Office Systems and Supplies

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     Nobody wants to clean a building just for the experience!  Do not! …… I repeat ….. DO NOT! …. price your commercial cleaning bid based on “industry standard pricing” alone!

     There’s lots of high priced, and extremely complicated, commercial cleaning industry bidding software available that scares the heck out of most of us. We don’t build defense missiles or perform open heart surgery, we clean bathrooms and empty trash! ….. that’s about it. We do it with pride, and in a professional manner…. and if we estimate our bids correctly we make very good money at it. The bid estimating process really isn’t all that deep, but it’s important for you to know what the industry standards are in your town. They will probably be the numbers your competition uses for their bid. You should try to have a basic idea of what the industry standard pricing is for your area and compare that to the “down to earth”, or “realistic”, pricing you should bid your company’s services at. Arriving at your realistic pricing is the goal here.

     “Down to earth” or “realistic” pricing is determined by asking the right questions of your prospect, truly understanding the scope of work entailed in the account and then determining the man-hours your company will put into the project. Try to project future equipment and supply expenses also.

     Your greatest expense is almost always going to be payroll. Even if you’re paying yourself, it’s still the biggest expense. It’s important to take the time to “walk” the facility and digest the time it will take to maintain an acceptable level of service, consistently. A consistent level of service almost always guarantees on time payments and the renewal of a contract.

     I promise you, the company awarded the bid for almost every contract (except for the “lowest bidder is gonna get it” type contracts) has been chosen during the initial meeting or “walk through” phase. We just don’t hear “congratulations” until the official bid opening date. This original conversation is where the prospect decides if you can maintain his facility in an uneventful, professional manner, and believe me… that is his goal. When you ask the questions your competitors didn’t ask, your prospect learns not only how much you know, but also how much you care.

Try asking these pointed questions and watch your prospect’s reaction:

- Ask about keys and alarm codes.

- Ask about restricted access in any specific areas.

- If the facility is to be serviced after hours, ask about locked Office doors and

  suggest the occupants leave their trash cans outside their locked doors nightly.

  Maybe you can coordinate a quick daytime servicing one or two days during the

  week to quickly address their specific restricted areas in their presence.

- Ask about after hours client points of contact (their management) and

  emergency phone numbers.

- Ask the best way to communicate with their company about service  issues

  (daytime phone calls or visits. Possibly a communication form posted in the

  janitor’s closet, as your visit may interrupt their daily activities).

- Ask about previous cleaning issues (learn their hot buttons).

- Ask the number of employees and then their number of visitors.

- Ask if the traffic flow is heaviest on any particular day.

- For retail stores or malls ask about their traffic count.

- For Healthcare facilities ask about weekly or monthly patient count and about

  your involvement with their bio-hazard waste (or red-bags) and their sharps

  containers.

- If you are to include disposable supplies (soaps, towels and tissue) ask the

  percentage of men to women. Try not to include disposable supplies in your

  price. It’s always a subject for argument during the term of the

  contract and if they have a thief on their payroll you may be supplying their

  families also.

- Try to determine specific places with your prospect in the facilities’ bathrooms,

  break rooms, kitchens and/or closets where you can leave an extra roll of towel

  or tissue for their easy access in between servicings.

- Ask about past recurring issues and what remedies didn’t work for those

  problems.

     Your goal is to have the prospect understand you are willing to take this responsibility off his shoulders and make him look very good consistently.  The most important question you should ask at this meeting should be asked at the end of the conversation and is: “Our business is always growing and I imagine I’ll be talking with other facility managers down the road. Would it be alright …. if AFTER you experience our service… I use this facility as a reference?”

     OK… enough about selling. If you follow the thought process I just laid out about truly learning what’s involved in servicing the account, you will find deciding on final bid numbers fairly easy now.  You can now project the time necessary to service the account and about expenses therein. You should also have information about sq. footage so you can determine what your competitors will bid. You will then have their industry standard pricing and your “Down to earth, realistic” pricing specifically tailored to your business. You will now see the average of both pricing plans allowing you to adjust both your numbers as well as theirs, until you arrive at a price that’s both competitive and profitable. You may learn that the competitive price means that you will either lose money on the project or have to provide a poor level of service for that competitive price. It’s better to pass on a bid, than walk the long hard road of losing or quitting an account. Not choosing to pass on an account that’s been priced to low is the most common novice mistake in the industry! When you’re in the business for awhile, you notice the very large companies seem to rotate from one account to the next annually. That’s because the industry standard numbers don’t always turn a profit and the level of service fades after about 90 days. Often you will find the industry standard numbers reflect minimum wage labor pricing, leaving little room for you to turn a profit. Mention that to your prospect in your initial meeting, while your asking all those questions. Then explain how the cheapest guy really IS the cheapest for a reason and it becomes evident in about 90 days.

     Remember…. Having 5 solid, uneventful accounts that turn a substantial profit is much easier than having 25 low dollar, “cheapest guy gets the bid” accounts. Low dollar accounts are easy to get, but will keep your phone ringing with problems because there’s just not enough money in the contract to service them correctly. The thought process I detailed here will make that distinction clear to you quickly.  Truly understanding what goes into a bid for future service work is a challenging task.  Good luck with your business.

