Vol 98 issue 8 2014

AUGUST 2014 R50.

inc vat

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE STATIONERY, HOME AND OFFICE PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION

TOOLS THAT CUT TASKS WIHAN OOSTHUIZEN ON HIS ROLE AT OFFICE NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY MEETS THE CLASSROOM

LEDS’ LEADING LIGHT CELEBRATING 75 YEARS

OF INNOVATION IN OFFICE PRODUCTS

1939

1958

1986

1992

2007

George Drexler OBE, founder of Rexel

My Office Magazine www.facebook.com/shopsa.ZA

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.

PUBLISHER Rob Mathews - robm@icon.co.za Kathy Gibson - kathy@futurewave.co.za EDITOR Mercédes Westbrook - mercedes@shop-sa.co.za CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER Wendy Dancer - wendy@shop-sa.co.za NATIONAL OFFICE Design and Layout: Vanessa Bentley New Membership: Rachel Skink 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.shop-sa.co.za Cape Town Office PO Box 48431, Kommetjie, 7976 Tel: +27 21 780 1209 Email: info@shop-sa.co.za CONTRIBUTIONS Letters and editorial contributions are welcomed 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 discretion.

THE LEGAL BIT Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy the publisher and editor cannot accept responsibility for supplied material. The opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of shop-sa. Copyright

www.shop-sa.co.za | www.facebook.com/shopsa.za

NEWS

04 | FINANCIAL BYTES Facts and figures from the business world 28 | SCENE AROUND A look at who is doing what, where and how 34 | INDUSTRY NEWS Industry-related news and trade business announcements 36 | ECO NEWS A green sustainability update, sponsored by Mondi

SALES SAVVY

06 | WIN OVER CUSTOMERS WITH 14 WORDS Offering customers your help and support is the key to a lasting relationship 18 | RETAIL POS: RINGING THE CHANGES A modern point of sale system keeps both customers and businesses happy 29 | FM SUPPLIES: MOUNTAIN OR MOLEHILL? OPI looks at how resellers have turned to other product areas to grow business as demand for traditional office products decreases 47 | NEEDFUL THINGS A showcase of smart technology for people on the move

BUSINESS SAVVY

Cel: +27 78 970 7633

Vol 98 | August 2014

07 | CARING: YOU CAN’T REALLY FAKE IT Gavin Moffat points out that caring is difficult to fake 08 | FAULTY RETRENCHMENTS CAN COST EMPLOYERS MILLIONS As companies and organisations close down, restructure, merge and downsize, retrenchments are becoming more commonplace, says Dr Ivan Israelstam 33 | THE COMING OF AGE OF THE DIGITAL WALLET Devices such as mobile phones and tablets are set to become personalised, digital wallets capable of making contactless payments

is strictly reserved and no part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the

12

RAZOR SHARP Cutting tools come in all shapes and sizes to cut, trim, resize, craft or punch

SPECIAL FEATURES

24 | TIME AND ATTENDANCE TOOLS Employees are a company’s biggest expense and its most valuable asset. Profitability depends on whether the work force is performing to its full potential 26 | ARE YOU ORGANISED? Branded planning tools, such as diaries and journals, make excellent, long-term marketing aids 27 | CORPORATE LITERATURE IMPROVES BRAND VISIBILITY Every company needs printed representation of its products and services 30 | A PACKAGING PLUS PET is the smart choice to protect products 31 | FURNITURE: LIGHT WAVES AHEAD LEDs meet a range of needs in the home and office

written permission of the publisher.

Stationery sponsored by

Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

Published by

FUTURE WAVE

MEDIA PRINTED BY Colorpress (pty) ltd.

IN EVERY ISSUE

Office paper sponsored by

23

TECHNOLOGY IS TRANSFORMING CLASSROOMS Our digital world moves fast. Can your business keep up?

02 20 25 32 38 40 48

| | | | | | |

EDITOR’S LETTER PERSONABILITY WEB BUTTONS CRIME ALERT PRODUCT SHOWCASE BUYERS’ GUIDE PUNCHLINE

my office magazine

1

editor’s letter

Time for tee off

I

am looking forward to the month of August for two reasons. Firstly, National Women’s Day on the 9th focuses our attention on the role women play in society.

We continue to make huge strides as leaders, managers, role models, innovators, moms and money earners – much of which has happened over just one generation. My mother didn’t work; perhaps some yours didn’t have the vote.

Today, we can all vote and thankfully take our rightful place in society. Unfortunately today too many of us cannot afford to be stay-at-home moms, whether we want to or not - and households are being headed by single working moms and, too often, children.

So, take a moment this Women’s Day to appreciate your – or your mother’s strength, power and will. And while you are at it, take a girl child to work, so they may reach for lofty goals. Hats off to the AlcatelLucent South African team, who recently hosted 10 learners from the Ponelepele High School. See more about it on page 28.

My second reason is that the month of August hosts the annual shop-sa Sports

2

my office magazine

day - this year sponsored in the main by Pantum. I look forward to enjoying the lush greens of the Killarney Country Club beneath clear, crisp Jo’burg skies - and seeing our participating members once again. There is still time to book your four-ball if you haven’t already.

This month’s feature on page 12 is cutting tools for the office environment. I personally keep at least five pairs of scissors safely stowed in the desk draw, kitchen draw, bathroom draw, my sewing kit, the kids’ craft box - and a spare pair in a secret place should any one of those go missing.

A special mention goes out to Wihan Oosthuizen. You can read all about his plans for his new role at the helm of Office National on page 20.

On page 23, we discuss the very real - and inevitable - concept of the digital classroom and its impact on the stationery industry, in light of Gauteng’s commitment to roll out school digitalisation plans over the next few years. Please send us your comments on the future of trade within this sector and any trends you see developing.

But now, I am off to write in my diary - and it’s a special occasion as I have a fresh, new blank one. Every time my diary finishes, it is an exciting opportunity to wander the aisle of my nearest stationery or book store and pick out one

specific, beautiful design that speaks to me and which I will speak to over the next few months. I also religiously buy a new calendar every year to send to a relative overseas. This year’s calendar had traditional South African recipes on it. Affordable, beautiful and a useful gift, calendars will be on our agenda’s again shortly as Christmas is going to be here sooner than you think. See our feature on calendars and diaries on page 26. Make sure you have planned and prepared your stock levels, and have prompted your clients with a reminder about the array of lovely corporate gifts they can buy - and brand - for year-end bashes that will soon be taking place.

In closing, I have just returned from a Dauphin Human Design Group event. In line with the World Design Capital Cape Town 2014 brand, my press kit contained a funky yellow bracelet that was really a flash drive of press information – and my name tag was a big shiny beautiful button badge.

The World Design Capital Cape Town is certainly rocking our creative output – viva Cape Town as a World Design Capital.

s e d é c r e M

Vol 98 - August 2014

BOOK NOW for the shop-sa Sports Day on 27 August 2014 Killarney Country Club in Houghton, Johannesburg

To book your golf and bowls teams, to sponsor the event with prizes at the prize-giving dinner or to sponsor a hole, contact Wendy Dancer on (011) 781 0370 or wendy@shop-sa.co.za.

The shop-sa PANTUM sports day is a perfect opportunity to get moving, get networking and have some fun.

www.shop-sa.co.za

my office magazine

3

financial bytes Mobile data ‘to explode’ in SA According to IT infrastructure firm Cisco, mobile data in SA is set to spike.

“Cisco’s Visual Networking Index (VNI) reveals interesting growth figures and projects that mobile data traffic in South Africa will increase nearly eight-fold over the next five years and grow twice as fast as fixed IP traffic in South Africa.”

Fixed line broadband access is regarded as limiting because of the expense related to laying down cable as well as the incumbent operator Telkom which has a virtual monopoly on the hardware.

Cisco predicts that mobile data traffic will dwarf the growth in cable broadband connections.

“From 2013 to 2018, Cisco anticipates that mobile traffic growth will be double fixed traffic growth in South Africa and that there will be 40-million mobile users by 2018, up from 38-million in 2013,” the company says.

The government has indicated its support for an expanded national broadband programme. “The rollout of broadband is integrally linked to the growth of a 21st century economy and ultimately to addressing one of our country’s most pressing problems: the reduction of unemployment, especially amongst our youth,” Communications Minister Yunus Carrim said recently.

The National Development Plan has set a goal of 100% broadband coverage in the country by 2020.

Source: Duncan Alfreds, News24

External storage market shows slump before the surge The Middle East and Africa (MEA) external storage market may have suffered a marginal 2% year-on-year decline in revenue during the first quarter of 2014, but the downturn can be attributed to an annual quirk in the market, according to International Data Corporation (IDC). Referencing its EMEA Quarterly Disk Storage Systems Tracker, the global research and advisory services firm announced that external storage revenue in MEA contracted to $229-million in Q1 2014, but referred to the decline as a “typical slump before the surge”.

Terabyte capacity, meanwhile, was up 38% over the same period.

“The shrinkage in the market can be attributed to the fact that most countries within the region have seasonal growth trends, with the first quarter being the slowest as budget allocations and investment plans have yet to be finalised in a number of key sectors,” says Adriana Rangel, research director for systems and infrastructure solutions at IDC Middle East, Africa and Turkey. “The second half of the calendar year usually accounts for the higher share of yearly enterprise systems investments, with the final quarter being the strongest.”

The South African storage market declined 3% year-on-year due to a decline in major projects.

Source: www.idc.com

4

my office magazine

South Africa’s struggle to boost exports One of the few silver linings for countries that suffer a devaluation of their currency is that their exports can become more competitive.

South Africa – like other members of the so-called “fragile five” (Brazil, India, Indonesia and Turkey) – clung to the hope of an export rebound as the rand sank by 30% over 2012 and 2013.

But, analysts say, exports have been frustratingly sluggish to pick up, raising questions over whether South Africa can sustainably reduce a current account deficit that stood at 5,1% of GDP in the final quarter of 2013.

Illustrating how unresponsive South African exports have been to the rand’s slide, exports rose by only 4% in 2012 and 13% in 2013 over a period in which the rand tumbled 30% against the US dollar. This was significantly below the 17% average annual increase in South African exports in the five years until 2012.

The four key headwinds that South Africa faces in boosting its export performance and winning a swift graduation from the “fragile five” grouping are its labour disputes, electricity rationing, a depressed demand from traditional trading partners and inflation.

Exporters of processed goods need to be convinced that the rand’s devaluation isn’t temporary to build up their production capacity. South Africa’s producers may be more wary than most having witnessed dramatic currency devaluations over the last 20 years which resulted in only a brief depression of the real exchange rate. The recent strengthening of the rand will do nothing to allay their fears.

Source: Verity Ratcliffe, www.blogs.ft.com

SA a nation wallowing in debt Debt, combined with the steadily rising cost of living, is a major reason for protracted and bitter strikes, says Terry Bell in his latest Labour Wrap.

And, although it was introduced with the best of intentions, the National Credit Act (NCA) of 2005 probably made matters worse.

Bell points out that the NCA made access to credit more difficult for those with a low income, driving them to the township loan sharks, or mashonisas, whose interest rates and methods of debt collection he describes as “brutal”. The NCA also set the maximum rate for small loans - under R8 000 - at 60% per annum.

But it is not just the poorly paid who face problems.

According to Bell, we are “a nation wallowing in debt”.

He notes that the only way the government manages to balance its books is through portfolio investment on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE). This is money that could disappear at the touch of a computer key, and it adds to problems of indebtedness with dividends and profits flowing abroad.

Ordinary citizens do not have this cash flow facility, and more than 10-million South Africans now have “impaired credit records”. They cannot access anything other than the mashonisas. Bell sees this as a recipe for more social instability and suffering - and wonders whether the unions that collectively control billions of rand might have a remedial role to play.

Source: Fin24 Vol 98 - August 2014

marketing savvy ACKNOWLEDGMENT AKI KALLIATAKIS is the managing partner of The Leadership LaunchPad, a company dedicated to helping clients become more customer driven. Visit www.DelightYourCustomers.co.za.

Win over customers with14 words Offering customers your help and support is the key to a lasting relationship

R

ecently, a salesperson from a company that supplies valves and other equipment for factories that handle fluid told me an amazing story.

For years she had been trying to make an impact on a really large organisation with no success. All her contact said was: “Your stuff is imported and it’s far too expensive.” But she still insisted on visiting them every couple of months because she knew that one day she would make a sale there.

It didn’t work out quite as planned. One Saturday night she was watching the late news with her husband when she saw her client’s factory burning down. After recovering from the shock, she decided she must do something to help. The next morning, she grabbed her husband and two teenage sons, and drove to the site of the fire. The emergency vehicles were wrapping up the operation, but it was clear that the factory had been completely destroyed.

She bumped into the manufacturing director, who she had been visiting every couple of months for several years, and commiserated with him. “But we’re here to help now,” she said, pointing to her family. “Just tell us what we can do.”

6

my office magazine

The director was taken aback by her generosity, and said there was nothing that they could do, but thanked her profusely for thinking about them.

A few weeks later she received a letter from him. “Of all our suppliers, customers and connections, you were the only one who pitched in to help, and we are very grateful for that. The insurance company has cleared us to start rebuilding immediately, and I would like your company to sell us all the equipment we need. Please sit with the engineers and let them explain our requirements. I am insisting that they work with you.”

With that one order, she achieved her whole year’s budget, substantial commission and her CEO gave her an award. The chief supplier of the products from overseas paid for her and her family to visit the impressive plant overseas and have a holiday too, and she addressed the whole international sales team at a conference at which she told her story.

All because she couldn’t sit back and do nothing while her not-yet-customer was suffering.

I’m often asked, “What’s the best way to take care of your customers?” and like a true consultant, I always say, “It depends.” But in a recent survey which asked customers questions like, “What do you want from the businesses that you deal with?” and “What would be the most important characteristics of the people that you deal with?” almost all customers said they wished they could just be helped.

