Whether you own a small- or medium-sized business, you are spending some money on office supplies including 123ink mouse pad with wrist rest, pens, notebooks, and more. When left unchecked, office supplies expenses can snowball. Fortunately, online shopping and inventory monitoring can help you save money. Below are some ways your business can save money on office supplies:
Keep Track of Inventory
Before you order supplies online or go to a store, it is important to go over your current inventory and plan out what you need. You need to create a game plan before stepping out of your office door and check what your office needs for the next week, month, and six months. Check the items that will be running out and those that can wait.
Shop Around Online
Online shopping lets you compare prices on many items with just a click of the mouse. In case your company has no established supplier, shop around before picking a vendor. After choosing a supplier, determine the type of deals available.
Take Advantage of Discounts and Specials
If you are looking to purchase that occasional one-off item, check if any retailers are running sales or specials. Even a $10 coupon can quickly cover enough for a team pizza lunch to boost employee morale. That coupon could be a way to increase your sale. In case you have an established supplier, ask if they provide discounts to their regular customers.
Buy in Bulk
Buying office supplies in bulk will reduce your costs. Suppliers incentivise bulk purchasing for almost everything. While you may not need thousands of reams of paper in a given month, buying enough stock can save you money and bolster your bottom line. Just ensure you purchase items in bulk when you use them a lot.
Purchase Generic Brands
When you purchase office supplies, picking generic brands will let you save a dime. Usually, the differences in quality do not exist. It is especially smart to purchase generic when shopping for expensive items like consumables and furniture. For instance, generic ink cartridges for desktop inkjet and laser prints usually priced half as much as name brands with little to no obvious difference in print quality.
Establish a Corporate Account
Aside from helping you build out relationships, this will help you track the supplies you use the most. As a result, you will be able to find ways to reduce your usage and expenses. Also, monitoring your purchases through corporate accounts can prevent supply theft.