Vol 100 issue 01 2016

Contents My Office Magazine is the official magazine of the Southern African Association for Stationery, Home and Office Products. It is read by over 25 000 buyers and sellers of stationery and office products each month.

FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1916 PUBLISHER Rob Matthews - robm@icon.co.za EDITOR Leigh Richter - leigh@futurewave.co.za ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND MARKETING

Vol 100 | January 2016 www.myofficemagazine.co.za | www.facebook.com/shopsa.za

NEWS

35 | INDUSTRY NEWS Industry-related news and announcements 36 | ECO PAGES A green news update

SALES SAVVY

12 | IT’S OFF TO WORK WE GO A look at all the back-to-office essentials 18 | JOURNALS, DIARIES AND CALENDARS A simple guide to these essential productivity tools 28 | ARTS AND CRAFTS Create your own Valentine’s Day card this year

SPECIAL FEATURES

Wendy Dancer - wendy@shop-sa.co.za EXECUTIVE SALES MANAGER Kim Kotze - kim@futurewave.co.za

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NATIONAL OFFICE Design and Layout: Vanessa Bentley New Membership: Wendy Dancer Reception: Ruth Montsho Johannesburg Office PO Box 3226, Parklands, 2121 6 Edward Street, Kensington B, Randburg, 2194 Tel: + 27 11 781 0370 Fax: + 27 11 781 2828 Email: info@shop-sa.co.za Website: www.myofficemagazine.co.za CONTRIBUTIONS Letters and editorial contributions are welcomed

RETAIL SAVVY

discretion.

32 | DRESS FOR SUCCESS A simple guide to corporate dressing 34 | OPEN-PLAN OFFICES Are open-plan offices on their on their way out?

THE LEGAL BIT

BUSINESS SAVVY

and should be addressed to the editor at editor@ shop-sa.co.za. Publication cannot be guaranteed and is subject to space and the editor’s

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy the publisher and editor cannot accept responsibility

18 04 | SHOP-SA CENTENARY A brief history of the Southern African Association for Stationery, Home and Office Products 10| TOP IT TRENDS FOR 2016 10 of the biggest trends set to influence the coming year 24 | INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: PRICE DEFICIT DISORDER A look at the stationery industry’s ruinous obsession with discounting 30 | HOW TO STRESS LESS Top tips to mitigate workplace stress 47 | THE REAL STUFF – NOT MARKETING FLUFF This month we speak to Clive Heydenrych of Trodat

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03 | 2016: THE YEAR OF THE CUSTOMER 2016 will demand our best, says Anton Herbst

for supplied material. The opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of shop-sa. Copyright is strictly reserved and no part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher.

Stationery sponsored by

Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

PRINTED BY Colorpress (pty) ltd.

Office paper sponsored by

Published by

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IN EVERY ISSUE 02 17 29 37 38 40 48

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EDITOR’S LETTER WIN THIS! WEB BUTTONS CRIME ALERT PRODUCT SHOWCASE BUYERS’ GUIDE PUNCHLINE my office magazine

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editor’s letter

Welcome to 2016!

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he new year is upon us, and we here at My Office magazine are not only celebrating the beginning of 2016, but the 100th birthday of the Southern African Association for Stationery, Home and Office Products (shop-sa) as well. As the official mouthpiece of shop-sa, My Office will be featuring a number of articles throughout the year celebrating this milestone.

The very first board was elected in December of 1916 under the guise of the Transvaal Stationers’ Association, and the 99th board was elected in October 2015.

This industry body has withstood two world wars, two worldwide economic depressions, a number of recessions, astronomical tariffs and numerous trading sanctions. Read more about its inception on page 4.

Something that has long afflicted the stationery industry is the issue of price cutting – in fact, it was tabled as problem in the early days of the association, and has continued to rear its head throughout the years.

In C. R. Collett’s book Fifty Years of Service, which covers the first 50 years of the Transvaal Stationers’ Association, he states: “At the monthly meeting of the Transvaal Stationers’ Association in September, 1927, a lively discussion on ‘Bazaar’

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competition took place. It appeared that one of the Bazaars was selling a writing pad containing 300 sheets for one shilling.

How were the stationers supposed to compete with that? In the October issue of the Journal, banner headlines topped an article on ‘How to kill Bazaar competition’.”

Read OPI’s article on the subject of this “price deficit disorder”, as well as local industry comment, on page 24.

As we head into another work year, a top priority for both office workers and university students should be organisation.

Have a look at our essential back-to-office items on page 12 and our article on diaries, journals and calendars on page 18.

And while on the subject of offices, is open plan really the right choice for your employees? It definitely suits some better than others, but there are ways to satisfy everyone. See page 34 for more.

Part of getting back into the office swing is dressing for success. Choosing your corporate wardrobe is made easy with our essential tips on page 32.

Here’s to 2016 being a successful year for all of us.

Until next month

Lei g h

Vol 100 - January 2016

business savvy

2016: the year of the customer

T

he title of this article is probably the most hackneyed term ever. We are all in the business of understanding our customers’ needs, solving their problems and serving them to the best of our ability.

Yet, despite all the hype of customer centricity, I would like to challenge you to recall an experience in the recent past where you were absolutely blown away by the service you received. The kind of experience that would make you tell anyone that dares to listen to your gushing.

As the lack of economic growth, rising interest rates and changes in our market bites into our business models, I can feel the pressure mounting on our cost structures; the need for greater productivity; and the imperative to somehow stand out from the crowd. All of it points to doing more with much less.

How often do I hear people saying they www.myofficemagazine.co.za

are working harder just to stand still?

What we forget is that our customers are not immune or somehow exempt from these pressures. The question is how we help them with their challenges when we are under so much pressure to cut back on the number of people we employ, the working capital we consume, and the other resources we use to generate sales and somehow grow the business.

The natural response to all of this is to reduce our service levels, cut back on our customer interaction, do less advertising and become increasingly internallyfocused. This makes us all look the same; our service becomes mediocre and price starts to rule supreme as our only value-add.

The challenge we have is that our customers – are mostly in cost-cutting mode when it comes to areas like purchasing, facilities and IT. When faced with no differentiated alternatives, they can only revert to price as differentiator.

When you speak to the CEO, CFO, CMO and all the other execs in the business, you get a very different view. They are searching for growth, innovation and the productivity of their people and their capital.

Understanding where they are in their decision journey rather than where they fit in your segmentation; changing from marketing push activities with traditional tools to a much tighter integration between marketing and sales based on a marketing enabled sales team; and innovating longstanding practices in sales organisations are all critical interventions if we are to build sustainable long-term relationships with them.

I was recently asked at a conference whether this world fills me with excitement or fear. I chose excitement because if we are willing to do things differently and if we are willing to engage at a different level with our customer, we can join them on their transformation journeys and make a deep and lasting difference in their businesses.

2016 will have to be the year of the customer if we want to grow and thrive – but only if we have a different mind-set and we work together at a level not seen before.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ANTON HERBST

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shop-sa centenary

Long live shop-sa!

A brief history of the Southern African Association for Stationery, Home and Office Products (shop-sa)

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he Southern African Association for Stationery, Home and Office Products (shop-sa) is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Originally called the Transvaal Stationers’ Association, the first meetings of this industry body were held at “somewhat irregular intervals in a Johannesburg tea shop”.

The earliest available records of the association are found in Volume 1, No. 1 of The South African Stationery Trades Journal, published in December 1916.

The first elected board had 16 members, and it was chaired by W. E. Hortor. Hortor served as chair the following year too.

Some other notable members that

served as chair were C. R. Collet, who served a total of 12 times between 1925 and 1960; E.D. Robbs, whose grandson Eddie currently works at CTP; and W. Abel, who was chairwoman in 1959 and the first woman to serve in that capacity.

A number of challenges faced the Transvaal Stationers’ Association in its first 50 years of existence. These included import difficulties; a hike in customs tariffs; the onset of World War II, which brought with it a shortage of supplies and staff, and drastic bans on the use of paper; and the issue of price cutting in the industry.

The Transvaal Stationers’ Association eventually changed its name to the National Office Products Association of South Africa (NOPSA). Stationery and Office Products SA was the name of the official journal of

the association. In March 2001, it was announced that the Independent Stationers Organisation (ISO) – a buying group based in Johannesburg – had merged with NOPSA. In 2005 it was decided to rename and rebrand NOPSA. On 21 September 2005 OPI.net carried the announcement, which stated that NOPSA had agreed to change its name to Southern African Association for Stationery, Home and Office Products (shop-sa).

It is interesting to note that C. R. Collett observed in 1965 that, after many hours of research, “I arrive at one conclusion, that stationers of 1965 are still struggling with the same problems that faced their counterparts in 1915”.

In 2016 the industry still battles a number of these challenges, including import difficulties due to the weakening of the rand; high customs tariffs; and price cutting. In an ironic twist of fate, the industry no longer suffers from a shortage of supplies, but is instead faced with a problem of “too much” in terms of both choice and supplies.

Despite all of this, shop-sa has prevailed. It is indeed rare to find an association that has continued to serve its members for a century. Here’s to the next 100 years!

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT GRATEFUL THANKS TO EDDIE ROBBS OF CTP FOR THE LOAN OF FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE BY C.R. COLLETT; AND TO CRAIG NOYLE OF INOVOCOM FOR THE SCANS FROM THE STATIONERY AND OFFICE PRODUCTS SA MAGAZINE.

W E Hortor

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Geo Constable

A Law Palmer

T W Yardley Vol 100 - January 2016

shop-sa is marking its centenary in 2016.

Join our members in congratulating shop-sa on their centenary.

Place your message in the February issue of My Office magazine and stand a chance to win one of three sets of double tickets for a hot air balloon ride over the scenic Magaliesburg mountains. act e cont 370. s a e l p 0 , r draw (011) 781 u o r e on ent k and r Kim Kotze o o b o T ro Dance y d n e W

Denton OfďŹ ce Solutions ensures that all our quality international brands are able to perform to a higher standard. With our national support structure we are able to provide after sales and technical support across the country. Giving every customer peace of mind, knowing that their machine can help build a strong and productive ofďŹ ce

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Congratulations to Shop SA on their 100th Birthday!!!

Congratulations Shop SA on their

Centenary

and here’s wishing you every success for the future!!!

Congratulations Shop-SA on your

Centenary

and here’s wishing you every success for the future!!!

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IT focus

10 trending technologies for 2016 Advanced system architecture

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016 is here, and it promises to bring with it a number of trends that will have a significant impact on the IT and business world. Many have identified 2016 as the year when the physical and virtual worlds will finally merge.

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The Information of Everything Every smart device on the planet is generating vast quantities of data every day: they’re producing and sending text, audio, video, and sensory and contextual information. The Information of Everything – also known as the Internet of Things or the Internet of Data – will only become useful once we can analyse the data and identify patterns.

“The Information of Everything addresses this influx with strategies and technologies to link data from all these different data sources,” say analysts at IT research company Gartner.

“Information has always existed everywhere, but has often been isolated, incomplete, unavailable or unintelligible … advances in semantic tools such as graph databases, as well as other emerging data classification and information analysis techniques, will bring meaning to the often chaotic deluge of information.”

2016 will produce more and more “big” data, but the way we handle it may change.

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Bioprinting 2015 saw 3D printing grow in leaps and bounds, with many businesses and consumers buying small personal printers from companies like Makerbot.

Despite this, 3D printing remains a major growth area with vast potential.

As the materials that can be 3D printed increase, so do the practical applications for 3D printers. The aerospace, medical, automotive, energy and military industries are all destined to benefit from this technology.

Food printing can be seen as the imminent trend for 2016, says Dr Kevin Curran, technical expert at the IEEE. ChefJet can print in chocolate and sugar, Choc Edge creates 2D/3D chocolate decorations, ChocoByte prints custom 3D solid chocolate bars, and Natural Machines’ Foodini can print both pasta and pizza.

A major research area is bioprinting, where food is printed dot by dot to build up meals. “The aim is to create a range of food inks, basically substances that form gels with water, and the Holy Grail is to bring food to life from nothing,” he says. As with all 3D printing, the ultimate aim is to completely eliminate the production chain for food.

Superfast computers might just become the norm in 2016 as ultraefficient neuromorphic architectures, underpinned by field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), allow machines to run at speeds of greater than a teraflop.

This will mean that machines will be able to learn and integrate with the IoT, to the point that they will be present anywhere – in homes, in cars, on wristwatches and even in humans.

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Ambient user experiences Virtual and augmented reality are set to boom in 2016, with a focus continuity between devices and location. Context will also become key, with input needed from human elements (such as emotional state, habits, interests, group dynamics, social interactions and colocation of others, present tasks and general goals) and physical elements (including the user’s absolute position, relative position, light, pressure, noise and atmosphere of the area).

“Hyper-location technologies are key to delivering an ambient user experience that is also giving rise to the idea of slippy UX,” says Crooks, who thinks that mobile is becoming more about short, fast interactions with minimal user input.

“It’s different from the simple sensorbased apps on smartphones today,” says Curran. “Instead of the user having to go and look for something like hotels, the device would already know what kind of hotel they are looking for based on what hotels they have picked in the past.”

Vol 100 - January 2016

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Adaptive security architecture

Advanced machine learning This is another tech trend that ties up with the Information of Everything. Computers will automate data processing by learning and adapting – and the end result will be artificial intelligence (AI).

Handling complex datasets requires deep neural nets (DNNs) that allow computers to both act autonomously and perceive the world on their own.

