Vol 100 issue 08 2016 by My Office

AUGUST 2016 R50.

inc vat

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE STATIONERY, HOME AND OFFICE PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION

My Office Magazine www.facebook.com/shopsa.ZA

MAKE YOUR MARK! PENS AND MARKERS WHITEBOARDS STATIONERY FOR LEFT-HANDERS

100

Contents My Office magazine is the official magazine of the Southern African Association for Stationery, home and Office Products (shop-sa). It was first published in 1916. The stationery and office supply industry is a fast-changing environment. We aim to write and select articles that will both inform and

Vol 100 | August 2016 www.myofficemagazine.co.za | www.facebook.com/shopsa.za

NEWS

35 | INDUSTRY NEWS Industry-related news and announcements 36 | ECO NEWS A green news update

benefit readers, keeping them abreast of current and future market trends. The magazine is read by over 25 000 buyers and sellers of stationery and office products each month. FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1916

SALES SAVVY

12 | MAKE YOUR MARK A comprehensive guide to pens and markers 18 | WHITEBOARDS Improve your bottom line with our guide to selling whiteboards

PUBLISHER Rob Matthews - robm@icon.co.za EDITOR Leigh Richter - leigh@shop-sa.co.za

SPECIAL FEATURES

ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND MARKETING Wendy Dancer - wendy@shop-sa.co.za NATIONAL OFFICE Design and Layout: Vanessa Bentley New Membership: Wendy Dancer Johannesburg Office

PO Box 3226, Parklands, 2121 6 Edward Street, Kensington B, Randburg, 2194 Tel: + 27 11 781 0088 / 89 Fax: + 27 11 781 2828

08| IT FOCUS The wonderful world of fibre 24| A LITTLE TO THE LEFT We take a look at stationery items for left handers 47 |THE REAL STUFF – NOT MARKETING FLUFF This month we speak to Horst Strössel, owner of Arifa Wholesale Enterprises

Email: info@shop-sa.co.za Website: www.myofficemagazine.co.za CONTRIBUTIONS Letters and editorial contributions are welcomed and should be addressed to the editor at editor@ shop-sa.co.za. Publication cannot be guaranteed and is subject to space and the editor’s discretion. THE LEGAL BIT

RETAIL SAVVY

26 | ARTS AND CRAFTS A look at the relaxing art of adult colouring 28 | FURNITURE In a bind over the office blinds? 30 | MANAGEMENT MISTAKES Common errors that leaders make

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy the publisher and editor cannot accept responsibility for supplied material. The opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of shop-sa. Copyright is strictly reserved and no part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Stationery sponsored by

Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

PRINTED BY Colorpress (pty) ltd.

Office paper sponsored by

Published by

BUSINESS SAVVY

03 | RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN Aki Kalliatakis questions the sanctity of rules 04 | LABOUR LAW Dr Ivan Israelstam discusses when companies should give employees warnings 05 | LEARN ABOUT POPI ONLINE Dr Peter Tobin shares online courses on the POPI Act 06 | AND ... ACTION! Gavin Moffat encourages us to take action

IN EVERY ISSUE 02 10 29 34 38 40 48

| | | | | | |

EDITOR’S LETTER EVENTS WEB BUTTONS CRIME ALERT PRODUCT SHOWCASE BUYERS’ GUIDE PUNCHLINE

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editor’s letter

Make your mark

f 2016’s Local Government Elections has taught us anything, it’s that every vote counts. A record number of people turned out at the polls to cast their votes, and any major metros were neckand-neck for a large part of the voting tally with just a few thousand ballots separating one party from another.

People are often under the impression that their voice doesn’t matter, and that one more participant won’t make a difference. This is definitely not the case, whether in a political sphere or a business one. Participation is a vital part of growth and change, and societies and economies stagnate without it. To keep a business sector alive, the people in it need to participate and make their mark. In this month’s issue of My Office, we look at other ways you can make your mark. Pens and markers are office staples, and we take a look at the range of different kinds available to us today. For everything from rollerballs to highlighters, see our article on page 12. Whiteboards are an important part of office life, ensuring presentations run smoothly and tasks are

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properly organised. If you are wondering how to improve your bottom line by selling whiteboards, take a look at our feature on page 18. Also in this month’s issue, we celebrate International Left-handers Day on 13 August by covering a number of stationery items made with left-handers in mind, including pens, scissors and notebooks. See page 24 for more. Another way in which to make a mark on people is the way in which you lead them. In our people management feature on page 30, we look at the typical mistakes managers make, and how they can be fixed. We’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line on editor@shop-sa.co.za and let us know what is going on in your company and the industry in general. Until next month,

Lei g h Vol 100 - August 2016

business savvy

When rules are made to be broken Rules are rules, except when they shouldn’t be

oday’s technology is amazing. We remotely control a special rover on Mars from our planet, and we can fly to the other side of the Earth in 24 hours. Devices capable of millions of calculations per second are strapped to our wrists, and 3D printing means that we can create prototype models in a very brief period of time.

I’m looking forward to buying my first self-driving car just as I retire, and I can pop a ready-meal into my microwave and have dinner in two minutes. But, with all our incredible advancements, there are still some businesses that seem to have been left in the Dark Ages. For example, it seems impossible for me to get a replacement credit card in less than a work week. Where’s the customer service in that? I was sitting at a coffee shop at the end of a meeting with a client, and my card was declined. I knew it wasn’t due to a lack of funds. I paid with cash, but I just knew what my business companion must have been thinking. Before the bank even had a chance to text me, I called the number on the back of my card to find out if I should be in a desperate panic or just mildly stressed. A few minutes later the pleasant young man gave me a rather generic answer: “Mr Kalliatakis, I’m afraid that your card has been blocked, and for your protection we will need to send you another one.” I asked him to be more specific, but he muttered something incomprehensible. I asked about the last few transactions, www.myofficemagazine.co.za

hoping that there wasn’t any cash stolen, but nothing untoward seemed to have occurred. It was then that I realised two things: firstly, it wasn’t my fault; and secondly, they had made an error which I’d never get to the bottom of. So now my card was cancelled and I’d have to wait for a new one. I was, however, more relieved and grateful that it wasn’t going to be a fight to prove theft from my account – until he said it would take five to seven working days to get this sorted. I couldn’t believe it. How difficult can it really be? Call me naïve, but I really think that there’s a dearth of common sense here. I know that there needs to be rules and processes to take care of issues like this, but a sense of urgency and the ability to bypass the bureaucracy would help. Clearly, they didn’t have my best interests at heart. Many people in my industry – consulting and training – travel a lot, and most stories about travelling and flying are negative. We don’t talk about air travel to show off about how glamorous our work is. (On the contrary, after 30 years in the consulting business I dread flying.) Flying is just another category of transport: my car takes me to clients and events near my house, and airplanes take me to the other side of the world. But when we write about our experiences of flying it is because airports and air travel are usually stressful events – even when they go reasonably smoothly. In this astonishing world where engineers have created the miracle of jet travel, and clever programmers have prepared software that is the envy of many other industries, I have to conclude that airlines and airports are led and operated by staggeringly stupid people. Even airlines which boast great

customer care have a knack of complicating things for their passengers. In my view, I am a loyal customer, although from their perspective they probably see me as one of the “rats and mice”. Checking in at Heathrow recently at the end of a tiring 10-day trip, my baggage was way under the 30kg limit. But I really wanted to take my sons’ bulky toys and wife’s gifts in my carry-on luggage. I’m a good customer, and asked as nicely as I could for them to do me a favour by allowing me to take them on board with my briefcase. The answer was “No!”. I turned on the charm and begged, explaining who I was and waving my loyalty card about. They were even more emphatic. The supervisor threw out the “rules are rules” defence, even after I explained that my final destination was SA where we’re infamous for stealing desirables from passengers’ suitcases. He folded his arms and gave me a glazed look. Now, if this policy was applied consistently to all passengers, I wouldn’t mind too much, but as soon as I got on the plane, I saw literally dozens of people with two or three really large luggage bags – over and above shopping from the dutyfree shops. The hypocrisy of it all made me miserable for the next 16 hours, and added to the stress I already felt about my family’s presents. It confirmed that airlines and airports are run by really reckless policies and witless people. From three to six flights a year, that airline will be lucky to see me once more. Businesses would be well advised to relook at rules and policies that have the potential to frustrate their customers. n ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AKI KALLIATAKIS

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labour law

Warning! Why should employers give employees warnings?

chedule 8 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA) provides that, when employers deal with employee misconduct and poor performance, they use the corrective, progressive approach.

The schedule provides for graduated disciplinary measures, including warnings and then final warnings. The legal purpose of giving warnings is to inform and/or remind employees of the employer’s standards of conduct and work, and to give them a chance to improve their conduct/performance. The following are answers to eight questions often asked about warnings.

What is meant by a ‘warning’?

This is an oral or written statement made by an employer informing the employee that their conduct or performance level is not acceptable, and that any further failure to meet the required standards will result in stronger measures being taken. In this sense a warning is not a punishment. Instead, it is a notification that punishment or other corrective measures could follow.

What alternatives are there to warnings?

In addition to the counselling already mentioned, other corrective measures may be appropriate. These include training, treatment, demotion, suspension without pay and dismissal.

Can warnings be overturned?

The disciplinary policies of some employers allow employees to appeal against warnings. Even where this is not so the employee concerned is entitled to refer the warning to the CCMA or bargaining council. If the arbitrator finds the warning to have been unfair, they are empowered to remove the warning.

Is the employer entitled to combine a warning with other measures?

When it has been established that a less serious offence (one with relatively mild potential consequences) is committed it is most often appropriate to issue a warning to the employee. The level of warning (oral, written or final) to be used depends on the level of seriousness of the offence and on whether previous valid warnings have been given.

The LRA is silent on this question. It would be unfair to punish an employee twice for the very same offence. However, as a warning is not a punishment, it can be argued that a warning could fairly accompany another corrective measure. For example, where a driver is guilty of damaging the employer’s vehicle it may be appropriate for the employer to give the driver a refresher driving course but also to warn them that, should they again damage employer property, stronger action will be taken.

When should a warning be given?

When is a warning not appropriate?

Where the offence is mild a counselling may be better than a warning.

For example, if an employee is five minutes late for work for the first time a mild rebuke may suffice, and is less time consuming for the employer. Where an offence is very serious or a final warning has already been given, a warning is unlikely to have the desired effect and stronger discipline may be appropriate.

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How long do warnings last?

Depending on the employer’s policy and normal practice, a warning could last from three months to a year.

Can warnings for unlike offences be accumulated?

This is a highly contentious issue. Common practice has been that only offences of similar nature can result in stronger disciplinary action. The manager can only progress to a higher level of warning if the previous warning was for a similar offence to the current one. However, the LRA does not specifically state that this is the way it must be done. It is argued that schedule 8 indirectly suggests that only like warnings should be accumulated. This is because of the educative nature of the schedule’s requirements when it says that discipline is “a means for employees to know and understand what standards are required of them”. This suggests that, for example, to cumulatively give a final warning for poor performance to an employee because they already have a warning for smoking indoors is not educative because a warning for smoking does not educate the employee as to good work performance. However, there have been cases where the courts have accepted the progressive accumulation of warnings for unlike offences. In the case of NUM & Mocha versus Amcoal Colliery (1999 case number JA15/99), the Labour Appeal Court accepted that employees who had received final warnings for offences unlike the current offence could be fairly dismissed on being found guilty of the current offence. As I have not been able to find any more recent cases where this principle has been supported by the courts. Employers need to act with great caution before accumulating warnings for unlike offences. n ACKNOWLEDGEMENT DR IVAN ISRAELSTAM

Vol 100 - August 2016

POPI

Learn about POPI online Encourage your staff to complete an online course about the POPI Act

n our technology-centred lives, personal information is shared with a few taps of the keyboard or smartphone screen. Whether you are signing up to a newsletter or accessing your banking online, your contact details and personal information are stored and processed with ease.

With this convenience comes the risk that personal information will be misused. This is where the POPI Act comes in. The Protection of Personal Information Act No. 4 of 2013 (POPI Act) is expected by some observers to be fully in force before the end of 2016, with wideranging implications for organisations that process personal information. The Act includes penalties for noncompliance, such as prison terms of up to 10 years and/or fines of up to R10-million. Further to this, the Act allows individuals to institute civil claims so there is the possibility of further financial loss on top of any fine that may be imposed. These penalties, as well as overall respect for the law and the need to protect their reputation from adverse publicity, will drive organisations to find flexible, cost-effective ways to train all their people – directors, management, employees – how to comply with the www.myofficemagazine.co.za

POPI Act. When it comes to the POPI Act, ignorance is not an excuse. If they have not done so already, organisations and people who deal with personal information need to act quickly, and become compliant as soon as possible to avoid these repercussions. One of the requirements of the POPI Act (section 55) is for the Information Officer – the person accountable for POPI Act compliance in an organisation – to encourage and ensure compliance with the conditions for lawful processing under the Act. One practical way to ensure the POPI Act is followed is that all levels of staff, from directors and business owners to the lowest level of permanent or temporary employee must be made aware of the provisions of the Act as far as its implications regarding how they process personal information. This awareness training needs to be comprehensive, practical and easy to understand. Although traditional classroom-based training has its supporters, the alternative of e-learning – where content is delivered to a mobile or desktop device – has many attractions. One example of e-lLearning comes from Media Works, a leading adult education and training company, in collaboration with IACT-Africa. POPI Works: Privacy in Action is offered through the iTut online learning platform.