What does that translate into? You don’t have to be the quickest; you don’t

have to be the cheapest; you don’t have to be the smartest - but you do need to be there when they need you, and to do what they reasonably ask you. There are just 14 words which I usually put at the end of just about any communication I have with our clients – spoken, written or e-mailed: If there’s anything else I can help you with, please just let me know.

n

You can also: •

•

•

•

•

Encourage clients to contact you whenever they want. “Here’s my personal cell phone number. Call me 24/7.”

Introduce customers to other employees and managers on your team, so they can turn to someone else for help if you are not around.

Be proactive about sending them useful information.

“I found this article which I thought you might find useful”, or “I was recently at the industry exhibition for XYZ and I saw a machine which I thought you may want to look at.”

Introduce them to other people in your network who may have common interests or business synergies.

Make information available whenever they need it. “We analysed what you buy from us every month and think we can save you some money by taking certain steps.”

Vol 98 - August 2014

business landscape ACKNOWLEDGMENT GAVIN MOFFAT can be contacted on gavin@puruma. com or follow him on www.twitter.com/gavinmoffat.com

You can’t fake caring When it comes to caring, it’s a little difficult to fake it. If you don’t care about your team, employees or the people around you, it doesn’t take long to show

I

f you’re unfamiliar with the term “care and growth”, it’s a leadership model that was developed by Schuitema Associates and “its approach lies in its capacity to deal with the issue of excellence at every level, from that of personal excellence to that of organisational excellence”.

I recently attended a talk where the “care and growth” model was discussed and I was struck by a number of realisations - most of them to do with how we can get more from those around us by giving more. It sounds counterintuitive, but giving results in a greater getting. When that giving is relatively selfless (because it’s almost impossible to be totally selfless), then the results are generally amplified. www.shop-sa.co.za

How do we currently give? Often only with an end result in mind. I’ll give you something now with the expectation that you will do something for me, or that you will give me something in return now or sometime in the future. This is pretty normal and our cultural influencers, such as radio, magazines, TV and the Internet, do little to discourage this give-and-expect approach.

More often than not, we do a lot more taking than giving. The “care and growth” model works on giving first (care) and then receiving as a side effect. Part of this model allows for accountability, which means that this is not a wishy-washy approach to dealing with those around you. It means giving responsibility, along with all the skills and tools needed to do the job, setting outcomes and targets that are in line with the organisational needs and then measuring them.

Most importantly, the part that is often absent is the accountability aspect.

When something is not done the way it should be, someone needs to be held accountable - subordinate or otherwise.

That accountability needs to have supportive teeth that allow for growth and learning. Without accountability there is no growth and change. Without growth and change, there is no future for any business.

We need to give to get, and the best way of doing that is with as little ego as possible. If you are solely focused on what you can get out of people, they will be solely focused on what they can get out of you. This results in a winning relationship for neither of you.

You cannot generate loyalty with falsity. You can only generate loyalty and excellence in someone’s output when they are genuinely focused on the vision and do not think twice about going the extra mile.

Take it from me, you can’t fake caring.

I’ve tried and failed.

n

my office magazine

7

labour law ACKNOWLEDGMENT DR IVAN ISRAELSTAM is chief executive of Labour Law Management Consulting. He may be contacted at ivan@labourlawadvice.co.za.

This article first appeared in The Star.

Faulty retrenchments can cost employers millions As companies and organisations close down, restructure, merge and downsize, retrenchments are becoming more commonplace

D

espite the strict retrenchment legislation, employers frequently have to pay large sums of money to employees who have been retrenched incorrectly.

Three areas where employers infringe the law on retrenchment are: • Failing to follow the very detailed and rigidly enforced procedure for retrenchment.

For example, many employers do not, during the lead up to the retrenchment decision, carry out genuine and comprehensive consultations aimed at trying to save the jobs of the targeted employees.

• Making the decision to retrench for the wrong reason.

For example, it is illegal to retrench any employee for any reason related to a takeover of a business (or part thereof) as a going concern. “Business” refers to any organisation, whether a company, sole trader, welfare organisation, NGO, government department or other employer.

• Using legally unacceptable criteria for deciding on which employees

8

my office magazine

to retrench. That is, targeting an employee for subjective reasons is unfair.

For example, deciding to retrench Mr A because he is old, sick, injured, outspoken, strong-willed or performing badly would be considered unfair.

An exception is where the employer can show that the work performance of all employees has been: • Precisely, accurately and fairly measured; • Recorded in writing; and • Used fairly in deciding on which employees should be retrenched.

That is, the employer must: • Implement proper performance appraisal exercises; • Arrive at accurate measurements of performance of all employees whose jobs might become redundant; • Be able to show that the appraisal ratings were arrived at objectively rather than resulting merely from the manager’s feelings towards the employee or unreasoned opinion of the employee’s work performance; and • Have made it clear at the outset of the retrenchment procedure that work performance was going to be the criteria for selecting retrenchees.

In the case of Masilela versus Leonard Dingler (2004, 4 BLLR 381) Masilela, the IR manager, was retrenched after an

HR manager with Masilela’s skills was appointed as the employee’s senior. This created duplication of skills because the new HR manager was able to carry out Masilela’s duties. However, Masilela was given a letter informing him that he could apply for a new junior post.

The Court found that: • It was fair to make Masilela’s post redundant due to the duplication of industrial relations skills; • The employer should have given Masilela the new junior post instead of requiring him to apply for it; • The retrenchment was unfair; and • The employer had to pay the employee eight months’ remuneration in compensation.

New case decisions continue to refine and make subtle changes to labour legislation. This means that employers and employees cannot become complacent. Employees risk losing their jobs unnecessarily and employers run the very serious risk of having to reinstate employees and/or to pay huge amounts in compensation, in addition to retrenchment packages.

n

To attend our seminar on Walking the Labour Law Tightrope, to be held on 22 August 2014 in Johannesburg, please contact Ronni on ronni@labourlawadvice.co.za, 084 521 7492 or (011) 782 3066.

Vol 98 - August 2014

at 75 – A brief history THE BES T £ 1 0 0 H E EVER SPENT George Drexler, founder of Rexel, was born in 1908 near Prague and arrived in England in 1935.

In 1939 he borrowed £100 to found his own company and Rexel was born. The company flourished, manufacturing in the UK and internationally, and grew quickly to employ over 1,000 workers.

1939

George Drexler founds Rexel in London, United Kingdom

2007

Mercury™ Jam Free shredders launched

2007

Introduction of the Rexel logo as we know it today

1945

Introduction of Crystalfile® Classic suspension files. Since then over 1 billion files have been sold

1998

10 millionth Matador stapler produced

2010

New generation of Auto Feed shredders introduced

To find out more please visit www.rexelsa.co.za

1956

Launch of the iconic 56 Range® of stapling products

1992

ACCO UK and Rexel merge to become ACCO Europe

2010

Optima stapling range introduced designed to perform

R E XE L IN 2014 Rexel branded ranges of shredders, filing products, staplers, punches, desk accessories, trimmers and guillotines are available in over 100 countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

2014 values remain true to the 1939 vision: to guarantee a wide range of well designed, top quality and innovative office products for workspaces. For now and future generations.

1958

Introduction of the ’Little Man’ logo – Rexel’s early symbol of quality around the world

1986

Rebranding to represent Rexel as a modern, international and progressive company

2013

1960

The Nyrex range of folders and filing products launched

Auto Feed shredders win EOPA 2013 ‘Technology Product of the Year’ award

1968

The manufacture of Ofrex and Fordigraph shredders (later branded Rexel) begins in Droitwich, United Kingdom

1976

George Drexler is made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Export

2013

‘Built strong to last long’, launch of the Advance filing range

1970’s

British Navy buys Ofrex shredders to destroy sensitive information on war ships

1972

HRH The Princess Anne opens Rexel’s new factory at Llangeinor, United Kingdom

2014

Rexel celebrates its 75th anniversary of innovation in office products

cutting tools

Razor sharp Cutting tools come in all shapes and sizes to cut, trim, resize, craft or punch

W

hat all cutting tools have in common is some arrangement of a sharp blade or blades used for cutting through anything from tissue paper to cardboard with smooth, precision cuts. Heavy-duty, professional paper trimmers may also cut plastic and laminated papers, and thin metals such as staples.

It is important to choose and use the correct tool for your purposes in order to get the best longevity out of the tool or equipment that has been purchased.

Some tools come with throwaway blades, others with self-sharpening blades, and still others can be returned to the supplier to be sharpened.

It is essential to read the manufacturer’s specifications and accompanying information media in order to learn what the cutting tool is capable of, how long you can reasonably expect it to work, and how to replace or sharpen blades should they get dull.

12

my office magazine

Guillotines Designed to cut a large stack of papers all at the same time with one perfect straight edge, guillotines are most often used in printer’s shops, schools and offices when creating custom-sized papers.

Featuring a large, sharp blade they offer a decent cutting capacity, which thanks to the leverage of the arm lever or slider, is relatively seamless. Most newer model guillotines usually come with paper clamps, which address the issue of crooked cutting. Safety features are to assist in the prevention of accidents, while either grids or ruler measurements are there to line the papers up. Guillotines are usually solid in construction so as to remain steady when being used.

Guillotines were first utilised in the late 1830s and later saw their first patent in 1844. They derive their name from the devices used as a method of execution in around 1792. The print industry, which makes use of the larger types of guillotine machines, sees a similar movement of blades both up and down, which are capable of cutting as deep as half a metre.

The best way to choose a guillotine is by deciding on the workload it will be

required to handle. Desktop guillotines are compact and offer a variety of choice from brand names that differentiate themselves by different sheet capacity, advanced safety features and accurate finishes.

Blades Office knives and blades come in the shape of hobby and precision utility knives, saws, carving tools and many small-scale precision knives used for crafts and other office-orientated applications, such as packaging removal.

Perhaps the most popular office style knife is the Stanley knife, featuring snap off blade perforations for when the leading edge becomes dull. Encased in a plastic body which offers a secure grip, the blade can also be retracted and locked in place when not in use. Useful for shrink wrap, carton tape, plastic strapping and foam board, it is sharp, handy and quick to hand.

Vol 98 - August 2014

cutting tools

Self-sharpening blades Some tools, for example rotary guillotines, have self-sharpening blades.

Every time the blades moves to cut paper, it chafes against a metal strip on the base of the cutter, which helps sharpen the blade at the same time similar to how a kitchen knife sharpener operates.

www.shop-sa.co.za

my office magazine

13

cutting tools Crafters and hobbyists also use a smaller style precision blade which is encased in a pen-like aluminium body.

A rolling blade takes the shape of a wheel and is used for cutting and perforating both paper and fabric.

A safety blade encasement ensures that the blade is not exposed to the operating hand.

Punches Predominantly used in the office for organisation and filing, punches create a clean circular cut through a stack of papers and documents. Various sizes are available, ranging from school to industrial applications.

Creative punches are also available, punching shapes into a variety of paper types, creating both the cut-out and creative shapes to use in crafts and hobbies such as scrap booking.

Scissors and shears A more controlled way of cutting through materials, scissors are used in almost any industry application. When the two centre-joined blades are squeezed by the handle, the pivoted blades cross closely together and slice through the material caught in between the two sharpened edges.

The earliest record of scissors as a cutting tool was in 1 500 BC in ancient Egypt, and was in the form of a single blade. Modern cross blade scissors were invented in ancient Rome around 100 AD, and were used by tailors and barbers.

Today, specialised scissors are manufactured for

14

my office magazine

use in the medical field, to cut hair and nails, and even to prepare food. While some scissors feature symmetrically shaped blades and looped finger grips, most scissors have a smaller loop for the thumb and a larger tapered loop for two or more fingers for greater strength and control.

As with all blades, scissors and shears lose their edge with use; however, when choosing quality tempered or stainless steel blades they will keep their edge when sharpened.

Handles are made in a variety of materials for both appearance and comfort, and must be comfortable and light in the hand.

While most scissors are used for cutting a straight cut, specialised scissors can also give a zigzag cut, such as pinking shears used in dress-making.

Safety features such as blunted tips appear in scissors manufactured for children, as well as scissors specifically manufactured for left-handed users.

Pencil sharpeners From hand-held to electric varieties, sharpeners keep pencils sharpened and ready for use. Choosing the best sharpener for the job is dependent on the writing instrument being used.

For example, an artist might require a sharpener that delivers a longer point, while fat bodied pencils used by children will require a larger entry hole.

Today’s manual sharpeners offer two-hole openings and container attachments to collect the shavings and lead and prevent making a mess. The body can either be made of plastic or metal, with a blade held in place by a small screw.

Electric and battery-operated sharpeners are great for productivity.

Compact, quiet and usually fixed to a surface, they offer the automatic and perfect sharpening of pencil tips.

Sharpeners are very safe as it is almost impossible

to harm yourself on either a manual or an electronic sharpener, unless you stick your finger directly into the hole.

Look for reliability, simplicity and durability when making a purchase, and brush the blade clean periodically for added longevity.

n

Why don’t right-handed scissors work in the left hand?

Right-handed scissors have the larger loop on the bottom when in use, enabling force to be exerted both downwards and against the bottom blade. When used by the left hand, the downward force of the top blade causes it to separate slightly, leaving a tiny gap between the blades - making a clean cut nearly impossible.

Vol 98 - August 2014

cutting tools

Kitchen-style cuts: Every office break room features its own prerequisites for cutting tools and no kitchen can do without a range of essential cutting implements. For suppliers looking to enter the Jan/San marketplace there is a wide array of cutting devices that every office will have a need for in some form or another. From blenders to food processors, bread and meat slicers, can openers, graters, peelers, shears, garlic presses and corers; and including the typical everyday range of knives and cutting boards, suppliers can become a substantial player in the service of cutting tool equipment both in the corporate kitchen and within any office break room activity.

www.shop-sa.co.za

my office magazine

15

advertorial

Custom designed

stamps, made in minutes.