“DNNs are what makes smart machines appear intelligent,” according to analysts at Gartner. “DNNs enable hardware or software-based machines to learn for themselves all the features in their environment, from the finest details to broad sweeping abstract classes of content.”

Businesses that understand how to use advanced machine learning can gain a competitive advantage.

Virtual assistants

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Virtual personal assistants and smart advisors are the future faces of tech – Google Now, Cortana, Alexa and Siri are just the beginning. Software will increasingly be seen as the agent of change.

“Over the next five years, we will evolve to a post-app world with intelligent agents delivering dynamic and contextual actions and interfaces,” says David Cearley, vice-president and Gartner fellow.

“IT leaders should explore how they can use autonomous things and agents to augment human activity and free people for work that only people can do. However, they must recognise that smart agents and things are a long-term phenomenon that will continually evolve and expand their uses for the next 20 years.”

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The birth of the new threat landscape has seen the death of traditional antivirus software. As the number of digital businesses increase, so too do the number hackers, crackers and scammers.

Users now need adaptive security architectures to keep their personal and confidential data safe from high-tech security threats.

One example of such a sophisticated malware monitoring system is Volatile Cedar. It has a “stealth mode” which allows it to evade detection. It monitors system processes and launches custombuilt remote access Trojans.

“Techniques to avoid detection include frequently checking antivirus results and changing versions and builds on all infected servers when any traces of detection appear,” says Curran.

Cloud-based services only make the demand for adaptive security higher.

“Application self-protection, as well as user and entity behaviour analytics, will help fulfil the adaptive security architecture,” says Gartner.

Bluetooth beacons

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Bluetooth-powered beacons – also known as lighthouses – are now being installed in shopping malls, museums, hotels, airports and offices around the world to track the exact location of a smart device and send the user realtime notifications.

Beyond its mobile commerce capabilities (such as texting vouchers to passing shoppers), the spread of intelligent, wireless Bluetooth beacon hardware means indoor mapping and much, much more.

“We believe that Bluetooth 4.2 beacons will become one of the big trends for next year, taking the technology from outside of the marketing sphere and into the Internet of Things sphere,” says Crooks. This could include realtime notifications of gate changes and train delays at airports and train stations; hands-free payments; and multi-room music that follows you around your home.

IT focus

The device mesh

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According to Gartner, the device mesh refers to the expanding set of endpoints people use to access applications and information or interact with people, social communities, governments and businesses. It includes smart devices, wearables, consumer and home electronic devices, automotive devices and environmental devices. It will mean accessing information and apps via a number of objects.

“The device mesh is innately part of the Internet of Things … even apps like Waze are part of this trend, turning cars into live traffic data,” says Mike Crooks, head of Innovation at Mubaloo Innovation Lab. “The device mesh is the trend of moving to the interconnected ideal of the Internet of Things.”

Standardisation of IoT platforms The devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) increasingly need to be managed, secured and integrated, in order to create some level of standardisation.

“IoT platforms constitute the work IT does behind the scenes from an architectural and a technology standpoint to make the IoT a reality,” says Gartner. “The IoT is an integral part of the digital mesh and the ambient user experience, and the emerging and dynamic world of IoT platforms is what makes them possible.”

According to Garner, any enterprise embracing the IoT will need to develop an IoT platform strategy – which will be difficult to get right until at least 2018.

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back to office

It’s off to work we go

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t’s the beginning of the new year and all over the country people are returning to work and school. Put your best foot forward by ensuring you have the best tools for the job at hand.

Paper perfect Paper cubes Paper cubes are handy boxes containing paper that has been cut to a uniform size (usually 75mm x 75mm). They are ideal for having next to the telephone so you can jot down messages, phone numbers and other information to pass on to someone else. Paper cubes and their refills come in a range of colours, including plain white, pastel or neon

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colours, or in mixed packs. The paper cube itself has a cut-away on the front so that the paper is easy to access even when it is nearing the bottom of the box.

A paper cube refill usually comes in 600 sheets.

Post-it notes Post-it notes (or sticky notes) are small pieces of paper with a re-adherable strip of glue at the back. This pressuresensitive adhesive allows the notes to be easily attached, removed and re-posted a few times without leaving residue. They are made for temporarily attaching notes to documents and other surfaces, and are available in a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes. Post-it note dispensers are ideal for the office environment as they provide an easily-accessible box to house the notes, preventing clutter.

Envelopes It is a good idea for any office to carry a range of envelopes for use on a daily basis. Envelopes can be padded with additional material, such as bubble wrap, for fragile items. These are used most often for posting multiple items. Normal envelopes are unpadded. Some of them have a clear window through which the address is displayed. The envelope flap may be on the top or along the side of the envelope.

Envelopes come in a vast array of sizes. A letter-sized envelope is usually 110mm x 220mm. These take a sheet of A4 paper folded into three, and are ideal for posting letters. Other useful sizes to have are A5 (162mm x 229mm) and A4 (229mm x 324mm).

Envelopes are usually white or brown, but can be found in every colour of the Vol 100 - January 2016

back to office

rainbow. Some envelopes have an adhesive gum on the back that requires a liquid (such as saliva) to make it sticky. Others are self-adhesive, and come with a strip that you peel off to expose the sticky area.

Business cards Business cards are a must for most employees as it is an easy and convenient way to give out necessary information, while displaying the company’s identity.

Traditional business cards measure 89mm x 50mm and are made from card that is usually 300gsm. When having a business card designed, remember that it should ideally be able to fit into a wallet without falling into the fold. If your business card is bigger than a bank card, it is unlikely to fit into a wallet and could be lost.

Top tech aids Mouse pads A mouse pad is a useful and convenient tool for those who use a mouse every day.

It works by providing the mouse with a better surface to move over, preventing jitters.

Modern mouse pads are typically made of lesser-density rubber composites with fabric bonded to the upper surface.

However, many other types of material have been used, including fabric, plastics, recycled rubber tyres, silicone rubber, leather, glass, cork, wood, aluminium, stone and stainless steel. Some mouse pads include a padded wrist rest too.

3G modems These are extremely useful tools for workers who are constantly on the move. Available from most computer shops, 3G modems require SIM cards to work because they connect to a cellular network rather ADSL Internet. Many businesses take out contracts with cellular providers in order to get preferential rates.

Modems have an internal antenna with which to acquire signal, but they can be purchased with additional external antennae for use in areas with poorer signal. www.myofficemagazine.co.za

Styluses A stylus is a hard, pointed tool used as a method of input on touchscreen-enabled devices, such as tablet PCs, to accurately navigate menus. It is useful in dirty environments as it helps to prevent the device’s screen from getting dirty. Styluses are also used by courier companies so their customers can sign electronic delivery forms.

Many smartphones have a built-in stylus which slots in behind the back cover. Some styluses may extend and contract into small, pen-like cylinders.

Styluses can be active or passive (capacitive). Passive styluses act just like a finger when touching a screen. There is no electronic communication between a passive stylus and a device.

An active stylus includes electronic components that communicate with the touchscreen controller on a device. Active pens are typically used for note taking, on-screen drawing/painting and electronic document annotation.

These styluses can be found in many different styles.

Wrist rests Wrist supports are essential for employees who spend most of their day using a mouse or typing at a keyboard.

The additional support provided by a wrist rest can minimise pain and mitigate the onset of carpel tunnel syndrome.

Wrist rests can be small and square to fit in front of a mouse, or long and rectangular to fit in front of a keyboard.

They are usually made of durable, comfortable materials such as highquality foam or silicon.

Copy holders Also known as typing stands, these useful items attach to a desk or computer and are used by administrative staff that need to read from and type out documents while working on a computer. Some copy holders are standalone items. In general, a copy holder offers vertical or horizontal rotation, line guides for

easy place-holding, and clips to hold documents in place.

Computer stands Computer stands are essential for the correct positioning of the head and neck for anyone who uses a computer all day.

They ensure ergonomic positioning of the body, which helps to decrease aches and pains while boosting productivity.

A simple computer stand is available in the form of a laptop tilt. These are ergonomically angled pieces of moulded plastic which allow ventilation of the device and a correct working angle.

A more complicated computer stand holds a computer screen, allowing it to be lifted via an adjustable arm.

The screen is then angled in an ergonomic fashion, or rotated vertically or horizontally. Some iPad covers also provide an upright stand, allowing the device to stand vertically on the desk for easy reading. This relieves both neck and back strain.

Multi-chargers These handy devices allow for the charging of multiple devices at once.

Especially useful for mobile work environments, they offer high-speed charging for a range of items. They can be device agnostic and work in a variety of environments, such as vehicles. They keep the modern worker connected at all times.

Docking stations A docking station (or port replicator) provides a simplified way of “pluggingin” an electronic device to common peripherals. Docks are not standardised because of the wide range of dockable devices, which all have different connectors, power signalling and uses.

Bear in mind the types of devices you have when choosing a docking station.

Docking stations are mainly used for charging devices, offering media output (such as playing audio) and enhancing connectivity by providing additional ports. my office magazine

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Get organised One of the best ways to reduce stress in the new year is to know where everything is. Use these handy tools to ensure your desk is always neat and orderly.

Desk organisers Desktop organisers are key for keeping a variety of smaller items in order and within easy reach. Circular or square in shape, desk organisers are made from steel, plastic or eco-friendly, recycled materials and bamboo. They are offered in a range of styles and colours, and have separate compartments of varying sizes that are designed to hold rulers, pens, pencils and erasers, and organise smaller stationery items such as paper clips and rubber bands. More sophisticated desk organisers can even include tape dispensers and built-in clocks.

Paper clip holders Paper clips have a bad habit of getting into every nook and cranny of the office. Paper clip holders are small boxes that are either magnetised or non-magnetic. Magnetised paper clip holders are more useful as paper clips are made of metal and stick together. Many offer non-slip rubberised or felt bottoms so they stay in one spot.

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Clipboards These handy items help to keep documents grouped together and provide a flat, hard surface on which to write while on the move. Clipboards are made from a variety of material, including PVC, chipboard and wood. The clipboard contains a clip mechanism along the top which opens to receive paper and closes to hold it in place. Clipboards are ideal in warehouse-type environments or for people on the go, such as couriers.

Letter trays Before the advent of e-mail, letter trays were the original inbox and outbox. They are important items that help organise the documents on your desk into two simple categories: to be done and finished.

They generally come as separate units which are stackable to make up multiple tiers for people who have more than two categories in mind. Letter trays can be open-sided or be closed with sliding drawers. They are made from a range of materials, including plastic, wood, wire mesh and pressed metal.

Business card holders These items are useful for staff members who hand out business cards on a regular basis, such as those who work in

reception. There are a number of different types of holders. At its most basic, a business card holder is a plastic box or stand that supports a number of cards at once. These are easily accessible for both staff and members of the public.

More sophisticated holders are created in album form, with individual plastic pockets for each card. This is more suited to people who have collected cards for the purpose of lead generation or the creation of a contact list, and want to store them in a way that will protect them from dirt, light and moisture.

Cable organisers Cables tend to clutter up a workspace, and many of the devices used in the office environment have at least one cable for charging. These days, one employee can have a PC, a laptop, a smartphone and a tablet. To prevent getting tangled in all these wires, make use of a cable organiser. They come in the form of wire clips, clamps or plastic sleeving which is run behind the desk to the plug point.

They are used for bundling desktop cables together, protecting them and keeping them neat. Not only do cable organisers keep your desk tidy, but they also form part of occupational health and safety regulations.

Vol 100 - January 2016

Established in 2004, Oasis Office furniture continues to expand its reach nationally.

We are represented in Gauteng, Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape. This reach is growing because we partner with a number of service providers.

Our continued success is a result of our conviction that “accepatable is not good enough”. This approach is in our product design, quality and service levels.

Oasis manufactures in both melamine and veneer.

While we do have standard ranges, we also manufacture to client specifications.

Oasis Office Furniture can supply:     

Office furniture Training centres Reception areas and more Boardroom furniture Canteens and hostels

We cater for single user installations as well as the furnishing of corporate buildings

We look forward to hearing from you to discuss your furniture requirements and how we can offer solutuions to best fit you and your clients’ needs.

back to office

Furniture Desks and tables Desks and tables are essential items of furniture in any workspace. Whether for offices, reception environments, canteens or boardrooms, a number of factors need to be considered when purchasing a desk. Durability is key. How long will the desk last? This will be largely determined by the price point of the desk and the material it is made out of. Cheaper desks are made from chipboard with a veneer, while expensive desks are made from chrome, glass or wood.

Another thing to consider is the load capacity of the desk. How much weight can be put on the desk before it will become unstable or collapse? Bear in mind that most office workers will need to put files, books, paper, stationery, a telephone and a computer of some sort on their desks.

Choose a style of desk that suits your corporate identity and budget. Modern desks are nice, but may look dated in 10 years’ time. If there is budget to update the look every five years, modern is a good choice and local manufacturers can provide custom designs and complete corporate fittings. However, if you are buying your desk for the long term, ensure that the style is more classic.

Desks are available in a number of

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finishes, including melamine, veneer with a fitted edging, metal, aluminium, chrome, leather or glass.

Bear in mind the need for storage space. Office desks will require drawers, pull out keyboard trays and a hole in the desk for cables.

Tables for canteens or break rooms will not require any of the storage or load capacities needed by office desks.

Chairs Office chairs are available in a wide range of styles. They are generally on wheels for ease of movement, and offer a range of functionality such as adjustable seat height, backrest tilt and arm rest height. Ergonomic chairs are scientifically tested to improve posture which boosts productivity while decreasing aches and pains.

