Office supplies may only comprise 3% of your annual budget, but procuring and managing them could cost you far more than you know.
When an office supply order takes more than a half-hour to submit, time -aka-employee salaries & benefits- is lowering your company profitability.
Here are some tips for saving on the cost of goods AND employee time:
1. Consider generic brands- most of them are produced by name-brand manufacturers, but will cost you less.
2. Schedule your office supply ordering days. Cutting back on the number of orders you make will qualify you for special promotions, and reduce your time spent handling invoices.
3. List the items you buy regularly so that the item numbers and pricing is familiar. You'll cut down the time spent chasing down item numbers AND you'll be more price saavy.
4. Look for a supplier that can provide many lines of product for your office including supplies for janitorial or technological needs. Fewer suppliers means less processing time and that equals money!
5. Order online when possible. You have absolute control over your products and pricing when you order online. You'll have fewer surprises when you can see pictures and read information about what you're buying. You'll also get an immediate confirmation with cost that you can archive if you want a history of purchasing.
Most of your costs in the purchase and management of office supplies isn't found in the nickels and dimes in pricing, but in the process of buying, approving, returning, exchanging and researching. Find a supplier that is easy to reach by phone or e-mail, that responds quickly to your needs, and that takes the time to investigate what is important to your business success. Frustration is costly in energy and focus, so take this element out of your equation by working with a supplier that works for YOU.
If you want further tips for saving time and money in your office, feel free to contact us at
www.incredibleoffice.com.
We're here to help!
Posted on December 15, 2005 06:12 |
Business
