a trivia question.  <light bulb turns on>  So I guess today's topic will be:

Food Trivia

If you work in a space with a lot of employees in one room, chances are you frequently get distracted by the noise and commotion.  And you may be bothered by the lack of privacy.  While privacy panels and room dividers won't put a cone of silence around you, they do help to put a barrier between you and those unwanted distractions.

Safco has introduced a unique new line of powered desk accessories that allow you to charge your USB devices while you work.  You can also operate USB peripherals (keyboard, mouse, etc) from it.  When I heard about them, I thought they were a fantastic idea and couldn't wait to check them out.  There are four products in the line - a monitor stand, an organizer with three drawers, an organizer with three upright sections and three horizontal sections, and an organizer with six upright and two horizontal sections. 

Do you like to go to the movies?  You do?  Fantastic!  If you like movies, then today's question is right up your alley.  

The topic is:

Famous Movie Quotes

The residents of Flint, MI are dealing with an incredible crisis that doesn't seem to have an end in sight any time soon.  As the entire country is aware, the water being supplied to Flint is tainted with high levels of lead, which is completely unsafe and has resulted in numerous health problems for citizens as well as a lack of safe water for drinking, cooking and bathing.

In an effort to help our neighbors, Office Express is holding a water drive.  We want to fill our trucks to the brim!  How can you help?  Simple - just add item OEXH2OEX to your online cart or fax or tell the representative you speak with that you would like to donate a case of water to the Flint Water Drive and we'll take care of the rest.  For every case you purchase, Office Express will match a case and there is no limit to the number you may donate.

Here we are again with some more rebate opportunities for you.  Today's featured rebates are from Acco, Fellowes and HP.  Click on the pictures to be taken to a page with complete details for each offer.

First up is Acco's American Made Promotion. Purchase qualifying American Made products and earn Visa Gift Cards.  The promotion runs from January 1 to December 31, 2016.  

Hello again!  I see you've come back once again to test your knowledge of all things trivia.  Well, I'm ready for you!  Today I'm dusting off a category that I haven't used for a while, but you do so well with it that I thought I'd try it again.  Today's topic is:

Common Denominators

We're less than a month away from the dreaded Tax Day - April 15.  If you (or your company) haven't already filed your taxes, you're probably in the process of gathering all the necessary documents and organizing them, which is a process many people dread.  I've got a few items that can not only help you get organized for that appointment, but will help you stay organized afterward.

Spring is just around the corner and many of you are already planning your spring cleaning projects - home, office, school, etc.  What products will you use?  There certainly are a lot of different brands to choose from - and most of them contain harsh chemicals.  If you are concerned about the effect these chemicals have on your health, or if you want to be green and environmentally friendly, consider the CleanSmart product line.