Boardroom chairs are usually not on castors. They offer a more opulent, executive look, using plush finishes and more padding. Generally boardroom chairs are covered in leather or a heavy, patterned material. These chairs are comfortable for the duration of a meeting but are not ideal for sitting in long term as they are not ergonomically designed.

Chairs found in break rooms or canteens are usually made from melamine or plastic, and do not have a fabric covering. This type of chair will

be exposed to a large number of spills from food and drinks and, depending on where they are placed, will also need to withstand dropped ash or cigarettes.

Desk lamps The desk is a place where a lot of work is done in a business day, and as such it needs to be adequately lit for optimum productivity and comfort.

Desk lamps are ideal for creating a concentrated pool of light to aid vision when working on paper or reading dense text.

When choosing a desk lamp for your workspace, chose one that renders true colours as if in natural daylight. Make sure the bulb in the desk lamp is a warm white light.

The lamp should be designed to allow you to focus light when and where you need it with precision.

Adjustable luminaire heads and a 40-degree beam angle will ensure that light reaches every corner of your work space.

This will enable you to direct it exactly where you want it with fewer shadows.

It’s also important to choose a lamp that has an easily accessible on/off switch.

More sophisticated desk lamps contain an infrared sensor which turns the light off when it’s not in use. This avoids unnecessary energy use and extends the life of the lamp.

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Vol 100 - January 2016

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A new year has begun and it’s time to get organised! Start off the right way with this hamper from Bantex.

The hamper contains: • 1 x Optima Magazine Filing Box • 2 x Optima Letter Trays • 1 x Optima Riser pins • 1 x Optima Memo Cube • 1 x Stapler • 1 x Punch • 1 x Desk Organiser • 1 x 1450 Lever Arch File • 1 x 1300 Ringbinder • 1 x PP Cover Notebook (choice of A4 or A5) • 1 x Texo Modular Storage system (choice of 3 or 6 Drawer) Shop SA Jan 2016 Ad FINALt.pdf 1 08/12/15 15:13:41

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journals, diaries and calendars

Marking time Journals, diaries and calendars are instrumental in planning and organising your day

S

tart 2016 iin the best way possible by getting organised with these handy planning tools.

Calendars Selecting the right calendar for a desk or office space is important. Although it is possible to purchase an inexpensive product to keep track of days, the amount of space and how often it needs to be accessed should inform your choice. Most users will need a calendar that is large enough for any notes or meeting details, especially within an office environment.

Choosing the ideal calendar depends on individual needs, available space and the style options that are preferred. Function is important, but also consider the aesthetic qualities of the calendar.

Desk pad calendars Business meetings, project due dates and scheduled calls are important, particularly in the office environment. This calls for a professional calendar that offers easy viewing and plenty of room for writing.

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Desk pad calendars are ideal for this as they are large and easily accessible. They are usually right next to or under the telephone and cover a large portion of the surface of the desk. Desk pad calendars generally provide a full month in view and offer ample space on each day for users to schedule appointments or jot down information. After the month has ended, the user can tear away the desk calendar’s current page to reveal the next month’s page. Desk pad calendars are easy to use and tend to be inexpensive as well.

Wall calendars A simple, direct solution to the office worker’s need is a wall calendar. This style hangs from a hook that is placed on any wall or flat surface. These kinds of calendars are most often used by businesses to include branding, promotional information or special photos. The business can give these calendars to each employee for use. Wall calendars tend to offer larger boxes with room for jotting down notes. Some wall calendars have inspirational messages or photographs, or have a theme such as “nature” or “cars”. Other wall calendars

are larger and provide plenty of room for creating notes for appointments and meetings. Large wall calendars are ideal for meeting rooms when planning sessions are necessary.

Tented calendars Tented calendars are those that come flat and are then folded into a 3D triangular shape with two sides and a bottom. This allows it to stand up on the desk rather than lying flat. Business professionals who spend a great deal of time on the phone or staring at the computer screen will find these ideal as they are easy to access and read. This style often offers an extremely basic calendar with six months on one side of the triangle and six on the other. More sophisticated types will have a spiral binder at the apex of the triangle, which allows the user to flip pages backward and forward. Each page can offer either a week in view, or a full month. The bottom of simple tented calendars may contain useful information such as emergency phone numbers or school terms. The benefit of calendars of this type is that they are always in view, rather than under a stack of papers.

Vol 100 - January 2016

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journals, diaries and calendars

Diaries Diaries are back-to-work necessities, helping to keep you organised throughout the year. These useful accessories differ by size, colour and layout.

A4 desk diaries These types of diaries are usually made for a variety of users, including students returning to university. They are high quality and offer good value for money.

They come in a wide range to suit all requirements, such as appointment diaries with half-hour appointment slots and day-a-page diaries which include full days for Saturdays and Sundays.

The paper is white and will contain the day and date with time slots in hourly or half-hourly intervals.

A4 diaries are often gold or silverblocked for easy identification. The front cover is typically hard and has the year embossed on the front, while the pages will have a gold or silver edging. These diaries usually come with ribbon markers to help you to find your place easily. A4 diaries are available in an array of colours and patterns, although black, navy and burgundy are standard in business environments.

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Quarto diaries These diaries are slightly shorter than an A4 diary, measuring 260mm x 210mm.

Aside from their squarer proportions, they offer the same value for money and features as standard A4 books. Quarto diaries often have a week-to-view layout, meaning that two facing pages will cover an entire week, with Saturday and Sunday having a smaller space than the rest of the week.

A5 desk diaries These diaries are identical to their A4 counterparts, but are more suitable for people who wish to carry their diaries around with them, such as teachers, salespeople and university students. They fit easily into laptop bags or handbags, and are available in a wide range of colours and styles. They can be hard or soft covered.

Executive desk diaries Typically A4, these diaries are similar to regular desk diaries but contain an element of class suitable for the C-suite of large corporations. They are usually printed on slightly thicker paper than a standard diary, and the paper is often buff instead of white. Executive diaries have additional luxury features, such as a padded front

cover and gilt corners. They also contain a ribbon marker and gilded page edges.

Pocket diaries These stylish, slim diaries are the most popular formats suitable for pockets, briefcases and handbags. They usually measure 159mm x 79mm and are available in a range of colours and patterns.

Due to the smaller nature of these diaries, they will not have as much space to record appointments in hourly or half-hourly slots.

Academic diaries Academic diaries are aimed at people who attend school or university. They often contain information pages relevant to students, such as semester or term dates. These diaries are often ring-bound and come in an extraordinary variety of styles, sizes and colours, including A4 or A5. A5 is more popular among students who have to carry the diary around with them. They are available in a week-toview or day-to-page layout. Academic diaries in different parts of the world may run for a period of 12 calendar months, rather than a straight year. For example, American students would use an academic diary running from the August of one year to the August of another.

Vol 100 - January 2016

FILE US UNDER

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Stock up on Bantex to ensure you’re ready for the back to work rush.

To accessorise and organise, the Bantex range is colour co-ordinated across all categories. New trendy colours now available.

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journals, diaries and calendars

Journals The classic journal is a simple black rectangle with rounded corners, an elastic page-holder and an internal expandable pocket.

Journals are trusted and handy travel companions, and have held invaluable sketches, notes, stories and ideas for some of the greatest minds we have known.

Some famous journal users include Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway.

Lines Journals are available as either ruled or blank. Ruled journals are more suited for writing as they help to keep content neat and legible. Blank journals are better suited to those who will be using a journal to sketch, keep pictures or press items such as flowers between the pages.

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Paper Journals usually have a heavier weight of paper than a standard diary. The paper is often between 100 and 120 grams per square metre (gsm), while the typical notebook is 80gsm. The paper in a journal can also differ in colour from standard notebooks. Colours such as ivory or buff are popular.

Covers Journals can be either hardcover or softcover. The softcover journals are usually made from some type of oilskin (cloth treated with oil) or soft leather. These are then dyed in a vast array of colours, including blue, pink and green.

Hardcover journals are usually made from compressed cardboard, and then embossed and/or coloured as desired. Some notebooks will have patterns printed on them.

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Digital organisers These days, many people use their smartphones, tablets, laptops or computers to keep track of appointments and to record pieces of information.

To-do list apps are useful because they allow productivity to be taken much further than a traditional paper list. A simple to-do app allows you to create a list that you can check off as each item is completed. More sophisticated versions allow users to organise projects, set deadlines, manage recurring tasks and even set location-based reminders.

Calendar apps maximise productivity by effectively organising time. A straightforward app will allow you to mark dates for meetings and appointments. A more complex app will have additional features such as mapping calendar entries for easy navigation; tagging your friends in calendar events; adding Facebook birthdays to the calendar; setting events to repeat; and even allowing for customisation of the look and feel of the app itself.

Journal apps allow users to record their private thoughts on their own devices. These apps can be password-protected for privacy.

Vol 100 - January 2016

events

Diarise this A list of industry-specific events and exhibitions to mark on your calendar

For Computer Users

6 – 8 January

30 Jan – 2 Feb

ABC REGIONAL CONFERENCE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN, CAPE TOWN The Association of Business Communication (ABC) Regional Conference will cover areas such as professional communication, management studies, business and commerce, and education and scholarships.

PAPERWORLD FRANKFURT FAIRGROUNDS, FRANKFURT, GERMANY This four-day conference will have all the latest trends and product ideas on display. Paperworld is an important industry forum, as well as a source of ideas and an order platform for the wholesale and retailer sectors, and for corporate buyers. This year’s theme is “The Heart of the Business”.

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industry insights

The office products industry: RIP Price deficit disorder: the industry’s ruinous obsession with discounting

T

he office products industry, after fighting a largely self-inflicted downhill battle, finally succumbed to a congenital defect, price deficit disorder (PDD), on 4 February 2015 when Staples announced the acquisition of Office Depot and, simultaneously, its departure from the industry for greener categories “beyond office supplies’”.

At birth, over one hundred years ago, the industry occupied a few dusty facings on an obscure stationery shelf in the general store.

At Stage I PDD, manufacturers inseminated the industry with a potentially fatal flaw: discount from list. They created the price at which stationers should sell their products and sold them to stationers based on a discount from their artificial assertion.

Initially, they instructed stationers to “buy in larger volume to qualify for lower prices in order to make more money”; thus implanting the destructive form of PDD: buy direct at any cost.

At Stage II, stationers – primarily mom and pops – sprang up to serve the growing needs of the industrial economy.

Stationers sold products at list price, which produced healthy profits. The opportunistic disease lay dormant.

At Stage III, wholesalers emerged as an interface between manufacturer and stationer to improve service, albeit at a price mark-up. Stationers sold most products at list, but inaugurated

promotions at discounted prices to entice customers to “buy in larger volume to qualify for lower prices in order to save more money”. Sales increased, gross margin persisted but profits slowed. The disorder stirred.

At Stage IV, the post-war economic boom propelled many mom and pops to the rank of large retail stationer. Increased purchasing power allowed them to gleefully bypass the wholesalers’ price ‘penalty’ and buy direct. The malaise manifested itself.

At Stage V, wholesalers, not to be left behind, touted price breaks on carton quantities to persuade stationers to “buy in larger volume to qualify for lower prices in order to make more money”.

Ironically, wholesalers’ emphasis on price encouraged stationers to bypass them again and buy direct from the manufacturers at even lower prices.

Submitting to the siren’s song, stationers trained customers to save more by buying more which, in turn, qualified stationers to buy direct at deeper discounts to make more money. The stealthy ailment advanced.

At Stage VI, larger stationers proposed lower prices at ‘cost plus’ in a scheme to imply a customer commitment on ‘contract’ prices. Emergence of the contract stationer portended the beginning of the end as the industry sleepwalked towards a slow, agonising death-spiral of growing sales, waning gross margin and perilously low profitability. The malady metastasised.

At Stage VII, enter the superstores.

The strategy of these larger-thanlife reiterations was to out-compete traditional stationers by bringing contract prices to the retail consumer.

Retail consumers devoured bargains

hitherto unavailable and made superstores overnight sensations.

Conversely, plummeting sales and profits forced thousands of traditional dealers into bankruptcy and countless others to the brink or early retirement.

Deterioration of the industry multiplied exponentially.

At Stage VIII, business customers flocked to the superstores in droves.

Superstores developed distribution capabilities to serve these accounts and inadvertently embarked on the next era in the industry, that of the ‘super channel’.

Five players ascended to super channel status: Staples, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Boise Cascade Office Products and Corporate Express (CXP). The sickness accelerated at breakneck speed and unleashed a virulent strain: unprofitable sales growth.

At Stage IX, CXP became the poster child for exaggerating the industry’s PDD defect by expertly employing spreadsheets to lower prices on thousands of products for tens of thousands of customers. Acquiring customers with the industry’s lowest prices, CXP required constant cash infusions and three mergers to extend its life until finally swallowed by Staples for, ironically, its contract expertise. The illness entered its final phase.

At Stage X, after the herd had thinned to four, then three, then two, Staples administered the industry’s last rites by acquiring Office Depot.

The industry’s remains can be viewed at their final resting place near the bottom of a lengthy dropdown box on the website of the great general store in the sky, Amazon.com.

Article by Ralph Barnett. Originally published in OPI magazine

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Vol 100 - January 2016

industry insights

Industry response Dave Boulle, MD of Masons Complete Office Solutions We resellers need to add value to our customers or else the customer will resort to the lowest common denominator – price. What value are we adding to our customer’s lives in order to ensure that they continue to buy from us?

If it’s service – our service has to be above that offered by our competitors.

What price do you add for service?