Turn text, signatures, graphics, logos and photos into pre-inked stamps

W

hether it’s for a new address, or a simple “faxed,” “fragile” or “paid” message, when your customer needs a rubber stamp they will be looking for a convenient, reliable source.

The Brother Stampcreator PRO SC 2000 is a commercial system that entrepreneurs can build into a major profit centre by turning signatures, graphics, text, clip art, photos and logos into pre-inked stamps while their customers wait. It’s an ideal solution for anyone in the stamp manufacturing business or in the related fields of printing, stationery, mailing centres, copy centres, office supplies or other personalised product or office equipment business, who wants to grow their bottom line.

“With the Brother Stampcreator PRO SC 2000, you can offer convenience and high quality,” says Dale de Villiers, marketing and product planning, Brother International SA. “Your customer’s stamps can be made while they wait.”

“It’s the perfect stamp solution for entrepreneurs who want to grow their existing business, and for start-ups seeking a profitable business opportunity through the creation of customised stamps,” says De Villiers. “Because the process is so quick, customers can order a stamp from a store, mall cart or pop-up shop, do their shopping, and collect it on they way out.”

PRE-INKED, REFILLABLE AND FAST DRYING “Stamps help people get through practically every job faster and easier, but no one ever plans ahead to buy a stamp,” says De Villiers.

“However, when your customers need one, they need it now, and you can give it to them with the Brother Stampcreator PRO.” With the innovative Stampcreator PRO system, virtually anything that can be viewed on a computer monitor can become a custom designed, professional pre-inked stamp.

16

my office magazine

A COMPLETE SYSTEM The SC-2000 Processing Unit comes complete with Windows software, serial and USB cables, thermal ribbon cassette, 150 draft sheets and five stamps. The illustrated instruction manual and interactive tutorial will show you the way to use the system in great detail. A one-year warranty is included.

Stamps are available in 11 different sizes and 4 colours: Black, Blue, Red and Green.

All stamps are refillable with fast-drying ink.

Stamps will last up to 50,000 impressions with proper re-inking.

THREE SIMPLE STEPS TO PRODUCING INSTANT STAMPS Whether you are an established stamp manufacturer, copy shop, express service or stationery supplier, or you are just setting up your own business, the Brother Stampcreator PRO creates pre-inked stamps speedily, making it the most margin-friendly on the market.

In the past, in-house stamp production required hours of training and expensive equipment, but the new Stampcreator PRO produces stamps in just three simple steps: and the equipment is cost-effective.

DESIGN THE STAMP ON YOUR PC USING THE INCLUDED SOFTWARE. Choose from over 150 stamp templates or custom design a stamp using clip-art, signatures, logos, and even photographs.

Expose the stamp.

The Stampcreator PRO connects to your computer allowing the user to print the stamp data just like printing a document. Then the user simply places the mount in the creation bay and closes the door.

Assemble the stamp.

In a matter of seconds the stamp is assembled and internal inking process is initiated. In 10 to 15 minutes the stamp will be fully inked and ready to use.

For more information, contact Angela at angelan@kemtek.co.za

n

Vol 98 - August 2014

retail savvy

Retail POS: ringing the changes A modern point of sale system keeps both customers and businesses happy

A

ny retailer knows that keeping track of stock is crucial, and having too much stock - or too little can be costly.

Today, point of sale (POS) hardware has moved away from standalone cash registers to supportive computer-linked systems backed by integrated software and mobile options, which provide upto-the-minute information about both the company’s inventory and its customers.

Standard POS systems comprise a computer with cash drawer, receipt printer, barcode scanner and credit card reader, with supporting software to allow even the smallest retail store to come online. As the business grows, so additional services can

be added onto the system.

The main advantage of a reliable POS system is the ability to generate and maintain accurate figures on current and moving stock. Every time a purchase is rung up, the item is subtracted from the inventory. This can be a major benefit, especially for retailers such as stationery suppliers who carry a wide variety of small stock items.

Barcoding facilities further reduce errors at both receiving and point of sale.

Barcode printers allow retailers to generate barcoded labels with associated universal product codes (UPCs), while some suppliers are able to provide electronic price files that can be loaded into the retailer’s POS software, which would include SKUs, prices and UPC numbers.

Efficiencies are improved as the POS system issues alerts for items that need

to be re-ordered, and show what the last purchase price for the item was - allowing for negotiation of pricing with suppliers.

Together with a wireless portable scanner, stocktaking - now required on a less frequent basis - is streamlined.

Retailers are able to count inventory at any time and reports can be generated on current inventory for the day, week or month. End-of-day sales reports can show the exact profit margin for the day, and help to assess where targets are being missed.

A POS system will also go a long way to improving service. A customer’s purchase history can be studied and retailers can get to know who their best customers are and what they buy. In addition, it also allows for more control of pricing, with adjustments easily made to margin, mark-up and price ranges.

What to look for in a POS system • •

•

•

•

18

Easy access to your inventory, issued alerts, the adding of new stock items and the management of back orders.

Ease of use that works in tandem with business functionality. Remember, you will need to train staff on how to use it.

Cost of purchase and on-going fees and backup support.

Weigh up the ROI and choose a quality scanner that allows for quick and accurate scanning, along with a smooth credit card authorisation process, so that customers do not get frustrated standing at the till.

Consider touchscreen POS options or even iPad POS systems, which eliminate the need for mouse and keyboard, save space and simplify training. iPad POS also runs faster than registers of old, and uses the accessibility of the cloud to allow for “offline mode”,

my office magazine

•

•

•

additional security, and “business as usual” should the building lose power or WiFi connection.

Choose a recognised brand of thermal receipt printers with easy-to-load paper rolls and a good warranty. This is hardware and software which is used all day, every day, and there can be no room for down time.

Ensure it allows for the addition of mobile POS. M-commerce is alive and growing rapidly, and offers digital savvy clients the flexibility of additional payment options. It can also allow for mobile “payment on delivery” with both suppliers and clients.

Ensure that your system runs on security best practises and is well secured against data breaches. This will help you become POPI compliant, and protect the client’s personal information.

n

Vol 98 - August 2014

Why join Office National?

Fast Facts to take you to the next level...

Brand Identity – National branding ensures Office National stays top of mind with your customers

Marketing – Radio, catalogues, billboards, broadsheets, e-mailers, events and even this advert you’re reading right now are all some of the exciting marketing initiatives you’ll have access to

Preferred Supplier Programme – Benefits include R632 million in buying power, rebates and excellent promotions and discounts Last years turnover R632 million!

Graphic Designing – Our In house graphics team builds all of our catalogues and promotional items ensuring quality all the way! You will also get an allocation for graphics hours and can tap into some amazing designs for your own promotions

A4 POSTER.pdf

Database – Management of all catalogue items, management of Known Value Items and live up to date pricing benefits. Leave the details up to us so that you can focus on your customers and don’t spend hours working on a database!

So step into the future with Office National today!

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

0860 13 23 83 www.on24.co.za

2

2014/01/16

3:38 PM

personability

Q&A

with Wihan Oosthuizen

Meet Wihan Oosthuizen, new CEO of Office National Africa

Please outline the structure of the company Office National has 60 members with a total of 69 outlets country-wide, including two outlets in Namibia and an outlet in Lesotho.

What is your relationship with international buying groups and how they benefit local markets?

We are part of the BPGI group. Through our membership we have managed to forge good relationships with other dealer groups worldwide. We can learn a lot from these groups as they face similar challenges to those we face on a day-to-day basis.

This way we can avoid costly mistakes that could prevent us from moving at the pace we set for ourselves.

How has the economy over the last five years changed the local industry?

The slowdown in the worldwide economy has had an impact not only on the international front but on the local economy as well. We have seen many companies consolidating operations in an effort to drive efficiencies and keep costs down. We recently made a decision to close down our wholesale arm in an effort to better align ourselves with our strategy as a marketing and buying group going forward. This has resulted in a more focused and results-driven operation. Adding value to our members is key, and if there is anything detracting us from this vital role, we need to act decisively.

Can you tell us of a new marketing campaign success story?

We recently launched our 16th edition of our Office Products Catalogue in May, and decided to generate awareness for the Office National Brand by presenting on Jacaranda FM and sponsoring one of the featured programmes, along with offering 16 Sweet Deals in celebration of this accolade. The campaign was successful from the get-go, with our members receiving calls from potential clients; our Web site registrations going up; requests for quotes increasing; and an increase in overall sales for our preferred suppliers. The campaign was a success as we achieved what we set out to, which was brand awareness for our members to generate greater sales.

20

my office magazine

Which new product categories are you developing to offer a one-stop-shop to your customers?

Office National has always been at the forefront of exploring new opportunities. Business technology has been one of our success stories, with growth figures exceeding all expectations. We will be focusing a lot of our energy in building this category going forward, with representation in all our marketing efforts this year. Another success story is our back-to-school category. More and more of our members are gearing themselves up to be the preferred supplier to schools and parents. Wellbeing and safety is another new category that is performing well. This includes ergonomic products such as back supports and air purifiers for the office. We believe that consumer trends will drive sales in these categories, as people become more and more aware of their health in the workplace.

Will you be entering any new markets to add to your basket of traditional office products offerings?

I think it is important that we focus on the categories we have introduced over the last two years and reach the targets we have set for ourselves before taking on new categories.

How do you work with your retailers/resellers to help boost sales?

We have a comprehensive marketing strategy that has yielded some very pleasing results. Our members embrace every opportunity we provide and I think this is the reason for our success as a group thus far. Having owner-driven stores really makes a difference and all the credit should go to them. Without commitment from our members, our efforts will simply be in vain.

Are you considering the route of e-commerce?

We were one of the first groups in South Africa to offer our customers the convenience of online shopping. We are currently in the process of developing a new and exciting platform that will replace our current offering. We feel that it is key for us as a dealer group to remain at the forefront of e-commerce, and we will continue to lead the industry in this field.

Vol 98 - August 2014

personability

How do you differentiate yourself in such a competitive market?

Having owner-driven stores is probably the single most important and effective weapon in our arsenal. Owner-driven stores are more effective in dealing with day-to-day operational issues that businesses face. They can react faster by having the ability to make decisions then and there, and not depend on a head office for decisions. Customer service is everything in this industry and having owner-managed stores is certainly a huge part of our success.

What can you tell us in terms of financial results and performance?

We are proud to say that as a group we enjoyed very pleasing results in the last financial year. The group grew by 21% year-on-year, and we are on track for a healthy 20,8% this year.

How do you combine private label and brands of local manufacturers?

Private label is very important to us. Together with our product selection committee, we are constantly reviewing our private label strategy and adjusting it as we move forward. A huge amount of focus is placed on managing our private label lines to ensure that we always provide our customers with quality products at affordable prices. Office National has built up a reputation for only listing the top brands in South Africa in our catalogues, and we will continue to do so as we believe in quality before anything else.

Will you consider expanding into Africa at any stage?

We see going into Africa as the next phase in our development plan. We have brought on two members in Namibia: one in Windhoek, Namib Office National; and one in Swakopmund, Coastal Office National. Together they have been fantastic brand ambassadors and we are proud to have them on board. We are currently focusing on broadening our base in South Africa and will therefore only move further into Africa once we have achieved our goals here.

www.shop-sa.co.za

Why should independents join the Office National group?

Office National gives independents a voice. We grow our business through our marketing efforts. I don’t know a single business that wouldn’t want to enjoy the same growth.

Please give us a brief overview of your role in the company?

As CEO I am responsible for the growth of the group as a whole.

New member recruitment is key to our strategy going forward, and I am very involved with our member recruitment specialist, Fanie van der Vyver.

I oversee our marketing department, as this is one of our major benefits to our members.

How have the past five years prepared you for your new role?

The last five years have been an incredible journey and I have learnt a lot from some great people in the industry and will continue to do so. One can never say you know everything. I have been involved on a management level of the company and have worked closely with my predecessor, Ryan Bidgood, from whom I have learnt a lot.

What has been the best moment in your career?

My appointment as CEO at Office National.

What is the single biggest problem affecting the industry presently?

A skilled workforce is a big challenge. Good staff is key to any successful operation.

What do you like best about the industry?

The people.

What are your predictions for the office products industry going into 2015/16?

I think we will see a major international player entering our market. Independent dealer groups will continue to outperform the larger corporates. We will see the retail chains growing stronger as they gear up for the African market.

n

my office magazine

21

We have lift off!

Office National takes the Gauteng skylines and Radio waves to new heights...

Do you want...

National Group Marketing?

Big campaigns, Big results?

Brand awareness to take your company to the next level?

Contact us today for your no obligation presentation...

Together we can reach new heights!

0860 13 23 83 www.on24.co.za

educational shifts

Technology

is transforming classrooms

ACKNOWLEDGMENT www.it-online.co.za, www.sanews.gov.za

Send your comments to editor@shop-sa. co.za. Anonymous submissions are accepted.

Our digital world moves fast.

Can your business keep up?

W

ith a clear trend in digitalising educational systems around the globe – and now realised in Gauteng with government’s e-learning drive - traditional stationery suppliers need to consider future strategies in order to remain relevant in the educational sector.

Today’s generation of school pupils are living examples of the impact of the digital wave – one that is rapidly and virally taking hold of almost every aspect of their lives. Unlike older generations, the youth are completely normalised by digital technologies. They play an omnipresent role in their private lives and they are familiar with learning, socialising and playing with IT devices. Just four years ago the iPad was released; today Gauteng has committed to spending R2billion on ICT in education.

This transformation in just one generation has serious implications for the educational sector - and the current industry’s trade revenues.

Under Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has established an Education Innovation Database that will assist it to keep track of developments and to ensure that these are considered as part of its strategic planning.

Lesufi says the Gauteng province has committed to a four-phased approach to ICT. The first phase looks to connectivity www.shop-sa.co.za

and ensuring all schools are connected, with access to voice, data and video. He says: “We are tired of pupils carrying heavy text books and all we want now is for every pupil to have a tablet or iPad. There is no reason why pupils have to share textbooks when there are e-books available.”

