Use this spreadsheet as a handy guide to your best EOS prices on a range of popular lines.  Office Club members log in now to view the spreadsheet...

As students are getting their last minute supplies we sent Secret Squirrel back out onto the streets to have a look at how the high street retailers are pricing their Filing. Hopefully the Secret Squirrel can help you, help your student customers.

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With the global movement towards green business, it is becoming increasingly important to have a comprehensive environmental policy in place. The first stage of this should be developing an environmental policy statement. An environmental policy statement is a short but concise item documenting your environmental goals and objectives and the basis of your policy. It can be general or specific depending on your wishes but for obvious reasons, the more specific it is and the more goal-based, the higher the likelihood of better results when implementing policies. Environmental policy statements have two areas of benefit and these are internal and external.

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The Spyder has been out and about on the web this week, looking into filing and archiving.

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It is increasingly common these days for businesses to be selected on their green credentials so having an appropriate response is crucial when seeking to attract and maintain customers. You should be able to make solid claims which can be backed up if required and should be confident in your company’s ability in the face of such inquiries. While there is a massive amount of environmental improvements that can be made, the general public and customers are likely to be familiar with some aspects of environmental proactivity than others. This article highlights the relevant sections which are likely to be at the front of the public’s mind as well as highlighting what you should avoid doing when answering these questions. The what to avoid section is particularly relevant if you are seeking any form of environmental accreditation as environmental experts are most likely looking for these errors and will be quick to pick up on them and penalise accordingly.

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The feed in tariff came into effect on the 10th of April 2010 and what it does is essentially pays homes or businesses who generate their own renewable energy (additional premiums can be paid for any excess energy fed back into the grid). Given the high cost of installing renewable energy generating devices such as solar panels or wind farms, the government felt that it was unrealistic to expect people to adopt the technologies on a level that would meet their desired targets. In an effort to solve this issue, the government introduced the feed in tariff, where any renewable energy generated will allow you to benefit from compensation from the government and even higher compensation can be claimed if you generate enough energy to feed back into the grid.

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With talk of more price changes for printer cartridges we sent Secret Squirrel back out onto the streets to have a look at how the high street retailers are pricing their top selling inkjet cartridges.

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While environmental upgrades and improvements frequently generate long term savings, they can be very costly initially and in some cases this can dissuade people from undertaking them. There are however two great ways that you can reduce the financial impact of greening your business. These are the ECA (Enhanced Capital Allowance) and via interest free loans offered by the Carbon Trust. Using these methods, it is possible to greatly reduce the costs and initial financial capital required for energy savings investments and instead, helps those upgrades pay their own way!

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The crafty Spyder's mission this week was Data Storage.

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Green procurement is essentially the process of taking into account a products environmental impacts when purchasing it. Rather than simply taking into account the impact of using an item or product, it revolves around the process of life-cycle costing where a cradle to grave approach is taken calculating a products environmental impact from manufacturing through to disposal. There are a number of advantages regarding green procurement. These can include advantages for your businesses such as less waste being generated, lower energy costs from running equipment and avoiding complicated legislation, the opportunity to attract new green customers. It can also provide benefits to your customers via increased choice, increased information and the opportunity to buy green should they desire (which is increasingly demanded). You are providing a more complete service and potentially generating simultaneous cost savings.

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Currently, alternative fuel or biomass boilers are often viewed as too costly to be viable. While cheaper models are available, they generally require weekly cleaning to be performed by whoever purchases them and while still generating significant savings, may not be enough to justify their costs. While the more expensive models will generate significant savings, the initial cost is sufficient to dissuade the majority of companies from investing and the payback period can simply be too long for businesses to view them as viable. There is potentially however a new light at the end of the tunnel with the possible introduction of the Renewable Heating Incentive. This is a scheme implemented by Labour where companies can receive compensation for using renewable heating sources and is similar to the Feed-In Tariff regarding energy. While the new government unfortunately wish to review the implementation of the policy due to budget constraints, they have equally pledged a commitment to it meaning that while it may well be postponed; there is a real possibility of it becoming an actuality within the next few years. If it does become a reality, biomass boilers would cease to become financially dubious and would be an amazing opportunity to save money and the environment.