If it’s convenience – how convenient are we really being if our competitor also offers accounts and quick delivery?

If it’s the personal touch – why can’t the customer develop the same relationship with our competitor?

If it’s none of the above, then the chances are that the customer will resort to that lowest common denominator.

So it’s vitally important that as resellers we ask the question about value. Have we defined the value that we add in our own organisation? Are we actively marketing that value-add? Can the customer tangibly see this value?

Robert Slavin, chairman and CEO at Bantex The obituary by Ralph Barnett was fully predictable.

In 1990 I attended a convention in Toronto of the Canadian Office Products Association who invited a speaker, a consultant to NOPA (North American Office Products Association), to address attending members on the imminent arrival of the superstore and why it was resulting in hundreds of stationers going out of business.

This similar prediction came to play in both Europe and Australia with thousands of “mom & pop” dealers failing.

The concentration of broad-based superstore business has now diminished, with Staples as the main international player. Regional players are those like Office Works Australia, Itoya group Japan, Grammedia Indonesia, Kalunga Brazil, Lyreco Europe and Rymans UK. The pressure on margins has been there for the past 20 years and has been exacerbated by aggressive takeovers and consolidations in foreign markets following the Office Depot / Staples / Viking model.

This model is no different to that of the supermarkets / hypermarkets we visit daily. Volume sales at low margins. www.myofficemagazine.co.za

Bill Bayley, MD of Rexel The humble yet indispensable toothbrush probably costs no more than a rand to produce. The leading manufacturers of dental care products have somehow managed to convince us that an acceptable retail price for a toothbrush is somewhere between R25 and R35. How do they do this? Clever marketing claims have us thinking about antimicrobial protection, bad breath protection, deep cleaning, teeth whitening and extra handle comfort – all desirable features and benefits. Designed to support the higher price point.

If the office products industry were tasked with the job of marketing, distributing and retailing toothbrushes I very much fear that we would take the opposite direction. Trade our customers down. Offer a lower priced item or a cheaper substitute. Why do we do this?

Do we fall into the trap of assuming that our most demanding and price conscious customer is representative of all customers? Have we forgotten the good, better, best principle? Customers are not

all the same. Some will buy at the lowest possible price. Others look for a known brand at a reasonable price. Yet others will buy the premium brand.

What happens when we trade down?

The lower price demand pushes all the way back through the supply chain to the manufacturer who is forced to look for cheaper raw materials. Plastic binding combs provide a case study of this effect.

Many dealers buy binding combs on price and price alone. Manufacturers are now moving to thinner plastic or to recycled plastic. Is the thinner, recycled product inferior? Without a doubt it’s inferior. I wonder how many end users actually ask for cheaper, thinner, less durable, off-colour plastic binding combs?

Where the toothbrush people are adding features and benefits to their products we are subtracting: moving to inferior quality at lower prices. Is this sustainable? Would you be happy if your favourite retail shop only offered cheap and nasty toothbrushes at R2.50 each? No good, better, best. No features, no benefits, just cheap. Seems to be where we are headed.

Convenient and attractive shopping in a location close to public transport or with parking nearby.

The superstore provides a shopping experience for only major brands – and of course they have their own private label (always cheaper).

Advertising is extensive and well-priced popular items serve as the draw card.

It’s a shopping experience no stationer is capable of offering.

Given their size, aggressive shopping and deep international knowledge of products, and ability to buy large volumes and pass on savings, it’s very difficult for the traditional stationer to compete.

South Africa has largely been shielded by the large commercial integrated interests of the Bidvest Waltons / Silveray group who successfully took over the defunct Office Mart’s attempt to go the superstore route. So margin erosion here is minimal.

Competition is severe enough in the South African retail market. South African stationers have anticipated the arrival and its pitfalls which is evident in many countries where they operate.

The “mom & pop” shop business, essential for servicing a country as large as South Africa, has sustained the wholesale reliant model of distribution

in addition to manufacturers and distributors supplying direct to larger customers or groups.

The advent and encouragement of BEE, cheaper finance to smaller businesses by government and the willingness of wholesalers to sell selectively on credit is likely to sustain this model of business for several years into the future. Furthermore, the advent of buying associations, will ensure survival likewise.

The severity of price competition, as opposed to the convenience and expertise of the stationer as well as service levels, will in the future have to be flawless in order to cater for the impending onslaught on margins and changing shopping habits.

Technology has now brought yet another supply avenue into the race. Many shop online for branded commodity and other office supply items. Computers, furniture, janitorial equipment, office foodstuffs as well as office machines and stationery can be bought in the comfort of your home or office. This Amazon model is a definite threat to the stationer of the future, including the likes of the superstore Staples who are now feeling the pinch in more developed markets. my office magazine

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arts & crafts

Love is on the cards Make your Valentine something special this year

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pproximately 1-billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, which makes Valentine’s Day the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas. This year, why not make one yourself?

Clever cards

The accordion

The pop-up card

You will need: • 1 sheet of card in red, white or pink • 4 birthday cake candles in red, white or pink • A felt-tipped pen • Glue Fold the sheet of card in half. Glue the four candles in a row in the centre of the card. Choose a colour that will contrast with the card. Using a felt-tipped pen, write “You light up my life” on the front of the card. Above the candles’ wicks, draw hearts in felt-tipped pen or glitter glue.

You can use other items in a similar way, such as a playing card with “king (or queen) of my heart” written on it.

Use this card to celebrate your sweetheart’s virtues, call up special memories or fill the envelopes with handwritten notes, assorted mementos and little presents.

This cute card contains a personalised message that jumps out like a pop-up book.

my office magazine

You will need: • A number of small red envelopes • Flat pieces of card that fit inside the envelopes • Gifts that fit inside the envelopes • Glue stick To make the accordion cards, glue the inside of the flap of each envelope to the front of the envelope above it.

Place cards or gifts inside the pocket of each envelope.

You will need: • Card and scrapbook paper • Scissors • Ruler • Craft knife • Double-sided tape • Template of message, such as XOXO Select a piece of card to use as the card itself. Print a template on another piece of card stock. Use a contrasting colour. Fold the template along the score marks. Then unfold, cut out using the craft knife, and refold. Position the folded piece inside base card so it pops.

Secure with double-sided tape.

Vol 100 - January 2016

arts & crafts A short history of Valentine’s day February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and every year on 14 February chocolates and flowers are given to loved ones in the name of Saint Valentine. But who was the man that we honour the world over?

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A Catholic saint The Catholic Church recognises at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

In one legend, Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men.

Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten

and tortured.

The most famous legend has it that the imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement.

Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine”, an expression that is still in use today.

Valentine’s Day is thus celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial, which probably occurred around 270 AD.

lupa. The priests would make sacrifices and bless the inhabitants of Rome.

According to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city’s bachelors would each choose a name and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. This festival was outlawed at the end of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius declared 14 February Saint Valentine’s Day. It was not until much later that the day became definitively associated with love.

A Pagan festival The Pagan festival of Lupercalia was celebrated on 15 February and was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at a sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or

Women purchase approximately 85% of all Valentine’s Day cards.

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Did you know?

The Mother of the Valentine In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines tokens in America. Howland was known as the “Mother of the Valentine”. She made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colourful pictures.

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stress management

How to stress less Stress in the workplace leads to lost productivity, absenteeism and a dent in the bottom line

W

hile some workplace stress is normal, excessive stress can interfere with your productivity and impact your physical and emotional health. Your ability to deal with stress can mean the difference between success or failure.

You can’t control everything in your work environment, but that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. Find ways to manage workplace stress by changing your habits.

Recognise the warning signs When you feel overwhelmed at work, you lose confidence and may become irritable or withdrawn. This can make you less productive and less effective. Work can seem less rewarding. Ignore the warning signs of work stress at your peril. Chronic or intense stress can also lead to physical and emotional health problems.

Take care of yourself When stress at work interferes with life, start paying attention to your physical and emotional health.

Taking care of yourself doesn’t require a total lifestyle overhaul. Here are a few tips:

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Get moving Regular exercise is a powerful stress reliever. Aerobic exercise – activity that raises your heart rate and makes you sweat – is a hugely effective way to lift your mood, increase energy, sharpen focus, and relax both the mind and body.

For the best results, try to get at least 30 minutes of activity that elevates your heart rate and makes you break out into a sweat, such as walking, dancing, swimming or playing with your kids.

Speak to someone who listens Talking face to face with a relaxed and balanced listener can help calm your nervous system and relieve stress. The other person doesn’t have to “fix” your problems – they just have to listen.

Simply sharing your feelings can be very cathartic, even if there’s nothing you can do to alter the stressful situation.

A strong network of supportive friends and family members can be an enormous buffer against stress.

Eat well Low blood sugar can make you feel anxious and irritable, while eating too much can make you lethargic. Healthy eating can help you get through stressful work days. By eating small but frequent meals, you can help your body maintain

an even level of blood sugar, keep your energy up, stay focused and avoid mood swings. Avoid fatty, refined and sugary foods, and eat whole grains and fresh foods with a high satiety value.

Are you stressed?

Signs of excessive workplace stress include: • Feeling anxious, irritable or depressed; • Apathy and a loss of interest in work; • Problems sleeping; • Fatigue; • Trouble concentrating; • Muscle tension or headaches; • Stomach problems; • Social withdrawal; • Loss of sex drive; and • Using alcohol or drugs to cope.

Common causes of excessive workplace stress include: • Fear of being retrenched; • More overtime due to staff cutbacks; • Pressure to perform to meet rising expectations; • Poor levels of job satisfaction; and • Constant pressure to work at optimum levels.

Vol 100 - January 2016

stress management Practice moderation Alcohol temporarily reduces anxiety and worry, but too much can cause anxiety as it wears off and it can lead to alcohol dependence. Similarly, smoking when you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed may seem calming, but nicotine is a powerful stimulant – leading to higher, not lower, levels of anxiety.

Get enough sleep Not only can stress and worry can cause insomnia, but a lack of sleep can leave you vulnerable to even more stress. It’s much easier to keep your emotional balance when you’re well rested. Try to improve the quality of your sleep and aim for eight hours a night.

Prioritise and organise When job and workplace stress threatens to overwhelm you, there are simple steps you can take to regain control over yourself and the situation.

Manage your time Create a balanced schedule – analyse your schedule, responsibilities and daily tasks. All work and no play is a recipe for burnout. Try to find a balance between work and family life, social activities and solitary pursuits, daily responsibilities and downtime.

Don’t over-commit yourself – avoid scheduling things back-to-back or trying to fit too much into one day. All too often, we underestimate how long things will take. If you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “shoulds” and the “musts”. Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely.

Leave earlier in the morning – even 10 to 15 minutes can make the difference between frantically rushing to your desk and having time to ease into your day.

Don’t add to your stress levels by running late.

Plan regular breaks – make sure to take short breaks throughout the day. Take a walk or sit back and clear your mind. Also try to get away from your desk or work station for lunch to relax and recharge.

Manage your tasks Prioritise tasks – make a list of tasks you have to do, and tackle them in order of importance. Do the high-priority items first. If you have something particularly unpleasant to do, get it over with early.

The rest of your day will be more pleasant as a result. www.myofficemagazine.co.za

Break projects into small steps – if a large project seems overwhelming, make a step-by-step plan. Focus on one manageable step at a time, rather than taking on everything at once.

Delegate responsibility – you don’t have to do it all yourself. If other people can take care of the task, why not let them? Let go of the desire to control or oversee every little step. You’ll be letting go of unnecessary stress in the process.

Be willing to compromise – when you ask someone to contribute differently to a task, revise a deadline, or change their behaviour at work, be willing to do the same. Sometimes, if you can both bend a little, you’ll be able to find a happy middle ground that reduces the stress levels for everyone.

Flip your negative thinking – if you see the downside of every situation and interaction, you’ll find yourself drained of energy and motivation. Try to think positively about your work, avoid negative-thinking co-workers, and pat yourself on the back about small accomplishments, even if no one else does.

Don’t try to control the uncontrollable – many things at work are beyond our control – particularly the behaviour of other people. Rather than stressing out over them, focus on the things you can control, such as the way you choose to react to problems.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WWW.HELPGUIDE.ORG

Break bad habits Many of us make job stress worse with negative thoughts and behaviour.

Resist perfectionism – no project, situation, or decision is ever perfect, so trying to attain perfection on everything will simply add unnecessary stress to your day. When you set unrealistic goals for yourself or try to do too much, you’re setting yourself up to fail. Aim to do your best.

Clean up your act – if you’re always running late, set your clocks and watches fast and give yourself extra time. If your desk is a mess, file and throw away the clutter. Knowing where everything is saves time and cuts stress. Make to-do lists and cross off items as you accomplish them. Plan your day and stick to the schedule – you’ll feel less overwhelmed.

Three ways to dispel stress •

•

•

Take time away – try to take a quick break and move away from the stressful situation. Take a stroll or spend a few minutes meditating. Physical movement or finding a quiet place to regain your balance can quickly reduce stress.

Connect with others at work – developing friendships with some of your co-workers can help buffer you from the negative effects of stress.

Look for humour in the situation – when used appropriately, humour is a great way to relieve stress in the workplace. When you or those around you start taking things too seriously, find a way to lighten the mood by sharing a joke or funny story.