The second phase deals with the e-learning platform and the digitisation of material. “Every year we have textbook delivery problems,” Lesufi says. “So we are focusing on e-books and how to utilise the tools that we have.”

The third phase is in the training and development of both educators and learners. This year, the provincial department will spend about R600million on training and development, partnering with training institutions in the delivery of learning.

The fourth phase deals with the introduction of hardware to learners and teachers, with the goal of putting a device into the hands of each child in Grade 4 to Grade 9 this year. The higher grades will be rolling out next year.

GDE spokesperson Phumla Sekhonyane says that through this initiative, they hope to increase the usage of technology in schools. They would love for all pupils to have access to these gadgets, especially in the townships.

Apple alone currently offers 75 000 apps just for education, interactive books on every subject, and speeches, virtual tours and videos from experts and institutions around the world.

One businessmodel shift that is gaining steam globally is the buying and selling of services from physical products. The rising level of connectivity encourages entrepreneurship, and opportunities for business which is supported by online financial payment facilities.

Lesufi has issued an invitation to organisations and members of the public that have an interest or involvement in education and technology - or those who have ideas or information about innovations in education - to register on the GDE’s Education Innovation Database.

Selected registered parties will be invited to make presentations to the MEC.

n

Questions the office products industry should be asking: • • • • • • •

What will be the impact of a digital, e-based learning classroom?

What will happen to traditional scholastic stationery?

Who will be the most affected?

What preparation/changes need to take place?

What will the new world of education in South Africa look like?

How will technology fuel my next big wave of growth?

What catalysts are available for new markets, new products and new areas of growth and revenue?

my office magazine

23

business benefit

Time and attendance tools A company’s profitability depends on whether the workforce is reaching its full potential

H

uman resources departments and CEOs know all too well how wasted time or low productivity can cost big money within a business environment.

Records concerning when employees start and stop work; when they take lunch breaks; who is calling in sick and arriving late on a frequent basis; the type of work being performed; which areas they are allowed to access; and whether they are meeting their key performance indicators (KPIs) need to be collected. In other words, management needs to see who is applying their current skills and to what extent they are achieving desired outcomes.

For the smaller business owner who doesn’t have an HR department, it is usually left to the accountant to keep staff records and meet legal requirements regarding labour laws. This type of monitoring is rarely enough to back up a legal case, should a dispute on productivity or behavioural issues of a staff member occur.

The biggest benefit to time and attendance tracking tools is the efficient and effective overview of the human element of a work force. How this is done will depend on the type of business being run.

Time and attendance tools come in the form of paper, spread sheets, software or

24

my office magazine

time clocks. The larger the organisation, the more sophisticated a system will be and systems may be combined.

Manual systems The simplest way to track employee time and attendance is via a daily paper form which is collated at the end of the day and the month. Time stamps have been in use for over a century, and are still used today; however, there is room for human error and manipulation, such as “buddy punching’”, when one employee “punches” the time card on behalf of another employee who is late or absent from work that day.

Automated systems Today’s automated time and attendance systems have been developed to prevent known weak points, and use electronic tags, barcode badges, magnetic strip cards and finger print or iris recognition, leaving little room for abuse. Biometric systems can also play a role in related business areas. For example, laptops and till registers can use a fingerprinting scanning device which recognises a fingerprint at sign-in stage and determines, based on the employee’s identity, authorised access to data and defined levels of security access within the businesses’ IT systems.

Automated systems calculate information automatically and save on manpower and administrative hassle.

It increases security, reduces errors and employee dishonesty, and keeps information at hand for immediate access for scheduling and forecasting, compliance and policy enforcement.

It can also increase staff productivity,

by automating business processes and providing efficient operations, and effective data that assists managers to plan ahead.

Automated systems also save money. Manually collecting, managing, calculating and working on time data to process payroll can take a lot of time. Implementing a technology-based system automatically increases accuracy; guarantees a timely and accurate payroll; and keeps staff happy.

n

•

•

• •

•

• •

Characteristics of a good time and attendance system: A credible vendor – make sure the system you choose is backed by a vendor with a proven track record.

They must meet all the requirements of local government and labour laws.

The best system to suit its physical environment - a biometric system would not work in a factory setting where there is dirt and grime. Here, a computer punch system would work best.

Easy access for staff to allow them to clock in and out quickly.

A simple and easy-to-use solution so staff can understand how it works.

In this way, companies will gain staff buy-in, and minimise resistance to the process.

A system that integrates with the payroll system to avoid clerical or finger errors.

Robust reporting capabilities and an ability to grow with the business.

At least two customer references.

Vol 98 - August 2014

Introducing the HP Office, 75gsm With ColorLok® Technology - The New Standard for Better Printing™

High quality economical copy paper.

Engineered for high volume copiers.

High whiteness and premium look.

Uniform formation giving clear sharp printing results.

FSC© certified paper from responsibly managed forests.

The HP Office paper 75gsm is available at Freedom Stationery.

For more information email careline@freedomstationery.co.za or call 087 350 7860

For more information on the HP Everyday Papers range, contact JACKAROO PAPER

011 593 2221/2

info@jackaroopaper.com

Web Buttons

Make it matter.

www.parrotproducts.biz

www.chafrica.co.za

www.silveray.co.za

www.redfern.co.za

email: sales@redfern.co.za

THE LABEL SPECIALIST Stick with the best!

www.koloksa.co.za

www.nikki.co.za

www.hortors.co.za

www.rexelsa.co.za

www.bop.co.za

www.interstat.co.za

www.kmp.co.za

www.towerproducts.co.za

®

www.penflex.co.za

www.treeline.co.za

planning systems

Are you organised?

Branded planning tools, such as diaries and journals, make excellent, long-term marketing aids

O

their lives. From pocket-sized to A4, from durable covers to classic leather designs, choices in style, ageappropriateness and practicality abound.

Diaries can be found in many forms, from school diaries to a full five-year diary, and can contain a vast array of themes, such as motivational quotes on each page or gallery profiles inserted into art diaries.

A paper diary works anywhere, anytime, and offers traditionalists the pleasure of feeling paper between the fingers and making a mark on a clean page.

A more corporate alternative is the Filofax or personal organiser, which offers further personalisation with Says IBM Fellow Grady Memory only exists refills, a punch-hole ruler, Booch, a software architect for one reason from calculator and business card who works on a number of cognitive computing projects, the brain’s perspective: holder, and can be both “We often remember what prediction, to improve branded and engraved if leather. we want to remember. future behaviour.

Digital diaries are growing Furthermore, we are often – Dr David Eagleman in popularity as people turn poor judges of reality. We to smartphone technology. They offer often get not just details wrong. We integration with an address book and the sometimes misplace entire memories.” ability to share calendars with others. They Everyone has their own needs for the also leverage the affordability and ease of perfect diary planner system, and thankfully cloud-based back-ups, so that misplacing there are many options available to meet your diary doesn’t mean losing all your both current and future needs. Whether information. In addition, a digital diary offers digital, analogue or a combination of both, reminders and alerts on regularly occurring diaries, journals and calendars make for a information such as birthdays, anniversaries great corporate, client, staff or supplier gift. or appointments.

Branding such products with your logo Journals will look smart and professional, and Journals allow users to record their improve brand awareness. private thoughts without the stricture of Diaries dated pages. Perfect for free-flow thinking, Children start using their first diary in strategising, brainstorming and mapping, Grade 1 and continue to do so for much of ur busy lives require that we plan appointments and record events in order to stay on top of our business activities. Can you imagine not having a to-do list?

Impossible, most would protest. The human brain, already cluttered with facts, personal memories, emotions and dreams, can’t retain the minutia of life.

26

my office magazine

they offer personal appeal in a wide range of themes.

Calendars Both useful and beautiful, calendars often double as art within the office environment.

They are a daily reminder of a brand, and also create brand appeal. Themes include motivational quotes, images of art, wildlife or pets, or recipes, depending on the type of business and the message it wants to convey.

Academic wall planners and desk planners Branded desk planners can be a focal point of an individual’s day and provide a place where urgent dates and reminders can be recorded. Wall planners aid in mapping out annual sales targets and seasonal spikes in the sales process.

n

Consider this when ordering your next branded product: • • • • •

What format suits the company and the brand best?

Will it be themed?

What logo and branding will you use?

Will there be a call to action or a tagline?

What does the quality of paper and/or images say about your brand?

Vol 98 - August 2014

marketing materials

Corporate literature improves brand visibility Companies need printed representation of products and services

W

hether a simple flyer or a family of catalogues, corporate literature makes for good marketing materials.

Companies can place branding on items such as newsletters; product sheets and brochures; letterheads; presentation folders; specification sheets; case histories; application sheets; special event brochures; annual reports; manuals; technical bulletins; posters; product insert sheets; and labelling.

You can get the best out of your marketing materials by following a few simple rules.

In order to look professional, leave it to the professionals. Have your logo and product packaging designed by a graphic

artist. It will ensure sharp reproduction and a corporate feel.

Stay with standard size formats unless you have money to spend. Clients will also be more likely to keep it on file if it fits standard business filing equipment in the office.

Keep it simple and uncluttered, with a few choice colours. Rather be graphic heavy and avoid blocks of text. Use charts and graphs rather than tables, and bullet points and lists instead of paragraphs. Stick to two or three fonts and make sure text is easy to read.

Company literature need not be identical, but a common theme should be evident.

Images must be strong and speak of quality. Using a professional photographer will be an investment in your company.

Caption each photo you use, whether a

staff member or product.

Have a focal point on every page, otherwise it can look confused and will lose the reader’s attention.

Ensure you are communicating not just what, but why, your audience needs your product or service. Include features and their benefits.

Don’t exaggerate, boast or make any claims you can’t back up.

Include a call to action by inviting customers to try something.

Proofread documents carefully to avoid poor grammar, spelling errors or typos.

Use plain language and explain any technical jargon.

As a business grows and changes, so will its literature. Delegate one person to be in charge of planning and rolling out of all company literature.

n

scene around

Out and about in the industry Children from Judy’s Paradise get new wheelchairs In July of 2013, Data Inn Office National participated in a wheelchair challenge that was organised by the APD Limpopo (Association for Persons with Disability). The aim was to get companies to sponsor a wheelchair by sitting in one for at least four hours, or for a whole day. Participation cost R5 000.00, from which the APD bought the wheelchairs.

Following the challenge, the participants donated the chair to children nominated by the APD. Data Inn Office National donated their chair to a little boy called Abraham – unfortunately there were only 14 children out of 25 that got new wheelchairs. However, when Data Inn Office National won an HP competition, the prize came to R15 000.00, and they immediately decided to help three more of the children get wheelchairs.

Seen at the handover of the wheelchairs to children of Judy’s Paradise situated in Lebowakgomo in Limpopo is:

Front: Johnny Graham (APD public and education fundraising officer), Camilla Malatji, Thabang Duba and Jennifer Riah.

Back: Emily van Heerden (GM of Data Inn), Ennie Phoshoko (administrator at Judy’s Paradise), Nancy Phasha (teacher at Judy’s Paradise) and Isabel Bloem (sales manager of Data Inn).

Wheelchair handover to children from Judy’s Paradise

Awards symbolic of environmental and cost considerations

Alcatel-Lucent engage in corporate citizenship

At Kodak’s Europe Africa Middle East Region (EAMER) Annual Dealer Meeting held recently in Istanbul, Turkey, Antalis South Africa was awarded the Outstanding Performance of Workflow Sales in Emerging EAMER Region and the Outstanding Performance Processless Plate Sales in Emerging EAMER Region.

Ronnie Louw, regional manager Western Cape, represented the company at the awards.

“Apart from being over the moon with the two awards, they are also symbolic of the strong partnership between Kodak and Antalis.

The appetite for these products is strong locally, and it shows that South African companies are environmentally aware,” he says.

The Alcatel-Lucent South African team conducts regular employee engagement activities, and on 30 May 2014 hosted 10 Bridging for Life learners from the Ponelopele High School, through the yearly Take a Girl Child to Work campaign. Ravin Naidoo, enterprise regional director South & East Africa, delivered an inspirational talk looking at how technology can make us lose ourselves.

He defined IT as innovation and transformation. He also emphasised the importance of understanding why to choose this career path as opposed to another one, and the importance of knowing your strengths in order to build from them.

Pearl Valley golf course scores a birdie for charity Pearl Valley golf course has donated R84 000 this year to three local charities desperately in need of community support. Non-profit skills development, income generation and enterprise development organisation ENZA in Mbekweni; Franschhoek Resource & Network Co-ordination Organisation (Franco); and The Rock Foundation in Paarl each received an equal share of the combined total.

The Captain’s Charity, initiated in 2013 by Peter Richardson, Pearl Valley’s Men’s Golf captain, is an on-going fundraising initiative designed for players on the golf course. Players pay a small fine should they land a ball in the water on the iconic 13th hole – a showpiece of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf course.

28

my office magazine

Vol 98 - August 2014

international update ACKNOWLEDGMENT

FM supplies:

This article first appeared on www.opi.net and is reprinted here with kind permission.

mountain or molehill?

OPI looks at how resellers have turned to other product areas to grow business as demand for traditional office products decreases

Martin Wilde Associates’ new research study, FM Supplies: Mountain or Molehill?, is available for purchase on www.opi.net/mole.

W

ith demand for “traditional” office products (OP) in structural value decline over recent years, OP resellers have increasingly turned to other product areas, recognising the potential opportunities of being a “solutions provider” to their B2B customers, rather than just a supplier of stationery.

One of the main sectors has been FM supplies – covered by janitorial, sanitorial, breakroom, industrial, mailroom and health and safety supplies – a market that has been conservatively estimated as being approximately 30% larger than the traditional OP sector.