Thomas Anthony
http://www.articlesbase.com/sales-articles/the-novice-mistake-688801.html

I’m looking along the lines of girly or unique….not Staples or Office depot. And I don’t need paper or pens….I mean stuff like pen holders, desk organizers, etc.

seejanework.com

When deciding on a binding machine you want to take into consideration the type of combs it uses. Some combs are not as readily available as others and can be hard to work with. This article will discuss the benefits of the different binding machine combs so you can make an informed decision on what type of binding machine to ultimately purchase.

Binding machine combs are available in plastic or wire. Each machine takes different sizes and brands of combs but essentially they are similar to each other but differ in material. There are some differences in styles of combs as well.

Comb binding usually refers to the use of plastic combs. The edges of the pages to be bound are punched with holes along the edge where the plastic comb will be inserted. The advantage of plastic comb binding is the fact that pages can be removed for editing without destroying the bound product.

Wire binding is best used for reports, manuals and similar documents that are designed to lay flat. Wire binding uses a “C” shaped wire that is threaded though the hole punched sheets to bind them together.

With spiral binding a plastic or metal coil is threaded though hole punched documents. Spiral bound documents can be folded back on themselves without damage.

Some other binding styles have become popular in recent years for instance Proclick and Zipbinding. These techniques utilize a particular brand of combs manufactured exclusively by the Ceneral Binding Corporation.

Determining which binding technique to use really depends on what type of document you want to produce. For general reports and Office manuals that don’t need updated frequently wire binding is a good choice. For atlases or documents that need to fold back on themselves spiral binding may be the best choice. Comb binding is a good choice for documents that may need to be edited or taken apart without damage.

Want to find out more about binding machine combs, then visit BindingMachine.Catablogg.com.

Technorati Tags: binding machine, Office Supplies

Need a full range of quality office products. Thanks.

Hello,

Contact Memorandum, the Office supply company in Berkeley,
Gloucestershire. They also run an eco-blog.

In their own words "Companies from small to large, public, private and government organisations, all over the country, have Memorandum cartridges printing out their most vital documents… and when they need replacing, we take them away, recycle them and give stacks of money to charity every year!"

Hope this helps.

A company had no office supplies available at the beginning of the year. During the year, the company purchased $250 worth of Office supplies. On December 31, $75 worth of office supplies remained. How much should the company report as office supplies expense for the year?

The company only used $175 worth of the $250 office supplies purchased during the year.

$175 is Office Supplies Expense for the year.

The remaining $75 of office supplies is carried over to the next year as an asset.

If you have a technology fan in your life, buying Christmas presents that will make their faces light up on Christmas morning has never been easier. Trust Computer Accessories have a range of perfect Christmas gifts for the ‘Techie’ in your life, no matter what their level of expertise, interests or age.

HiRes Webcams

If the techie spends much of their time chatting to friends on the Internet, why not enhance their experience with a top quality webcam? Enabling them to send live pictures to the person they’re talking to, webcams have become hugely popular bolt-ons for serious surfers. The boom of instant messaging and other interactive Internet sites have made webcams a must-have gadget for anyone using the web. With the advent of Skype, MSS and other instant messaging tools, people can now chat to friends on the other side of the world at any time. By adding a webcam, that chat can become more personal and interactive than before. HiRes Webcams give much clearer images than cheaper versions, but are still well within most people’s price range.

USB Mini Hubs

These are compact and lightweight, ideal for use with notebook or laptop hardware. A mini hub allows the user to connect their laptop to other hardware such as printers, external mice or even speakers. Most laptops have only one USB port. A mini hub acts as an extension lead, allowing multiple uses all routed through a central port. A mini hub makes a perfect stocking filler for techies.

Solar Chargers

For the techie who is also into ‘green’ issues, a solar charger makes an ideal Christmas gift. With a solar charger, you need never have to worry about your Ipod, mobile phone or even your laptop’s batteries running down. They work in exactly the same way as a regular charger, and come in a range of designs and prices to suit any pocket. Trust Computer Accessories carry a full range of solar chargers, starting from under £10 and going up to the more executive style solar power briefcase style chargers, ideal for techies who have to work away from a regular power source.

IPod AC mains power adapter

Plugging in your IPod to your computer to charge it may sometimes be impractical. A mains power adapter enables you to charge your IPod from any plug socket in the UK and mainland Europe. A perfect stocking filler for the techie who loves to have their music wherever they go!

UPS back-up power supplies

If a sudden power cut interrupts the supply to your computer, you could end up loosing your data in a flash. For any techie worth their salt, a UPS back-up power supply is a must-have add-on to any home or Office computer system. Trust Computer Accessories have a range of UPS, all of which will give you the opportunity to save your work and shut down your system without any potential damage to the hard-drive or loss of data. Simple to install and easy to use, UPS back-up power supplies are the perfect gift for anyone who uses a computer regularly.

