Wanted: Office Supplies

As a small business, our team is always searching for ways to save money when it comes to office supplies. With TriLeaf growing as quickly as it is, we go through office essentials like paper, printer ink, and file folders rapidly. One of my recent tasks was to figure out where we should get our supplies from. In the past, not much thought was given to the supplier of our office essentials. I sat down one afternoon and did some research. Armed with a number of business cards for local office supply companies, I got started.

While I initially limited my search to local office supply companies, it was suggested that I also add Office Depot to the list of potential suppliers. Office Depot is our store of choice when we need supplies in a pinch due to its rewards program and close proximity to our office.

To make my research easier to compare, I created an excel document (nerdy, I know). I listed the products we were looking to purchase and the prices given by each company. In order to make a final decision, I highlighted the cheapest price available for each product. The results surprised me. As the picture indicates, it was Office Depot who had the cheapest prices for the most products. Add to those prices, free next-day delivery and the choice was easy. The deal was sealed even further when we discovered that we had a number of applicable coupons from previous purchases that we could use with our order.

So what to take away from this experience? Do your research! Why spend more money if you don’t have to? Instead, take some time and figure out where you can get the biggest bang for your buck! The results of your research may surprise you! While office supplies aren’t the most exciting aspect of your business, they are essential! So be smart and spend wisely!

Where do you get office supplies from? Do you know of a supplier with cheaper prices?

Written By: Megan Bowman