This online campus allows people to access material anywhere, any time on PCs, cell phones and tablets, in a collaborative, secure environment. The course is made up of five modules, each of which contribute to a clear understanding of why the POPI Act is important and what must be done by organisations and individuals to make sure they comply with the Act. These modules cover essential topics, such as an introduction to the POPI Act and what POPI is all about; the background to POPI and the legislation; and what can employees do to comply with the POPI Act. When the learner has completed the five modules (which takes approximately one hour), they can then complete the online Summative Assessment. A compulsory pass rate of 80% is required and, once the learner has achieved this, the process produces a uniquely numbered certificate of successful completion. This certification is endorsed by the Benchmark Assessment Agency, an independent assessment body. An added benefit is that the programme offers a Mozilla Open Badge (www. openbadges.org) to each successful candidate. n ACKNOWLEDGEMENT DR PETER TOBIN, AND DENNIS LAMBERTI OF MEDIA WORKS

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business savvy

And … action!

ife is experiential. To live it we need to live it. To grow we need to do stuff, right or wrong, and the best way to do this would be if we had fewer fears about the outcomes or repercussions of

mistakes we make.

I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, both personal and business, and have come not only to believe that each one has somehow helped to craft me, but also to understand that some of the most painful mistakes were probably where the biggest learnings were. You can have small errors that provide great learnings, so let’s just assume that mistakes we make or things we do wrong help fill out our picture with a lot more colour. The things that we do correctly are also part of that life-journey mapping system. They provide different types of contours and could possibly be represented by the places on our journeys that are pretty and peaceful. It’s the tougher aspects of our journey that have the greater propensity to shape us, for better or worse, and it is these aspects that fascinate me. If we know that learning comes from curiosity,

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making decisions and taking action, why is it that as a society we are not more enamoured with those who do just that? Without taking action you cannot possibly know whether something is the right or wrong thing to do. If you are a business and you need to grow revenue from your non-traditional business lines, it is essential that you look to enter a new market sector or carry out a little disruptive innovation within your space. You cannot do this if you don’t actually take action. As a generalisation we seem to take great satisfaction from pointing out the errors that big players across the globe make, whether it is trying a different line-up for Saturday’s match, designing a new front wing for the F1 car, launching a “bendy” phone or any other of a plethora of ideas. We tend to point out the errors and not reward the effort. It is not possible to be spot on all the time – as fans of Ferrari, Red Bull and McClaren have experienced over the past two decades. In order to be right some of the time, we need to try something new and take action. Most companies will go through good patches and bad because business and the world around it is cyclical. So for a while Ferrari was on top, then it was someone else. The trick is that each of these Formula One teams did not give up at any point. They persevered and continued to innovate within their

business, both from a people and a technology perspective. If they had not, they would not have been able to be World Champions again. It is often in these transitions between success and failure that the most criticism is levelled. After all, people are pretty good at providing armchair strategy. The teams moved forward even if it may not have seemed so at the time. They moved though and that’s the point. The best laid plans of mice and men are only that: a stupid saying if nothing is done. This quote from Thomas Jefferson has always spoken to me: “Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.” It’s right up there with the one from Peter Marshall: “Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.” It can all be distilled to the same clear thought – think, then take action – because without action your thoughts will mostly be that – thoughts – and they really never make it into the real world where they are able to make an impact and have a difference. Action will receive criticism, whether it is the correct action or not, so we can’t allow the fear of response to dictate what we do. n ACKNOWLEDGEMENT GAVIN MOFFAT @GAVINMOFFAT

Vol 100 - August 2016

BECAUSE WORK SHOULDN'T HURT

2 OUT OF 3

adults experience neck pain at some time, with up to 23% having symptoms that last more than 3 months

1 in 3

office workers have suffered sore wrists due to work, with up to 12% reporting difficulty everyday

60-80%

of people report having back pain at some stage in life, with 8 days being the average time away from work.

Nearly 75%

of office staff double their chances of DVT by not having regular breaks

Why SmartFit™? The Kensington SmartFit™ system enables you to customise your work environment to get maximum comfort from your desktop accessories in 3 easy steps: STEP 1 - MEASURE

STEP 2 - ADJUST

STEP 3 - FIT

With every SmartFit™ product, you will receive a hand chart which will assist you in finding your specific SmartFit™ colour to customise your fit. With your right wrist on the baseline of the hand chart, lay your entire hand over the diagram. The tip of your middle finger will point to your SmartFit™ colour.

Adjust the colour wheel or choose the colour option that best suits your personal comfort on your SmartFit™ product and you’re ready to go!

The Final step is to validate the fit of your SmartFit™ product at your workstation. As we make many different SmartFit™ products, please refer to the user guide in each product package for specific instructions.

IT focus

The wonderful world of fibre Fibre is being trenched across South Africa, but what is it all about?

What is fibre? Fibre optics works by sending information coded in a beam of light down a glass or plastic pipe. It was originally developed in the 1950s to help doctors see inside the human body without having to perform surgery. In the 1960s, engineers found a way of using the same technology to transmit telephone calls at the speed of light (300 000km per second). Fibre-optic cables Fibre-optic cables carry information between two places using entirely optical (light-based) technology. A fibre-optic cable is made up of incredibly thin strands of glass or plastic known as optical fibres; one cable can have anywhere between two strands and several hundred. Each strand is less than a tenth of the thickness of a human hair and can carry something like 25 000 telephone calls. A fibreoptic cable can easily carry several million calls.

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How fibre-optics works Light travels down a fibre-optic cable by bouncing repeatedly off the walls. Each tiny photon (particle of light) bounces down the pipe like a bobsleigh going down an ice run. Now you might expect a beam of light, traveling in a clear glass pipe, simply to leak out of the edges. But if light hits glass at a really shallow angle (less than 42 degrees), it reflects – as though the glass were really a mirror. This phenomenon is called total internal reflection. It’s one of the things that keeps light inside the pipe. The other thing that keeps light in the pipe is the structure of the cable, which is made up of two separate parts. The main part of the cable is called the core and that’s the bit the light travels through. Wrapped around the outside of the core is another layer of glass called the cladding. The cladding’s job is to keep the light signals inside the core. It can do this because it is made of a different type of glass.

Types of fibre-optic cables Optical fibres carry light signals down them in what are called modes. That sounds technical but it just means different ways of traveling: a mode is simply the path that a light beam follows down the fibre. One mode is to go straight down the middle of the fibre. Another is to bounce down the fibre at a shallow angle. Other modes involve bouncing down the fibre at other angles, more or less acute. The simplest type of optical fibre is called single-mode. It has a very thin core about 5 microns to 10 microns in diameter. In a single-mode fibre, all signals travel straight down the middle without bouncing off the edges. Cable TV, Internet and telephone signals are generally carried by single-mode fibres, wrapped together into a huge bundle. Cables like this can send information over 100km. Another type of fibre-optic cable is called multi-mode. Each optical fibre in a multi-mode cable is about 10 times bigger than one in a single-mode cable. This type of fibre is used with great effect Vol 100 - August 2016

IT focus

in the military and medical fields. Fibre and computer networks Fibre-optic cables are now the main way of carrying information over long distances because they have three very big advantages over old-style copper cables: • Less attenuation or signal loss – information travels roughly 10 times further before it needs amplifying, which makes fibre networks simpler and cheaper to operate and maintain; • No interference – unlike with copper cables, there’s no “crosstalk” (electromagnetic interference) between optical fibres, so they transmit information more reliably with better signal quality; and • Higher bandwidth – as we’ve already seen, fibre-optic cables can carry far more data than copper cables of the same diameter. FTTH in South Africa In South Africa, ADSL supports maximum speeds of 40Mbps – but the reality is that www.myofficemagazine.co.za

most exchanges only support 10Mbps. FTTH (fibre to the home) can reach speeds of 1Gbps (1 000Mbps), but not many ISPs in South Africa support this, limiting speeds to the 100Mbps range. Fibre offers users download and upload speeds that are synchronous (the same). ISPs may throttle upload speeds on connections in order to cut costs. Synchronous fibre connections (usually favoured by businesses) are usually more expensive than asynchronous connections (usually favoured by home users). ISPs will still offer capped and uncapped accounts for fibre connections. Uncapped accounts will offer dramatically better performance (due to lower contention and shaping) while uncapped accounts will be subjected to similar contention and shaping as their ADSL uncapped counterparts. A contention ratio is the number of users sharing the same data capacity. The lower the contention ratio, the higher the quality of service.

Shaping is usually applied to uncapped packages. Shaping involves rules that an ISP applies to the data on its network, based on protocols and times of day. Business protocols (e-mail, VoIP and Skype) are prioritised during business hours, but standard consumer protocols (such as torrents, other downloads and YouTube videos) will be prioritised after hours. Capped packages are not usually shaped, as the ISP would like users to finish their cap and buy more data. The average HD movie (sized at 4.5GB) would take 1 hour 2 minutes to download on a 10Mbps ADSL connection, but only 6 minutes and 17 seconds on a 100Mbps fibre connection. Fibre is therefore ideal for business use, particularly in companies where information and Internet use is part of their core business. n ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CHRIS WOODFORD WWW.EXPLAINTHATSTUFF.COM

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events

Diarise this

A list of industry-specific events and exhibitions to mark on your calendar 10 – 21 August

26 – 27 August STUDENT EXPO DURBAN WATERCREST MALL, DURBAN South Africa’s only exhibition designed to provide both current and prospective students with the necessary tools to succeed in professional tertiary education and beyond. The Student Expo has evolved to encompass a breadth of information to facilitate a successful, fulfilling and stressfree student experience in the HR industry.

31 August – 02 September OPEN DESIGN FESTIVAL CAPE TOWN CAPE TOWN CITY HALL, CAPE TOWN This 12-day event showcases products relating to design, innovation and change making in the architecture and design industry.

24 – 25 August SALES LEADERSHIP CONVENTION SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE, JOHANNESBURG This event showcases products relating to the business services industry, including sales, marketing, managers, team leaders, SMME business owners and telesales.

25 August MY BUSINESS EXPO CAPE TOWN CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, CAPE TOWN This event is Africa’s biggest business start-up and growth forum, also incorporating the Business Start-Up Expo, Access to Finance Indaba, The Franchise Show, Trading Across Borders and Build a Business LIVE.

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CHINA HOMELIFE FAIR SOUTH AFRICA SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE, JOHANNESBURG This is an important platform for leading Chinese companies seeking to do business in Africa. Buyers are guaranteed the best quality and a wide variety of suppliers to choose from at the show. The first edition of the China Homelife Show Africa will bring you over 250 suppliers from the home products category, presenting a lucrative opportunity for importers, traders and buyers to source high quality products directly from manufacturers.

01 – 04 September

HOBBY-X MIDRAND HEARTFELT ARENA, MIDRAND Hobby-X showcases a wide variety of materials, equipment, supplies and ideas for an extensive range of creative crafts and hobbies.

01 – 04 September JOZI BOOK FAIR WITS UNIVERSITY, JOHANNESBURG This event is an exhibition of books and related materials by publishers and NGOs.

07 – 09 September AFRICA PRINT EXPO GALLAGHER CONVENTION CENTRE, JOHANNESBURG Africa Print Regional Expo is a two-day event showcasing products like the digital print process, and will feature sheet-fed A3 machines, grand-format digital equipment, commercial and digital printers, finishing equipment, software, media and consumables. Vol 100 - August 2016

Poly Ball XB

The colourful ball pen for smooth writing. • Ergonomic triangular grip zone • Non-slip soft-touch barrel in modern trendy colours

• XB refills for extra smooth writing • High capacity for those who write a lot

www.Faber-Castell.co.za

pens and markers

Make your mark! Follow our simple guide to pens and markers Pens Ballpoint pens Arguably the most common tool for everyday writing, the ballpoint pen dispenses ink by channelling it down a plastic reservoir over a small, hard ball which is free to roll on contact with paper. The sphere is usually made of made of brass, steel or tungsten carbide, between 0,7 and 1,2mm in diameter. The ink used in ballpoint pens is a paste, based on a dye mixed into an alcohol solvent. The ink dries almost immediately on contact with paper and is not prone to smudging or leaking. These pens have the advantage of being reliable and affordable. They also last longer than other types of pens. Rollerball pens A rollerball pen dispenses ink through a ball tip similar to that of a ballpoint pen. Rollerball pens were initially designed to combine the convenience of a ballpoint pen with the smooth, wet-ink effect of a fountain pen. A tiny ball, between 0,5mm and

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0,7mm in diameter, transfers the ink from the reservoir onto the paper. Rollerball pens after a smooth writing experience as the instrument moves easily across the writing surface. The inks used in rollerball pens are either liquid inks or gel-based inks, and are less viscous and therefore more easily absorbed by paper. Rollerball pens can be prone to smudging, leaking and bleeding through the paper. If the cap if left off a rollerball pen, the ink tends to dry out. Gel pens A gel pen uses ink in which the pigment is suspended in a water-based gel. This makes the ink thick and opaque, allowing it to show up clearly on dark surfaces. Gel pens are similar to rollerballs, and consist of a barrel with the writing mechanism and a cap, and a reservoir filled with ink. The barrels can be created in many different sizes and designs, and may contain rubber or plastic finger grips. The average size of a gel penâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nib ranges from 0,18mm to 1,5mm. Gel pens can create bolder lines and may be able to write Vol 100 - August 2016

pens and markers

on unusual surfaces. The gel ink does not bleed through most papers. However, these pens are prone to smudging, due to the ink being wetter. They also skip occasionally, as the ball is less evenly coated with ink, and they are more likely to leak. Gel pens use more ink than other types of pens, and therefore require frequent refills or replacements. Felt-tip pens These pens have a porous tip of fibrous material. The smallest, finest-tipped markers are used for writing on paper, while medium-tip markers are often used by children for colouring and drawing. The larger markers are used for writing on boxes, whiteboards and for chalkboards in the form of permanent and whiteboard markers. Election and security markers fall into the felt-tipped pen category. The latter pens contain fluorescent inks that only show up under special lighting conditions. Coloured pens Originally available in blue ink or black, and later red and green, pens now come in a much wider range of colours. Gel pens in particular are available in myriad colours, including metallic colours like gold and bronze; glitter effects; neon colour; pastel tones; invisible ink; glow-inthe-dark inks; and other vibrant shades.