Sandy Lee
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/5-xmas-gifts-for-the-techie-in-your-life-706847.html

What method do you use to keep you on track on the number of supplies in-stock. Do you have a check out system for staff to make note of who’s taken what? Your professional input is greatly appreciated.

When I worked in the private sector, we never kept track. But in the civil service, they have someone in charge of the Office Supplies cupboard and you have to go through her if you need anything, and she makes you sign for it.

You have probably heard a lot about emergency preparedness, but you might not be aware that an emergency can take many forms. An emergency includes any situation in which there is an immediate risk to health, life, property, or the environment. Some emergencies are caused by human errors, like fires. Natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, also fall under the category of emergencies. Most of us, however, only think of medical emergencies when we think of emergency preparedness.

To better deal with any or all of these emergencies, products like the Multi-Person Emergency Kit are ideal. This emergency preparedness kit can effectively meet the immediate needs of 15 to 30 people during the initial stage of an emergency. These emergency preparedness kits include a duffle bag (15-person kit) or a waterproof storage bucket (30-person kit) to store and easily transport your supplies at the time of an evacuation. Both of these emergency preparedness kits include a flashlight, an Office first aid kit, a dual hand-crank and battery-powered AM/FM radio for communication, safety goggles, drinking water pouches, and more.

The CPR Kit with Rescue Mask is a CPR first aid kit made for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), an emergency medical procedure performed on a person undergoing cardiac arrest. It can also be used to help people who are suffering from cessation of breathing (or respiratory arrest). This CPR first aid kit contains a 10” x 12” (L x B) red biohazard bag, latex glove, adult PTP valve mask, 10- alcohol preps, and a CPR instruction card.

Other products that are good to have during an emergency include water, antiseptic cream, and hand sanitizer. The Emergency Drinking Water Pouch provides clean water. This emergency drinking water is packaged in a sterilized pouch that is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. The water has a 5-year shelf life and the pouches are compact and easy to open. The First Aid/Burn Cream is a first aid antiseptic ointment that helps prevent infection and cures minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. The active ingredients in this burn first aid cream are Lidocaine HCL (0.5%) and Benzalkonium Chloride (0.13%). The AgSilver CleanSpray Hand Sanitizer is an innovative way to sanitize your hands without the need for water, towels, and a sink. This hand sanitizer spray provides up to 150 minutes of protection against a range of pathogens. The colloidal silver in this spray can effectively sterilize more than 650 disease-causing pathogens. This hand sanitizer spray is alcohol-free, skin-friendly, and dries within seconds when applied.

Be ready for any emergency by purchasing home medical supplies and emergency preparedness products at Tupelo Super Store.

aurembs
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/be-prepared-747775.html

a. Office Supplies, debit; Cash, credit

b. Cash, debit; Office Supplies, credit

c. Office Supplies, debit; Accounts Payable, credit

d. Accounts Receivable, debit; Office Supplies, credit

Which of the following entries records the acquisition of equipment on account?

a. Equipment, debit; Accounts Payable, credit

b. Equipment, debit; Cash, credit

c. Accounts Payable, debit; Equipment, credit

d. Accounts Payable, debit; Notes Payable, credit

1) c.
2) a.

When it comes to organizing important files, the three ring binder almost always comes to our mind. This is one of the Office supplies that can have a lot of uses for people of different ages.

Let’s discuss how a 3-ring binder can be useful to people from different walks of life.

1. Academics. Students can use ring binders to organize school related notes. They can also use it to for keeping a record of their school activities so they don’t have to miss any. They may use it for academics, personal research, personal notes, personal budget, and so much more.

2. Corporate Setting. In the corporate setting, companies would usually have a need for Office Supplies and that surely include the 3-ring file binders. What do they need these ring binders for? Well, for one, they do help a lot in the organization of important files. These supplies keep together almost any kind of office documents properly labeled and kept together. For some files like work manuals or work instructions, they may need to be kept updated al the time. It is for this reason that file binders have instantly became a big hit because they can always produce copies of work-related documentation in loose-leaf format so that when only a certain page would need further revision, it is very easy to replace the page in a binder.

3. Marketing. In the marketing aspect, the 3-ring file binders are also known as presentation binders because they are conveniently used to present or promote a product or a service. Salespeople find them very useful especially when they want to put together some product information that they can present to their clients.

4. Personal Aspect. On a personal level, a 3-ring binder would really make a great tool for pursuing a hobby in scrapbooking. Whether you are giving it away as a gift to someone or just to yourself, you know you would really look forward to make the best documentation of your life or someone important in your life. Moreover, binders are also excellent for creating a portfolio of your achievements for potential employers to have a look at.

In case you are wondering where to have a look at different binders, check them out from file binder suppliers that sell these stuffs online. Make sure to make some price comparisons and explore customer feedback and reviews online before making a decision.

What you just heard about Presentation Binders is just the beginning. Visit Moira Kentley’s site at http://3ringbindersonsale.info for the best three ring binder available to you.

Technorati Tags: 3-ring binders, binders, file binder suppliers, file binders, Office Supplies, presentation binders, ring binder, three-ring binders