How Quality Office Supplies Can Make or Break Your Day
Giveaway alert! We want to know your must-have office supplies to get through a day at work! We’ll share your favorites at the end of August in our Instagram stories.
When we came up with this giveaway idea, we had (gulp!) back-to-school in mind and how we could tie that to the joy a set of Flair pens might bring to your museum or nonprofit office space. The more we thought about office supplies and quality office space, the more we thought about this blog from Nonprofit AF. In Your Crappy Office Chair is Not a Badge of Honor, Vu Le writes, “Many of us in this sector take pride in our ability to accomplish amazing things for our community while having some of fewest and lowest-quality resources. We also take pride in not “wasting” funding, keeping our “overhead” low, and showing donors and funders that we are “responsible” stewards of the work. That’s why we steal so many pens during conferences, and why we say things like, ‘We are 100% volunteer-run” and “95 cents of every dollar goes to directly to our clients!’”
Having office supplies that bring you comfort and joy is not a tall order. Yes, that $1.00 12-pack of store-brand pens is a value, but what’s the harm in spending a little bit more to get quality pens that last? Sure, the cheap notepads seem like the money saver, but when you write on them an ink bleeds through three pages, is it really? Last, the crappy office chair might feel like a badge of honor, but what are the health risks of sitting in a bad chair at a sedentary job?
Here are some ways that you can advocate for better office supplies along with some resources for alternatives at a cost your director or board might like:
Cheap office supplies are bad for the environment. When you buy those cheap pens that last half the time (or less) as the more expensive pens, you are throwing more plastic into the environment at a faster rate. When you buy those cheap notebooks with pages that bleed, you realistically get 50% (or less) of the page use. Spending slightly more for better quality ensures that you get full use out of disposable items. Before buying something in bulk order one or two to sample the items and to make sure they meet your quality standards and staff needs.
Cheap office supplies are bad for your health. That desk that you found on the side of the road from the 1980s is likely not optimized for a computer-centric work environment. That crappy office chair is not a badge of honor. Ergonomics matter.
Cheap office supplies are bad for productivity. It may seem like small issues, but small issues add up. When markers for your education program quickly dry up or when your stapler doesn’t work, you spend more time and resources trying to find a replacement in the moment AND frustration builds.
Resources for quality office equipment and supplies
Shop back-to-school sales NOW! This is one of the best times of the year to find the pens, staples, and notebooks you love at a discount. Think about what you need and stock up.
Find an office salvage business near you. With corporate office life in flux, many offices have closed or downsized. Let their remote work environment be your gain! Places like Atlantic Liquidators are all over the country and many offer additional discounts to nonprofits.
Join TechSoup. TechSoup offers equipment, software, and support to bring your technology needs to modern times all with nonprofit discounts.
Get a standing desk. You deserve a standing desk even if your desk is a salvaged 1980s metal desk! These have become significantly less expensive without sacrificing quality. We love this one from FlexiSpot, with over 1000 5-star reviews.
Organize your workstation. Having desk organizers that support your workflow will make your day less frustrating. Think about what works for your office, visitor services desk, education team, etc. Get inspired here.
The bottom line is that you deserve quality office supplies and furnishings. Museum work is rewarding and draining at the same time. If those Pilot V5 pens, Crayola Markers, or chair without holes make your day a little better, you have a right to them!
Thanks for telling us your office must-haves!
Flair pens, Arc Journal
Blackwing 602 Pencils
Sticky notes and colorful Sharpies
Nice pens in bright in colors, and journals with good quality paper to soak up that ink!
Colorful pens that write smoothly!
A beautiful pad of paper. I like old-school note taking.
Oracle cards
Purple Papermate Flair AND Pilot Precise V5 in Black.
Pilot G2 pens in many colors :)
My ergonomic stapler which saves my wrists
Nice journals for notes, pens that write well, and colored post-its that actually stick!
Any kind of smooth writing pen, I love Pentel Energel pens. They write so smooth and the ink is so bright! Cute sticky notes are always welcome too although they never get used.
Congratulations to Sara Z. who is the winner of our August giveaway!