Getting the Best Deal
on Your Office Supplies

Sourcing competitively priced supplies from office supplies stores is one of the most obvious ways for a Personal Assistant to control costs. You always need pens, paper, paperclips and envelopes, so making savings on cheap office supplies can add up to big annual savings.

Finding the right source is no easy task - the web is deluged with office supplies stores vying for your custom, all offering different incentives and savings if you sign up with them.

Choose office supply stores that offer a wide range of stationery, including office equipment like shredders and printers. Choose an office supply store that offers free delivery regardless of the size of the order.

Some companies offer free delivery on orders over a certain amount; this is not cost effective if you order small quantities of stationery on a regular basis. Many stationery companies publish the recommended retail price only, so it pays to give them a call to negotiate a better price.

Before negotiating a deal, decide which items you order in high quantities or most often, and ask the stationery company to give you a quote on those supplies. This will give you a good starting point from which to make your assessment, and it could save your company hundreds of pounds each year.

It pays to select a stationery company with a branch nearby. Don’t dismiss local small businesses as possible suppliers; you may find that they are willing to bend over backwards to offer the best customer service because they value your custom.

The most important consideration is getting the balance right between quality and service.

PA MENTORING/COACHING

There are many reasons why a Personal Assistant would opt for PA mentoring/coaching. If you are new to the PA profession, or have been recently promoted to work for Directors, you will benefit from the guiding hand of a PA mentor/Coach. There's no such thing as too much information; every PA develops there own systems and approach to tasks, but two heads are better than one, so I'm happy to look over your shoulder and give you the benefit of my experience. Call me on +44 (0)7771 648521 to discuss.

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