Tips, Office Essentials Customer Care Tips, Office Essentials Customer Care

Restocking the Breakroom

The breakroom is the heartbeat of any workplace, serving as a hub for employees to recharge, socialize, and refuel their productivity. If you’ve found your breakroom is in need of a restock,  here is a helpful list of items you’ll need to keep employees happy…

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Problem Solvers, Technology Wizard of OEX Problem Solvers, Technology Wizard of OEX

Is Chatbot Customer Service Better Than A Real Person?

by Diana L. Martin

In today’s fast-paced business world, companies are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance the customer experience and improve operational efficiency. One such trend gaining popularity is the use of chatbots to handle customer service inquiries. Like any technology implementation, there are both advantages and disadvantages to replacing your customer service staff with chatbots.

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Color and Design - Creating the Perfect Interior Color Palette for Your Office

by Kim Schroeder

Color theory is the art of incorporating a variety of design principles and applying them to color.  In addition to theory, color trends are the direction and way our society thinks about color.  Designers use color theories and trends as a tool to highlight or separate an area or a space.  Companies enjoy using color as a way to attract new customers and make their business appear more successful.

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Clever Ways to Protect Your Shipments (That Don’t Involve More Bubble Wrap!)

by Marisa Kenyon

If you're someone who ships a lot of things, big or small, then there is a high chance you've had issues with items damaged in transit.  Whether it's due to mishandling by the carrier or inadequate packaging, these damages can accumulate over time - in both money and frustration.

Fortunately, there are a few innovative and unconventional ways to safeguard your shipments all the way from carrier to customer. So, let's think outside the box (pun intended!) and explore some effective methods to ensure the protection of your packages along their journey.

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Office Supply Hacks That Make Your Work Life A Little Easier

by Diana L. Martin

To the normal person, office supplies are a mundane necessity of doing business. I, on the other hand, believe that ordinary items can hold extraordinary potential. In this blog, I’m excited to explore the possibilities of standard office supplies beyond their conventional uses. From the simple paper clip that can double as a cable organizer to the versatile sticky notes that spark creativity, I’ll delve into innovative ways to make the most out of these everyday tools. Join me as I unlock a treasure trove of alternate uses that will not only enhance your productivity but also add a touch of ingenuity to your work and everyday life. Get ready to see office supplies in a whole new light!

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Tips Customer Care Tips Customer Care

The Ultimate Back to School Shopping Guide

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to back-to-school shopping is finding everything on the list. Whether you're a seasoned parent or a first-time shopper, creating a comprehensive shopping list can be key to ensuring a smooth transition from lazy summer days to the hustle and bustle of school life. Here is the ultimate back-to-school shopping list to help you stay organized and prepared for the academic year ahead…

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Where Do We Fall Short?

by Diana L. Martin

You're used to reading this blog and seeing new product reviews, helpful tips or things like suggestions on how to make your office environment better - and I enjoy writing those articles for you. Well, today is going to be different.  No sales pitch.  No "how to" topics.  No jokes.

Today I'm going to ask you a question that many companies never ask their customers.  Why?  Maybe they're afraid to hear the answer, but in today's business world if you don't know this answer your company may not be around later to ask it.  So here it is....

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Did You Know?, Print & Promo Wizard of OEX Did You Know?, Print & Promo Wizard of OEX

Marketing Your Business Through Print

by Diana L. Martin

Every business needs printed materials -  brochures that advertise the company's services, envelopes, stationery, business cards, invoices, work orders, etc.  All of these items are a type of marketing for your business.  Every letter you send out on letterhead, every work order that you leave with a client, every piece of paper that has your company information on it gets your company name out in front of people and it is important that the impression left behind is positive and professional.

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Productivity, Unusual Items Customer Care Productivity, Unusual Items Customer Care

The Power of Office Ice Cream Socials

While work-related activities undoubtedly play a crucial role in fostering a positive culture, sometimes it's the simple pleasures that can make a significant difference. Enter the beloved tradition of office ice cream socials—a delightful way to bring employees together, spark conversations, and celebrate accomplishments. Here are just a handful of the benefits they can offer…

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Selecting Your Perfect Printer

by Diana L. Martin

Even in today’s fast-paced digital world, printers in both home and office settings remain indispensable. Whether you need to print important documents, vibrant marketing materials or cherished memories captured in photographs, finding the right printer is crucial. However, with a plethora of options available in the market, selecting the perfect printer that matches your specific needs can be a daunting task. But fear not! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential considerations, features and factors to help you make an informed decision. From understanding different printer types to evaluating print quality, speed and connectivity options, we have all the insights you need to navigate the printer landscape and find the ideal device for your home or office environment.

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Revitalize Your Classroom: Transforming Learning Spaces for Maximum Productivity

by Micah Guzman

Now that yet another school year has come to a close, it is the beginning of summer vacation for a majority of students and educators.  It’s an exciting time of relaxation and decompression, and the perfect opportunity to start evaluating what can be done to improve the space in which students and educators spend so much time. Today, let’s look at three ways a school or classroom can be refreshed to enhance productivity for the upcoming school year.

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Tips, Productivity, Fun with Office Products Customer Care Tips, Productivity, Fun with Office Products Customer Care

The best desk décor ideas for personalizing your workspace

Picture this: You enter a room and instinctively reach for the doorknob to open the door. As you do, you expect to find the light switch conveniently placed on the right side, just like it is for about 90% of the population. Being right-handed has its advantages, subtly woven into our daily lives, often going unnoticed until they are absent…

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Optimizing the Office Experience: The Top 5 Hacks for Left-Handed Professionals

by Marisa Kenyon

Picture this: You enter a room and instinctively reach for the doorknob to open the door. As you do, you expect to find the light switch conveniently placed on the right side, just like it is for about 90% of the population. Being right-handed has its advantages, subtly woven into our daily lives, often going unnoticed until they are absent.

But what about the remaining 800 million people on this planet? Left-handed individuals find themselves in a world designed primarily for the right-handed majority. Sure, you can scout specialty stores for left-handed spatulas and other tools, but what truly deserves your investment?

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Pens and Ink: What's the Difference?

by Diana L. Martin

If you are one of those people who go to the office supply store to buy pens and stare in amazement at all the different types wondering, "What's the difference?" this article is for you. There are numerous varieties - ballpoint, gel, advanced ink, etc. - how do you know which one to choose? Well, let me help you.

Today I'll give you a rundown on the five major types of ink pens and their qualities to help you decide which one is best for you.

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Where to Find Free Images for Custom Printing and Websites

by Alex Plachta

Not everything is easy to draw! In fact, I’d argue that almost everything is hard to draw! Illustrator and Photoshop can be challenging for the novice creator and photographing items is not always the simplest process. There are plenty of sites where you can purchase images, but on some jobs (like this blog) you might be able to find something totally acceptable - and high quality - without having to pay for the rights to the image. Here are two sites where you can find free images for whatever you’re designing. 

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The Membership Debate - How Much Money Do They Really Save Your Company?

by Diana L. Martin

Several years ago, we published a blog titled, “Are Memberships Worth the Cost?” which generated more views than any other blog up to that point. Today it still reigns as the most-viewed blog we’ve ever posted and we’ve received some passionate comments on it.

Fast forward five years and in 2023 memberships are still going strong as a marketing and sales tool. I want to spend just a few minutes revisiting this topic today since it’s still quite a popular one.

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