Open Air Office

With such lovely weather these past few days I have been thinking just like an open plan office, can there be an open air office?

Probably not because of the seasonal weather but with the sunshiny days it can be nice to do some tasks outside, such as meetings, writing notes, work on your laptop, training etc.  These are just some of the tasks I can think of and how healthy and brightening it can be!  One thing I am not in favour of is mobile phones however I expect this would be a popular task!

Either way let us enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.

Promotional Gifts and Giveaways For Events and Exhibitions

Recently I have been helping a client with an event at the Imperial War Museum in Manchester and I have been looking into promotional gifts for the guests.

There are so many to choose from – pens, clocks, puzzles, confectionary and glassware to name but a few!  But my favourite gift is something I have both given and received myself in the past – a packet of seeds which can be personalised with your company details and a positive message (such as Let Us Help You To Grow).  I look out into my garden and see the wonderful flowers that have blossomed this season thanks to a few packets of wildfower seeds planted and the name of the company that gave them to me will pop into my head and I always think of them in a good light and still continue to do business with them today.

Here are details of a couple of companies I have come across:

Thompson and Morgan  –  http://www.promoflowers.com/

Go Grow - http://www.gogrow.co.uk/promotional-packets/

Happy planting!

Giving Your PC A Spring Clean

A couple of clients have mentioned to me about how long it is taking when a scan is running on their PC.  I think generally anti virus and spyware scans can take longer than we think but when was the last time you tidied your files and folders on your PC?  I have mentioned before about how businesses lose time due to poor filing and it can be very effective to have a spring clean once in a while.

Clear out and send to the recycle bin old documents you no longer need.  If you think you may need them “just in case” zap them onto a CD.  Arrange your documents and folders in a tidily and organised manner just like you would with files in a drawer.

If you are a larger business it can be helpful to reference on your documents the file name, folder name and drive where it is stored and version/date.  Then you know if you have the most up to date document.  Also it can be a good idea to restrict access with certain documents and drives. 

Another useful thing is to print a screenshot of your drives and document names and pin up – it sometimes is easier to have a quick glance at this to find what you need.

Happy cleaning!

Checking Your Printing Costs

When was the last time you took a look at your printing costs?  I was reminded of this when a client purchased one of those “clone” inks which are similar to the original printer model inks; claim to do the same job and can work out much cheaper.  Unfortunately for them the print came out poor.  But it is worth giving these inks a try as they sometimes can be very effective.

However have you thought about the volume that you print and whether you have the right printer for the job.  If you have larger amounts of printing then a printer copier can be very effective.  The servicing, toner and parts are all inclusive and you pay for only the cost per print which can be a fraction of normal printing costs.  It can cut your bill substantially. 

And of course the final thing is do you really need to print that document in the first place or can you be a good egg, save the planet and cut costs the old fashioned way?

Giving Your Office Space A Makeover

This week a client asked me to pop by and help them with organising their files, paperwork and office space.   They wanted to generally be more tidy and effective instead of spending lots of time hunting for a piece of information.

It is worth investing in good stationery that will help you be more efficient with your work and perhaps brighten your office space.  I noticed when I was in Tesco the other day they have brought out a new range with notebooks, pens, planners and file boxes in bright matching colours.  Additionally, they have some whiteboards, planners and cork boards all at a very cost effective price.   Spending a little and spoiling yourself can sometimes give you that extra push to get organised.