Help your employees to stress less • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Share information with employees to reduce uncertainty about their jobs and futures; Clearly define employees’ roles and responsibilities; Make communication friendly and efficient, not mean-spirited or petty; Consult your employees and allow them to participate in decisions that affect their jobs; Consult employees about scheduling and work rules; Be sure the workload is suitable to employees’ abilities and resources and avoid unrealistic deadlines; Show that individual workers are valued by offering rewards and incentives; Praise good work performance; Provide opportunities for career development; Promote an “entrepreneurial” work climate that gives employees more control over their work; Cultivate a friendly social climate by providing opportunities for social interaction among employees; Establish a zero-tolerance policy for harassment; and Make management actions consistent with organisational values. my office magazine

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corporate wear Image credit: Imagemakers

Dress for success 32

my office magazine

Vol 100 - January 2016

corporate wear

A simple guide to corporate dressing

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here’s a big meeting, an important deadline, a dream interview, or a busy day ahead at the office, and you know that what you wear is an important part of ensuring your success.

The realisation that what you wear to work automatically says something about you is one that many professionals need to come to.

But in a time when dress codes and smart looks are seen less and less in the corporate world, how do you go about picking a working wardrobe that stays true to a professional environment?

Having a uniformed work wardrobe goes beyond appearance and says a lot about the company you work for, the team you work with and your professional image. With many years’ experience in corporate uniforms for large and mediumsized companies, start-ups and small teams, companies such as Imagemakers know what works.

Detail From the length of your sleeves and the fit of your jacket to how your trousers fall on your shoes, attention to detail is key in dressing for work.

These seemingly small details will make an impression on others and show that www.myofficemagazine.co.za

you are someone who is passionate about perfection, and nothing escapes your eye.

It’s also important to take care of your clothing, and realise that if you care for your suits, shirts and jackets by keeping the items clean and storing them well, you will add longevity to your corporate wardrobe and get real value for money.

Fashion Balancing trends and basics is something that corporate workwear specialists aim to achieve. Corporate clothing should always be available in classic cuts, timeless prints and colour palettes that promise to be relevant season after season. However, a handful of new cuts and some fashionable prints and colours will add to your existing wardrobe to make sure your at-the-office look stays on track with the trends. A touch of inspiration from worldwide trends can be very sophisticated. Go for a bold printed or colourful blouse or shirt – think reds, jewel tones, polka dots and stripes – for an instant fashion-forward twist. Adding accessories, handbags and shoes – corporate colours permitting – will also give you the chance to inject a bit of your personality into a look.

Ease Having a nine-to-five job can be stressful and easily take up most of your time. That’s why what you wear to work shouldn’t add any more checkpoints to your already full to-do list. Busy schedules might not

make work wear a priority, as finding the right combination whilst adhering to your corporate identity is sometimes quite difficult. Many corporate work wear specialists provide online catalogues which making selecting and purchasing corporate wear simple and easy.

Versatility is key to any corporate wardrobe, and there should be a variety of mix and match options. Building a mix and match wardrobe could help you get much more mileage out of your corporate clothing without having to continuously buy garments to diversify your look. The secret is to use a few versatile pieces in multiple ways. Invest in quality basics and add to these with complementary pieces to work with your wardrobe. With a variety of cuts, styles, colours and fabrics, you no longer have to wear only certain items with specific pieces for a complete, wearable look.

By sticking to classic looks that are professional, taking good care of each item in your wardrobe and using the mixing and matching technique to keep things new and fresh, you will not only reinvent your wardrobe, but also the way people interact and connect with you in a nine-to-five environment and beyond.

Being proud of the way you dress for work will do wonders for your confidence levels, productivity and well-being.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT VISIT IMAGEMAKERS ON WWW.IMAGEMAKERS.CO.ZA OR CALL (021) 447 1290 FOR MORE INFORMATION. my office magazine

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furniture

Open plan offices Extroverts constitute a large percentage of the workforce – but what about the introverts?

T

he open plan office comes with many benefits, but it also has its downfall – starting with the basic needs and requirements of the introvert personality type, which accounts for approximately one-third of the population.

Introverts: we all know them, have worked with them, went to school with them, socialise with them – in fact, you might even be one of them.

According to Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Thinking, introverts are quiet individuals who shy away from the limelight and who have difficulties working in a team.

They struggle to reach their full potential in the modern workplace because they are placed in physical and cultural environments that tend to favour their counterparts: the extrovert.

Introverts radiate astonishing strengths including originality, innovation, focus and leadership. More sensitive to external stimuli than extroverts, the introvert faces an exhausting day, often seeking an hour or two away from their social colleagues to work effectively.

Osorio Ramos, MD of workspace specialist firm Giant Leap, has worked with blue-chip companies such as Volkswagen, Red Bull and Dulux where he has seen the open plan office impact local workspaces.

“Open plan offices are renowned for breaking traditional hierarchal structures, increasing collaboration, boosting creativity and reducing overall space costs. The

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shift, however, has left introverts to adopt exerted behaviours in order to endure their new company cultures.”

Ramos has seen a new breed of open plan workspaces evolve, defined as a middle-ground where both types can work and play in balance and harmony.

“A recent space that incorporated these principles was Grant Thornton. We created an environment that accommodates both the introvert and extrovert with open plan areas shared with private break-away zones, quiet rooms and clever ‘phone booths’ for when employees and staff need some alone time.”

Companies need to provide spaces that recognise staff and employees by their personality type, not just their job title.

So how can companies help introverts do their best in today’s typical open plan office? Here are a few tips: • Staff should be allowed to detach and isolate themselves – employees should be able to break-away when needed to concentrate without disruption; • It’s about sensory equilibrium – here workers can take control of their sensory stimulation rather than being a victim of sensory overload; • Encourage interaction etiquette – allow staff to decide on when interaction should be limited. This can be done with desk flags for when certain staff are on deadline; • Provide psychological privacy and safety – give staff a choice of areas to be seen, or not, by their colleagues; • Consider incorporating individual furniture items such as booths, which allow staff to take private calls without having to leave the office; and • Offer users control over their environment by giving employees a certain amount of control in their

workspace, from noise to lighting.

Ramos does not predict that there will be a mad rush back to the corner style office. But in order to save space, increase employee communication and cut on costs, businesses need to design workplaces that provide introverts and extroverts with private and public environments.

Ramos says that the modern workspace is about finding solutions to the paradoxes of the open plan office.

“South African corporates definitely favour the open plan layout. Senior management and decision-makers need to remember that closed spaces are also needed to counteract the open in order to accommodate the introvert, and ultimately give half our workforce a sense of control and choice in their environment and surroundings.”

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT GIANT LEAP

10 signs you are an extrovert • • • • •

• •

• •

You find being alone boring and depressing; When someone hurts your feelings, you share it with everyone; You like to describe yourself as friendly and enthusiastic; You express your thoughts better in conversations than in writing; In your spare time, you like keeping yourself busy with a big schedule of activities; People say you are a good talker; When going out, you come back feeling energised and accomplished; You find competition exciting and stimulating; and When you have a conversation, you prefer to be light-hearted rather than practical.

Vol 100 - January 2016

industry news

Propak Africa confirms conferences and workshops Conferences and workshops hosted by the Institute of Packaging of Southern Africa (IPSA), Plastics SA and Printing SA (PIFSA) will run alongside Propak Africa 2016, taking place at the Expo Centre, Nasrec in Johannesburg, from 15 to 18 March 2016.

The South African and African packaging and related industries will take centre stage at Africa’s largest packaging, food processing, printing, plastics and labelling trade exhibition, which will afford hundreds of local and international exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their latest products, equipment, machinery and services.

Conferences and workshops have also been confirmed and will be hosted by the Institute of Packaging of Southern Africa (IPSA), Plastics SA and Printing SA (PIFSA).

In addition, Pavlo Phitidis, owner of Aurik, a business incubator company, and regular

co-host on The 702 Money show, will be running sessions alongside the show aimed at c-suite executives from the industry.

Topics will include how to grow your business from an SMME to a medium-sized or large organisation; how to do business in Africa; and how to tackle legislative requirements in SA, including BEE. Top companies that can be seen at Propak Africa and co-located shows include Acepak, Afripack, Afritrade, Bernd Triebiger Enterprises, Bidvest Afcom, Bosch Packaging Technology, Filmatic, Filtec Automation, Future Packaging, Golden Era Group, Graphix Supply World, Hestico, HG Molenaar, Inoxpa South Africa, JPak, MGSA, Multivac Southern Africa, Nissei ASB, Pakmatic, Pakmax, PMD Packaging, Polyoak, Pyrotechnical Marketing, Qualitechs, Rotocon, Trempack Trading, Relloy SA Ulma Packaging Systems SA, USS Pactech and Yaskawa SA.

OKI roadshows continue OKI will be visiting 10 regions in South Africa over the next six to eight months during their national roadshow. So far, OKI has visited East London, Port Elizabeth, George and Nelspruit. OKI partners,

East London

George

resellers and distributors are invited to join in and experience OKI. These events will consist of product introductions, training sessions, the launch of new devices and software, and demonstrations.

Nelspruit

Port Elizabeth

New projectors for underprivileged schools Parrot and Office National Apex recently donated a number of overhead and data projectors to underprivileged schools in the Eastern Cape.

www.myofficemagazine.co.za

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eco news

Green trends for 2016

A

As green living gains broader acceptance, sustainability is an influential factor to consider when evaluating the home, garden and office in 2016. s green living gains broader acceptance, sustainability is an influential factor to consider when evaluating the home, garden and office in 2016.

LED lighting LED lighting is one of the top green trends for 2016 – and, based on energy experts’ forecasts, it will remain trendy into 2017 and the years that follow. It is predicted that by the year 2030 LEDs will account for an estimated 75% of all lighting sales.

In the long term, LED lighting offers consumers an opportunity to increase energy efficiency and reduce their energy bills. The downside is that the upfront installation costs can be higher for LED lighting. However, overall the clear consensus is that the long-term energy cost and energy savings more than justify the upfront expense.

Water efficiency Water conservation is shaping up to be an important issue for 2016, especially as South Africa and other countries around the world are plagued by drought.

While this is an ongoing theme, and certainly not a new trend, it’s an important inclusion. The need for water efficiency is contributing to the product lines that manufacturers make available – which in turn influences building, remodelling and decorating projects.

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Mainstream media has been sounding the alarm over what some analysts perceive to be a looming worldwide overpopulation problem, which they predict will result in inadequate worldwide water resources.

Water is an issue that regulatory agencies around the world are paying attention to.

Water-saving showerheads should be considered. Most people don’t think too much about them, but choosing a different showerhead could lower both your water consumption and your power bill.

Water-efficient taps are an easy way to conserve water at home. One of the simplest is to install water-saving fixtures in any room with a tap. Certain manufacturers have begun to design water-efficient taps to sell to the public.

Some are water-efficient by default, but a user can toggle it into high-powered mode for tasks that require increased water pressure.

Water-saving toilets do contribute significantly to household water consumption. Toilets can account for as much as 30% of the total water consumption in many households. If you’re looking to lower your water bills, a water-efficient toilet is a worthwhile purchase to consider as it offers long-term cost savings.

Energy-conserving insulation There’s a trend towards energy efficiency in every aspect of home ownership, and there has been significant demand for extra insulation in new residential and business construction.

Smart homes Home automation technology is picking up steam. It’s been around for quite a while, and interest in the idea seems to have cooled over the past few years. In a nutshell, a “smart home” is sort of like a “smartphone” in many ways; it can connects to the Internet, and accessed remotely – often through an actual smartphone or similar device. At face value, it seems that “smart homes” could potentially contribute to a greener, more sustainable future – because some of the focus has been on applying the technology to important issues such as reducing energy consumption in the home.

It looks as if the trend is regaining traction in 2016, and interest is projected to continue increasing in 2017 as well.

This renewed interest is due to falling prices and an expanded selection of product offerings. A few of the latest options seem to be getting more useful, more affordable and less “buggy”.

Smart homes are an important inclusion on the trend list for 2016. – and they could possibly fall on either.

Some home automation innovations are more useful than others, such as WiFienabled irrigation controllers.

Net zero buildings These kinds of buildings are ones where the power consumption is net zero. In other words, the building’s infrastructure and systems generate at least as much power as its occupants consume. While this is challenging to achieve, it’s a worthy goal to pursue.

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Vol 100 - January 2016

crime alert

Debit order dupery

N

early 1-million debit order disputes are lodged every month as fraudsters gain access to the bank accounts of unsuspecting people.

Many bank account holders have fallen prey to debit order scammers.

Banks have come under severe

What the banks say Standard Bank Standard Bank fulfils the function of a payment facilitator where any debit order is presented for payment, out does not initiate any external debit orders.

“A debit order is an agreement between the account holder and an external company,” says spokesperson Ross Linstrom.

“A debit order is not a contract between the account holder and the bank, and the bank is not a party to the agreement at all.”

In the event of a disputed or unauthorised debit order, the bank will query the validity of the transaction with the company that debited the account within 40 days of the debit order being processed.

Account holders must let the bank know if there are any suspicious debit orders on their account.

Absa “The majority of disputed transactions occur when account holders use the process of disputing debit orders within 40 days of collection to manage personal cash flow,” says an Absa spokesperson.

Absa recently introduced an online tool that allows customers to reverse

GOLD SPONSORS:

criticism for failing to protect the money of account holders. Victims are accusing the banks of dragging their feet because they themselves are benefiting from these unauthorised debit orders through the fees charged on reversal transactions.

According to the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA), South African banks collectively process about 56-million debit orders a month, with 800 000 disputed every month at an inter­bank level.

PASA CEO Walter Volker says the total disputes at an inter­bank level are currently around 0,5% for debit orders, close to 200 000 per month, and around 4% to 6% for early debit orders at 600 000 per month.