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After last week’s exploration into the price of paper on the High Street, Secret Squirrel has taken a well earned rest whilst cousin Secret Spyder trawls the web looking for similar paper products to see how the prices on the internet differ from those on the street.

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When working in an office, a warehouse, or even at home, there are large amounts of machines and tools being used, most of which will require electricity to run.  While occasionally, they are being used in an efficient manner, the majority of the time, machinery is being used inefficiently and in many cases when it is not even needed.  This includes amongst other things, leaving computers on over nights and weekends or running more machines than are required.  This can be responsible for a massive amount of wasted energy, increased costs and emissions.  By making relevant adjustments and most of all by educating staff/friends as to the benefits of energy saving, it is possible to significantly reduce costs.  A recent study by the Carbon Trust indicates that a 20% reduction in energy use is equivalent to the bottom line benefit of a 5% increase in sales.

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Word in the trees is that the cost of paper keeps rocketing, we sent Secret Squirrel out onto the local high street to see what retailers are doing with the price they are selling paper out to the public at.

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This week Secret Spyder has been trawling the web looking to pick up a bargain or two to replace the laser cartridges that are expected to run out on the office printer over the next couple of weeks.

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As announced last week, we have once again been able to come up with a deal on the AA 4+4 FREE packs of Duracell batteries in a Counter Display Unit. If you order three CDU’s you will also receive a FREE Duracell Easter bunny that can be used to support your merchandising, give away in a prize draw…or if you prefer, just take it home for yourself!

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With Mitsubishi about to launch the Signo Scents pen range we have negotiated a bundle offering from Mitsubishi that enables you to access these pens direct from Mitsubishi, even if you do not have an account.

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In conjunction with the current generic Art & Crafts POS theme, Helix have made available a choice of 4 different promotional packages on their popular Craft Room range.

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Fairtrade, what is it? It's about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.

Why am I bothered? Because sales in Fairtrade goods continue to grow massively , and that includes catering in the office supplies sector.

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If you order cover 2 Bureau with the free gift on the front cover, your January give-away is a jar of Aero Hot Chocolate drink - the perfect enticing gift in the cold weather. The 288g jar is available from both Spicers and Vow at a specially negotiated price for this period

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Newell Rubbermaid have introduced a new "interactive promotional membership scheme" called DYMO Connect.
DYMO Connect connects you to everything you need to sell DYMO office products: like high-quality marketing materials you can customise to impress and entice your customers and online training tools that bring you up to speed on any product - fast.
Plus, as a DYMO Connect member every sale you make from 1st January 2010 earns points you can exchange with rewards from a great range of High Street retailers, e-tailers, travel and experience companies.
To register as a DYMO Connect member visit www.dymoconnect.com. You will be sent a membership pack within 14 days of registering containing: membership card, members folder and log-in information.

The latest guide to assist you in cross-referencing and price checking the products in the 2010 catalogue has been uploaded on the Marketing page.

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Acco have released some "special prices while stocks last" on a range of products from the GBC Binding and Laminating, Rexel Filing, Nobo Visual Communication and Rexel Stapling/Punches ranges. Also available are a range of Special Offers on Rexel shredders

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At this time of year manufacturers and suppliers will have a number of lines that are being discontinued of which they have stock that they are looking to clear; check out the website regularly and your weekly Club News to see what margin making products are available.

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Tollit & Harvey have reduced the quantity breaks on the nett prices for Goldline Presentation Cases, Zip Portfolios and Display Sleeves.

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This week we have been looking at the continually fluctuating price of inkjet cartridges on the High Street.

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When times are hard, offices will be particularly vigilant when hunting down good value on furniture.....

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The January issue of Mail Club saw a record number of Office Club members using the Mail Club e-newsletter.

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Tired of hearing the words 'credit crunch' and looking to go out and attack the market? Tollit & Harvey have some great offers available to help Office Club dealers increase margins and grow sales.

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