Pens from the past

Although these types of pens are no longer in common, some calligraphers and artists use them: A dip pen (or nib pen) consists of a metal nib mounted on a handle made of wood. It has no ink reservoir and must be dipped continuously when drawing or writing. The nib works on the same premise as a fountain pen, and has a few advantages. It can use waterproof inks, such as India ink; drawing ink; acrylic inks, which clogs a fountain pen; or iron gall ink, which can cause corrosion in a fountain pen. Dip pens are now mainly used in illustration, calligraphy, and comics. The ink brush is the traditional writing implement used in East Asian calligraphy. It is made from bamboo, or red sandalwood, glass, ivory, silver, and gold. The head of the brush is made from the hair (or feathers) of a wide variety of animals, such as chicken, goat or rabbit. Modern Asian calligraphy may also be done using a pen, but pen calligraphy does not enjoy the same prestige as traditional brush calligraphy. A quill is a pen made from a flight feather of a large bird such as a goose. Quills were used as instruments for writing with ink before the metal dip pen, fountain pen and ballpoint pen came into use. Quill pens were used in medieval times to write on parchment or paper. A reed pen was a pen cut from a reed or bamboo, with a slit in a narrow tip. Its mechanism is essentially similar to that of a quill. The reed pen has almost disappeared, although it is sometimes still used by young school students in some parts of India and Pakistan. The quill replaced reed pens.

Fountain pens A fountain pen is a type of pen that delivers water-based liquid ink through a nib. The ink flows from a reservoir through a â&#x20AC;&#x153;feedâ&#x20AC;? to the nib, and then through it. The nib has no moving parts and delivers ink through a thin slit to the writing surface by means of gravity. www.myofficemagazine.co.za

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pens and markers Fountain pen reservoirs can be refillable or disposable. A pen with a refillable reservoir uses a piston-like mechanism to draw ink from a bottle through the nib. Alternatively, it must be refilled with an eyedropper. Refill reservoirs, also known as cartridge converters, are available for some pens which use disposable ink cartridges.

Markers Permanent markers A permanent, waterproof or indelible marker is a type of marker pen that is used to create permanent writing on a range of objects, including paper, wood, metal, stone and fabric. In general, the ink comprises a main carrier solvent, a glyceride, a pyrrolidone, a resin and a colourant. This makes it waterproof. Permanent markers come in a variety of tip sizes (ultra fine to wide), shapes (chisel point, bullet tip and wide bristle), and colours (metallic or ultraviolet). Highlighters According to Wikipedia, a highlighter â&#x20AC;&#x153;is a type of writing device used to draw attention to sections of text by marking them with a vivid, translucent colourâ&#x20AC;?. The most recognisable highlighter is fluorescent yellow, coloured with pyranine. Some yellow highlighters may look greenish in colour to the naked eye. Yellow is the preferred colour to use when making a photocopy as it will not produce a shadow on the copy. Different compounds, such as rhodamines, are used to create the other common fluorescent colours of green, pink, orange and blue. The use of different colour highlighters simultaneously makes information more organised and readable. Highlighter ink glows under black light because it is florescent. Highlighters are available in multiple forms. They can have retractable tips, or be stackable. Some highlighters have a wax-like quality similar to an oil pastel. Dry highlighters have an applicator that applies a thin strip of highlighter tape (physically similar to audio tape) instead of a felt tip. Unlike standard highlighters, they are easily erasable. They are different from dry mark highlighters, which are sometimes advertised as being useful for highlighting books with thin pages. Gel highlighters contain a gel stick rather than a felt tip. The gel does not bleed through paper or become

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Vol 100 - August 2016

pens and markers dried out in the pen as other highlighters inks may. Whiteboard markers Dry-erase markers are also known as whiteboard markers or non-permanent markers. They are made using erasable ink, for use on a slick, non-porous writing surface such as whiteboards and overhead projectors. The ink in a dry-erase marker is made from colour pigments, a chemical solvent and a polymer (or “release agent”). The kind of polymer that is used determines whether the marker is permanent or non-permanent. Dry-erase markers use an oily silicone polymer which makes the ink slippery, preventing it from coming into direct contact with a surface. The solvent in the marker (usually an alcohol) helps the ink to dry quickly. The ink attaches to the surface rather than being absorbed by it. They are often used by children because the marks they make are easy to clean and the ink is non-toxic. Before using dry-erase markers, it is a good idea to test them on the surface you want to mark. Some surfaces don’t erase well, and the marker will leave permanent or semipermanent marks behind. Wet-wipe or wet-erase markers are similar to dry-erase markers but use a quick-drying liquid paste as their medium. The markings are semi-permanent as the base is not alcoholic in nature, and will not be wiped away by a whiteboard eraser. The paste-based medium is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. These markers are usually made of water, resin and titanium dioxide. Wet-wipe markers are often used to draw a template, especially in school classrooms or on calendars. Dry-erase markers are then usually applied on top of the wet-wipe marker, and erased without touching the wet-wipe marks. Uses for wet-wipe markers include overhead projector transparencies, tablets at restaurants, office calendars, signboards, whiteboards, and writing on mirrors, chalkboards, plastics, ceramics, glass windows and other non-porous surfaces. They are available in an assortment of colours, and can then be cleaned off non-porous surfaces with a damp cloth.

Some unusual uses for dryerase markers nn Label frozen foods – use a dry-erase marker to write the date and contents on the lid of storage containers you want to put in the freezer. oo Make notes on your bathroom mirror – the bathroom mirror is usually one of the first things you see in the morning, so it’s a great place to write reminders or jot down quick notes. Dry-erase markers write beautifully on glass. pp Make a dry-erase card – cover an index card with clear packing tape to create a pocket-sized white-board. Brainstorm on the go, erase and use it again. qq Mind mapping – place a sheet of paper in a plastic file sleeve and write on it over and over again. The paper can contain templates for mind-mapping or brainstorming. rr Label file drawers or shelves – file drawers and shelves with smooth finishes, such as metal or Formica, can be labelled with dry-erase markers and re-labelled with ease. ss Learn while you shower – if you have a glass shower, you can write lists of words or other information you want to learn on the outside and read it while you bathe. tt Mark the next service date inside your car’s windscreen – use a fine-tip dry-erase marker to write a reminder in an out-of-direct-sight corner of your windscreen. uu Write on your desk – get a glass or acrylic desk pad (you may have to put a sheet of poster board underneath if your desk isn’t light-coloured) and write notes, to-do lists, phone numbers, or anything else directly on the top of your desk. As you finish tasks, simply wipe them away. Source – www.lifehack.org

Fabric markers Fabric markers are especially made to disappear. The ink washes out of the fabric, so that guidelines and patterns can’t be seen. These markers often have two ends – a watersoluble tip and a disappearing ink tip. If you use the water-soluble end, you’ll have to wash your fabric before you can get rid of the markings, but the benefit is that the markings will stay on your fabric for the duration of your sewing project. The disappearing ink doesn’t require washing, but it will disappear on its own over time. n

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Vol 100 - August 2016

how to sell

Whiteboards

hiteboards – also known as dry-erase boards – are made of hard plastic with a clear topcoat writing surface, bonded to a thin backing material. They are ideal for use in environments where chalk dust could prove to be an issue, such as in an area with sensitive electrical equipment.

Melamine boards are meant for light usage, such as in a home or home office. Porcelain whiteboards are higher quality and therefore less porous than melamine. They are most commonly found in classroom settings. Porcelain whiteboards vary significantly in quality because there are so many different ways to manufacture porcelain. A glossy board will have fewer surface pores than a board with a matte finish, and therefore will last longer without staining.

Did you know? Surface type Different whiteboard surfaces are designed for different uses, and it is important to ensure your customer chooses the right one for their needs. The less porous the whiteboard surface is, the better the performance will be. Melamine whiteboards are the cheapest type of board and will inevitably stain. Although daily cleanings will prolong the life of melamine boards, this surface will not last very long as it is highly porous.

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Staining occurs if marker residue is left on the board without daily cleanings. Many whiteboard surfaces retain marker pigments which penetrate the surface of the board and never come clean. This leaves behind a discoloured look known as “ghosting”, creating an unsightly whiteboard with remnants of writing from the past. This can make it difficult for people to read what is on the board.

Tip Always recommend your customer buys a whiteboard with a surface type that is a level up from the type they think they will need. Once the board is mounted and accessible, there is a good chance it will be used more often than originally estimated.

Hardcoat laminate is completely nonporous and does not allow marker ink to penetrate the surface. This means the boards do not need to be cleaned often to prevent staining. The downside of a hardcoat laminate surface is that it is more susceptible to scratching, so it should be cleaned with a soft microfibre cloth. Lifespan All whiteboards have a limited lifespan – in fact, many whiteboards are replaced within five years simply due to staining. When selling a whiteboard to a customer, it is important to take maintenance and replacement into account. While Vol 100 - August 2016

how to sell high-quality whiteboards cost more up front, they last a lot longer. The lifespan of one porcelain-surfaced whiteboard is approximately six times that of a melamine-surfaced board. Size and mounting Two key factors for your customers to consider with regards to the whiteboard are size and mounting. When choosing a whiteboard, they will need to measure the wall space available, and be sure to note the dimensions of the board. They will also need to consider the type of mounting hardware included with the board. Some whiteboards allow for both vertical and horizontal mounting. Form versus function When selling whiteboards to your customers, it is important to get some idea of where it will be placed. Whiteboards can be aesthetically pleasing as well as useful. Whiteboards with magnetic surfaces make great presentation boards, and allow the whiteboard to double as a bulletin board for hanging of charts and images. Other whiteboards come with predrawn markings on them, such as grid patterns, planners or calendars. This is ideal for scheduling teams and drawing graphs. Whiteboards are also available with different types of frames, such as wood or graphite, to match the office decor.

Whiteboard accessories White board erasers Where there are whiteboards, there must be whiteboard erasers. When helping your customers to choose a whiteboard eraser, it is important to take note of the following characteristics:

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Size and grip is important: consider who will be using the eraser the most. The eraser should conform to the shape of the hand, otherwise users risk dropping it or straining their fingers. Some models are designed especially for smaller hands. A wide variety of shapes exist to make erasing easier. There is even a whiteboard eraser glove available. Erasers are available in a range of different colours too. This is useful when it comes to organising stationery, especially in learning environments. Choosing the type of duster that the whiteboard eraser is fitted with will not only benefit your customer’s whiteboard, but their health too. Traditionally, the duster part of a whiteboard eraser is made of felt. However, if your client has allergies and asthma, they should choose a microfibre duster to trap dust, which is hypoallergenic. Washable dusters ensure that there is as little ink dust being released into the air as possible, which is ideal for customers with allergies. Cleaner dusters tend to retain dust better. Holders keep whiteboard erasers within easy reach. While most come equipped with their own holder, it is also possible to buy them separately. Magnetic holders are convenient as they can be placed anywhere on the board. Whiteboard cleaning solutions Whiteboards are popular as a convenient replacement for chalkboards and bulletin boards. What’s more, they are very easy to clean and maintain. There are dozens of commercial cleaning products available for use on dry-erase boards. Most contain bleach or alcohol, which erase ink and other stains. Clean the board thoroughly with a formulated board cleaner by simply spraying the surface with the cleaner

Tip Decrease the wear and tear on whiteboards by: Erasing frequently – don’t wait days before erasing large amounts of writing. Advise your clients to erase notes as soon as they are done with them. Also, when erasing a whiteboard, don’t just clean off the areas with the markings. Rather, clean the entire board thoroughly after each use. If ink is left on the board for several days, the ink will set and it may be difficult to erase. Using soap and water – tell your clients to consider cleaning their whiteboards with mild soap and water on a weekly basis. Dip a sponge into a mixture of soapy water and gently scrub the board, and then dry with a soft towel. Telling your clients to never use coins or other hard, sharp objects to scratch off stubborn marks from a whiteboard. Doing so will damage the surface of the whiteboard and decrease writing space.

and wiping with a clean soft cloth. It is suggested that the board be periodically cleaned. Many whiteboard solutions actually re-condition the surface of the whiteboard, meaning that it is easier to wipe clean with just a dry cloth between full cleanings. This means that you will use less cleaner. Look out for whiteboard cleaners that are non-toxic and biodegradable. You can get them scented, or completely scent-free. Whiteboard cleaning wipes are also available. They are usually made of threeply material and are pre-moistened with a cleaning solution. They are often nontoxic and safe to use on skin.