Certainly, OP resellers have seen significant growth in the facilities management (FM) share of their total www.shop-sa.co.za

sales. In the UK, for example, FM supplies now account for: • 10% to 15% of total OP wholesaler sales; and • Up to 10% of OP dealers’ sales on average.

Indeed, some are reporting annual increases of 8% to 10% in this category – at a time when growth has been hard to find elsewhere.

However, despite this growth, the OP industry still accounts for a very small share of the overall FM supplies market: indeed, in the UK it is believed to be less than 10%. While this could be seen as an opportunity for further growth, it also points to a potential weakness in the OP industry’s position, since there are many other powerful specialist and non-specialist channels also supplying these products – and having a potential interest in supplying OP. As a result, the OP industry needs to understand how B2B end-user buyers of these products currently behave - and how they are likely to behave in future.

Key questions include: Who buys these products?

How many FM product categories do they purchase?

• How much do they spend on these products annually?

• What other products do they buy? Do they also buy OP items?

• Where do they currently buy these products from, and on what basis are suppliers selected?

• Do they buy FM supplies from OP resellers? What share of their purchases do these account for, currently?

• What barriers are preventing the use of OP resellers, and what would encourage them to purchase FM supplies from them in future?

• What are their service requirements?

• How and where do buyers search for products?

• Which brands are most important?

• How acceptable are private label products?

• How else will the purchasing of these products change in future?

• •

n

my office magazine

29

PET packaging

A packaging plus PET is the smart choice to protect products

P

ackaging is an essential part of our modern lives and today’s smart designs have produced packaging that optimises space, loading and handling, energy efficiency, and the preservation, protection and security of products being consumed.

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is used predominantly in the food and beverage industry as it is water-resistant and can withstand freezer and oven temperatures.

It is also used in the manufacture of stationery fabrication because it is easily cut, embossed, laminated and heat sealed to make albums, file folders and packaging boxes for stationery, toys, tools, gifts and other goods. It is also used for merchandise display as, according to

30

my office magazine

South African company Trioplastics, it can withstand a special folding process without producing a white edge.

Rigid and lightweight, it is impact resistant and can be recycled or safely incinerated as it is composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, with only trace amounts of catalyst elements and no sulphur.

PET is growing rapidly in popularity, not only due to its environmental considerations, but also because it is competitively priced and lightweight to transport. According to Mpact, the leading South African producer of award-winning wine bottles, PET offers supply chain benefits too because it is up to eight times lighter than a traditional glass bottle and suitable for airline use. This means that up to 36% more produce can be transported from the manufacturing plant to the customer as the bottles require substantially less space and trucks can be fully loaded. Heavier packaging options are often constrained by road weight limitations, leading to inefficient transportation and associated costs.

Coca Cola South Africa has taken

PET a step further with its breakthrough PlantBottle package made with up to 30% renewable materials from plants.

PlantBottle packaging is made by converting natural sugars found in plants into the ingredients for making PET plastic. PlantBottle packaging has the same performance as other PET bottles, is fully recyclable in existing programmes and can be used to make new bottles or a wide variety of other products made from recycled PET. Having distributed more than 5-billion PlantBottle packages in more than 25 countries worldwide, by 2020 Coca Cola plans to use PlantBottle packaging for all of its PET plastic bottles.

Coca Cola is proud of the fact that their PlantBottle packaging reduces dependence on fossil fuels when compared with traditional PET plastic, and since its launch has eliminated the equivalent of more than 140 000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from PET plastic bottles - equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from burning more than 328 000 barrels of oil.

n

Vol 98 - August 2014

furniture

Light waves ahead LEDs meet a range of needs in the home and office

T

he term LED stands for light-emitting diode and has revolutionised energy-efficient lighting.

Small, effective and solid, the bulbs can be stand alone or grouped into clusters with diffuser lenses and come in a variety of styles from miniature to high power, or strips, to suit a variety of applications both inside and out. From a handheld torch to digital billboards and the illumination of an entire skyscraper size building, LEDs are used to beautify, create awareness, and provide luminosity.

Introduced around 1962, early LED devices were low intensity lights which were first used in equipment devices such as telephone answering machines and

switchboards to denote that they were powered up or had a message waiting.

Modern LEDs have advanced and are brighter and available across a number of wavelengths, including visible, ultraviolet and infrared, broadening its application across industries. Today LEDs have developed to allow for text, video displays and sensors with a life expectancy of up to 30 times longer than a typical incandescent light bulb. This is also due to their solid construction – they do not have a filament, making their performance constant and robust.

Although initially more expensive, the cost of LED lighting is quickly recouped due to their energy efficiency. Whether looking for a simple desk lamp to marketing a brand or creating atmosphere at an event, LED is the modern answer to targeted and effective lighting options.

LED lights benefit work environments LED technology provides the highest ROI (return on investment) when compared to less efficient and less sustainable alternatives.

In work and retail environments, lighting can comprise as much as 50% of the electricity bill. LED lighting technology offers an increased lifetime of the bulb as well as lowered electricity consumption.

LED offers better visibility due to its natural, white luminescence and crisp, clear light which closely imitates natural

daylight. This is noticeable outdoors too where LED headlights and signage provide superior visibility in bad weather conditions and at dusk.

LED lights do not flicker as can the older lighting technologies, thereby eliminating human side effects such as headaches, fatigue and eye strain.

LED lighting is free of UV emissions and does no damage with its extended use, such as premature aging, skin cancer or headaches, as CFLs do.

LED lights are entirely free of mercury a toxic substance found in both incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs.

LED lighting won’t create distractions in work environments with the humming noises often emitted by fluorescent lighting.

It offers unmatched durability and longevity as a lighting source, which is also kind to the Earth.

n

www.shop-sa.co.za

my office magazine

31

crime alert

Your keystrokes can cost you Cybercriminals are using keyloggers to gain access to valuable information

T

imes Live recently reported that a cybercriminal syndicate used keylogging software to steal millions of rand from the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC’s) bank account.

The syndicate, made up of a husband and wife pair and at least three other people, allegedly spent R8,7-million at shopping centres across Gauteng before being arrested.

Times Live quoted police investigators as saying the syndicate was able to steal the money after “rogue insiders” at RTMC installed keylogging hardware on computers used for Internet banking.

The hardware gave the criminals access to usernames and passwords, which they were then able to use to access the corporation’s FNB account.

The newspaper named the pair suspected to be behind the scheme as Darius and Janene Rhoda.

Co-accused Michael Tsegofatso Kekana, Kagiso Matsimela and Ishmael Mathabathe Sathekge were also arrested. All five suspects were released on R2 000.00 bail each.

What is a keylogger?

A keylogger is a tool that captures and records a user’s keystrokes. It can record instant messages, e-mails, passwords and

any other information you type. Keyloggers can be hardware- or software-based.

One common example of keylogging hardware is a small, battery-sized device that connects between the keyboard and the computer. The device resembles an ordinary keyboard plug, so it is relatively easy to hide in plain sight.

As the user types, the device collects each keystroke and saves it as text on its hard drive. The person who installed the keylogger then returns and physically removes the device in order to access the information.

Another type of keylogging hardware is the wireless keyboard sniffer. Wireless keyboards have become very common for their convenience and range of up to 100m.

A hacker can design hardware to sniff data sent from a wireless keyboard to the receiver, because the encryption can easily be cracked.

Yet another type is firmware-based. The firmware on the keyboard and your machine is used to handle keystroke events, and can be hacked to record keystrokes as they are processed.

A software keylogger can be downloaded and installed as a program running in the background. Software keyloggers may also be embedded in spyware, transmitting your information to an unknown third party over the Internet.

Several types of software-based keyloggers exist. With a core OS-based keylogger, the malicious software resides in

the core of your operating system. Whenever you press a key, the core processes it, and a core OS-based keylogger can tap into this processing and log the input. The keylogger based on this approach can be embedded in the keyboard drivers. These types of keyloggers are extremely powerful as they are difficult to detect and remove without harming the drivers and causing your computer to malfunction.

A hook-based keylogger hooks itself into an application that an operating system provides and simply records the keystrokes.

There are also browser-based keyloggers, which are able to bypass https encryption. When you click a “submit” button on a Web page or click “send” on an e-mail, text is transferred. These keyloggers record the text before it is passed over the Internet.

For further information on cybercrime in South Africa visit www.cybercrime.org.za.

n

Stadex Stationery was broken into in the early hours of Monday 4 August 2014.

Mainly toner cartridges, calculators and Parker ballpoint pens were stolen.

If anyone is offered these items especially laser toners with the numbers Q2612AD, CF280A, CE285A and CE505A; or Sharp CS2194 H/D calculators - please contact Baboo Mayet on 082 569 4246 immediately. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

PLATINUM SPONSORS:

GOLD SPONSORS:

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 AT info@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.

32

my office magazine

Vol 98 - August 2014

future trends ACKNOWLEDGMENT file.firstdata.com

The coming of age of the digital wallet Devices such as mobile phones and tablets are set to become personalised, digital wallets capable of making contactless payments

D

igital wallets are already available from PayPal, Google and Amazon, making it possible to make digital payments online. The major financial institutions are hot on their heels, developing their own cardless transaction technology, leaving no doubt that digital wallets for consumers and businesses will soon become useful, popular and the way of the future. It is simply a matter of time before consumers decide it’s something they cannot live without.

MasterCard and Visa provide a way to integrate an existing card into wallets, but have not found a way to remove the card completely. American Express seems focused on removing its credit card business entirely. At a recent event on the future of retail, Leslie Berland, American Express senior vice-president of Digital Partnerships and Development, www.shop-sa.co.za

said: “What we are hyper-focused on is how do we merge those two things [digital payments and digital wallets].

Especially as one day the physical card will disappear.”

A digital wallet enables the purchase of items online or at a physical store with a computer or smartphone, where an individual’s bank account is directly linked and able to transfer personal information and funds securely and accurately to a merchant’s terminal wirelessly via nearfield communication (NFC).

As the relevant technology and apps develop rapidly, the divide between “early adopters” (gadget lovers) and what will be the “typical” consumer is rapidly shrinking – or rather, expanding into universal commerce; one that is integrated, personalised, secure, open and smart.

Consumers themselves are demanding a more integrated buying experience that is quick, consistent, secure and available wherever they happen to be, at any time and through any type of device. The retail environment and SME market will similarly see the benefits in increased profits, lower costs and the simplification of financial processing in a complex world.

Mobile devices represent a new channel for merchants and financial institutions to communicate with their customers and send branded applications (like the Starbucks Card Mobile application) that their customers can freely download. And because every active mobile device is tied to a person with unique shopping preferences, needs and desires, customer communications can become highly personalised.

Retailers must prepare for the cost of upgrading point of sale card reader equipment to that of NFC technology in the not so distant future, so that contactless payment can be accepted.

What might ease the pain of the outlay is the gain to be had: targeted marketing of personalised offers and promotions directly to customers; synchronisation of loyalty cards and realtime rewards; and balance and redemption capabilities.

With even kindergarten children already comfortable with learning via digital technologies, business runs the risk of losing customers – especially the current mobile-centric under-30s - if they ignore the opportunities offered and fail to make the necessary preparations for digital’s future wave.

n

my office magazine

33

industry news

Industry news and updates Ricoh SA launches world’s first battery-powered MFP Ricoh SA has launched the world’s first battery-powered multi-function Geljet printer, which includes features for printing, scanning, copying and faxing, as well as wireless connectivity.

The SG 3120B SFNw can be used in large warehouses, at outdoor events, by relief agencies in remote areas, or for any other mobile function.

“The battery lasts for 500 copies or 1 000 prints, and it also runs on external power if that’s available,” says Chris de Beer, head of product marketing at Ricoh SA. “The long battery life makes it extremely useful and it still prints at 20 pages per minute (ppm) in black and white and 14ppm in colour, so it’s no slouch.”

The battery-powered device also has an LED light in the output tray so it can be used in low light conditions, and it has a USB slot that can be used to recharge a smart device in an emergency. Additional batteries are also available with extra chargers if required, which extends the usefulness even further.

It also has a 100-sheet bypass tray and an additional 250-sheet paper tray, with a total capacity of 600 sheets. The Geljet ink is a fast-drying and viscous pigment-based liquid gel, which means duplex printing is quick.

“It’s a full function MFP with low power consumption and therefore a very useful battery life that can be used throughout the day and charged overnight,” says De Beer.

Rexel honours Mandela Day In the spirit of Mandela Day in July, Rexel donated 67 meals to the Christway Social and Religious Centre in Turffontein. The little ones were delighted with their KFC meal.

In our latest issue, Vol. 98 July 2014, we published information about the Canon SA Expo taking place annually in Johannesburg.

We would like to inform our readers that the information was published prematurely, and the expo has not as yet been confirmed by Canon.

We will keep you updated on any Canon SA news.

For more information about Canon and its product offering, please visit www.canon.co.za or follow them on Facebook: CanonSA.

34

my office magazine

Insurance company shows forward-thinking office design

In line with a soon-to-be-unveiled, large-scale repositioning of its corporate brand, Regent Insurance has pioneered an innovatively designed regional office in KwaZulu-Natal that will serve as the blueprint for all the company’s offices going forward.

Regent’s new Umhlanga Ridge premises constitute one of the first steps the company has taken towards implementing its new identity. The office is suitably located in Mayfair Place, a recent development by Growth Point that is in close proximity to the Gateway shopping complex. Created by Inhouse Brand Architects, its design successfully translates Regent’s upgraded brand identity into the built environment through the use of exciting and carefully considered materials and clever design details.

Regent’s group head: Marketing & Communications, Michelle Ashen-Abrahams, appointed Inhouse for the company’s design expertise and past successes in translating what is usually a two-dimensional corporate identity into three dimensions.

“Having worked with Inhouse on previous projects, it was an easy choice as to who would bring our brand to life in a built corporate environment,” says Ashen-Abrahams. “Inhouse understand brand and marketing concepts like an advertising agency, execute with humanism in mind and think about our customers when they collaborate with all our key stakeholders from marketing and strategy to innovation and facilities.”