“Since November 2013, about 300 rogue users have been taken off the debit order system, meaning they can’t have debit orders processed by any bank.”

unauthorised debit orders 24 hours a day.

“The unauthorised debit order reversal functionality was previously only available in­branch.”

debit occurring. Older debit orders can also be reversed, but the resolution takes longer.

Nedbank “Bank customers should carefully check their bank statements every month for any debit order deductions that they have not authorised. If they discover such a deduction, they should contact their bank immediately,” says Esme Arendse, divisional executive of group communications at Nedbank.

Nedbank clients should contact 0860 111 555 or approach their nearest branch if they have any queries.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NEWS24WIRE

Capitec Bank Capitec Bank’s head of communications Charl Nel says the bank is working with industry role players to improve conditions.

Capitec does not know what proportion of debit orders is unauthorised.

“We simply act on the client’s request.

A bank does not initiate a debit order. It is initiated by the client or a service provider.”

How to mitigate risk: • •

FNB Ryan Prozesky, FNB’s chief executive of value banking solutions, says the bank is focused on assisting any customers who find they have debit orders on their accounts that they are not aware of.

“FNB fully supports the right of our consumers to dispute, stop and reverse debit orders without inconvenience.”

Customers can reverse unauthorised debit orders and refund their accounts if they ask for assistance within 40 days from

•

•

•

Subscribe to your bank’s SMS notification services.

Scrutinise your bank statements each month by looking at each deduction, no matter how small.

If you pick up any discrepancies, dispute this with your bank within 40 days from when the transaction took place.

If fraud is involved, it would be best to report the incident at a police station.

Protect your banking information by shredding old statements and using a strong password.

SILVER SPONSORS:

Keeping shop-sa members abreast of criminal and fraudulent activity in the stationery and office products industry.

To sponsor the Crime Alert page contact (011) 781 0370.

REPORT CRIME TO wendy@shop-sa.co.za Renew your Crime Alert sponsorship today! Call Wendy Dancer on (011) 781 0370 to book your logo placement on the Crime Alert page as an industry leader in transparency, information sharing and anti-crime business ethics. www.myofficemagazine.co.za

my office magazine

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product showcase

D036536 DURACELL CHARGER 45MIN AA CHARGER Use the Duracell Charger to recharge your AA or AAA NiMH batteries. It can charge two AA/AAA batteries in 45 minutes and it comes with 2 AA premium Duracell Rechargeable Pre-Charged batteries that are 50% longer-lasting per charge and are ready to use. Charger Specifications: • 2 AA and 2 AAA premium rechargeable batteries included • LED Charge Status Indicator shows when charging is complete • Works with all rechargeable AA and AAA NiMH batteries • Charges 2-4 batteries at a time • Auto Shutoff when batteries are charged

Tel: 011 248 0300 Web: www.koloksa.co.za

D803824 DURACELL RECHARGEABLE AAA 800MAH 4S (10 PACKS) With a longer-lasting charge* and fewer recharges, Duracell Rechargeable batteries set themselves apart from the competition. Get hundreds of uses out of each Duracell rechargeable battery and save hundreds of rands. Our powerful NiMH batteries with Duralock are well suited for high-drain or frequently used devices, including: • Video Game Controllers • High-powered Flashlights • Baby monitors and more

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DURACELL LITHIUM COIN BATTERIES Duracell special application batteries offer reliable, long-lasting power you’ve come to expect from Duracell. And you can be assured it’s a battery you can trust since Duracell is the #1 trusted brand of pharmacists and medical & office professionals.

The Duracell lithium batteries are designed for use in: • Security devices • Fitness devices • Calculators • Medical devices • Watches

• Key fobs and more

Tel: 011 248 0300 Web: www.koloksa.co.za

DURACELL PLUS POWER - BUY 4 & GET 2 ABSOLUTELY FREE These batteries have been engineered to deliver the power you need for all your household devices. And because Duracell is the #1 trusted brand of parents, pharmacists, and first responders, you know it’s a battery you can trust.

Duracell alkaline batteries with Duralock provide power to your lifestyle in devices like: • Toys • Remote controls • Flashlights • Calculators • Clocks and Radios • Portable Electronics • Wireless Mice and Keyboards

Tel: 011 248 0300 Web: www.koloksa.co.za

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my office magazine

Vol 100 - January 2016

product showcase

ANTI-GLARE & PRIVACY FILTERS Whether you are battling with glossy LCD screen glare of worrying about prying eyes staring at your confidential financial data, 3M screen filters have the solution for you. Both the Anti-Glare and Privacy filters come in a variety of screen sizes for any type of notebook or desktop display. the filters are very eassy to apply with bubble free application, can be reapplied multiple times and it doubles as a screen protector, protecting your display from dirt and scratches. the filter adhesive is optically clear, which means it will not affect your display clarity, and it comes with a convenient storage folder. To clean the product, simply use the enclosed cloth with water.

Tel: 011 467 0227 E-mail: helpdesk@techexpress.co.za Web: www.techexpress.co.za

BOSTIK PRESTIK Bostik does it again! Always innovating and just in time for Christmas, every pack of 100g Prestik now includes extra-special smiley face stickers…for FREE! The “wax-like” paper that ensures your Prestik pulls off easily is filled with smiley faced “reward” stickers – a free value-added extra for you to use and share with your friends and family anytime!

www.facebook.com/BostikSouthAfrica

Tel: 021 555 7400 • Fax: 021 552 1870 E-mail: marketing@bostik.co.za Web: www.bostik.co.za

KOBRA C1 SHREDDER - MADE IN ITALY Sheet Capacity: 9 Security level: 4 (DIN 66399 - Cross Cut) Bin Size: 18 liter Throat Width: 230mm Energy Smart System: Zero consumption in stand-by mode, Continuous duty shredding: No duty cycle or cool down period, carbon harden cutting knives, unaffected by standard staples and paper clips. Automatic start and stop. Forward and reverse. Made in Italy Ideal shredder for personal use under a desk. Make sure that your information is protected, help put a stop to Identity Theft in South Africa. For other Kobra Classic Line machines contact your D.O.S representative.

Tel: 086 000 7468 ext 2 E-mail: info@dosptyltd.blz Web: www.dosptyltd.blz

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ing rdening modell used self-ha when DAS s and widely it hardens be fired, as most famou that can be the world’s not need to Das has been free, and does resilient objects le and glutenSince 1968, larly versati to create solid, It is particu allows you is mineral-based glass, or fibre pens. material. It to polish and plastic, metal, using paints air. It is easy such as wood, e-washed to your liking exposed to t surfaces, be machin decorated can and differen of also It aluminium personalised a wide range with water.

Comes in used to coat s off hands or terracotta. back. and washe and can be tab on the le in white not leave stains a resealable setting. Availab etc. It does time, with the 40°C ss for a long clothes at its freshne from most keep to it help packs, which

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SOURCE PRODUCTS HERE A ADDING MACHINE, POINT OF SALE AND MACHINE ROLLS PaperGeni Rotunda (Pty) Ltd. ADHESIVES, GLUES AND SPRAYS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd. - Correction Fluid, Glue sticks & Super Glue Palm Stationery Manufacturers - New Wave Freedom Stationery - Marlin ART, CRAFT, GRAPHIC AND DRAWING MATERIALS CTP Stationery - A4 coloured poster boards Freedom Stationery - Marlin Max Frank - Uni, Artline Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd. - Oil pastels and watercolour paint

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B BAGS AND CASES D.O.S - iStay Flip File - Business cases.

Freedom Stationery - Space Case and Marlin Global Bag And Sportswear Manufactures Custom schoolbags ,tracksuits Kolok - Kenton, Port Topmark - School Bags, Laptop Bags, Pencil Cases, Sports Bags, Luggage BATTERIES Kolok - Duracell Nikki Distributors - Duracell Batteries Nikki Distributors - Energizer Batteries BIN RANGE Krost Office Products BINDING ACCESSORIES AZ Trading - Plastic Comb, Wire, Thermal & Covers CTP Donau - Donau files and slide binders, A4 poster board Kolok - Geha binding combs and covers Parrot Products - Parrot Comb Binding Machines

Press Products - wire, combs, coil, covers Rexel Office Products - Rexel and GBC BINDING MACHINES AZ Trading - DSB, Neorel D.O.S - Prima, DSB Kolok - Geha binding machines Parrot Products - Parrot Comb Binding Machines Press Products - Bindquip Rexel Office Products - GBC and Rexel ranges

BOARDS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - BIC Velleda School Whiteboards CTP Stationery - Flip Chart Pads Freedom Stationery - Marlin Hortors Stationery - Legal Notices i.e. Basic Conditions & OSH Act and Leave and Absence Chart Kolok - Geha interactive boards Max Frank - Artline Flipchart Markers, Artline, Maxi whiteboard markers Palm Stationery Manufacturers - New Wave Parrot Products - Full range of boards and accessories. Custom boards printed to your specification Rexel Office Products - NOBO whiteboards, pinboards, easels and accessories. Quartet magnetic white/cork boards BOOK COVERS CTP Stationery - Poly Prop Donau heavy duty covers Empire Toy & Stationery - Butterfly paper Freedom Stationery Gordon’s Productions - contact paper woodgrain, marble, pattern designs. Magic cover back to school clear and coloured self adhesive paper. (4M rolls, A4 and lever arch).

Plastic coated brownkraft rolls and pre-cut polythene covers.

Grafton Paper Products Palm Stationery Manufacturers - brown paper rolls, poly rolls, gift-wrap RBE - Papersmart

CTP Stationery - Impala and premier books and pads Freedom Stationery - Manufacturers Hortors Stationery - Legal registers Impala Vuwa Stationery Manufacturers Palm Stationery Manufacturers Power Stationery - Powerstar RBE - NCR Business Books Rexel Office Products - Colourhide notebooks BOXES AND CARTONS CTP Stationery - Archiving Systems Rexel Office Products Specialised Filing Systems - Archive and Off-Site Tidy Files - Acid free archiving products

C CALCULATORS Kolok - HP Nikki Distributors - Truly calculators Palm Stationery Manufacturers - New Wave Power Stationery - Powerstar Rexel Office Products - IBICO CALENDARS CTP Stationery - Diaries assorted sizes CALLIGRAPHY Max Frank - Artline CANTEEN Kolok - Tea, Coffee, milk etc, Sunbeam (appliances) CARBON PAPER AND FILMS RBE - NCR Business Books CD’S, DVD’S AND DISKETTES Kolok - Verbatim, Kenton CLIP BOARDS CTP Stationery - DONAU brand Parrot Products - Masonite and whiteboard

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COLOURING BOOKS Empire Toy & Stationery - Empire books Freedom Stationery - Marlin Palm Stationery Manufacturers - New Wave COMPUTER ACCESSORIES Kolok - Verbatim, Kenton, Port Krost Office Products Pyrotec - Tower Inkjet-laser labels, business cards and photo paper COMPUTER CLEANING Kolok - ComputerCare, Multipro Pyrotec - Tower computer cleaning range COMPUTER CONSUMABLES CTP Stationery - Full range of DONAU files KMP - for computer consumables Kolok - Penguin (Ribbons, Toners, Inkjets), Till and fax rolls Redfern Print Services - Redfern inkjet/laser/ copier labels and a full range of stationery labels COMPUTER HARDWARE Kolok - Blazer UPS systems, Geha (Interactive white boards) CORPORATE STATIONERY & GIFTING Star Stationers and Printers CRAYONS AND CHALKS Freedom Stationery - Marlin Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Chalks and Crayons Power Stationery - Powerstar

D DESK SETS AND ACCESSORIES BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Desk Set Solo Delux Freedom Stationery - Marlin Krost Office Products Rexel Office Products - Rexel Eco Range

See page 46 for contact details DIARIES, PLANNERS AND ORGANISERS CTP Stationery - CTP Brand Hortors Stationery - Legal diaries Rexel Office Products - NOBO planners, refills and T-card kits, Quartet Monthly/ Weekly planner South African Diaries - For all your diary needs DICTATION - TRANSCRIPTION Olympus Audio S.A - Digital Voice Recorders, Transcription Kits and Accessories.

Powerhouse Dictation for Philips - Dictation, transcription, meeting recording, mini-tapes, foot pedals, accessories DRAUGHTING AND DRAWING OFFICE SUPPLIES CTP Stationery - A4 Poster Boards

E EMBOSSERS AND ENGRAVING Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Ideal & Trodat Embossers (pocket, desk and electronic), Trotec ENVELOPES AND MAILING BSC Stationery - Leo Envelopes CTP Stationery - Commercial envelopes Global Envelopes - CelloWrapped, peel+seal, Self-Seal, FullGum and Printed Grafton/Star KZN Envelopes - Manufactures of Printed and Plain Envelopes Merpak Envelopes - Complete range of quality envelopes Narayan Wholesaler - Wholesaler of Quality Envelopes, Peel and Seal PaperGeni RBE - Papersmart ERASERS & ERASING / CORRECTION FLUIDS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Tippex tape, bottle and Pen Freedom Stationery - Marlin Max Frank - Uni Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Tape/Erasers Pentel S.A (PTY) LTD - Hi-Polymer and Ain eraser, correction tape and pens Power Stationery - Powerstar

F FAX ROLL MANUFACTURERS Rotunda (Pty) Ltd. FILES AND FILING African Filing Systems - Top retrieval filing and arching products BSC Stationery - Treeline, Mobifile CTP Stationery - Full range of quality DONAU brand Flip File - Executive display files, expanding files, Document folders, dividers Freedom Stationery - Edo / Unifile Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Lever arch, Ringbinder files, Manilla flat folders Grafton/Star Kolok - Geha (Binding machines) Palm Stationery Manufacturers - leaver arch, ring binder files, manilla flat folders.

Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd. - Display book Vivid, document file, clip file and presentation file Rexel Office Products - Prima and Rexel ranges Specialised Filing Systems - Top Retrieval, Archive and Off-Site Tidy Files - Filing solutions

41

FILES MECHANISMS Press Products - Lever arch, Ring binders FOLDERS CTP Stationery - DONAU Brand Freedom Stationery - Marlin Palm Stationery Manufacturers - View files, polypropylene & board folders Tidy Files - Specialised FORMS - LEGAL AND MISCELLANEOUS Hortors Stationery - complete range of custom, company, miscellaneous, magisterial, etc.

FURNITURE - OFFICE & SCHOLASTIC Krost Office Products - accessories New Era Office cc - Specialising in all office furniture desks, chairs, credenzas, boardroom tables, etc Reboni Furniture Group - Manufacturing and distribution of educational and office furniture Specialised Filing Systems - Cabinets, Shelving and Hi-Density

Working for you

CombBind C250 Pro

WireBind W20

MultiBind 230 Comb & Wire

ThermaBind T400

www.rexelsa.co.za

SOURCE PRODUCTS HERE

42

G

L

GUILLOTINES AND TRIMMERS AZ Trading - DSB, Kobra Beswick Office Products - Fellowes, Vivid Maynards Office Technology - IDEAL Shredders & Guillotines – SA Distributors Press Products - BindQuip Rexel Office Products - SmartCut and ClassicCut

LABELS Freedom Stationery - Marlin Nor Paper Pyrotec - Tower stationery, inkjet-laser labels Redfern Print Services - Redfern Inkjet/laser/ copier labels and a full range of stationery labels Rotunda (Pty) Ltd. Specialised Filing Systems - Filing Tidy Files - Filing solutions

I

LABELLING MACHINES Kemtek Imaging Systems - Distributor of Brother P-Touch Labelling System

INDEX TABBING AND DIVIDERS CTP Stationery - DONAU Brand board and P.P Flip File - Index Tabs, Flip tabs Freedom Stationery - Marlin Grip Binders Palm Stationery Manufacturers Rexel Office Products - Rexel, Mylar and Prima board

LAMINATING MACHINES AZ Trading - DSB, Speedlam, Lamiace D.O.S - Tofo, DSB Kolok - GEHA and Galaxy Parrot Products - Parrot A4 and A3 Laminators Press Products - GMP Rexel Office Products - GBC and Rexel ranges

INKS KMP - for computer consumables.

Max Frank - Shachihata, Artline Rexel Office Products - Numbering machine ink Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Trodat, Noris fastdry, security, numbering, franking.

Laundry.

LAMINATING POUCHES AND MATERIALS AZ Trading - A0 to ID card size Kolok - GEHA, Penguin laminating pouches and rolls Parrot Products Press Products - GMP Rexel Office Products - GBC

J JANITORIAL Kolok - Goldenmarc (Cleaning products), Brooms, Mops and equipment.

MARKERS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Permanent Markers, Highlighters, whiteboard Freedom Stationery - Marlin Interstat Agencies - Edding Max Frank - Artline , Maxi, Uni Parrot Products - White board, permanent and OHP markers. Wide range of highlighters Penflex - White board, flipchart, permanent markers, highlighters Pentel (Pty) Ltd. - Maxiflo, white board marker and paint marker Power Stationery - Powerstar MATHEMATICAL GEOMETRY SETS & ACCESSORIES Freedom Stationery - Marlin Palm Stationery Manufacturers Power Stationery - Powerstar MINUTE AND GUARD BOOKS Hortors Stationery - Company registers, minute books and other legal registers

N NUMBERING MACHINES Rexel Office Products Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Reiner Dater/Numberer (manual/electronic), Trodat

LEGAL STATIONERY Hortors Stationery - All legal registers, forms, diaries etc

O

LETTER TRAYS Krost Office Products

OFFICE ERGONOMICS Rexel Office Products - Kensington copyholders, risers, footrests, Rexel range of electric staplers and punches which reduces chances of RSI (repetitive strain injury)

M MAILING TUBES CTP Stationery

OVERHEAD PROJECTION AND ACCESSORIES Kolok - Penguin Transparencies Max Frank - Artline Parrot Products - Data Projectors, OHPs, screens and rear projection film

Excellence Accelerated Get it right first time, in less time.

Fusion 1000L

Fusion 1100L

Fusion 3000L

buyers’ guide

See page 46 for contact details

PENCIL LEADS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Criterium 0.5mm leads Freedom Stationery - Marlin Max Frank - Uni Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd - Ain lead, standard lead - various grades

Penflex - Penflex Overhead projector pens Rexel Office Products - NOBO

P PACKAGING Merpak Envelopes - Postsafe packaging range PAPER AND BOARD CTP Stationery - DONAU A4 poster boards Empire Toy & Stationery - Butterfly paper Freedom Stationery Grafton/Star Kolok - Geha (paper media), EPSON, HP, CANON, Nor Paper Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Cubes and board Paper World Handmade Paper, Embossed Paper, Specialty Papers, Scented Paper Board, Paper Products Peters Papers - Rotatrim, Typek and Smart Copy Power Stationery - Powerstar RBE - Papersmart Rexel Office Products - Prima Paper & Board TRIBE - TRIBE Inkjet Paper and Film PAPER FOLDING MACHINES Maynards Office Technology - IDEAL Shredders & Guillotines – SA Distributors PENCILS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - BIC Evolution Graphite, BIC Matic Clutch ,Velocity Clutch, Atlantis Clutch, BU4 Clutch Freedom Stationery - Marlin / Edo Max Frank - Uni Palm Stationery Manufacturers Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd - Hotshot, Mechanical Pencil, Techniclick Pencil.

Power Stationery - Powerstar Rexel Office Products - Rexel HB & Derwent Staedtler SA (Pty) Ltd - Tradition, Wopex, Technical, Clutch Pencils and lead

PENCIL SHARPENERS Freedom Stationery Palm Stationery Manufacturers Power Stationery - Powerstar PENS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Clic, Crystal, Orange and Prismo Freedom Stationery - Marlin and Edo Max Frank - Artline, Maxi, Uni Palm Stationery Manufacturers Penflex - Penflex ballpoints and rollerballs Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd - Superb Ballpoint, Energel Pen Power Stationery - Powerstar Staedtler SA (Pty) Ltd - Ball point, Fineliner, Gel and Pigment liner pens PEN CARBON BOOKS Freedom Stationery - Marlin Power Stationery - Powerstar RBE - NCR Business Books PERSONAL STATIONERY CTP Stationery - Home office and personal filing system, diaries Grafton/Star PLANNING BOARDS AND ACCESSORIES Parrot Products - Range of year planners, term planners, maps and in/out boards. custom printed boards designed to specification.

Rexel Office Products - NOBO planners

Olivetti Imports - Distributors of Multifunctional Printers / Copiers Star Stationers and Printers Unicopy & Stationers CC - for all your printing & stationery requirements PRINTER CONSUMABLES Impression Management - Prinart, Logic, Q-Ink, Sanchi, Oliser and ATI KMP - For computer consumables.

Ink Spot Suppliers - Suppliers of all brands of inkjet and LaserJet cartridges Kolok - Epson (inkjet, large format etc), Lexmark, HP, Brother (Toners and Inks), Oki (Toners, inks and Ribbons), Tally Genicom (Ribbons), Seikosha (Ribbons), Panasonic (Toners and Ribbons), Kyocera (Toners), Printronix (Ribbons), IBM (Ribbons), Ricoh (Toners), Fujitsu (Ribbons), Pantum (Toners) Nor Paper PaperGeni Royce Imaging Industries - Remanufacturers and suppliers of inkjet and laser cartridges Technical Systems Engineering - Suppliers of quality compatible cartridges and bulk inks for Epson, Canon, Lexmark, HP and Samsung

43

PUNCHES AND PERFORATORS Freedom Stationery - Marlin Krost Office Products Parrot Products - Parrot range of punches Power Stationery - Powerstar Rexel Office Products - Rexel

R RUBBER STAMPS Max Frank - Schachihata X Stampers Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co. - Trodat

POINT OF SALE PRINTER ROLLS PaperGeni Rotunda (Pty) Ltd. PRINTING Kolok - Epson, Lexmark (Hardware), HP Printers, Oki (Hardware) Pantum, Samsung

RUBBER STAMP MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - AZ Liquid polymer, TROTEC laser engraver, flash system

Working for you

Fusion 3100L

Fusion 5000L

Fusion 5100L

www.rexelsa.co.za

SOURCE PRODUCTS HERE RULERS Freedom Stationery - Marlin Palm Stationery Manufacturers Power Stationery - Powerstar Penflex - PENFLEX rulers

S

44

SCHOLASTIC SUPPLIES BSC Stationery Sales - Treeline CTP Stationery Empire Toy & Stationery - Butterfly Flip File - Flip File display books A5, A4, A2, A3 Freedom Stationery - Marlin and Edo Gordon’s Productions - contact paper woodgrain, marble, pattern designs. Magic cover back to school clear and coloured self adhesive paper. (4M rolls, A4 and lever arch). Plastic coated brownkraft rolls and pre-cut polythene covers.

Grafton Paper Products Impala Vuwa Stationery Manufacturers Max Frank - Artline, Maxi, Uni Palm Stationery Manufacturers Parrot Products - chalk boards/slates Power Stationery - Powerstar Pyrotec - Tower Adhesive Book Cover 45cm x 2m SCISSORS AND CUTTERS Freedom Stationery - Marlin Palm Stationery Manufacturers Power Stationery - Powerstar Rexel Office Products SCRAPBOOKING Rexel Office Products - Trimmers and guillotines Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Making memories, Clearsnap, Marvy, Ranger, Bazzill, Carl SHREDDERS AND ACCESSORIES AZ Trading - DSB, Kobra, Roto, Repairs to all makes D.O.S - Kobra Kolok - GEHA entry level and high-end shredders

Nikki Distributors - Nikki shredders Parrot Products - Parrot range of value shredders Rexel Office Products - Rexel range Maynards Office Technology - IDEAL Shredders & Guillotines – SA Distributors SLATES Freedom Stationery - Marlin Parrot Products - Whiteboard and chalk board

SPIKE FILES Grip Binders

Rexel Office Products - Storage boxes Specialised Filing Systems - Filing Tidy Files - Filing solutions

T TAPES Freedom Stationery Palm Stationery Manufacturers TELECOMMUNICATIONS Nikki Distributors - Siemens office phones

STAMPS, STAMP PADS AND INKS Kemtek Imaging Systems - Distributor of Brother Stampcreator PRO Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Trodat, pre-inked stamps, stamp and fingerprint pads

STAPLING MACHINES AND STAPLES Freedom Stationery - Marlin Interstat Agencies - Genmes Krost Office Products Parrot Products - Parrot range of staplers Rexel Office Products - Rexel range

STATIONERY SUNDRIES - SCHOLASTIC CTP Stationery - DONAU Scissors and cutting knives Freedom Stationery - Marlin, Edo and Unifile Palm Stationery Manufacturers - New Wave Power Stationery - Powerstar

STENCILS Freedom Stationery

TELEX ROLLS AND TELETEX PAPER Rotunda (Pty) Ltd. THERMAL ROLLS Rotunda (Pty) Ltd. TONERS AND CARTRIDGES KMP - Computer consumables Kolok - Penguin (Inkjets and Laser toners), Epson, Lexmark, HP, Canon, Pantum (toners), OKI, Samsung PaperGeni TOP RETRIEVAL FILING Optiplan a div of Waltons - Paper based top retrieval filing systems Specialised Filing Systems - Total Solution and more Tidy Files - Complete onsite and offsite filing solutions TOYS, HOBBIES AND GAMES Freedom Stationery Pyrotec - Toby Tower Stickers and Activities TRANSFER LETTERING AND SIGNS Parrot Products - Vinyl lettering

STORAGE SYSTEMS CTP Stationery - Archiving Systems Suspension Files Kolok - Verbatim (hard drives, USB sticks etc), HP, Sandisk

TRANSPARENCIES Kolok - Penguin transparencies for inkjet and laser OEM, Penguin and HP Transparencies Rexel Office Products - NOBO range

Spend 98% less time shredding*

UPGRADE TO

AUTOFEED *Max saving when using an Auto+ 500X compared to a traditional feed shredder in a similar price level.

Auto+ 60X

Auto+ 80X

Auto+ 100X | 100M

buyers’ guide

See page 46 for contact details

45

DID YOU KNOW? • The Buyers’ Guide is an affordable way to highlight your brands while simultaneously introducing up-and-coming stockists to the trade.

• The Buyers’ Guide is a valuable sourcing tool to market your business and the brands that you carry.

• To book space, contact Wendy on wendy@shop-sa.co.za or (011) 781 0370.