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Interactive whiteboards An interactive whiteboard (IWB) consists of a smart display screen that is connected to a computer and projector via a USB port, and allows for viewing, input and collaboration by multiple users. Projection types and throw There are two types of interactive whiteboards: front projection and rear projection. Front projection whiteboards use a projector that is situated in front of the whiteboard surface. This can cast a shadow if the presenter is standing in front of the board. A rear projection whiteboard does not cast shadows because the projector is positioned behind the whiteboard surface. This is better for the presenter, as they do not have to face the projector light when addressing an audience. In terms of distance, there are two types your clients must consider: a standard projector or a short throw. A standard projector is a unit that mounts further back into the room (such as on the ceiling or on

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a desk). A short throw projector mounts directly above the whiteboard, projecting from a short distance. Because it is close to the projection surface, shadowing is eliminated. Technology types There is a wide variety of interactive whiteboard technology available, allowing for integration of interactive elements such as touch technology, writing instruments and lasers. Different technology types will be more or less appropriate for your customers. A whiteboard that contains resistive membrane has a surface that consists of two panels of resistive materials separated by a space. The space creates a membrane that is touch-sensitive, responding to the pressure of a finger gesture or stylus pen movement. This technology is cost-effective but not very durable, as the surface is easily marked or damaged. IWBs that use ultrasonic technologies are designed with ultrasonic transmitters and receivers at

each corner of the whiteboard. Signals are transmitted and any gestures on the edges of the whiteboard create ultrasonic waves that are detected by the transmitters. The waves are subdued when the surface of the whiteboard is pressed, and information is communicated by the ultrasonic receiver to the controller. Electromagnetic whiteboards have a hard surface backed with a grid of electronic wires that interact with the coil on a stylus pen. The coil helps the grid wires identify the X and Y co-ordinates on the pen. This type of technology is not suitable for touch gestures, as configuration is incapable of sensing touch gestures and pointing devices. An infrared whiteboard uses infrared optical technology which tracks the touch gestures or stylus pen movements on the surface. When the whiteboard surface is pressed, information is processed by the on-board software. A laser scanner whiteboard uses laser light which is distributed near the edges of the whiteboard. The laser scanners are Vol 100 - August 2016

how to sell located on the frame of the whiteboard and integrate with a felt stylus pen which reflects the laser light back on the frame to track movement. A digital interactive whiteboard requires a digital pen equipped with infrared cameras. When the digital pen is used on the whiteboard surface, the pattern of the pen movements is accurately tracked, allowing for pinpoint accuracy. Screen size The size of your customer’s audience will determined what size screen they will need to consider. For small gatherings of between two and 10 people, screens should be 50 inches diagonally. For 10 to 25 people, the screen should be in the 60-inch to 80-inch range. For an audience of 50 or more, the large 80- to 105-inch screens are needed.

point. Some IWBs can be placed on a rolling stand and moved from room to room. The type of cart needed will depend on the type of project your customer has. A standard unit needs a stand that holds only the board, but a short throw projector needs a cart that holds both the board and projector. The ability to adjust the height of the IWB is a feature that customers may require. This can be done by adjusting a wall mount or a rolling stand. The number of users that will be using the IWB at any one time must be taken into consideration. Some IWB screens are dual-touch or multi-touch, meaning that more than one person can be use the whiteboard at the same time. Another useful feature is multi-force input, where the board senses how hard the user is pressing and adjusts the line thickness accordingly. n

Other key features for your customers to consider: Durability – the durability of interactive whiteboards is variable. It is wise to choose one that can withstand punctures, permanent marker or water. Warranty – a longer warranty is better for your customers. Dry-erase friendly – some IWBs have a surface you can write on with dry-erase markers. Video conferencing capabilities – IWBs can be used for video conferencing. Handwriting recognition – some IWBs come with handwriting and shape recognition.

Resolution Screen resolution is also a key selling point. A high resolution (like 1080P or 4K) is more expensive and is only really necessary for demanding applications that require the utmost clarity. Interactive LCD or LED screens are best for a highresolution application. Screens are usually available in regular format (known as XGA) or widescreen (known as WXGA). Widescreen formats will cost slightly more, but they are becoming widely available. It is a good idea for your customers to match the interactive whiteboard resolution to that of their computers. This will ensure optimal picture quality. Connectivity and compatibility The way an interactive whiteboard connects to the Internet and other devices is of paramount importance for your customers. Many whiteboards are connected through cables, usually via a USB port. Wireless connectivity, where no physical connection is present between the whiteboard and the Internet or other device, means more mobility and less clutter for customers. Many interactive whiteboards are Bluetooth compatible. Some IWBS are both iOS and Android compatible, allowing your customer to use the whiteboard from an app on their phone. Direct, wireless printing from the whiteboard is another key feature. Mobility, adjustability and versatility The ability to move and adjust an interactive whiteboard is another selling

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Vol 100 - August 2016

product insights

A little to the left

nce considered an affliction that had to be eradicated, being left-handed is now widely embraced. Instead of having to make do, stationers around the world now stock products specifically developed for left-handers.

Ergonomic pens Usually “ergonomic” implies that the item is designed for easy use with the right hand. Now some manufacturers are starting to make versions of their ergonomic products for left-handers as well; or to design them so they are equally beneficial in either hand. Something that will appeal to lefthanders are non-smudge pens. Because their hands follow behind the pen as they write and draw, left-handers’ masterpieces can end up a smeared with ink. The latest innovation in pens is instant drying ink that dries as soon as it touches the page. This has naturally become very popular with left-handers of all ages. Reversed sharpeners Reversed sharpeners allow the user to hold the pencil in the left hand and turn it anti-clockwise to sharpen the point – the natural motion for a left-hander.

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Stationery for left-handers is now available in all shapes and sizes Did you know? 13 August is International Lefthanders Day. It’s also great as a joke – let righthanders borrow it and watch as they cannot get their pencils to sharpen! Left-handed scissors Truly left-handed scissors have the blades reversed as well as the handles. These can be hard to find but are great to cut with. They follow the cutting line without tearing, and without the user having to squeeze the handles together so hard that they bruise their thumb knuckle. Manicure, kitchen and desk scissors are the most popular in the left-handed range. Reversed rulers Reversed rulers are made of flexible, lightweight material and the numbers run from right to left for easier use by lefthanders. Rulers scaled from right to left allow left-handers to follow their natural direction, making it easy for them to draw and measure lines. Left-handed spiral notepads These notepads have the spiral binding on the left-hand side, so you can write in them comfortably left-handed. Notebooks with the binding on the right-hand side are uncomfortable for left-handers to use as it forms an obstacle for the hand trying to write. n

Write right

The pencil grip is an area that is often neglected and frequently excused as allowing individuality or avoiding conflict with the writer. Unfortunately, a poor grip will often make for problems later on in life, especially when writing those long essays in high school exams. Thankfully, this is also something that can be corrected at any age. The pencil should be held in the three point pinch grip: rest the pencil on the last segment of the middle finger beside the nail and hold the pencil gently with the tip of the index finger and thumb. All digits should be 2cm to 3cm from the tip of the pencil. A number of moulded grips are available that can facilitate and reinforce the correct grip, as well as pens with a built-in grip in the barrel. The wrist should be straight and relaxed; the hooked position is no longer advocated as an appropriate technique for writing. The forearm should rest gently on the table, especially for prolonged writing exercises. The elbow should be at right-angles and the shoulders relaxed. Raise or lower the chair to facilitate this position. Move the pencil on the page using the shoulder and the fingers, not the wrist, as this will assist with forming the correct slant on letters. Ergonomically-designed writing implements are a great help for those who are left-handed. Vol 100 - August 2016

product insights

The advantages of being left-handed hh Being left-handed is an advantage in many sports. Since most players are right handed, many are unused to dealing with those who are left-handed. There is specially-designed sports equipment for left-handers. Sports that offer an advantage to lefties are fencing, boxing and tennis. hh Lefties have a greater chance of being a genius or having a high IQ. Researchers aren’t sure why, but those who are left-handed seem to make up a disproportionately large part of those who are highly intelligent. For example, 20% of all Mensa members are left-handed. When you consider that less than 10% of the total population is left-handed, this makes for a lot of smart lefties. Some think this genius stems from being forced to use both sides of the brain more often, allowing these individuals to process a large amount of information more easily. hh Bizarre as it may sound left-handed people adjust more easily to seeing underwater. While you may not need this ability very often, it could come in handy if you live by the sea or enjoy swimming. While it’s not quite clear why this is so, scientists think it has something to do with a different part of the brain being dominant in left-handed individuals. hh Lefties are better able to multi-task. One of the advantages of being left-handed is that it forces your brain to think more quickly. What this means for everyday life is that those who are lefties may find it easier to multi-task and deal with a large, sometimes unorganised stream of information. Researchers found that conversations between the left and right sides of the brain happen more quickly in left-handed people. The more dominant the lefthandedness is, the better these abilities are. hh Some left-handed individuals have better memories. While it isn’t true for all who are left-handed, data from recent studies suggests that those who come from families of lefties tend to have better memories. The odd thing about this study, however, was that individuals didn’t necessarily need to be left-handed themselves to have a better memory – just come from a family of lefties. hh Generally, lefties are better at playing video games. Some of the traits that make lefties better thinkers and multi-taskers also make them better at playing video games. Research conducted by Dr Nick Cherbuin shows that lefties are better at handing large amounts of stimuli, making them naturally better at killing zombies, playing virtual tennis or fighting off alien hordes in the virtual world. hh Left-handed stroke victims recover faster than right handed stroke victims. While the reasons behind this aren’t entirely clear, some believe it’s due to left-handed people having to strengthen both sides of the brain when navigating a right-handed world. Because many lefties are better able to use their non-dominant hand, it is easier for them to recover from a stroke that damages one part of their brain. Of course, recovery for those suffering from a stroke is never easy, no matter which is their dominant hand. hh Left-handed people are likely to be more visual than languagebased, making them ideal for artistic pursuits. Research has shown that university students are more likely to major in visuallybased, as opposed to language-based, subjects when they’re left-handed. While another study showed that within the sample, 47% of art students were left- or mixed-handed. If you want to be an artist this is an amazing benefit, putting you in the likes of greats like Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Rembrandt. n ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WWW.ANYTHINGLEFTHANDED.CO.UK

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arts and crafts

The art of relaxation Adult colouring-in books have become the latest in relaxation here are many ways to manage stress: physical exercise, holidays, walks on the beach, sun downers, meditation and reading a book are just a few ways to unwind.

Now there is a very popular and effective way to manage stress – colouring-in. Crayons, coloured pencils and fibre pens are most often used for this purpose. Arifa has just launched the Schneider Line-Up and Link-It fibre tipped-pens, well suited to for colouring-in. The Line-Up is available in 30 colours with a 0,4mm tip. These pens are sold in stylish pen stands containing sets of four, eight or 16 assorted colours. A set of 30 colours, plus two Line-Up

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Touch free of charge, will be very popular amongst the ardent colouring-in artist. The Line-Up Touch also doubles as a stylus for smartphone and tablet users. The Link-It is a twin pen with a 0,4mm fineliner and a 1,0mm fibre pen. They can be clicked together at the end of the barrels. The fineliner is ideal for fine lines and the fibre pen is most suitable for colouring larger areas. Both Link-It pens are available in 16 colours, and in sets of eight or 16 assorted colours. Relaxing colouring-in is ensured with the rubberised, ergonomic triangular barrel. The barrels are made of 85% biobased plastic. There are different categories of colouring-in for adults: Doodle, ZenTangle and Mandalas. According to Wikipedia, a doodle is “a drawing made while a person’s attention is otherwise occupied. Doodles are

simple drawings that can have concrete representational meaning or may just be abstract shapes”. Even the great Leonardo da Vinci doodled. Zen-Tangle was invented by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts. It is a drawing technique based on abstract, simple patterns that are repeated. The Zen-Tangle is definitely a meditative art. It helps people to relax, improving their state of mind by making them more optimistic and positive. “Stay between the lines” has become the new mantra of those strung -out people looking to de-stress from the daily pressures of daily life. “It’s all about how colouring-in helps alter brainwaves,” says clinical psychologist Dr David Holmes. “When we’re alert and attentive, with the brain engaged in decision-making and problemsolving, it operates using beta brainwaves Vol 100 - August 2016

arts and crafts – precisely what’s needed when you need to think on your feet.” To relax, says Dr Holmes, you must shift down a gear so the brain starts using alpha brainwaves – a transition some people find difficult. This is a situation where colouring in can be of assistance, as adult colouring-in is a self-help therapy for relaxation. n ACKNOWLEDGEMENT HORST STÖSSEL, CEO OF ARIFA

Try your Arifa pen on this

Win this!

Write in and stand a chance to win a hamper from Arifa. Send your contact details to competitions@shop-sa.co.za with Arifa in the subject line.

Hamper 1

Hamper 2

Stand a chance to win one of two colouring-in hampers from Arifa! Simply write in and mention which hamper you hope to win. Hamper number one contains: A set of 8 assorted colours of 0,4mm Link-It pens A set of 8 assorted colours of 1,0mm Link-It pens A Dream Doodles colouring-in book A Schneider t-shirt www.myofficemagazine.co.za

Hamper number two contains: A set of 16 assorted colours of Line-Up pens An artist colouring-in book A Schneider t-shirt

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furniture

In a bind over the office blinds?

hen purchasing blinds for your office, quality and style matching should be your top priorities. Stylish and professionally-fitted window blinds add to the aesthetic appeal of your office.

Knowing what type of window blinds to buy is not easy; there are so many different options and (as with many parts of interior design) the popular styles are always changing. Window blinds are not obviously stylish, and choosing a set which will work well in your office can be a challenge – but it will be well worth the effort. Quality window blinds can also improve the overall look and feel of your work space by creating a more productive and professional atmosphere. Office blinds help not only to control the ambience in your space, but also to create the right light necessary to be able to see your computer monitor correctly.

Material Many different types of blinds can work well in the office. Generally speaking, blinds made from aluminium or wood are the best for offices.

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Choosing office blinds needn’t be a chore

Colour When deciding on the colour of your blinds, the only principal rule is that blinds for the office should be light in colour – bright colours can be distracting and informal, and should be avoided. Brown and white blinds are best for office windows. Light colours create a soothing and relaxing atmosphere which is a great choice for a work space. Blinds make your office look great and at the same time, offer privacy, security and temperature control. Window blinds are an essential feature for office windows. Since blinds are available in different designs with a variety of colours, you will always be able to find ones that match your office décor.

