One of the core maxims of business is to maximise profits while minimising costs. Although simple in theory, cutting expenditure without compromising operations is akin to walking on a tightrope. A fine balance between price and quality must be achieved. All companies are different and must cut-costs in different areas to achieve success; one of the few areas in which almost all businesses are in the same situation however, is in the purchase of office supplies and equipment. With this in mind the following five tips for reducing outgoings on office equipment are worth considering for the vast majority of companies, to help to push the balance sheet into the black.

1. Stay on top of the office supplies inventory

It is imperative that the supplies cupboard is adequately stocked at all times to avoid frustration and even in some cases: lost earnings. By the same token it is not sensible practice to lodge a standard order with an office supplier, as this can result in an excessive surplus of specific items. The individual responsible for keeping the office stocked with stationery should keep a meticulous inventory of which items are needed and which are sufficiently in supply. By staying on top of the levels of each individual product and ordering only that which is required, the weekly or monthly bill will be dramatically reduced.

2. Buy in bulk where possible

Some offices will work their way through a huge amount of printer paper whereas others will rapidly exhaust their supplies of packaging materials. Ordering a large quantity of a specific line rather than frequent small purchases (in accordance with the requirements of the inventory) will reduce the cost per item and ultimately shave a few pounds off the annual cost. Provided an accurate inventory is maintained, the purchaser can make an informed decision as to which items are quickly used up and buy in bulk where appropriate: benefitting from economies of scale.

3. Shop Around

The office equipment supplier that are currently being used are not necessarily the cheapest. Often the larger, more familiar companies are not the best in terms of value. Shopping around on the internet could result in surprising discoveries with regard to obtaining the same products for less than is currently being paid. Equally, there is no harm in haggling, slightly smaller office supplies companies will be more interested in generating and keeping new orders and so are more likely to negotiate on price to keep the customer happy.

4. Consider generic rather than premium brands

As with any industry, you pay a premium price for a premium brand...but this does not mean that their products are necessarily higher quality than those of a less well known brand. There are an abundance of generic brands which quite often are exclusive to a particular supplier, it is well worth trying these products to see if they differ from the brand that is currently being purchased: if the cheaper item can’t be differentiated from the more costly when in use, then switching permanently makes sound business sense.

5. Look at ‘compatible’ consumables

This last point is particularly relevant when considering printer cartridges. Although many major printer manufacturers will claim that their own brand cartridges are of superior quality to compatible versions made by competitors: this is not always the case. Compatible rather than official ink cartridges often cost 70-80% less and in many instances there is no visible difference in print quality or longevity. Savings of that magnitude can seriously mount up over the course of a year and possibly even half the annual office supplies bill if printing is an integral part of the business. It is however vital to ensure that use of a compatible cartridge won’t invalidate a printer’s warranty before purchase.

OfficeYoo are a rapidly expanding office supplies company who focus upon great value and great service. With tens of thousands of products in stock and free next day delivery across the UK on orders over £30, they are at the cutting edge of the industry and continually growing their base of repeat clients due to their reputation for consistently delivering quality on every front.

Make Money With OfficeYoo

In line with their ‘keep it simple and offer great value’ ethos, the company’s recently launched affiliate scheme is not only incredibly easy to get involved with but also pays higher commission to the affiliate than that of any other office products supplier. As it cuts out third party affiliate facilitators, joining the programme does not involve any sign-up fee, nor a lengthy eligibility assessment.

Quite simply, once registered with OfficeYoo, you will receive 10% commission on any purchases by individuals who are referred to the site from your unique link banner.

Quick Reference:

- Free to join
- Flat rate commission of 10% of order value ex. VAT
- Earn commission on all transactions referred by a link from your website
- Average order value of £112.18
- Support to find out up to date commission and referral statistics
- Eye-catching promotional artwork and banners provided
- Use the OfficeYoo branding and name (ethically) as and when required
- Receive commission payments by cheque on a monthly basis

With this simple and profitable structure and the absence of restrictions regarding legitimate use of the company name, any website owner can supplement their income simply by putting a banner on their webpage and leaving it to generate a healthy commission. Not only this, but your website visitors get cheap office supplies in the process.

To get involved with the OfficeYoo affiliate network simply fill in this application form.

Up and down the country office supplies are consistently wasted, from accidental multiple photocopies, through to inaccurate stationery orders which aren’t rectified. The very fact that paper, printer cartridges and the ilk are often referred to as ‘consumables’ demonstrates the extent to which we live in a consumptive society and goes a way to explaining why stationery stock levels are anything but stationary.

As of late there has been a fresh emphasis on the ethical obligation of corporate entities, particularly with regard to their accountability for the environmental impact of their activities. The public focus has particularly gravitated towards heavyweight companies, notably supermarkets, who have responded by implementing small changes to their operation that ultimately have a substantial impact on minimising their detrimental effect on the earth.

The most prominent of these changes is the recent switch away from spurious distribution of plastic, disposable carrier bags. By promoting ‘bags for life’ and condoning the re-use of plastic carrier bags, major supermarkets are undoubtedly making a dent in their damage to the environment. The ‘every little helps’ attitude has extended beyond a company slogan and into something of a manifesto on environmentally ethical practice. This ethos can comfortably be embraced by considerably smaller companies with regard to their office consumables, whilst you can’t have ‘printer paper for life’ there are now abundant options for recycled office supplies.

Availability of recycled products has extended far beyond paper to such items as folders, desk tidys, bubble-wrap, even recycled recycling bins. Furthermore, unlike previously, recycled products are by no means prohibitively priced, with so many manufacturers turning to more environmentally conscious products it is a highly competitive market: forcing prices down to levels comparable with non-recycled products.

At the risk of coming across evangelical: it is the responsibility of all to ensure the longevity or our planet and the ‘every little helps’ mantra has no more relevant application than to the field of environmentally ethical practice. Whether a company chooses to just reduce waste by refilling ink cartridges, help preserve forests by using recycled paper or goes the whole way and only utilises recycled or sustainable consumables the overall outcome will benefit all in the long run and have no impact on either profit margins or the earth.

To view OfficeYoo’s competitively priced recycled and environmentally conscious products click here.