Working for you

Auto+ 200X

Auto+ 300X | 300M

Auto+ 500X | 500M

Auto+ 750X | 750M

www.rexelsa.co.za

CONTACT DETAILS HERE African Filing Systems 011 614 9445

www.africanfiling.co.za

(

015 298 8795

Box 862, Ladanna, 0704

(

021 552 9680

Box 403, Milnerton, 7435

7

086 540 6892

info@africanfiling.co.za

7

015 298 8315

infopol@koloksa.co.za

7

021 552 9681

sales@redfern.co.za

AZ Trading

Redfern Print Services - Durban

Kolok - Port Elizabeth

(

086 111 4407

www.aztradingcc.co.za

(

041 406 9900

Box 3163, North End, 6056

(

031 205 9598

dbnoffice@redfern.co.za

7

011 792 9732

sales@aztradingcc.co.za

7

041 406 9920

infope@koloksa.co.za

7

031 205 7092

www.redfern.co.za

BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Redfern Print Services - Johannesburg

Kolok - Namibia

(

011 474 0181

PO BOX 43144, Industria, 2042

(

00264 (61)370500

Box 40797, Ausspannplatz, Namibia

(

011 837 4119

Box 1445, Crown Mines, 2025

7

011 474 6068

16 Maraisburg Road, Industria, 2042

7

00264 (61)370525

valne@kolok.com.na

7

011 837 8917

jhboffice@redfern.co.za

BSC Stationery Sales

Kolok - Nelspruit

Rexel Office Products

(

011 086 2900

Box 278, Brakpan, 1540

(

013 758 2233

Box 4338, White River, 1240

(

011 226 3300

www.rexelsa.co.za

7

011 420 3322

sales@treeline.co.za

7

013 758 2235

infonel@koloksa.co.za

7

011 837 2781

sales@rexelsa.co.za

CTP Stationery

Kolok - Bloemfontein

Rotunda (Pty) Ltd.

(

011 226 5600

Box 43501, Industria, 2042

(

051 433 1876

PvtBag X01, Brandhof, Bloemfontein

(

021 552 5135

Box 189, Maitland, 7404

7

011 474 9242

sales@versafile.co.za

7

051 433 2451

infobfn@koloksa.co.za

7

021 551 3070

rotunda@iafrca.com

D.O.S (Denton Office Solutions)

Royce Imaging Industries

Kolok - Botswana

(

086 000 7468

info@dosptyltd.biz

(

00267 393 2669

PvtBag B0226, Bontleng, Gaborone

(

011 792 9530

www.royceimaging.co.za

7

086 237 4614

www.dosptyltd.biz

7

00267 317 0762

clemencem@vbn.co.bw

7

011 792 9480

sales@royceimaging.co.za

Empire Toy & Stationery

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Head Office

Krost Office Products

(

011 614 2243

Box 261524, Excom, 2023

(

011 626 2067

Box 75401, Gardenview, 2047

(

011 262 1400

Box 931, Wendywood, 2144

7

011 614 3075

empire@netactive.co.za

7

011 626 2912

sales@krost.co.za

7

011 262 1414

trodat@rse.co.za

Flip File

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Cape Town

KZN ENVELOPES

(

021 638 3105

Box 2190, Clareinch, 7740

(

031 465 3992

P O Box 41259, Rossburgh, 4072

(

021 448 7008

Box 931, Wendywood, 2144

7

021 633 6942

ashly@flipfile.co.za

7

031 465 1669

info@kznenvelopes.co.za

7

021 448 7014

cpt@trodat.co.za

Freedom Stationery - Johannesburg

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Durban

Max Frank

(

011 314 0953/4

Box 6459, Halfway House, 1685

(

011 921 1811

Box 200, Isando, 1600

(

083 377 4109

Box 931, Wendywood, 2144

7

011 314 0957

gpsales@freedomstationery.co.za

7

011 921 1569

sarah.schoeman@tigerbrands.com

7

031 266 1082

dbn@rse.co.za

Freedom Stationery - Cape Town (

021 557 9152/3

36-38 Silverstone Rd Killarney Gardens

7

021 557 9155

cptsales@freedomstationery.co.za

Freedom Stationery KZN (Head Office)

Maynards - Olympus Audio S.A / Olivetti Distributors (

0860 00 1922

South African Diaries

sales@maynards.co.za

(

021 442 2340

Box 4862, Cape Town, 8000

www.maynards.co.za

7

021 442 2341

phoneyman@sadiaries.co.za

Staedtler SA (Pty) Ltd

Merpak Envelopes

(

032 459 2820

Box 478, Mandini, 4490

(

011 719 7700

sales@merpak.co.za

(

011 579 1600

www.staedtler.co.za

7

032 459 3255

sales@freedomstationery.co.za

7

011 885 3174

www.merpak.co.za

7

011 608 3497

admin@staedtler.co.za

Freedom Stationery - East London

Specialised Filing Systems

Narayan Wholesaler

(

043 731 2422

Box 14111 West Bank 5218

(

083 444 0959

7

043 731 2421

elsales@freedomstationery.co.za

7

011 869 7243

Global Bag And Sportswear Manufactures

narayantextiles@gmail.com

(

011 477 0640

7

011 477 3528

www.specfiling.co.za

Star Stationers and Printers

New Era Office cc

(

031 305 6507

P.O Box 18586, Dalbridge, 4014

(

011 334 2013

Box 10383, Lenasia, 1821

(

031 569 1061

luke@starstat.co.za

7

031 301 6553

www.globalbags.co.za

7

011 334 7358

kuban@neweraoffice.co.za

7

031 569 1094

www.starstat.co.za

Global Envelopes

Technical Systems Engineering

Nikki - Cape Town

(

031 465 5544

info@envelopes.co.za

(

0860 006731

cpt@nikki.co.za

(

011 708 2304

Box 1532, Northriding, 2162

7

031 465 5634

www.envelopes.co.za

7

0800 204868

www.nikki.co.za

7

011 708 1799

sales@tse.co.za

Gordon’s Productions

Tidy Files

Nikki - Durban

011 943 4210

(

031 705 8713

Suite 69, PvtBag X4, Kloof, 3640

(

0860 006731

dbn@nikki.co.za

(

7

031 705 8714

jacquie@gordons.co.za

7

0800 204868

www.nikki.co.za

Topmark

Grafton/Star Paper Products 011 262 0777

(

011 262 0780

7

011 421 1300

(

Nikki - Johannesburg

www.tidyfiles.co.za

(

011 837 8045

Box 550, Bergvlei, 2012

(

0860 006731

jhb@nikki.co.za

7

011 837 7442

sales@graftonpaper.co.za

7

0800 204868

www.nikki.co.za

Tower (Division of Pyrotec) - Cape Town

Grip Binders

Nikki - Pretoria orders@tigerpaper.co.za

Hortors Stationery

info@topmarksa.com

(

021 787 9600

(

0860 006731

pta@nikki.co.za

7

021 787 9791

7

0800 204868

www.nikki.co.za

Tower (Division of Pyrotec) - Johannesburg

(

011 620 4800

Box 1020, Johannesburg, 2000

Nor Paper

7

086 612 4663

orders@hortors.co.za

(

011 011 3900

7

011 011 4099

Impala Vuwa Stationery Manufacturers

sales@nor.co.za

PvtBag X1, Capricorn Square, 7948

(

011 611 1820

59 Lepus Rd, Crown Mines, 2025

7

011 611 1834

tower@pyrotec.co.za

Tower (Division of Pyrotec) Durban

(

036 634 1535

Box 389, Ladysmith, 3370

Optiplan a division of Waltons

(

031 701 0192

Box 594, Pinetown, 3600

7

036 634 1890

impalastat@mweb.co.za

(

011 620 4000

Pencil Park, Croxley Close, Herriotdale

7

031 701 1285

tower@pyrotec.co.za

7

086 681 8256

rcurrin@gp.waltons.co.za

Tribe

Ink Spot Suppliers (

011 854 3013

7

011 852 3013

Palm Stationery info@inkspotsuppliers.co.za

Interstat Agencies - Durban

(

011 314 4746 (Jhb)

Box 6280, Halfway House, 1685

(

031 507 7051

viran@palmstat.co.za

7

021 386 4261 (Cpt)

tribe@global.co.za

7

031 507 7053

www.palmstat.co.za

Unicopy & Stationers CC

(

031 569 6550

Box 201707, Durban North, 4016

PaperGeni

7

031 569 6559

interstat@mweb.co.za

(

011 011 3900

7

011 011 4099

Interstat Agencies - Cape Town

(

031 201 8415

122 Che Guevara Road, Glenwood, 4001

info@papergeni.co.za

7

031 201 8672

sales@unicopy.co.za

www.papergeni.co.za

Versafile

(

021 551 9555

Box 36696, Chempet, 7442

Paper World

7

021 557 5456

Capetown@interstat.co.za

(

012 250 1477/8

info@paperworldsa.com.

7

012 250 0322

www.paperworldsa.com

Interstat Agencies - Port Elizabeth (

041 453 2558

Box 27693, Greenacres, 6057

Parrot Products

7

041 453 8504

pe@interstat.co.za

(

011 607 7600

debbie@parrot.co.za

7

011 615 2502

www.parrotproducts.biz

Kemtek Imaging Systems 011 624 8000

(

0866 101 185

7

Box 86173, City Deep, 2049

Penflex

labelling@kemtek.co.za

(

021 521 2400

Box 36964, Chempet, 7442

7

021 521 2402/3

info@penflex.co.za

Kemtek Imaging Systems - Cape (

021 521 9600

Box 181, Cape Town, 8000

Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd

7

021 551 5032

brenth@kemtek.co.za

(

011 474 1427/8

Box 202, Crown Mines, 2025

7

011 474 5563

www.pentel.co.za

Kemtek Imaging Systems - KZN (

031 700 9363

Box 15685, Westmead, 3608

Peters Papers

7

031 700 9369

Sandim@kemtek.co.za

(

011 677 9000

sadlerly@peterspapers.co.za

7

011 622 6646

www.peterspapers.co.za

Kemtek Imaging Systems - PE (

041 582 5222

Box 15685, Westmead, 3608

Powerhouse Dictation

7

041 582 5224

clinth@kemtek.co.za

(

011 887 1056

info@speech.co.za

7

086 555 3833

www.speech.co.za

Kemtek Imaging Systems - PTA 012 804 1410

(

PO Box 816, Silverton, 0127

Power Stationery (

032 533 4003

Box 1305, Verulam, 4340

7

032 533 3254

powersta@netactive.co.za

012 804 4286

johlettat@kemtek.co.za

(

021 709 0190

Box 183, Steenberg, 7947

Press Products

7

021 709 0199

kmppty@iafrica.com

(

011 493 6332

marketing@pressproducts.co.za

7

011 499 1019

www.pressproducts.co.za

7

KMP

Kolok - Head Office (

011 248 0300

Box 4151, Johannesburg, 2000

Pyrotec

7

011 248 0381

infojhb@koloksa.co.za

(

021 787 9600

PvtBag X1, Capricorn Square, 7948

7

021 787 9791

tower@pyrotec.co.za

Kolok - Cape Town (

021 597 2700

Box 6385, Roggebaai, 8012

RBE Stationery Manufacturers (Pty) Limited

7

021 297 2799

infoctn@koloksa.co.za

(

011 793 7321

7

011 793 7348

Kolok - Durban

46

Redfern Print Services - Cape Town

Kolok Polokwane

(

011 226 5600

Box 43501, Industria, 2042

7

011 474 9242

sales@versafile.co.za

sales@rbe.co.za www.rbe.co.za

(

031 570 4900

Box 4206, Riverhorse Valley East, 4017

Reboni Furniture Group

7

031 569 6880

infodbn@koloksa.co.za

(

086 173 2664

www.reboni.co.za

7

086 627 7737

sales@reboni.co.za

my office magazine

(

Vol 100 - January 2016

the real stuff

The real Not stuff marketing fluff Clive Heydenrych, MD of Trodat South Africa What’s the highlight of your working career?

There have been so many, so it is hard to single out one. But certainly growing this business from where it was, with the assistance of my exco, to where it is today is right up there If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be?

To compete on level playing fields What do you like best about the office products industry?

It’s harmless, it’s regular day-to-day products, and generally fellow suppliers and customers are a bunch of really nice people

Do you have a hobby?

Shabby golf and gym What music did you listen to in the car this morning?

Chris de Burgh – Footsteps 1 & 2 Do you have any pets?

Labrador Retriever (called Wolletjie) What was your first car?

Morris Oxford (I paid R 300 for it)

What’s your greatest personal achievement?

I’ve been married to my lovely wife Karen for 37 years Describe yourself in three words.

Driven, hardworking, honest Where did you grow up?

Durban What was your first CD? Tommy by The Who What’s your favourite gadget?

My trusty HP12C financial calculator What’s your favourite movie?

Forest Gump What’s your favourite meal?

Steak, egg and chips (with beer)

www.myofficemagazine.co.za

my office magazine

47

punchline

Caption this!

Send us your funniest caption for the photograph below and you stand a chance to win a Rexel Laminator GBC Fusion 1100 A4 valued at R2 000. Send your Punchline and contact details to competitions@ shop-sa.co.za with Punchline in the subject line

Win

The Rexel Laminator is 33% faster than competitor machines, taking just 45 seconds to laminate a standard A4 pouch or 80 pouches per hour, with an additional cold setting for heat sensitive documents. Other features include: • Automatic switch off after 30 minutes of inactivity.

• Exit tray keeps pouches straight as they come through the heated rollers for a perfect, warp-free finish • Incorporates SureFlow™ Technology that reduces jamming significantly for stress-free laminating and maximum productivity • Laminates up to A4 size including ID cards, notices and certificates • Modern, compact design is easy to move around and suits most office and home environments • Single touch button interface: simple to use, no previous experience required • Three heat settings • Accepts 2 x 75 micron (150 in total) pouches, 2 x 100 micron (200 in total) and 2 x 125 micron (250 in total).

WIN ME

48

my office magazine

Vol 100 - January 2016

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