Styles Horizontal blinds These types of blinds often come with a chain control fixed to one side of the blind. You can close and open the slats of the blind using the chain control. Once closed, the blind is opaque but you can view the outside world through the open slats. With open slats, it’s hard to see into the room from the outside. One of the common advantages of horizontal window blinds is the privacy it offers. Office buildings mostly use horizontal blinds as employees can

view outside but no one can see what is going on in the building from outside, even with open blinds. A new type of horizontal blinds are made of double layers of fabric. Venetian blinds Perhaps the most popular window blinds at the moment is Venetian blinds, which are modern and allow for compact design and sleek decoration. They are extremely popular in modern offices looking for a contemporary style that is both subtle and practical. Venetian blinds are horizontal window blinds in which slats are linked together to fit across the window at several points across the width. They are easy to use and take up very little space, allowing for the maximum amount of light when not in use, but complete privacy when required. Whilst standard curtains still remain popular, primarily because of the designs that are possible with them, it’s clear that Venetian blinds are rapidly catching up, especially considering the they complement the current trends in interior design, which favour minimalism and large amounts of space. Roller blinds One type of blind that has undergone important changes recently is the roller blind, which had humble beginnings but has progressed into something far more decorative. Whilst initially intended to be Vol 100 - August 2016

furniture the simplest type of window blind, roller blinds have become popular in various situations, particularly in modern office buildings and in rooms where there are several large windows. Roller blinds are easy to move up and down as these are sheets of fabric that are rolled up to the blind. A chain clutch drive is attached to the roller blinds that controls the roll of the blind. You can roll up the fabric using the chain clutch drive. Roller blinds can look excellent if designed correctly, with some subtle patterns and warm colours, but they can also look extremely dated if you’re not careful. Roller blinds with solid, dark, colours and thick materials will look more like old fashioned window shades than modern blinds, so it’s important to consider how the blinds will look in relation to the design of your office. Modern roller blinds do not necessarily block out all the light that hits them, so they may not be ideal for the office. Roman blinds Roman blinds are also a good choice for the office, particulary in communal areas like the kitchen. They are sometimes more expensive

than any other blinds, but they are highly attractive and functional. Roman blinds are a combination of subtle textures and soft fold fabric, showing off precise lines while still controlling light effortlessly. Total block-out and clean lines are achieved because the non-stitch groove system is discreet, and there are no lines running across the fabric. The blind can either be cord or chain operated. The blind is attached to the

head rail with velcro tape making the maintenance of the system even more convenient.

Conclusion No matter what type of window blinds you buy, ensure the design and decoration suit your corporate identity. Choose blinds that are made of highquality materials, so they will be durable and easy to use. n

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people management

How do you manage? We look at some of the common mistakes managers make (and how to avoid them)

eaching targets isn’t the only, or even the biggest, challenge facing today’s workplace leaders. The most difficult ones often relate to managing people and optimising their work environment to encourage every team member’s best performance.

After all, numbers don’t respond to your Monday blues, but people do. Managers are responsible for time management, decision-making, team-building and managing a multigenerational workforce. Regardless of whether you’re planning a move into management or if you’ve already been there a while, learn from these common managerial errors to avoid making your own in the future.

Static thinking

A promotion to management means your job responsibilities shift away from being the chief technical contributor and move into the realm of managing the success of others through their own technical abilities. Here two common mistakes are made:

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the first relating to holding on to the role you’ll leave, and the second to the one you’ll move into. In terms of the role just left, what many managers do wrong is retain a “technical expert” mind-set instead of adjusting to more of a “coaching” one. They continue to execute at the same time that they attempt to lead. The result? Twice the work, half the impact, and the infamous micromanagement phrase: “just let me do that for you”. The same “technical expert” mindset accompanied by the move into unknown territory results in leading out of fear – fear that the technical skills of team members will soon rival the new manager’s, as focus shifts to coaching rather than execution. This, of course, is not true, as management requires a very different set of skills to those of technical roles. How to avoid it Make a conscious effort to shift your thinking to a coaching mind-set. The first step is being aware that it’s necessary, and after that it’s down to how much you’re willing to learn, both on the job and outside of it. There are plenty of books on leadership to choose from if you want to accelerate your experience outside of working hours. On the job and outside of educational material: observe, learn and adjust.

Identify a mentor – a leader you can mirror – and pay close attention to how they deal with similar challenges to your own. On top of that, trust your team to execute while you guide them to do their best work.

Undefined goals

When you’re on the ground, it can be difficult to see all the way to the top. And that’s exactly what some managers fail to do – show their team what it looks like up there. Think about it: how would you feel if you knew you had somewhere to get to, but didn’t even know where that place was? Anxious, stressed, confused, unmotivated? That’s how team members feel when they don’t know the impact of their own contribution, or the end-goal they’re aiming for. The definition of success differs from company to company and, despite the obvious monetary indicators, is not always easy to define. The manager’s job is to define overall and individual goals clearly so that the team has a definite idea of what they’re chasing, and how they’re going to achieve it. How to avoid it Start with a clear definition of what the overarching company goals are. Filter those down into your own priorities, and into the broader goals of your entire team. Once you’re there, you can start to Vol 100 - August 2016

people management define how each individual contributes in their own capacity, and set priorities and targets for team members that align along a clear path, all the way to the top. Reminding your team of why they do what they do gives them a strong sense of motivation and purpose. It also allows you to hold them accountable for achieving those goals, because they understand the impact of their work and the detriment that not carrying out their responsibilities could have on both company targets and the ability of others to work. Ask yourself and your team how each individual objective affects the overall goal? How does each role inform the other? What is the result of good work, and the cost of non-performance?

Not knowing the team

Motivating a team requires not only that you ensure individuals are aware of how their work impacts broader company goals, but also understanding, supporting and encouraging them in ways that are relevant to their unique personalities. What some managers fail to do is make a concerted effort to really get to know team members on a personal level. They focus instead on optimising productivity through task management and success incentives because it’s easier and less time-consuming. They fail to realise that the most powerful approach to managing people is by being human and connecting on a person-toperson level. Figuring out what works and what doesn’t for every team member is the ultimate way to optimise efficiency. How to avoid it Firstly, don’t hide behind the convenience of technology, like e-mail or a task management system – prioritise face-to-face interactions. A simple way to do this is to have short team check-ins at your desks every morning. This is a space where team members can report on their wins, losses and current challenges, as well as what they’ll be focusing on that day. It’s a great way to get a sense of what’s going on, and what problems need to be solved. Setting up a weekly meeting for each team member will allow you to have valuable one-on-one time. These meetings allow you to check in on how every individual is coping; give

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feedback on their performance; allow for feedback on your own performance; and allows you to develop a unique relationship with each person.

Being reactive

For many, it’s a natural reaction to want to solve a problem as it appears, but this reactivity can be detrimental if not focused. A mistake made especially by new managers is to work long hours responding immediately to crises, instead of setting time aside to think strategically about what they need to achieve so that they can focus on what’s most important and respond appropriately. Every time a challenge is experienced by a team member, the manager quickly springs into action to clear the path. Although this might earn the immediate approval of your team, misdirected action will be detrimental in the long run.

How to avoid it “Think of yourself as one of your managed people,” says Lindsey Pollak, author of the leadership book Becoming the Boss. As much as you need to spend time on your team to make sure they’re able to perform at the highest level, you also need to spend time on yourself to coax out your best performance. Make time to prioritise and strategise. Proactively planning ahead means you’ll not only be able to anticipate potential problems, but allows you to be less reactive in the future because you know to respond immediately only to top priority issues.

Only managing downwards

In the same way that undefined goals can cloud a team’s view of the top, exclusively downwards management limits the team’s upwards influence. Sometimes, managers fail to realise my office magazine

people management

the value of extending their influence into positions above their own. Leaders at higher levels must be convinced of the legitimacy of your perspective (which aligns to your team’s goals) so that those below you can benefit too. The mistake here happens one of two ways: either, the manager attempts to join the ranks of colleagues in higher leadership positions and so comes across as being “above the team”, or believes they are too far below people in higher positions to have any impact. How to avoid it Learn to manage up as well as down. While the way you talk and interact with those in higher positions to your own will differ from how you interact with your team, the end-goal is the same: draw optimum value from both. When managing up, you may have to adopt a more formal tone, but doing things like referring to shared goals, talking up the skills of your own team, and humanising team members to those who aren’t familiar with them, are all ways you can extend your team’s influence to the upper echelons of your organisation.

Attitude

Remaining calm, positive and upbeat can often be the most tiring responsibility of a manager, and an area where many fall short. A manager’s attitude can determine whether people feel anything from relaxed and motivated to tense and pressured. The mistake many managers make here is responding with emotion to the actions of those they’re leading. Whether it’s in reaction to an opinionated comment, below-par work or even the detrimental attitude of a team member, managers are consistently faced with the challenge of maintaining composure and handling every situation in a fair, calculated and professional manner. If you’re wondering why team morale is low, take a hard look at your own approach to work.

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How to avoid it Unless people believe something is possible, they won’t create conditions for success, and only you, as a leader, can maintain their belief. You have to be the face of possibility. It’s important to think about the desired environment you want to create, and be an example of that environment so that others identify with its merits and buy in to the associated behaviour.

Here are some quick tips for ensuring a better work environment: ÊÊ After a dispute is resolved, continue as usual and don’t hold a grudge; ÊÊ If problems arise, don’t ignore them – address them immediately; ÊÊ Treat every team member uniquely, but equally; and ÊÊ Don’t let your own mood affect your team negatively.

Treating money as motivation

If you really know your team, you’ll likely find that money isn’t the only way to motivate them – and sometimes it may even be the wrong way. Many managers make the common error of assuming that team members do the work they do purely for the monetary rewards. In some cases, this may be true, but for the majority of the time there are other ways to motivate. How to avoid it People value different things, so by knowing your team you should be able to identify what speaks to that value, and use it as a form of motivation. For example, work/life balance is valued highly by many. For these sorts of team members, the chance to work from home one day a week (if their type of work allows for it) could be a

contributing factor to morale. Other motivators include showing trust in an individual’s skills by increasing their responsibility, as well as privately praising team members who have overcome obstacles, made progress or performed exceptionally.

Not drawing the line

It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to appear friendly and approachable as a manager, but not being professional enough can lead to complications when it comes to making those tough decisions regarding people in a team. This can result in anything from hurt feelings to the temptation to take advantage of your professional friendship. It’s important to maintain a balance and nurture a professional understanding between you and your team. How to avoid it While this doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t make friends with team members, it’s important to ensure that you develop an understanding that there’s a time and a place for everything. If you’re friendly with your team, ensure that criticism of work or behaviour is based on solid examples to leave as little room as possible for misunderstandings. An example is the “Situation, Behaviour, Impact” approach to feedback. This approach frames behaviour in a way that highlights its impact on the person who suffered because of it, and avoids directly accusing the person who performed it, so that they are less likely to get defensive. Every team is different, and so requires a unique approach tailored to extracting the best from every member. Avoiding these mistakes will make the journey a lot smoother. n ACKNOWLEDGEMENT GETSMARTER

Visit www.getsmarter.co.za to enrol in online and part-time short courses from leading universities.

Vol 100 - August 2016

WEIGHTLESS. BORDERLESS. LIMITLESS. YOUR That’s built XPS laptop G TO L ERwhy SDSwe BLOthe D.E EISTSLwith .ELSISM. I T L E S S W E WE I GLOVE H TW L EE SIWORK. S .HB E. R ER SDell S LR13 ILM the world’s first InfinityEdge display and 6th Gen Intel ® Core ™ processors. LOVE YOUR WORK. That’s the Dell XPS 13 laptop with WE LOVE YOUR WE WORK. That’s why we built thewhy Dellwe XPSbuilt 13 laptop with ® Intelthe Inside . Extraordinary Performance Outside. ® ™Gen Intel ® Core ™ processors. world’s first InfinityEdge display and 6th the world’s first InfinityEdge display and 6th Gen Intel Core processors. ® Intel InsidePerformance . Extraordinary Performance Outside. Intel Inside ®. Extraordinary Outside.

Find yours at Dell.com Pictures are for illustration only. Colour options and design details may vary. Ultrabook, Celeron, Celeron Inside, Find yours at Dell.com Find yours at Dell.com Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, Xeon Phi, and Xeon Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Pictures for illustration only. Colour options and design details may vary.Inside, Ultrabook, Celeron, Celeron Inside, Pictures are for illustration only. Colour options and design details may vary. Ultrabook, Celeron, Celeron 8.1 and Windows 10 are trademarks orare registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/ Corelogo, Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Core, Atom, IntelInside, Atomof Inside, IntelDell Core, Intel Core Inside, Intel, Intel Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Intel Intel Logo, Intel Inside, vPro, Intel Inside Logo, Intel vPro, or other countries. Dell,Logo, the DELL the DELL badge, Inspiron are trademarks DellInside Inc. Corporation Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, Xeon Phi, and Xeon Inside are trademarks Itanium, Itanium Pentium Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, Xeon Phi, and Xeon Inside are trademarks Ltd., © 2014 Dell Inside, Inc. AllPentium, rights reserved. Dell Emerging Markets (EMEA) Limited is registered in England and Intel Corporation in theMicrosoft, U.S. and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows of IntelCompany Corporation in the U.S.of and/or other Registered countries. Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Wales. Registration No: 3266654. address: Dell House, The Boulevard, Cain Road, andorWindows are trademarks or registered trademarks of United Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/ 8.1 and Windows 10 are trademarks registered trademarks Microsoft Corporation States and/ Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1LF.8.1 Company details10 for other DellofUK entities can be foundinatthe www.dell.co.uk or other theInspiron DELL logo, the DELL badge, Inspiron are trademarks of Dell Inc. Dell Corporation or other countries. Dell, the DELL logo,countries. the DELL Dell, badge, are trademarks of Dell Inc. Dell Corporation Ltd., © 2014 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Dell Emerging Markets (EMEA) Limited is registered in England and Ltd., © 2014 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Dell Emerging Markets (EMEA) Limited is registered in England and Company Registration No: 3266654. Registered address: DellRoad, House, The Boulevard, Cain Road, Wales. Company Registration Wales. No: 3266654. Registered address: Dell House, The Boulevard, Cain details forfound other at Dell UK entities can be found at www.dell.co.uk Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1LF.Bracknell, CompanyBerkshire, details forRG12 other1LF. DellCompany UK entities can be www.dell.co.uk

For more information, please contact us on Tel: +27 (0) 11 237-7000, or E-mail: dellquotes@axizworkgroup.com

crime alert

Don’t get jammed! Incidents of remote jamming are on the rise in South Africa

emote jamming occurs when you leave your vehicle or home and push the remote to activate the locking or alarm system, but a criminal pushes a similar remote at the same time – effectively blocking the signal of the locking remote. This is called remote jamming, car-jamming or carjam.

