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Office Supply Discounts

Author: Grant Mills

May 4, 2009 - 3:33:28 AM

Unfortunately, office supplys are a necessary part of every business. Let's face it, it's kind of hard to run a business without paper, pens, or printers. Even though it's a necessary evil, there are ways to reduce your office supply spending. Here are a few suggestions: Take advantage of alternative brands or house brands- Instead of purchasing name brands, consider using a house brand or alternative brand. Most of these house brands are nothing more than the exact same product that has been repackaged. As they don't carry a "name" brand, you can generally save some money on these house brands, especially if you buy in bulk. Trend your office supply expenditures - While it's important to document your spending, it's also important to break the spending out into sub-categories like paper, pens, office machines, etc. This way you can get a true idea of exactly where you are spending your office supply budget. Within a few months, you will also have established a baseline of spending sorted by type so you can then start to take action to reduce that spending. Try to use bulk purchases - Once you have an idea of where you are spending your money, try to buy those same products in bulk. Buying in bulk gives you a nice discount as the costs (packaging, marketing, stocking, etc) are lower. For example, if your research indicates that you spend the bulk of your money on paper. Contact some vendors and try to negotiate a bulk paper purchase. Typically, the larger the bulk purchase, the more significant the discount. So, going back to my paper example, if you had the resources and space to purchase paper by the truckload, you could save several hundred or even thousand dollars over your typical purchasing. Note that any bulk purchasing will save you money, so don't think that you have to buy by a truckload to make any headway. Use coupons or promotions - Many office supply vendors offer coupons or discounts for various products. Some also offer discounts for bulk purchases. Even if coupons or discounts aren't listed or suggested by an office supply vendor, ask about them. The office supply industry is extremely competitive so you can use that to your advantage. Most people take a shotgun type of approach to an office supply budget and blindly make purchases on an as needed basis. By following the steps listed above and applying a consistent plan, you can make great gains in reducing your office supply spending.

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