Inhouse’s experience includes creating acclaimed corporate offices for the likes of Union Swiss, Media 24, Old Mutual, Santam, Ogilvy and numerous others.

“This is more than just an interior job,” Ashen-Abrahams explained. “This execution for us is about space-efficiency and effective long term cost management, as well as executing our brand strategy in a different way and creating a space our employees can proudly call their corporate home.“

Please be advised that Inovocom has terminated the Office Club membership of Stationery City (formally known as City Stationers) and Green Lantern Consulting with immediate effect. Office Tech resigned from the Office Club group effective 31 May 2014. Kindly ensure that any special pricing structures, incentives or deals granted due to membership are withdrawn with immediate effect.

Office Club welcomes Office Supplies Centre in Mbabane, Swaziland; and Desktop Holdings in Gaborone, Botswana.

Vol 98 - August 2014

industry news BOSS Federation announces new chairman The 109th AGM of the BOSS Federation took place on 4 June 2014 at Stationers’ Hall, London. Following the traditional twoyear tenure as BOSS chairman, Alan Ball has stepped down from the BOSS Board.

Sean Starkey, MD of Durable UK and vice-chairman of the BOSS Federation for the last 12 months, has been appointed as BOSS chairman.

BOSS CEO, Michael Gardner, says, “I am delighted to be working with Sean and

the BOSS board over the next two years to continue the excellent work the Federation is doing on behalf of the industry.”

Starkey says, “I am delighted to take on the chairmanship of our fine Federation and thank the board and our members for their confidence in me. I aim to serve with energy and drive and welcome the opportunity to work with such a high quality board.”

The BOSS board thanks Ball for his contribution to the industry and welcomes Starkey as the new chairman.

Over 100 guests from all sectors of the office products industry attended the day which kicked off with an invitation-only CEO Conference hosted by ex-Olympic rower and corporate team development specialist, Steve Turner.

Turner guided delegates through the four disciplines of a healthy organisation and stressed the importance of creating clarity.

Konica Minolta South Africa upskills and empowers

New appointment to Point’s national team

Konica Minolta’s active Skills Development programme includes a dedicated arm focusing specifically on learnership programmes, particularly aimed at black female learners.

Starting in May 2012, Konica Minolta South Africa has run a year-long technical learnership programmes on IT Technical Support and IT System Support.

These courses have been NQF aligned and MICT (Media Information and Communication Technologies) SETA approved.

Of the 11 learners that have completed these programmes, seven have found permanent employment within the company, its branches and dealerships, whilst others have been taken on by similar businesses in the IT industry.

The recently launched third Technical Learnership programme, also on IT Technical Support, currently has six black female participants.

Laetitia Coetzer, special projects manager at Konica Minolta South Africa explains: “All students on Konica Minolta South Africa’s Technical Learnership programme were unemployed prior to commencing the course; but had some previous technical experience, along with a minimum level three National Technical Certificate (NTC).”

In May 2013, the company launched a sales and marketing learnership programme, which is the first of its kind in South Africa, registered with the Services SETA and is NQF level 4 aligned.

“We had seven black female learners on the first sales and marketing course, with four finding positions within Konica Minolta South Africa’s branch network.

“The recruitment process is currently underway to source 10 suitable applicants for this year’s learnership programme, due to commence in mid June 2014. All students on this course are unemployed school leavers, who have attained a minimum 50% grade in mathematics in their Matric examinations.” These cutting edge programmes have resulted in the company’s jump from a broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) rating of Level 4 to Level 3. “For Konica Minolta South Africa, these learnership programmes and their B-BBEE contribution are about more than just bragging rights; they are about empowerment and improving the lives of individuals and communities in South Africa,” concludes Coetzer.

Khosi Jonas has been appointed as customer relationship manager at Point – South Africa’s leading print and marketing materials procurement firm.

“My experience in client relationship management is in the branding and design space,” Jonas explains. “I have had the privilege of working on leading local and global brands and, through a key focus on building mutually beneficial relationships, I was able to contribute to sustainable brands.”

She explains that her experience brings a different perspective to client relationships within the procurement space.

“Procurement used to be seen as an add-on service to business, but it is slowly attaining the same value and importance in boardrooms as any core business function.

However, the shift in perception around the value that procurement brings to business, in a climate that has major economic challenges, is not always as quick as it should be,” says Jonas.

Jonas’ role will specifically focus on client engagements, measurements of Point’s interaction and reporting on Point’s progress - as well as driving a broader understanding around the Point offering. The aim of her role will include long-term sustainable partnerships, maintaining relevance, and achieving buy-in and compliance across the business to meet mutual goals.

“I believe our offering is unmatched in our market. Our buying power is enviable, our supplier database extensive, and our experience impressive; but most importantly, we ensure relevance to our clients’ needs and development, and grow improvement in our supplier base. We focus on mutually beneficial relationships and ensure transparency in all our dealings with clients,” she says.

Jonas adds that Point focuses on being client-centric at all levels - from its staff to its suppliers - and ensures that the bringing together of all relationship-based engagements is aligned to its business strategy. “We believe that putting the customer at the centre of all our engagements yields sustainable dividends.”

www.shop-sa.co.za

n

my office magazine

35

eco news

The green ambassadors Canon ranks on Interbrand’s Best Global Green Brands list Canon, world-leader in imaging solutions, has risen to 26th place on the latest Interbrand Best Global Green Brands list, up from 30th place in 2013.

The Interbrand report highlights Canon’s implementation of sustainable practices in 2012, including reducing CO2 emissions over entire product life cycles by nearly three times the company’s target, and collecting 310 000 tonnes of used toner cartridges globally since 1990, consequently reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 450 000 tonnes and avoiding the need for 201 000 tonnes of new resources.

The annual Interbrand Best Global Green Brands report is based on consumer research designed to examine the gap that exists between a brand’s environmental performance and consumers’ perceptions of that performance.

Susan Stuart, sustainability director, Canon Europe, Middle East and Africa, says: “Our commitment to sustainability helps us add value to customers in meeting their

own business and sustainability goals. It connects us to society by enabling people to capture, document and record the world around them.”

Locally, over 250 needy residents in the communities of Orange Farm, Khatorus and New Jerusalem will soon benefit from the free, unlimited and clean power of the sun to light up their homes, thanks to the CANON Segametsi SOLAR Light Project 2014. This is a joint initiative between Canon South Africa and the non-profit organisation, Segametsi Hope SA. Canon has sponsored R250 000 worth of solar lighting units to the initiative, which forms part of the Lighting Rural Africa Project that hopes to install solar lighting solution into 3-million households in Africa.

“South Africa is blessed with abundant sunshine which is a clean, unlimited and free source of energy. Through this programme we can help needy households harness the sun’s energy to power the lights in their homes, while cutting down on their

energy costs,” says Canon SA’s marketing manager, Michelle Janse van Vuuren.

The CANON Segametsi SOLAR Light Project 2014 is a natural extension to Canon’s existing corporate social upliftment programme.

Itec Innovate wins green award for second year running Cape Town-based Itec Innovate has been named as the Itec and impactChoice Platinum Green Dealer of 2013, making them the winner of this coveted award for the second year running.

This award is based on the investment and effort Itec dealers make towards promoting environmental responsibility and selling greener solutions into its client base.

The runners-up were Itec Boland (gold), Itec

South (silver) and Itec Corporate Systems (bronze).

The Itec and impactChoice Green Dealer Awards, open to Itec dealers countrywide, aims to reward Itec group dealers and franchises for educating staff about environmental sustainability, launching programmes to offset their own carbon emissions, and promoting greener technology practices among their clients.

Itec has an exclusive agreement with impactChoice for its dealers to offer clients a practical and transparent programme that will help clients neutralise the environmental impact of their printers and copiers in a simple, auditable and sustainable manner.

The partnership, which started in mid2010, already has over 800 Itec customers electing to offset their monthly office automation carbon emissions. Itec is the first office automation solutions provider in South Africa to offer sustainability solutions as a value-added service to clients.

Says Ryan Miles, executive director of Itec Shared Services, “We are very pleased that 12 of our dealers have bought wholeheartedly into Itec Group’s efforts to help clients measure and mitigate their carbon footprint, as well as become more environmentally sustainable.”

Carbon offsetting is today a critical part of a sound office automation business solution.

eco news

Going green will save you money As South Africa’s energy crisis worsens, serious hikes in electricity rates are already a reality for South Africans and further significant increases are guaranteed. The road to green can often seem complex and confusing, and with so many different technologies and suppliers, consumers are often at a loss as to the right path to take.

“Becoming more energy efficient is all about having a plan in place. To help you, One Energy provides a useful and practical list of what you can do to better manage your energy usage, and take control of costs and supply, and at the

same time, make a very real contribution to lowering your environmental impact.

We provide solutions for residential, commercial and industrial customers by using technologies including solar geysers, heat pumps, LED lighting and photovoltaic systems for electricity generation. We also provide monthly repayment plans for customers who don’t have the capital upfront and in 99% of the cases we find that the savings on electricity costs actually finances the monthly repayment for the system,” explains Teresa Kok of One Energy.

Top tips to reduce energy usage at home: The geyser is an electricity guzzler Around 40% to 50% of your total electricity bill goes towards heating your water. Installing a heat pump or solar water geyser can dramatically reduce your energy consumption and make a significant contribution to “greening” your home.

Reduce your water usage Achieve savings by installing water saving, low-flow shower heads and taps.

They work by aerating the water, which means less water out your geyser and ultimately less water to reheat.

See the light LEDs use much less power (watts) per unit of light generated (lumens) than incandescents and CFLs. LED lighting is by far the superior choice.

Good quality LED lamps come with five-year warranties, and contain none of the highly toxic mercury found in CFLs. LED lights also have the lowest CO2 emissions. Cheap LED products are flooding the market, so be sure to use reputable brands.

Invest in star-rated appliances Large and small appliances, such as the dishwasher, washing machine, oven, toaster and kettle, can be major home energy culprits. If your appliances are 10 years old, chances are they are costing you a lot more to operate than you realise. You can save significant energy by switching to newer models that are “energy star rated”. You can also see energy savings from appliances by unplugging them.

And beware of vampire appliances – those devices that plug into the wall, like your TV, DVD player, chargers that actually keep using energy even when they are in the off position, because they don’t actually turn off. Instead, they go into “standby mode,” which constantly uses energy, even in the “off” position.

Switch these devices off at the plug.

Generate your own electricity Photovoltaic (PV) systems use solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity.

A system is made up of one or more PV panels, a DC/AC power converter (also

known as an inverter), a racking system that holds the solar panels, electrical interconnections, and mounting for other components. You’re basically replacing a portion of your roof tiles with solar panels that tie into your home electricity system to generate some or all of the power.

Whatever configuration you go with, it is essential to consult with an expert in this regard.

Insulate intelligently One of the areas where many buildings are lacking is in the area of insulation.

Add earth-friendly insulation to your walls and in your ceilings. Check your home for “leaks” at the same time.

Monitor your usage One of the best ways to manage your energy usage is to figure out where you’re using the most power and when. A home energy audit from One Energy will put that knowledge at your fingertips.

For more information call One Energy on (011) 894 2209, or visit www. oneenergy.co.za/boksburg.

product showcase

REXEL COLOURHIDE NOTEBOOKS Rexel’s new Colourhide Notebooks come in a variety of sizes and exciting colours including lime, purple, pink, black and blue: • Pocket notebooks are spiral bound with 96 pages. Size 112mm x 77m • A5 spiral notebooks are convenient with 200 perforated pages (100 sheets) and a 2 year calendar.

• A4 spiral notebooks are made up of 120 (60 sheets) perforated pages and include a 2 year calendar and tear out memory joggers. Feint ruled.

Tel: (011) 226 3300 Fax: (011) 837 9489 Web: www.rexelsa.co.za

REXEL COLOURHIDE A4 LECTURE BOOK Rexel’s Colourhide A4 Lecture books have 140 pages (70 sheets) and include a 2 year calendar with tear out memory joggers and drawing paper. Sheets are perforated and feint ruled. 2 storage pockets and pen holder included. Available in black, pink and blue.

Tel: (011) 226 3300 Fax: (011) 837 9489 Web: www.rexelsa.co.za

REXEL A4 COLOURHIDE SKETCH BOOKS Rexel’s Colourhide range also includes A4 Sketch books which comprise of 60 perforated pages made from acid free cartridge paper. Available in blue and pink. Spiral bound to keep your works of art secure and longer lasting!

Tel: (011) 226 3300 Fax: (011) 837 9489 Web: www.rexelsa.co.za

GSX8CD - GEHA MEDIUM LEVEL OFFICE SHREDDER • • • • • • •

Feeds in up to 60 sheets automatically Shreds CDs and credit cards Viewing window for charging level Lockable rolls Innovative auto-feed technology (automatic paper feeder) Automatic start/stop function and reverse function 2 years warranty

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

38

my office magazine

Vol 98 - August 2014

product showcase

PHILIPS DVT7000 – OPTIMIZED FOR MEETINGS The Voice Tracer meeting recorder 7000 captures every meeting in excellent and noise-free audio quality. The recorder also comes with a wireless remote control for convenient recording. Just put the 360° meeting microphones on the table, push record on the remote control and capture all voices from every angle. Perfect for disciplinary hearings and small company meetings.

Tel: (011) 887 1056 E-mail: info@speech.co.za Web: www.speech.co.za

DAS Since 1968, Das has been the world’s most famous and widely used self-hardening modelling material. It is mineral-based and gluten-free, and does not need to be fired, as it hardens when exposed to air. It is easy to polish and allows you to create solid, resilient objects that can be personalised and decorated to your liking using paints or fibre pens. It is particularly versatile and can be used to coat a wide range of different surfaces, such as wood, plastic, metal, glass, etc. It does not leave stains and washes off hands with water. It also can be machine-washed from most clothes at the 40°C setting. Available in white or terracotta. Comes in aluminium packs, which help it to keep its freshness for a long time, with a resealable tab on the back.