This causes the person to believe the vehicle is locked but it is actually left open for the criminal to freely access the vehicle and help themselves to the contents while the owner is going about business. Often thousands of rands’ worth of valuables are stolen and insurance companies sometimes do not cover these losses. Car-jamming is on the rise in South Africa. This could be due to the simplicity of the crime as well as the fact that it is so quick that detection is extremely difficult and the perpetrators have often left the premises before they can be apprehended. Criminals in SA are using radio transmitters to interrupt the signal emitted from a car key and the vehicle’s transponder. In February 2016 Wheels24 reported an SA motoring journalist, Juliet McGuire, editor of motoring site, Women on Wheels, became the latest victim of local

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remote-jamming, an ordeal captured on CCTV. Shopping centre management across the country are doing everything in their power to stop this scourge and have asked the public to be aware. In order to avoid becoming a victim of this crime, a few simple steps can be followed: Be aware of the surroundings at all times and take note of suspicious persons or activity in and around the parking area; Report suspicious activity to centre management or security; Do not leave valuables in an unattended vehicle; Never push the remote locking whilst walking away from the vehicle; Check that the vehicle is locked by

testing the door before walking away; Ensure the boot is locked; and Fit a remote jamming detector device. An anti-car jamming device warns vehicle owners of car-jamming signals. Although most drivers double check if their cars are locked, and car owners are increasingly more protective of their vehicles, an anti-jamming device is the way to go – particularly for delivery vehicles. The mobile device is installed below the bonnet of your car and “sniffs” out other RF signals in the vicinity of the vehicle. When the device detects possible carjamming, which allows criminals to stop owners from locking their vehicles, the device beeps in order to alert the owner. n ACKNOWLEDGEMENT JANINE VAN DER POST FOR WHEELS 24; WWW. REMOTEJAMMING.CO.ZA

SILVER SPONSORS:

Keeping shop-sa members abreast of criminal and fraudulent activity in the stationery and office products industry. To sponsor the Crime Alert page contact (011) 781 0088. REPORT CRIME TO wendy@shop-sa.co.za Renew your Crime Alert sponsorship today! Call Wendy Dancer on (011) 781 0088 to book your logo placement on the Crime Alert page as an industry leader in transparency, information sharing and anti-crime business ethics. 34

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Vol 100 - August 2016

industry news Rexel donates stationery to Epworth Children’s Home Nelson Mandela’s legacy is important to this country. “Tata” was the father of our nation, and his appeals for help for the vulnerable and disadvantaged were heard worldwide. Mandela Day is a drive to help a local charity for 67 minutes, and it has become part of the very fibre of our new South Africa. In honour of Mandela Day on 18 July, Rexel Office Products donated stationery hampers to the children and teachers at the Epworth Children’s Home in Germiston. It was heart-warming to see the smiles of glee on 80 little faces.

First international sourcing fair scheduled for September 2017 The first edition of the International Sourcing Fair (ISF) – reaching African markets in home, hospitality, office and retail – will take place at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 13 to 15 September 2017. This landmark three-day event is set to transform the face of buying across Africa, as the continent’s increasingly sophisticated consumer culture continues to accelerate unprecedented economic growth. Exclusively a trade platform, ISF will provide a forum where international suppliers can make direct connections with potential retailers, buyers and procurement teams from South Africa and other selected African countries. Developed and managed by Thebe

Reed Exhibitions, ISF is part of a highprofile décor and design event portfolio that also features prestigious shows such as Decorex SA and 100% Design South Africa. As the only event of its type catering for Southern Africa and Africa, ISF will provide an exclusive forum for sourcing and buying retail and commercial products aimed at the home, office, gift and hospitality markets. Those attending the show will include retail and hospitality buyers as well as importers, decorators, interior designers and online retailers. ISF will include the following product categories: • Art, framing and mirrors • Bathroom products and accessories • DIY, building, hardware

• • • • • • • • •

Craft and ceramics Furniture Giftware, stationery and wrapping Glassware Home appliances and gadgets Home decoration and accessories Kitchenware and tableware Office and desktop supplies Outdoor and garden items For more information about ISF, please contact Cairey Baxter-Bruce on (011) 549 8300 or e-mail isf@ThebeReed.co.za.

Reaching African markets in home, hospitality, office & retail

Denton sees growth of Leitz brand Complete Office Solutions has set up a Leitz product stand in store. They are the first store in Somerset West, Cape Town, to have a Leitz display stand installed. Complete Office Solutions is already seeing a great response from their customers, thanks to the Leitz iLam range. Since Denton Office Solutions took on the Leitz brand, we have increased the availability of the brand across South Africa. The quality of the brand and the excellent support from D.O.S has led to an increase in the demand for the Leitz products. www.myofficemagazine.co.za

We have other dealers around the country asking for the display stand, and we look forward to more stores displaying the stand to help increase availability of the brand around the country.

Denton wins award at the Print Expo in Nelspruit my office magazine

eco news

Think before you print:

fact or fiction?

iting environmental concerns, corporations and governments are increasingly driving communications online and either withdrawing paperbased documents – such as invoices and statements – or charging consumers who wish to receive them, and generally making paper more difficult to access.

A new Two Sides survey provides insight into how consumers view these initiatives, including the environmental impacts of digital versus paper-based communications, and how they perceive and use paper in their daily lives. Carried out by international research company Toluna in June 2016, the survey questioned more than 7 000 consumers worldwide (604 of them in South Africa), providing an insight into perceptions of the environmental impacts of print and paper. Among its findings, the survey reveals that many consumers want to retain the choice of using print and paper, at no additional cost, and that many question or feel misled by “go paperless – go green” and

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similar “greenwash” claims – believing cost savings to be the primary driver for organisations phasing out paper-based communications. Despite some concern over environmental impacts, many respondents preferred paper-based communications to digital alternatives, citing a variety of reasons including ease of reading and a lack of Internet access. A large majority recognised that paper-based communications can be a sustainable way to communicate when produced and used responsibly. More education is needed to raise awareness about the industry’s positive environmental activities, in particular its commitment to sustainable forest management and recycling. Disappointingly, despite the fact that the South African Forestry Industry plants 260 000 trees a day, harvests only 9% of total plantation area and replants these areas within a year of harvesting, 46% of SA respondents still believe that our forests are shrinking. The vast majority of respondents did not know that paper is one of the most recycled products in South Africa, with only 6% understanding that 60% or more paper is recovered for recycling. South Africa’s actual recovery rates are 65%. There remains a notable preference for print on paper in all age groups,

indicating the more fundamental and human way that we react to the physicality of print on paper. There is, however, a strong link between the perceived destruction of rain forests and the use of paper. The study had the following key findings: ‘Go Paperless – Go Green’ claims are questioned by many << 81% of respondents receiving environmental claims like “Go Paperless – Go Green”; “Go Paperless – Save Trees”; or “Get your bills online - it’s better for the environment” believe service providers are seeking to save costs. << 40% question the validity of these claims << 71% believe that the use of paper is wasteful Many consumers print and file bills and statements sent electronically << 53% print some or all of their financial services bills and statements at home << 50% print some or all of their utility bills and statements at home << Even at the lower end of home printing, 36% print out some or all of their mobile phone bills Many people need a paper option and don’t want to be forced into ‘digital only’ << 73% would be unhappy if they were Vol 100 - August 2016

eco news

asked to pay a premium for paper bills and statements << 62% of respondents want the option to continue receiving printed information as it provides a permanent record for important documents << 46% are unhappy that the responsibility to print valuable documents is being passed to consumers << 30% would consider changing provider if they are being asked to move to paperless communication Consumers see print and paper as sustainable but concerns about forestry persist << 97% feel recyclability is an important characteristic for environmentally responsible products << 94% of respondents believe new forests are necessary to counteract global warming << 89% agreed that, when responsibly produced, used and recycled, print and paper can be a sustainable way to communicate << 89% believe that when forests are responsibly managed it is environmentally acceptable to use trees to produce products such as wood for construction and paper for printing << However 83% still believe that there www.myofficemagazine.co.za

is a connection between the loss of rain forests and the manufacture of paper << 41% feel that over the last 50 years the size of forests in South Africa has decreased << 63% still prefer reading print on paper than from a screen << 61% of consumers enjoy the tactile experience of paper and print << 61% consider that paper is based on a renewable resource The great recycling story of print and paper is not well known << 70% believe that less than 50% of waste paper is recovered for recycling; the actual South African recovery rate is 65% << Only 6% of consumers believe that the industry recycling rate is more than 60% << Only 25% believe the industry recycling rate is higher than average compared with other products, whereas (at 65%) the South African paper industry has one of the highest recycling rates of all More people are seeing ads promoting print and paper << 35% saw ads related to the effectiveness and sustainability of print and paper and the majority rated the ads as credible (92%) and useful (95%).

There is clearly more to be done to educate the South African general public on the facts surrounding print. n ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TWOSIDES

Myth: busted

<< Some of the most common myths surrounding paper are: << European forests are shrinking; << Planted forests are bad for the environment; << Paper is bad for the environment; << Paper production is a major cause of global greenhouse gas emissions; << Only recycled paper should be used; << Print and paper is a wasteful product; << Electronic communication is more environmentally friendly than paper-based communication; << Digital is always the preferred means of communication; and << Packaging is wasteful and unnecessary.

Visit www.twosides.info for more information.

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product showcase

SCHNEIDER – LINK-IT A genius click-system that links fineliners and fibrepens to one pen. Simply push the barrels with the two arrows at the end facing each other together and create your favourite pen. It is the perfect pen to be used for mandalas, doodling and Zen-Tangle® which is the current trend for adult colouring-in. The rubberised ergonomic and triangular barrel is ideal for a relaxed writing and colouring-in. Both 0,4mm fineliners and 1,0mm fibrepens are available in 16 fancy colours with stylish names in single colours and in sets of 8 and 16 assorted colours in durable, convenient adjustable pencil cases. One can collect, swap and link-it however you want! The Link-It is the first “green” fibre tipped pen combination manufactured of 88% bio-based plastic.

Tel: 021 790 4656 E-mail: arifa@global.co.za Web: www.arifa.co.za

SCHNEIDER – LINE UP Line-Up is the new Fineliner selection from Schneider with a 0,4 mm line width in a robust metal-encased point Relaxed writing is ensured with the rubberised triangular barrel and becomes the perfect companion for expressive drawing. Line-Up comes right on time to be part of the prevailing fashionable trend of colouring books, mandalas, doodling and Zen-Tangle®.30 fancy colours with stylish names are available individually. The sets are available in 4, 8 , 16 and 30 assorted colours in durable, convenient adjustable pencil cases. The set of 30 has 2 Line-Up Touch free of charge added. The Line-Up is the first “green” fine liner manufactured of 88% bio-based plastic.

Tel: 011 226 2600 Email: sales@trefoil.co.za Web: www.trefoil.co.za

SCHNEIDER – LINE-UP TOUCH The Line-Up Touch has some magic built in. A soft touch tip at the barrel end to function as a stylus for smartphones and tablets. Schneider has developed a unique operating principle which makes the Line-Up Touch conductive even with a rubberized surface. The Line-Up tip lets you put your ideas down on paper while the Soft Touch tip helps you type accurately messages and texts on the devices, avoiding ugly fingerprints on displays. The Line-Up Touch is available in the colours of Black, Red, Blue and Green with a 0,4mm Fineliner tip.

Tel: 021 790 4656 E-mail: arifa@global.co.za Web: www.arifa.co.za

SCHNEIDER – THE ONE BUSINESS The ONE Business with its ultra-smooth writing tip was awarded “product of the year” at the Frankfurt Fair “Paperworld 2016” in the category stationery office supplies. It has become the “ROCKSTAR” of the writing instruments. The newly developed Super-Flow-System for consistent ink flow, the large ink reservoir with level indicator “becomes your partner when leaving your mark on paper”.With the unique cap-off system the pen does not run dry if the cap is removed for 2-3 days. The extraordinary design makes the ONE Business stand out. The ergonomically rubberised material is appealing to the writer. The ONE Business is available in 5 colours: Black, Red, Blue, Green and Violet with a writing tip of 0,6mm.

Tel: 011 226 2600 Email: sales@trefoil.co.za Web: www.trefoil.co.za

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Vol 100 - August 2016

marketplace

Low on budget? Does your Web site need a boost?

For just R25.00 ex VAT, add your company logo to your contact details in the Buyersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Guide and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll put your logo on our Web site for FREE. Take advantage of the new advertising slots in My Office magazine! 92mm

How to book your space

2. 130mm

For just R3 000 ex VAT per month*, we will run your quarter-page advert in the back of the magazine.

To book advertising or advertorial space around any of the above features, please contact Wendy Dancer on wendy@shop-sa.co.za or call 011 781 0088.

note this offer is only available *Please on a 3- or 6-month contract.

www.myofficemagazine.co.za

my office magazine

SOURCE PRODUCTS HERE A ADDING MACHINE, POINT OF SALE AND MACHINE ROLLS PaperGeni Rotunda (Pty) Ltd. ADHESIVES, GLUES AND SPRAYS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd. - Correction Fluid, Glue sticks & Super Glue Palm Stationery Manufacturers - New Wave

ART, CRAFT, GRAPHIC AND DRAWING MATERIALS CTP Stationery - A4 coloured poster boards Max Frank - Uni, Artline Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd. - Oil pastels and watercolour paint

B 40

BAGS AND CASES D.O.S - iStay Flip File - Business cases. Kolok - Kenton, Port Topmark - School Bags, Laptop Bags, Pencil Cases, Sports Bags, Luggage BATTERIES Kolok - Duracell Nikki Distributors - Duracell Batteries Nikki Distributors - Energizer Batteries BIN RANGE Krost Office Products BINDING ACCESSORIES AZ Trading - Plastic Comb, Wire, Thermal & Covers CTP Donau - Donau files and slide binders, A4 poster board Kolok - Geha binding combs and covers Parrot Products - Parrot Comb Binding Machines Press Products - wire, combs, coil, covers Rexel Office Products - Rexel and GBC

BINDING MACHINES AZ Trading - DSB, Neorel D.O.S - Prima, DSB, Leitz Kolok - Geha binding machines Parrot Products - Parrot Comb Binding Machines Press Products - Bindquip Rexel Office Products - GBC and Rexel ranges

BOARDS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - BIC Velleda School Whiteboards CTP Stationery - Flip Chart Pads Hortors Stationery - Legal Notices i.e. Basic Conditions & OSH Act and Leave and Absence Chart Kolok - Geha interactive boards Max Frank - Artline Flipchart Markers, Artline, Maxi whiteboard markers Palm Stationery Manufacturers - New Wave Parrot Products - Full range of boards and accessories. Custom boards printed to your specification Rexel Office Products - NOBO whiteboards, pinboards, easels and accessories. Quartet magnetic white/cork boards BOOK COVERS CTP Stationery - Poly Prop Donau heavy duty covers Empire Toy & Stationery - Butterfly paper Gordon’s Productions - contact paper woodgrain, marble, pattern designs. Magic cover back to school clear and coloured self adhesive paper. (4M rolls, A4 and lever arch). Plastic coated brownkraft rolls and pre-cut polythene covers. Grafton Paper Products Palm Stationery Manufacturers - brown paper rolls, poly rolls, gift-wrap RBE - Papersmart BOOKS AND PADS BSC Stationery - Treeline CTP Stationery - Impala and premier books and pads Hortors Stationery - Legal registers Palm Stationery Manufacturers Power Stationery - Powerstar

RBE - NCR Business Books Rexel Office Products - Colourhide notebooks BOXES AND CARTONS CTP Stationery - Archiving Systems Rexel Office Products Specialised Filing Systems - Archive and Off-Site Tidy Files - Acid free archiving products

C CALCULATORS Kolok - HP Nikki Distributors - Truly calculators Palm Stationery Manufacturers - New Wave Power Stationery - Powerstar Rexel Office Products - IBICO CALENDARS CTP Stationery - Diaries assorted sizes CALLIGRAPHY Max Frank - Artline CANTEEN Kolok - Tea, Coffee, milk etc, Sunbeam (appliances) CARBON PAPER AND FILMS RBE - NCR Business Books CARTRIDGES Dis Cartridges - Stockists of generic/original cartridges CD’S, DVD’S AND DISKETTES Kolok - Verbatim, Kenton CLIP BOARDS CTP Stationery - DONAU brand Parrot Products - Masonite and whiteboard CLIPS, FASTENERS AND PINS Grip Binders - Essentials, Stephens, Penguin Tidy Files - Filing solution

Binding doesn’t get any simpler! CombBind 100

CombBind 110

CombBind C200

CombBind C210

buyers’ guide

COLOURING BOOKS Empire Toy & Stationery - Empire books Palm Stationery Manufacturers - New Wave

See page 46 for contact details

South African Diaries - For all your diary needs DICTATION - TRANSCRIPTION

COMPUTER ACCESSORIES Kolok - Verbatim, Kenton, Port Krost Office Products Pyrotec - Tower Inkjet-laser labels, business cards and photo paper COMPUTER CLEANING Kolok - ComputerCare, Multipro Pyrotec - Tower computer cleaning range COMPUTER CONSUMABLES CTP Stationery - Full range of DONAU files KMP - for computer consumables Kolok - Penguin (Ribbons, Toners, Inkjets), Till and fax rolls Redfern Print Services - Redfern inkjet/laser/ copier labels and a full range of stationery labels COMPUTER HARDWARE Kolok - Blazer UPS systems, Geha (Interactive white boards)

Olympus Audio S.A - Digital Voice Recorders, Transcription Kits and Accessories. Powerhouse Dictation for Philips - Dictation, transcription, meeting recording, mini-tapes, foot pedals, accessories DRAUGHTING AND DRAWING OFFICE SUPPLIES CTP Stationery - A4 Poster Boards

E EMBOSSERS AND ENGRAVING Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Ideal & Trodat Embossers (pocket, desk and electronic), Trotec

CORPORATE STATIONERY & GIFTING Star Stationers and Printers

F FAX ROLL MANUFACTURERS Rotunda (Pty) Ltd. FILES AND FILING African Filing Systems - Top retrieval filing and arching products BSC Stationery - Treeline, Mobifile CTP Stationery - Full range of quality DONAU brand Flip File - Executive display files, expanding files, Document folders, dividers Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Lever arch, Ringbinder files, Manilla flat folders Grafton/Star Kolok - Geha (Binding machines) Palm Stationery Manufacturers - leaver arch, ring binder files, manilla flat folders. Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd. - Display book Vivid, document file, clip file and presentation file Rexel Office Products - Prima and Rexel ranges Specialised Filing Systems - Top Retrieval, Archive and Off-Site Tidy Files - Filing solutions

ENVELOPES AND MAILING BSC Stationery - Leo Envelopes

CRAYONS AND CHALKS Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Chalks and Crayons Power Stationery - Powerstar

CTP Stationery - Commercial envelopes Global Envelopes - CelloWrapped, peel+seal, Self-Seal, FullGum and Printed Grafton/Star KZN Envelopes - Manufactures of Printed and Plain Envelopes

Merpak Envelopes - Complete range of quality envelopes RBE - Papersmart

DESK SETS AND ACCESSORIES BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Desk Set Solo Delux Krost Office Products Rexel Office Products - Rexel Eco Range DIARIES, PLANNERS AND ORGANISERS CTP Stationery - CTP Brand Hortors Stationery - Legal diaries Rexel Office Products - NOBO planners, refills and T-card kits, Quartet Monthly/ Weekly planner

FILES MECHANISMS Press Products - Lever arch, Ring binders

ERASERS & ERASING / CORRECTION FLUIDS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Tippex tape, bottle and Pen

FOLDERS CTP Stationery - DONAU Brand Palm Stationery Manufacturers - View files, polypropylene & board folders Tidy Files - Specialised

FORMS - LEGAL AND MISCELLANEOUS Hortors Stationery - complete range of custom, company, miscellaneous, magisterial, etc.

Max Frank - Uni Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Tape/Erasers Pentel S.A (PTY) LTD - Hi-Polymer and Ain eraser, correction tape and pens Power Stationery - Powerstar

FURNITURE - OFFICE & SCHOLASTIC Krost Office Products - accessories New Era Office cc - Specialising in all office furniture desks, chairs, credenzas, boardroom tables, etc

Working for you

CombBind C250 Pro

WireBind W20

MultiBind 230 Comb & Wire

ThermaBind T400

www.rexelsa.co.za

SOURCE PRODUCTS HERE Reboni Furniture Group - Manufacturing and distribution of educational and office furniture Specialised Filing Systems - Cabinets, Shelving and Hi-Density

G GUILLOTINES AND TRIMMERS AZ Trading - DSB, Kobra Maynards Office Technology - IDEAL Shredders & Guillotines â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SA Distributors Press Products - BindQuip Rexel Office Products - SmartCut and ClassicCut

I INDEX TABBING AND DIVIDERS CTP Stationery - DONAU Brand board and P.P Flip File - Index Tabs, Flip tabs Grip Binders Palm Stationery Manufacturers Rexel Office Products - Rexel, Mylar and Prima board INKS KMP - for computer consumables. Max Frank - Shachihata, Artline Rexel Office Products - Numbering machine ink Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Trodat, Noris fastdry, security, numbering, franking. Laundry.

J JANITORIAL Kolok - Goldenmarc (Cleaning products), Brooms, Mops and equipment.

L LABELS Pyrotec - Tower stationery, inkjet-laser labels Redfern Print Services - Redfern Inkjet/laser/ copier labels and a full range of stationery labels Rotunda (Pty) Ltd. Specialised Filing Systems - Filing Tidy Files - Filing solutions LABELLING MACHINES Kemtek Imaging Systems - Distributor of Brother P-Touch Labelling System LAMINATING MACHINES AZ Trading - DSB, Speedlam, Lamiace D.O.S - Tofo, DSB, Leitz Kolok - GEHA and Galaxy Parrot Products - Parrot A4 and A3 Laminators Press Products - GMP Rexel Office Products - GBC and Rexel ranges LAMINATING POUCHES AND MATERIALS AZ Trading - A0 to ID card size Kolok - GEHA, Penguin laminating pouches and rolls Parrot Products Press Products - GMP Rexel Office Products - GBC LEGAL STATIONERY Hortors Stationery - All legal registers, forms, diaries etc LETTER TRAYS Krost Office Products

M MAILING TUBES CTP Stationery MARKERS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Permanent Markers, Highlighters, whiteboard

Interstat Agencies - Edding Max Frank - Artline , Maxi, Uni Parrot Products - White board, permanent and OHP markers. Wide range of highlighters Penflex - White board, flipchart, permanent markers, highlighters Pentel (Pty) Ltd. - Maxiflo, white board marker and paint marker Power Stationery - Powerstar MATHEMATICAL GEOMETRY SETS & ACCESSORIES Palm Stationery Manufacturers Power Stationery - Powerstar MINUTE AND GUARD BOOKS Hortors Stationery - Company registers, minute books and other legal registers

N NUMBERING MACHINES Rexel Office Products Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Reiner Dater/Numberer (manual/electronic), Trodat

O OFFICE ERGONOMICS Rexel Office Products - Kensington copyholders, risers, footrests, Rexel range of electric staplers and punches which reduces chances of RSI (repetitive strain injury) OVERHEAD PROJECTION AND ACCESSORIES Kolok - Penguin Transparencies Max Frank - Artline Parrot Products - Data Projectors, OHPs, screens and rear projection film Penflex - Penflex Overhead projector pens Rexel Office Products - NOBO

Excellence Accelerated Get it right first time, in less time. Fusion 1000L

Fusion 1100L

Fusion 3000L

buyers’ guide

See page 46 for contact details

PENCIL SHARPENERS Palm Stationery Manufacturers Power Stationery - Powerstar

PACKAGING Merpak Envelopes - Postsafe packaging range

PAPER AND BOARD CTP Stationery - DONAU A4 poster boards Empire Toy & Stationery - Butterfly paper Grafton/Star Kolok - Geha (paper media), EPSON, HP, CANON, Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Cubes and board Power Stationery - Powerstar RBE - Papersmart Rexel Office Products - Prima Paper & Board

PAPER FOLDING MACHINES Maynards Office Technology - IDEAL Shredders & Guillotines – SA Distributors

PENS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Clic, Crystal, Orange and Prismo Max Frank - Artline, Maxi, Uni Palm Stationery Manufacturers Penflex - Penflex ballpoints and rollerballs Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd - Superb Ballpoint, Energel Pen Power Stationery - Powerstar Staedtler SA (Pty) Ltd - Ball point, Fineliner, Gel and Pigment liner pens

PEN CARBON BOOKS Power Stationery - Powerstar RBE - NCR Business Books

PRINTER CONSUMABLES KMP - For computer consumables. Kolok - Epson (inkjet, large format etc), Lexmark, HP, Brother (Toners and Inks), Oki (Toners, inks and Ribbons), Tally Genicom (Ribbons), Seikosha (Ribbons), Panasonic (Toners and Ribbons), Kyocera (Toners), Printronix (Ribbons), IBM (Ribbons), Ricoh (Toners), Fujitsu (Ribbons), Pantum (Toners) Royce Imaging Industries Remanufacturers and suppliers of inkjet and laser cartridges Technical Systems Engineering - Suppliers of quality compatible cartridges and bulk inks for Epson, Canon, Lexmark, HP and Samsung PUNCHES AND PERFORATORS Krost Office Products Parrot Products - Parrot range of punches Power Stationery - Powerstar Rexel Office Products - Rexel

PERSONAL STATIONERY CTP Stationery - Home office and personal filing system, diaries Grafton/Star

PENCILS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - BIC Evolution Graphite, BIC Matic Clutch ,Velocity Clutch, Atlantis Clutch, BU4 Clutch Max Frank - Uni Palm Stationery Manufacturers Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd - Hotshot, Mechanical Pencil, Techniclick Pencil. Power Stationery - Powerstar Rexel Office Products - Rexel HB & Derwent Staedtler SA (Pty) Ltd - Tradition, Wopex, Technical, Clutch Pencils and lead

PENCIL LEADS BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Criterium 0.5mm leads Max Frank - Uni Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd - Ain lead, standard lead - various grades

PLANNING BOARDS AND ACCESSORIES Parrot Products - Range of year planners, term planners, maps and in/out boards. custom printed boards designed to specification. Rexel Office Products - NOBO planners

R RUBBER STAMPS Max Frank - Schachihata X Stampers Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co. - Trodat RUBBER STAMP MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - AZ Liquid polymer, TROTEC laser engraver, flash system

POINT OF SALE PRINTER ROLLS Rotunda (Pty) Ltd.