E-mail: sales@filacartorama.co.za Web: www.filacartorama.co.za

FILA CARTORAMA SA (PTY) Ltd

LYRA GROOVE Large ergonomic triangular graphite pencil. Medium hardness lead. Ideal for those making their first foray into writing. Body, 17.5 cm long, is triangular in cross-section, with no added synthetic substances. Natural anti-slip grip makes it easy to hold. Anti-slip grips on sides for the thumb, index finger and middle finger, giving you extra support and making the pencil easy to hold, even after you have sharpened it. Extra-resistant, anti-break, long-lasting lead. Space to write your name.

E-mail: sales@filacartorama.co.za Web: www.filacartorama.co.za

FILA CARTORAMA SA (PTY) Ltd

MY OFFICE PRODUCT SHOWCASE To showcase your products here, call Wendy Dancer on (011) 781 0370 for pricing and availability.

w w w . s h o p - s a . c o . z a

my office magazine

39

SOURCE PRODUCTS HERE A ADDING MACHINE, POINT OF SALE AND MACHINE ROLLS PaperGeni Rotunda ADHESIVES, GLUES AND SPRAYS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Correction Fluid, Glue sticks & Super Glue Palm Stationery Manufacturers - New Wave Freedom Stationery - Marlin ADHESIVE NOTES 3M SA PTY Ltd - Post-it ® 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

40

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 Topmark - School Bags, Laptop Bags, Pencil Cases, Sports Bags, Luggage BATTERIES Nikki Distributors - Duracell Batteries Nikki Distributors - Energizer Batteries BIN RANGE Krost Office Products BINDING ACCESSORIES AZ Trading - Plastic Comb, Wire, Thermal & Covers Beswick Office Products - Fellowes CTP Donau - Donau files and slide binders, A4 poster board Parrot Products - Parrot Comb Binding Machines

Rexel Office Products - Rexel and GBC W Vos & Co - Renz covers & combs, ringwire

BINDING MACHINES AZ Trading - DSB, Neorel Beswick Office Products - Fellowes D.O.S - Prima, DSB Parrot Products - Parrot Comb Binding Machines Rexel Office Products - GBC and Rexel ranges W Vos & Company - Renz.

BOARDS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - BIC Velleda School Whiteboards CTP Stationery - Flip Chart Pads Hortors Stationery - Legal Notices i.e. Basic Conditions & OSH Act and Leave and Absence Chart Freedom Stationery - Marlin 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 BOOKS AND PADS BSC Stationery - Treeline 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 Beswick Office Products - Bankers Box to 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), Cleansui (water filters and refills) 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 CLIPS, FASTENERS AND PINS Freedom Stationery - Marlin Grip Binders - Essentials, Stephens, Penguin Tidy Files - Filing solution

Effortless binding with perfect results CombBind 100

CombBind 110

CombBind C200

CombBind C210

buyers’ guide

See page 46 for contact details DIARIES, PLANNERS AND ORGANISERS

COLOURING BOOKS Empire Toy & Stationery - Empire books Freedom Stationery - Marlin Palm Stationery Manufacturers - New Wave COMPUTER ACCESSORIES Beswick Office Products - Fellowes Kolok - Verbatim, Kenton Krost Office Products Pyrotec - Tower Inkjet-laser labels, business cards and photo paper COMPUTER CLEANING Beswick Office Products - Fellowes Kolok - ComputerCare Pyrotec - Tower computer cleaning range COMPUTER CONSUMABLES CTP Stationery - Full range of DONAU files KMP - for computer consumables Kolok Unlimited - 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 Unlimited - 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

CTP Stationery - CTP Brand Hortors Stationery - Legal diaries Rexel Office Products - NOBO planners, refills

F

and T-card kits, Quartet Monthly/Weekly

FAX ROLL MANUFACTURERS

planner

Rotunda

South African Diaries - For all your diary FILES AND FILING

needs

African Filing Systems - Top retrieval filing DICTATION - TRANSCRIPTION

and arching products

Olympus Audio S.A - Digital Voice Recorders,

BSC Stationery - Treeline, Mobifile

Transcription Kits and Accessories.

CTP Stationery - Full range of quality DONAU

Powerhouse Dictation for Philips - Dictation,

brand

transcription, meeting recording, mini-tapes,

Flip File - Executive display files, expanding

foot pedals, accessories

files, Document folders, dividers Freedom Stationery - Edo / Unifile

DRAUGHTING AND DRAWING OFFICE SUPPLIES

Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Lever arch,

CTP Stationery - A4 Poster Boards

Ringbinder files, Manilla flat folders Grafton/Star

E

Kolok - Geha (Binding machines)

EMBOSSERS AND ENGRAVING

document file, clip file and presentation file

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Ideal

Rexel Office Products - Prima and Rexel

& Trodat Embossers (pocket, desk and

ranges

electronic), Trotec

Specialised Filing Systems - Top Retrieval,

Palm Stationery Manufacturers - leaver arch, ring binder files, manilla flat folders.

Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd. - Display book Vivid,

41

Archive and Off-Site ENVELOPES AND MAILING

Tidy Files - Filing solutions

BSC Stationery - Leo Envelopes CTP Stationery - Commercial envelopes

FOLDERS

Global Envelopes - CelloWrapped, peel+seal

CTP Stationery - DONAU Brand

and FullGum

Freedom Stationery - Marlin

Grafton/Star

Palm Stationery Manufacturers - View files,

KZN Envelopes

polypropylene & board folders

Merpak Envelopes - Complete range of quality

Tidy Files - Specialised

envelopes

D

FORMS - LEGAL AND MISCELLANEOUS

Envelopes, Peel and Seal

Hortors Stationery - complete range of custom,

PaperGeni

company, miscellaneous, magisterial, etc.

RBE - Papersmart

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

CombBind C250 Pro

Narayan Wholesaler - Wholesaler of Quality

WireBind W20

ERASERS & ERASING / CORRECTION FLUIDS

FURNITURE - OFFICE & SCHOLASTIC

BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Tippex tape,

Krost Office Products - accessories

bottle and Pen

New Era Office cc - Specialising in all office

Freedom Stationery - Marlin

furniture desks, chairs, credenzas, boardroom

Max Frank - Uni

tables, etc

Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Tape/Erasers

Reboni Furniture Group - Manufacturing and

Pentel S.A (PTY) LTD - Hi-Polymer and Ain

distribution of educational and office furniture

eraser, correction tape and pens

Specialised Filing Systems - Cabinets,

Power Stationery - Powerstar

Shelving and Hi-Density

MultiBind 230 Comb & Wire

www.rexelsa.co.za ThermaBind T400

SOURCE PRODUCTS HERE G

L

GUILLOTINES AND TRIMMERS AZ Trading - DSB, Kobra Beswick Office Products - Fellowes, Vivid Rexel Office Products - SmartCut and ClassicCut W Vos & Co - Ideal

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 Specialised Filing Systems - Filing Tidy Files - Filing solutions

I

42

INDEX TABBING AND DIVIDERS 3M SA - Post-it flags, Flag pen and highlighter 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 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.

INTER-SCREWS / BINDING SCREWS Ledger Systems - Sole suppliers of Inter screws

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

LABELLING MACHINES Kemtek Imaging Systems - Distributor of Brother P-Touch Labelling System LAMINATING MACHINES AZ Trading - DSB, Speedlam, Lamiace Beswick Office Products - Fellowes Kolok - GEHA and Galaxy Parrot Products - Parrot A4 and A3 Laminators Rexel Office Products - GBC and Rexel ranges W Vos & Co - PEAK & Renz.

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

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 Ledger Systems - Falcon products

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 Beswick Office Products - Fellowes Back/ Wrist/Foot support; Notebook riser stand 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

OFFICE FURNITURE IXAXA Office Furniture - Office furniture (Desks and Chairs) from reception to CEO’S office

Simply faster to the finish...

TM

Introducing the new line of Fusion Laminators

Fusion 1000L

Fusion 1100L

Fusion 3000L

buyers’ guide

See page 46 for contact details

OVERHEAD PROJECTION AND ACCESSORIES 3M SA (Pty) Ltd. - Overhead film, transparency, multimedia Kolok - Penguin Transparencies Max Frank - Artline Parrot Products - Data Projectors, OHPs, screens and rear projection film Penflex - Penflex Overhead projector pens Rexel Office Products - NOBO

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

P PACKAGING Merpak Envelopes - Postsafe packaging range PAPER AND BOARD Antalis South Africa - Office paper and packaging solutions CTP Stationery - DONAU A4 poster boards Empire Toy & Stationery - Butterfly paper Freedom Stationery Grafton/Star Kolok Unlimited - 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 W. Vos & Co - Ideal 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

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

PRINTING Olivetti Imports - Distributors of Multifunctional Printers / Copiers Star Stationers and Printers Kolok - Epson, Lexmark (Hardware), Hp Printers, Oki (Hardware) PRINTER CONSUMABLES Impression Management - Prinart, Logic, Q-Ink, Sanchi, Oliser and ATIKMP - 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) 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 Beswick Office Products - Kangaro Freedom Stationery - Marlin Krost Office Products Parrot Products - Parrot range of punches Power Stationery - Powerstar Rexel Office Products - Rexel

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 POINT OF SALE PRINTER ROLLS PaperGeni Rotunda

R RUBBER STAMPS Max Frank - Schachihata X Stampers Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co. - Trodat RUBBER STAMP MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - AZ Liquid polymer, TROTEC laser engraver, flash system

www.rexelsa.co.za Fusion 3100L

Fusion 5000L

Fusion 5100L

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

Kolok - GEHA entry level and high-end shredders Nikki Distributors - Nikki shredders Parrot Products - Parrot range of value shredders Rexel Office Products - Rexel range W Vos & Co - Ideal.

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

SPECIALISED STATIONERY AND BOOKBINDING Ledger Systems - Law reports and periodicals

SHREDDERS AND ACCESSORIES AZ Trading - DSB, Kobra, Roto, Repairs to all makes Beswick Office Products - Fellowes D.O.S - Kobra

STAMPS, STAMP PADS AND INKS Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Trodat, preinked stamps, stamp and fingerprint pads STAPLING MACHINES AND STAPLES Beswick Office Products - Kangaro Freedom Stationery - Marlin Interstat Agencies - Genmes Krost Office Products Parrot Products - Parrot range of staplers Rexel Office Products - Rexel range

STENCILS Freedom Stationery STORAGE SYSTEMS CTP Stationery - Archiving Systems Suspension Files Kolok - VERBATIM (hard drives, USB sticks etc), HP Rexel Office Products - Storage boxes Specialised Filing Systems - Filing Tidy Files - Filing solutions

STACK SHUT DONE

TABLET AND ACCESSORIES D.O.S - Clarys, iStay TAPES 3M SA (Pty) Ltd. - Brand Scotch® MagicTM Freedom Stationery Palm Stationery Manufacturers TELECOMMUNICATIONS Nikki Distributors - Siemens office phones TELEX ROLLS AND TELETEX PAPER Rotunda

SPIKE FILES Grip Binders

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

SCRAPBOOKING Rexel Office Products - Trimmers and guillotines Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Making memories, Clearsnap, Marvy, Ranger, Bazzill, Carl

The World Leader in Auto Feed Shredding

SLATES Freedom Stationery - Marlin Parrot Products - Whiteboard and chalk board

T

Auto+ 60X

THERMAL ROLLS Rotunda TONERS AND CARTRIDGES KMP - Computer consumables Kolok - PENGUIN (Inkjets and Laser toners), EPSON, LEXMARK, HP. 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 TRANSPARENCIES Kolok - Penguin transparencies for inkjet and laser OEM, Penguin and HP Transparencies Rexel Office Products - NOBO range

Auto+ 80X

Auto+ 100X | 100M

buyers’ guide

See page 46 for contact details

V VISITORS BOOKS/REGISTERS Ledger Systems - Falcon Products - visitors books, hotel guest register, restaurant reservation registers

45

DID YOU KNOW? • The Buyers’ Guide is an affordable way of highlighting your brands while also introducing up and coming new 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.

www.rexelsa.co.za Auto+ 200X

Auto+ 300X | 300M

Auto+ 500X | 500M

Auto+ 750X | 750M

CONTACT DETAILS HERE 3M

(

(

011 844 9202

PvtBag X926, Rivonia, 2128

7

011 806 2388

Customer Serv: 0800 118 311

African Filing Systems

14 Isando Road Isando

(

011 607 7600

debbie@parrot.co.za

IXAXoffice@gmail.com

7

011 615 2502

www.parrotproducts.biz

Penflex

Kemtek Imaging Systems (

011 624 8000

Box 86173, City Deep, 2049

(

021 521 2400

Box 36964, Chempet, 7442

0866 101 185

labelling@kemtek.co.za

7

021 521 2402/3

info@penflex.co.za

(

011 896 5279

www.africanfiling.co.za

7

7

086 540 6892

info@africanfiling.co.za

Kemtek Imaging Systems - Cape

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd

(

021 521 9600

Box 181, Cape Town, 8000

(

011 474 1427/8

Box 202, Crown Mines, 2025

(

011 688 6000

Box 6893, Johannesburg, 2000

7

021 551 5032

brenth@kemtek.co.za

7

011 474 5563

www.pentel.co.za

7

011 688 6162

marketing.office@antalis.co.za

Kemtek Imaging Systems - KZN

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Cape Town (

021 959 9600

7

021 959 9640

Box 19231, Tygerberg, 7505

(

031 714 4000

7

031 700 9253

Box 284, Umhlanga, 4320

(

012 379 0060

7

012 379 0052

Box 4013, Pretoria, 0001

051 447 8681

7

051 447 6765

Box 1795, Bloemfontein, 9300

041 486 2020

7

041 486 2219

Box 9088, Estadeal, 6012

033 386 2078

7

033 386 2078

Box 1425, Pietermaritzburg, 3200

00267 391 2139

7

00267 397 5459

sadlerly@peterspapers.co.za

011 622 6646

www.peterspapers.co.za

Box 1705, Gaborone

041 582 5222

Box 15685, Westmead, 3608

(

011 887 1056

info@speech.co.za

7

041 582 5224

clinth@kemtek.co.za

7

086 555 3833

www.speech.co.za

Power Stationery

(

012 804 1410

PO Box 816, Silverton, 0127

(

032 533 4003

Box 1305, Verulam, 4340

7

012 804 4286

johlettat@kemtek.co.za

7

032 533 3254

powersta@netactive.co.za

Pyrotec

(

021 709 0190

Box 183, Steenberg, 7947

(

021 787 9600

PvtBag X1, Capricorn Square, 7948

7

021 709 0199

kmppty@iafrica.com

7

021 787 9791

tower@pyrotec.co.za

RBE Stationery Manufacturers (Pty) Limited

(

011 248 0300

Box 4151, Johannesburg, 2000

(

011 793 7321

sales@rbe.co.za

7

011 248 0381

infojhb@koloksa.co.za

7

011 793 7348

www.rbe.co.za

Reboni Furniture Group

(

021 597 2700

Box 6385, Roggebaai, 8012

(

086 173 2664

www.reboni.co.za

7

021 297 2799

infoctn@koloksa.co.za

7

086 627 7737

sales@reboni.co.za

Redfern Print Services - Cape Town

(

031 570 4900

Box 4206, Riverhorse Valley East, 4017

(

021 552 9680

Box 403, Milnerton, 7435

7

031 569 6880

infodbn@koloksa.co.za

7

021 552 9681

sales@redfern.co.za

Redfern Print Services - Durban

Kolok Unlimited Polokwane

AZ Trading

Powerhouse Dictation

(

Kolok Unlimited - Durban

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Botswana (

011 677 9000

7

Kolok Unlimited - Cape Town

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Pietermaritzburg (

(

Sandim@kemtek.co.za

Kolok Unlimited - Head Office

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Port Elizabeth (

Box 15685, Westmead, 3608

031 700 9369

KMP

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Bloemfontein (

031 700 9363

7

Kemtek Imaging Systems - PTA

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Pretoria

Peters Papers

(

Kemtek Imaging Systems - PE

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Durban

(

015 298 8795

Box 862, Ladanna, 0704

(

031 205 9598

dbnoffice@redfern.co.za

(

086 111 4407

www.aztradingcc.co.za

7

015 298 8315

infopol@koloksa.co.za

7

031 205 7092

www.redfern.co.za

7

011 792 9732

sales@aztradingcc.co.za

Kolok Unlimited - Port Elizabeth

Beswick Office Products

Redfern Print Services - Johannesburg

(

041 406 9900

Box 3163, North End, 6056

(

011 837 4119

Box 1445, Crown Mines, 2025

(

011 433 2686

Box 82319, Southdale, 2135

7

041 406 9920

infope@koloksa.co.za

7

011 837 8917

jhboffice@redfern.co.za

7

011 680 2166

info@beswick.co.za

Kolok Unlimited - Namibia

BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd

(

00264 (61)370500

(

011 474 0181

PO BOX 43144, Industria, 2042

7

00264 (61)370525

7

011 474 6068

16 Maraisburg Road, Industria, 2042

Kolok Unlimited - Nelspruit

BSC Stationery Sales

Rexel Office Products Box 40797, Ausspannplatz, Namibia valne@kolok.com.na

(

011 226 3300

www.rexelsa.co.za

7

011 837 2781

sales@rexelsa.co.za

Rotunda

(

013 758 2233

Box 4338, White River, 1240

(

021 552 5135

Box 189, Maitland, 7404

(

011 420 3250

Box 278, Brakpan, 1540

7

013 758 2235

infonel@koloksa.co.za

7

021 551 3070

rotunda@iafrca.com

7

011 420 3322

sales@treeline.co.za

Kolok Unlimited - Bloemfontein

CTP Stationery

Royce Imaging Industries

(

051 433 1876

PvtBag X01, Brandhof, Bloemfontein

(

011 792 9530

www.royceimaging.co.za

(

011 226 5600

Box 43501, Industria, 2042

7

051 433 2451

infobfn@koloksa.co.za

7

011 792 9480

sales@royceimaging.co.za

7

011 474 9242

sales@versafile.co.za

Kolok Unlimited - Botswana

D.O.S (Denton Office Solutions)

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Head Office

(

00267 393 2669

PvtBag B0226, Bontleng, Gaborone

(

011 262 1400

Box 931, Wendywood, 2144

(

060 000 1777

info@dosptyltd.com

7

00267 317 0762

clemencem@vbn.co.bw

7

011 262 1414

trodat@rse.co.za

7

086 237 4614

www.dosptyltd.com

Krost Office Products

Empire Toy & Stationery

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Cape Town

(

011 626 2067

Box 75401, Gardenview, 2047

(

021 448 7008

Box 931, Wendywood, 2144

011 626 2912

sales@krost.co.za

7

021 448 7014

cpt@trodat.co.za

(

011 614 2243

Box 261524, Excom, 2023

7

7

011 614 3075

empire@netactive.co.za

KZN ENVELOPES

Flip File

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Durban

(

031 465 3992

P O Box 41259, Rossburgh, 4072

(

083 377 4109

Box 931, Wendywood, 2144

(

021 638 3105

Box 2190, Clareinch, 7740

7

031 465 1669

info@kznenvelopes.co.za

7

031 266 1082

dbn@rse.co.za

7

021 633 6942

ashly@flipfile.co.za

Ledger Systems

Freedom Stationery - Johannesburg

South African Diaries

(

011 433 1808

Box 82586, Southdale, 2135

(

021 442 2340

Box 4862, Cape Town, 8000

(

011 314 0953/4

Box 6459, Halfway House, 1685

7

011 433 8863

info@ledgersystems.co.za

7

021 442 2341

phoneyman@sadiaries.co.za

7

011 314 0957

gpsales@freedomstationery.co.za

Max Frank

Freedom Stationery - Cape Town

Staedtler SA (Pty) Ltd

(

011 921 1811

Box 200, Isando, 1600

(

011 579 1600

www.staedtler.co.za

(

021 557 9152/3

36-38 Silverstone Rd Killarney Gardens

7

011 921 1569

sarah.schoeman@tigerbrands.com

7

011 608 3497

admin@staedtler.co.za

7

021 557 9155

cptsales@freedomstationery.co.za

Maynards - Olympus Audio S.A / Olivetti Distributors

Freedom Stationery KZN (Head Office) (

032 459 2820

Box 478, Mandini, 4490

7

032 459 3255

sales@freedomstationery.co.za

Freedom Stationery - East London

(

0860 00 1922

(

011 477 0640

www.maynards.co.za

7

011 477 3528

Star Stationers and Printers

011 719 7700

sales@merpak.co.za

(

031 569 1061

luke@starstat.co.za

011 885 3174

www.merpak.co.za

7

031 569 1094

www.starstat.co.za

Box 14111 West Bank 5218

7

7

043 731 2421

elsales@freedomstationery.co.za

Narayan Wholesaler (

083 444 0959

(

031 305 6507

P.O Box 18586, Dalbridge, 4014

7

011 869 7243

7

031 301 6553

www.globalbags.co.za

New Era Office cc

Technical Systems Engineering narayantextiles@gmail.com

(

011 708 2304

Box 1532, Northriding, 2162

7

011 708 1799

sales@tse.co.za

Tidy Files 011 943 4210

(

011 334 2013

Box 10383, Lenasia, 1821

(

(

031 465 5544

envelopes@absamail.co.za

7

011 334 7358

kuban@neweraoffice.co.za

Topmark

7

031 465 5634

www.envelopes.co.za

Nikki - Cape Town

Gordon’s Productions

0800 204868

www.nikki.co.za

Tower (Division of Pyrotec) - Cape Town

Suite 69, PvtBag X4, Kloof, 3640

7

jacquie@gordons.co.za

Nikki - Durban

(

021 787 9600

(

0860 006731

dbn@nikki.co.za

7

021 787 9791

0800 204868

www.nikki.co.za

Tower (Division of Pyrotec) - Johannesburg

(

011 262 0777

Box 550, Bergvlei, 2012

7

7

011 262 0780

sales@graftonpaper.co.za

Nikki - Johannesburg

orders@tigerpaper.co.za

Hortors Stationery

info@topmarksa.com

7

031 705 8714

011 421 1300

011 837 7442

www.tidyfiles.co.za

cpt@nikki.co.za

031 705 8713

(

011 837 8045

0860 006731

7

Grip Binders

(

(

(

Grafton/Star Paper Products

www.specfiling.co.za

(

043 731 2422

Global Envelopes

Specialised Filing Systems

sales@maynards.co.za

Merpak Envelopes

(

Global Bag And Sportswear Manufactures

PvtBag X1, Capricorn Square, 7948

(

011 611 1820

59 Lepus Rd, Crown Mines, 2025

(

0860 006731

jhb@nikki.co.za

7

011 611 1834

tower@pyrotec.co.za

7

0800 204868

www.nikki.co.za

Tower (Division of Pyrotec) Durban

Nikki - Pretoria

(

031 701 0192

Box 594, Pinetown, 3600

(

011 620 4800

Box 1020, Johannesburg, 2000

(

0860 006731

pta@nikki.co.za

7

031 701 1285

tower@pyrotec.co.za

7

086 612 4663

orders@hortors.co.za

7

0800 204868

www.nikki.co.za

Tribe (

011 314 4746 (Jhb)

Box 6280, Halfway House, 1685

7

021 386 4261 (Cpt)

tribe@global.co.za

Impala Vuwa Stationery Manufacturers

Nor Paper

(

036 634 1535

Box 389, Ladysmith, 3370

(

011 011 3900

7

036 634 1890

impalastat@mweb.co.za

7

011 011 4099

Ink Spot Suppliers (

011 854 3013

7

011 852 3013

sales@nor.co.za

Optiplan a division of Waltons info@inkspotsuppliers.co.za

Interstat Agencies - Durban

(

011 226 5600

Box 43501, Industria, 2042

011 620 4000

Pencil Park, Croxley Close, Herriotdale

7

011 474 9242

sales@versafile.co.za

7

086 681 8256

rcurrin@gp.waltons.co.za

W. Vos & Company

Palm Stationery

031 569 6550

Box 201707, Durban North, 4016

(

031 507 7051

viran@palmstat.co.za

7

031 569 6559

interstat@mweb.co.za

7

031 507 7053

www.palmstat.co.za

021 551 9555

Box 36696, Chempet, 7442

(

011 011 3900

info@papergeni.co.za

7

021 557 5456

Capetown@interstat.co.za

7

011 011 4099

www.papergeni.co.za

041 453 2558

Box 27693, Greenacres, 6057

(

012 250 1477/8

info@paperworldsa.com.

7

041 453 8504

pe@interstat.co.za

7

012 250 0322

www.paperworldsa.com

my office magazine

011 493 7139

www.wvos.co.za

7

011 493 8807

info@wvos.co.za

Paper World

(

IXAXA Office Furniture

(

PaperGeni

(

Interstat Agencies - Port Elizabeth

Versafile

(

(

Interstat Agencies - Cape Town

46

011 392 3628

Parrot Products

Vol 98 - August 2014

needful things

Tech savvy Smart technology for people on the move Samsung’s Food Showcase Samsung Electronics launched the new Food Showcase refrigerator recently. Its innovative design provides smart separation in the refrigerator area with two layers of doors. The ShowCase allows for instant access to frequently used items, while the InnerCase is for ingredients that require longer storage.

Mobile printing with the ProXpress Series For on-the-go printing that combines NFC and WiFi Direct technologies, Samsung has unveiled its new mono laser printer ProXpress M2880 series and colour laser printer ProXpress C1860 series. It’s aimed at the small to medium business market to provide easy and speedy mobile printing.

Canon launches telephoto zoom Canon has announced an addition to its EF-M lens range with its first dedicated telephoto zoom lens – the EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. It joins three existing lenses in the EF-M range, which together offer a diverse variety of focal lengths from 11mm to 200mm.

Digitised fitness with Fitbug wellness gear The Fitbug Orb, available in white, pink and black, is a small, sophisticated device which tracks steps, aerobic time, distance, calories burned, speed and sleep.

Information can be sent to mobile devices and the KiK digital coach platform.

Jabra headphones a runaway success Jabra Bluetooth headphones give crisp, clear audio wherever your workout may take you. Skip tracks, control volume, take calls and switch FM radio with a quick tap of your headset.

WINNERS FOR JULY WIN THIS COMPETITION Fila Cartorama: Presila Morgan, PPC Dymo: A Paruk, Mr Stationer www.shop-sa.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 WINNING CAPTION JULY ISSUE Winning Caption: “PUTTING MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS......” – Jenny Smee, Peters Papers

48

my office magazine

Vol 98 - August 2014

SHOPPING FOR STATIONERY? NEED OFFICE PRODUCTS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR? LOOK NO FURTHER… My Office magazine – the only accredited publication for the office and home products industry is mailed monthly to office professionals across South Africa.

Register on www.shop-sa.co.za to receive your free magazine subscription.

• L earn about cutting edge office technologies • How to work smarter and faster and with best business practice • Get updates on events, promotions and latest offers • Be inspired by the hottest trends in interiors, furniture, and workplace ergonomics • Do business with accredited industry suppliers.

Connect to the largest and most comprehensive database of likeminded professionals in the workplace environment.

My Office magazine is the official publication of the Stationery, Home & Office Products Association of Southern Africa.

Join this expanding community of office professionals, managers, procurement buyers and business owners now when you register on www.shop-sa.co.za

O.ZA

WWW.SHOP-SA.C