PRINTING Kolok - Epson, Lexmark (Hardware), HP Printers, Oki (Hardware) Pantum, Samsung Olivetti Imports - Distributors of Multifunctional Printers / Copiers

RULERS Palm Stationery Manufacturers Power Stationery - Powerstar Penflex - PENFLEX rulers

Star Stationers and Printers Unicopy & Stationers CC - for all your printing & stationery requirements

Working for you

Fusion 3100L

Fusion 5000L

Fusion 5100L

www.rexelsa.co.za

SOURCE PRODUCTS HERE S SCHOLASTIC SUPPLIES BSC Stationery Sales - Treeline CTP Stationery Empire Toy & Stationery - Butterfly Flip File - Flip File display books A5, A4, A2, A3 Gordon’s Productions - contact paper woodgrain, marble, pattern designs. Magic cover back to school clear and coloured self adhesive paper. (4M rolls, A4 and lever arch). Plastic coated brownkraft rolls and pre-cut polythene covers. Grafton Paper Products Max Frank - Artline, Maxi, Uni Palm Stationery Manufacturers Parrot Products - chalk boards/slates Power Stationery - Powerstar Pyrotec - Tower Adhesive Book Cover 45cm x 2m

SCISSORS AND CUTTERS Palm Stationery Manufacturers Power Stationery - Powerstar Rexel Office Products SCRAPBOOKING Rexel Office Products - Trimmers and guillotines Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Making memories, Clearsnap, Marvy, Ranger, Bazzill, Carl SHREDDERS AND ACCESSORIES AZ Trading - DSB, Kobra, Roto, Repairs to all makes D.O.S - Kobra Kolok - GEHA entry level and high-end shredders Nikki Distributors - Nikki shredders Parrot Products - Parrot range of value shredders Rexel Office Products - Rexel range Maynards Office Technology - IDEAL Shredders & Guillotines – SA Distributors

SLATES Parrot Products - Whiteboard and chalk board STAMPS, STAMP PADS AND INKS Kemtek Imaging Systems - Distributor of Brother Stampcreator PRO Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Trodat, pre-inked stamps, stamp and fingerprint pads STAPLING MACHINES AND STAPLES Interstat Agencies - Genmes Krost Office Products Parrot Products - Parrot range of staplers Rexel Office Products - Rexel range

STATIONERY SUNDRIES - SCHOLASTIC CTP Stationery - DONAU Scissors and cutting knives Palm Stationery Manufacturers - New Wave Power Stationery - Powerstar

TELEX ROLLS AND TELETEX PAPER Rotunda (Pty) Ltd. THERMAL ROLLS Rotunda (Pty) Ltd. TONERS AND CARTRIDGES KMP - Computer consumables Kolok - Penguin (Inkjets and Laser toners), Epson, Lexmark, HP, Canon, Pantum (toners), OKI, Samsung TOP RETRIEVAL FILING Optiplan a div of Waltons - Paper based top retrieval filing systems Specialised Filing Systems - Total Solution and more Tidy Files - Complete onsite and offsite filing solutions TOYS, HOBBIES AND GAMES Pyrotec - Toby Tower Stickers and Activities TRANSFER LETTERING AND SIGNS Parrot Products - Vinyl lettering

STORAGE SYSTEMS CTP Stationery - Archiving Systems Suspension Files Kolok - Verbatim (hard drives, USB sticks etc), HP, Sandisk Rexel Office Products - Storage boxes Specialised Filing Systems - Filing Tidy Files - Filing solutions

TRANSPARENCIES Kolok - Penguin transparencies for inkjet and laser OEM, Penguin and HP Transparencies Rexel Office Products - NOBO range

T TAPES Palm Stationery Manufacturers TELECOMMUNICATIONS Nikki Distributors - Siemens office phones

Spend 98% less time shredding*

UPGRADE TO

AUTOFEED *Max saving when using an Auto+ 500X compared to a traditional feed shredder in a similar price level.

Auto+ 60X

Auto+ 80X

Auto+ 100X | 100M

buyers’ guide

See page 46 for contact details

DID YOU KNOW? • The Buyers’ Guide is an affordable way to highlight your brands while simultaneously introducing up-and-coming stockists to the trade. • The Buyers’ Guide is a valuable sourcing tool to market your business and the brands that you carry. • To book space, contact Wendy on wendy@shop-sa.co.za or (011) 781 0088.

Working for you

Auto+ 200X

Auto+ 300X | 300M

Auto+ 500X | 500M

Auto+ 750X | 750M

www.rexelsa.co.za

CONTACT DETAILS HERE African Filing Systems 011 614 9445

www.africanfiling.co.za

086 540 6892

info@africanfiling.co.za

AZ Trading (

086 111 4407

www.aztradingcc.co.za

011 792 9732

sales@aztradingcc.co.za

BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd (

011 474 0181

PO BOX 43144, Industria, 2042

011 474 6068

16 Maraisburg Road, Industria, 2042

BSC Stationery Sales (

011 086 2900

Box 278, Brakpan, 1540

011 420 3322

sales@treeline.co.za

CTP Stationery (

011 226 5600

Box 43501, Industria, 2042

011 474 9242

sales@versafile.co.za

Dis Cartridges (

011 609 3437/9

PO Box 75881, Gardenview 2047

011 609 3448

doe01@telkomsa.net

D.O.S (Denton Office Solutions) (

086 000 7468

info@dosptyltd.biz

086 237 4614

www.dosptyltd.biz

Empire Toy & Stationery (

011 614 2243

Box 261524, Excom, 2023

011 614 3075

empire@netactive.co.za

Flip File (

021 638 3105

Box 2190, Clareinch, 7740

021 633 6942

ashly@flipfile.co.za

Global Envelopes (

031 465 5544

info@envelopes.co.za

031 465 5634

www.envelopes.co.za

Gordon’s Productions (

031 705 8713

Suite 69, PvtBag X4, Kloof, 3640

031 705 8714

jacquie@gordons.co.za

Grafton/Star Paper Products (

011 262 0777

Box 550, Bergvlei, 2012

011 262 0780

sales@graftonpaper.co.za

(

011 620 4800

Box 1020, Johannesburg, 2000

086 612 4663

orders@hortors.co.za

Ink Spot Suppliers 011 854 3013

011 852 3013

info@inkspotsuppliers.co.za

086 173 2664

www.reboni.co.za

015 298 8795

Box 862, Ladanna, 0704

086 627 7737

sales@reboni.co.za

015 298 8315

infopol@koloksa.co.za

Redfern Print Services - Cape Town

Kolok - Port Elizabeth (

041 406 9900

Box 3163, North End, 6056

041 406 9920

infope@koloksa.co.za

Kolok - Namibia

(

021 552 9680

Box 403, Milnerton, 7435

021 552 9681

sales@redfern.co.za

Redfern Print Services - Durban (

031 205 9598

031 205 7092

dbnoffice@redfern.co.za www.redfern.co.za

Redfern Print Services - Johannesburg

(

00264 (61)370500

Box 40797, Ausspannplatz, Namibia

00264 (61)370525

valne@kolok.com.na

Kolok - Nelspruit (

013 758 2233

Box 4338, White River, 1240

013 758 2235

infonel@koloksa.co.za

Kolok - Bloemfontein (

051 433 1876

PvtBag X01, Brandhof, Bloemfontein

051 433 2451

infobfn@koloksa.co.za

Kolok - Botswana

(

011 837 4119

Box 1445, Crown Mines, 2025

011 837 8917

jhboffice@redfern.co.za

Rexel Office Products (

011 226 3300

www.rexelsa.co.za

011 837 2781

sales@rexelsa.co.za

Rotunda (Pty) Ltd. (

021 799 5770

15 Hillstar Avenue, Wetton, 7780

021 761 5601

rotunda@iafrica.com

Royce Imaging Industries (

011 792 9530

011 792 9480

www.royceimaging.co.za sales@royceimaging.co.za

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Head Office (

011 262 1400

Box 931, Wendywood, 2144

011 262 1414

trodat@rse.co.za

(

00267 393 2669

PvtBag B0226, Bontleng, Gaborone

00267 317 0762

clemencem@vbn.co.bw

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Cape Town

Krost Office Products

(

021 448 7008

Box 931, Wendywood, 2144

(

011 626 2067

Box 75401, Gardenview, 2047

021 448 7014

cpt@trodat.co.za

011 626 2912

sales@krost.co.za

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Durban

KZN ENVELOPES

(

083 377 4109

Box 931, Wendywood, 2144

(

031 465 3992

P O Box 41259, Rossburgh, 4072

031 266 1082

dbn@rse.co.za

031 465 1669

info@kznenvelopes.co.za

South African Diaries

Max Frank

(

021 442 2340

(

011 921 1811

Box 200, Isando, 1600

021 442 2341

011 921 1569

sarah.schoeman@tigerbrands.com

Staedtler SA (Pty) Ltd

Maynards - Olympus Audio S.A / Olivetti Distributors

Box 4862, Cape Town, 8000 phoneyman@sadiaries.co.za

(

011 579 1600

www.staedtler.co.za

011 608 3497

admin@staedtler.co.za

Specialised Filing Systems 0860 00 1922

sales@maynards.co.za

(

011 477 0640

www.maynards.co.za

011 477 3528

www.specfiling.co.za

Star Stationers and Printers

Merpak Envelopes (

011 719 7700

sales@merpak.co.za

(

031 569 1061

luke@starstat.co.za

011 885 3174

www.merpak.co.za

031 569 1094

www.starstat.co.za

Technical Systems Engineering

Nikki - Cape Town (

0860 006731

cpt@nikki.co.za

(

011 708 2304

Box 1532, Northriding, 2162

(

031 569 6550

Box 201707, Durban North, 4016

0800 204868

www.nikki.co.za

011 708 1799

sales@tse.co.za

031 569 6559

interstat@mweb.co.za

Nikki - Durban

Interstat Agencies - Durban

Tidy Files 011 943 4210

(

0860 006731

dbn@nikki.co.za

(

021 551 9555

Box 36696, Chempet, 7442

0800 204868

www.nikki.co.za

Topmark

021 557 5456

Capetown@interstat.co.za

Nikki - Johannesburg

Interstat Agencies - Cape Town

Interstat Agencies - Port Elizabeth

(

011 837 8045

0860 006731

jhb@nikki.co.za

011 837 7442

0800 204868

www.nikki.co.za

Tower (Division of Pyrotec) - Cape Town

041 453 2558

Box 27693, Greenacres, 6057

041 453 8504

pe@interstat.co.za

Nikki - Pretoria

(

021 787 9600

0860 006731

pta@nikki.co.za

021 787 9791

0800 204868

www.nikki.co.za

Tower (Division of Pyrotec) - Johannesburg

011 624 8000

Box 86173, City Deep, 2049

0866 101 185

labelling@kemtek.co.za

Optiplan a division of Waltons

( 7

021 521 9600 021 551 5032

Box 181, Cape Town, 8000 brenth@kemtek.co.za

info@topmarksa.com

(

Kemtek Imaging Systems - Cape

www.tidyfiles.co.za

(

Kemtek Imaging Systems

PvtBag X1, Capricorn Square, 7948

(

011 611 1820

(

011 620 4000

Pencil Park, Croxley Close, Herriotdale

011 611 1834

086 681 8256

rcurrin@gp.waltons.co.za

Tower (Division of Pyrotec) Durban

Palm Stationery

59 Lepus Rd, Crown Mines, 2025 tower@pyrotec.co.za

(

031 701 0192

Box 594, Pinetown, 3600

031 701 1285

tower@pyrotec.co.za

(

031 507 7051

viran@palmstat.co.za

(

031 700 9363

Box 15685, Westmead, 3608

031 507 7053

www.palmstat.co.za

Unicopy & Stationers CC

031 700 9369

Sandim@kemtek.co.za

Parrot Products

Kemtek Imaging Systems - KZN

Kemtek Imaging Systems - PE

(

031 201 8415

122 Che Guevara Road, Glenwood, 4001

(

011 607 7600

debbie@parrot.co.za

031 201 8672

sales@unicopy.co.za

011 615 2502

www.parrotproducts.biz

Versafile

(

041 582 5222

Box 15685, Westmead, 3608

041 582 5224

clinth@kemtek.co.za

Penflex

Kemtek Imaging Systems - PTA

(

021 521 2400

Box 36964, Chempet, 7442

021 521 2402/3

info@penflex.co.za

(

012 804 1410

PO Box 816, Silverton, 0127

012 804 4286

johlettat@kemtek.co.za

Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd (

011 474 1427/8

(

021 709 0190

Box 183, Steenberg, 7947

011 474 5563

021 709 0199

kmppty@iafrica.com

Powerhouse Dictation

KMP

Kolok - Head Office

(

011 226 5600

Box 43501, Industria, 2042

011 474 9242

sales@versafile.co.za

Box 202, Crown Mines, 2025 www.pentel.co.za

(

011 887 1056

info@speech.co.za

086 555 3833

www.speech.co.za

(

011 248 0300

Box 4151, Johannesburg, 2000

Power Stationery

011 248 0381

infojhb@koloksa.co.za

(

032 533 4003

Box 1305, Verulam, 4340

032 533 3254

powersta@netactive.co.za

Kolok - Cape Town

Press Products

(

021 597 2700

Box 6385, Roggebaai, 8012

021 297 2799

infoctn@koloksa.co.za

Kolok - Durban

( (

(

Hortors Stationery

(

Reboni Furniture Group

Kolok Polokwane

(

031 570 4900

Box 4206, Riverhorse Valley East, 4017

031 569 6880

infodbn@koloksa.co.za

my office magazine

(

011 493 6332

marketing@pressproducts.co.za

011 499 1019

www.pressproducts.co.za

Pyrotec (

021 787 9600

021 787 9791

PvtBag X1, Capricorn Square, 7948 tower@pyrotec.co.za

RBE Stationery Manufacturers (Pty) Limited (

011 793 7321

sales@rbe.co.za

011 793 7348

www.rbe.co.za

Vol 100 - August 2016

the real stuff

The real Not stuff marketing fluff Horst Stössel, owner of ARIFA Wholesale Enterprises What’s the highlight of your working career? This highlight stands out above all: becoming the Schneider Pen Exclusive Agency for South Africa and Namibia

Where did you grow up? I grew up in South West Africa (now Namibia). I was born in Mariental and went to school in Windhoek at the Deutsche Höhere Privat Schule

If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be? Buy cheap and get cheap – buy quality and get quality, and do not compare cheap with quality

What was your first CD? Oh, I remember my first 45 vinyl, Elvis’ Blue Suede Shoes. CDs followed much later in life – when they were available (lol)

Image: www.rock.com

What do you like best about the office products industry? My loyal customers – they appreciate quality What’s your greatest personal achievement? Having been married for over 40 years to my lovely wife Avis, and having the support of my son Rick in the business; my daughter Fauve who assists me in the warehouse; and my daughterin-law Debbie who assists me in my administrative duties

What’s your favourite gadget? The TV’s remote control (my doctor said I must take up some sport!) What’s your favourite movie? The Jungle Book – the original What’s your favourite meal? A fantastic hamburger Do you have a hobby? Watching football, doing woodwork and reading my AutoBild magazine What music did you listen to in the car this morning? Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin Do you have any pets? No – but my wife has a miniature Dachshund and a Toy Poodle, so they are also mine! What was your first car? A 1968 model VW Beetle

Describe yourself in three words. Honesty, integrity, dedication

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punchline

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