My Office - January 2023

MyOfficeonlinemagazineistheofficialmagazine

oftheStationery,HomeandOfficeProducts

AssociationofSouthernAfrica(SHOP-SA).Itwas firstpublishedin1916.Thestationeryandoffice supplyindustryisafast-changingenvironment. Weaimtowriteandselectarticlesthatwillboth informandbenefitreaders,keepingthemabreast ofcurrentandfuturemarkettrends.

FIRSTPUBLISHEDIN1916

PUBLISHER

SHOP-SA

EDITOR

BronwenJones-editor@shop-sa.co.za

SUB-EDITOR

HanlieDelport-hanlie@shop-sa.co.za

ASSOCIATEEDITORANDMARKETING

HanlieDelport-hanlie@shop-sa.co.za

FINANCIALCONTROLLER

BillAndré-bill@shop-sa.co.za

NATIONALOFFICE

DesignandLayout:LeandraStrydom

NewMembership:HanlieDelport

JohannesburgOffice

21KrotonStreet,WeltevredenPark, Roodepoort,Gauteng Tel:+27829082295

Email:info@shop-sa.co.za Website:www.shop-sa.co.za

CONTRIBUTIONS

Lettersandeditorialcontributionsarewelcomed andshouldbeaddressedtotheeditorat editor@shop-sa.co.za.Publicationcannotbe guaranteedandissubjecttospaceandthe editor’sdiscretion.

THELEGALBIT

Whilsteveryeffortismadetoensureaccuracythe publisherandeditorcannotacceptresponsibility forsuppliedmaterial.Theopinionsofcontributors arenotnecessarilythoseof SHOP-SA.Copyrightis strictlyreservedandnopartofthismagazinemay bereproducedinwholeorinpartwithoutthe writtenpermissionofthepublisher.

www.facebook.com/shopsa.za

Hello2023!

Aswestartabrand-newyear,therearesignsthatthisyearmaybean improvementontheprecedingtwoyears.

TheresultsofQ3andQ4lookpromisingand indicatessomefinancialrecovery.Hopefullythiswill spilloverandwewillallbeabletopullbackour shouldersandtakeonthechallengesofthisyear. Becauseweknowforsurethat2023willhaveits fairshare…..thegoodthingisthatwedon’tknowwhatwill happeninthenext12months.

Fornow,letusfocusonbeinghealthier,beingmore environmentallyconsciousandmakesurethatweare prepared.Gettingbackintotherhythmofcommutingand doingtheusuallythingsisdifficultafteryouhavehada break–wehavesomeideasthismonthonhowtocope,eat betterandremainsaneasyouprepareforthenewschool year.

WithtechnologymakingfurtherinroadsinourlivesandAI, metaverseandbotsbecomingpartofourworldonehasto ponderthethought…..withthecontinuedenergycrisisin SouthAfrica,Africaandindeedlargepartsoftheworld,will theimportanceofpenandpapernotincrease?

Atleastbywritingonpaperandslippinganotetosomeone, wecanstillcommunicateandgetnotesfromdiscussions circulated.

Weareexcitedabouttheyearahead–SHOP-SA’splanned themesfor2023islistedtohelpyouplanahead.Wehave afeweventsonthecalendar–aconferenceandexhibition, anawardsevening,asportsdayandmonthlysocials. Hopetomeetupatoneofthesesoon! Staywell,untilnextmonth

Bronwen

Factoriesandwholesalersboost GDPin3rd quarter

Theonlysurprisingaspectofthe1.6% GDPgrowthrateduringthe3rd quarterof 2022wasthatittookmanyso-called “analysts”bysurprise.

Anyeconomistworthhisorhersaltwould haveseenpositiveeconomicgrowth comingfromafairdistance,askey contributingsectorssuchaswholesaleand manufacturinghavebeengearingupforthe traditional4th quarterspendingspreethat alwaystakesretailsalestonewrecord heights-intheabsenceofapandemic,of course!

Duringthe3rd quarter,manufacturingsales increasedbymorethan19%innominal termsandalmost12%inrealterms, reachinganall-timerecordhighandfinally stagingafullrecoveryfromtheCovid pandemic.The3rd quartersalesfigureof R776billionwasmarginallyhigherthan thepreviousrecordofR772(inrealterms), achievedinthe3rd quarterof2019.

Theincreaseinmanufacturingactivitymay beattributed,inpart,tothestrengthofthe USdollar,whichledtoaswitchamongst wholesalersandretailersaliketothe procurementoflocallymadegoods,dueto thesubstantialincreaseinthepricesof importedgoods.

Arampantwholesalesectorhasbeenbusy layingthetablesofretailersforthe inevitablespikeinhouseholdconsumption expenditurethatisassociatedwithBlack Friday,CyberMondayandChristmas shoppingingeneral.Duringthe3rd quarter, wholesalesalesincreasedby16%quarteron-quarterandby9%year-on-year,inreal terms,toreachanall-timerecordhighof morethanR900billion.

Afurthercluetotheinevitabilityofpositive GDPgrowthinthe3rd quarteristhe sustainedupwardtrendinnewjob creation,withtotalformalsector employmentrisingbymorethanone millionduringthefirstninemonthsofthe year.

Althoughmoremutedthanduringthefirst twoquartersoftheyear,another235,000 newformalsectorjobswerecreated betweenJulyandSeptember.Total employmentintheeconomyhasnow movedfrom14.3millionayearagoto almost15.8million,withthemajor contributingsectorsbeingretail,wholesale andcatering,manufacturing,construction andmining.

Nodoubtexistsoveracontinuationof positivegrowthinthelastquarterofthe year,whichwillbefueledbyretailtrade andtheimpactofChristmasbonuses earnedbyalargerworkforce.

DrRoelofBotha,EconomicAdvisorto theOptimumInvestmentGroup

Consumptionexpenditurebyhouseholdsis themaindriverofeconomicgrowtharound theglobe.InSouthAfrica’scase,this dominantdemandcomponentrepresents morethan62%ofGDP.

Thelatesteconomicdatawillprovidecheer toNationalTreasury,withVATandincome taxreceiptslikelytoexceedthebudget estimatesbyaconsiderablemargin. �

2023isHERE-areyouREADY?

BernardMarrisafuturistwholooksathowtechnologywillinfluenceourlives,thewaywedo businessandlive–hewroteanarticleforForbes.comandherearesomeofthehighlights.

1.Easydraganddrop

Artificialintelligence(AI)willbecomereal inorganisations.AI,withitseasydragand-dropinterfaces,willenable businessestocreatemoreintelligent productsandservices.Accordingto Bernardthisisalreadyvisibleintheretail marketwherealgorithmsrecommend productsthatmatchtastesandsizes.

Contact-less,autonomousshoppingand deliverywillcontinuetobeahugetrend for2023andAImakesthisalleasier. MoreretailerswilluseAItomanageand automatethecomplexinventory managementprocessestoincrease conveniencetrendslikebuy-onlinepickup-at-curbside(BOPAC),buy-onlinepickup-in-store(BOPIS),andbuy-onlinereturn-in-store(BORIS),willbecome standard.

2.Metaverse

Manyofusdon’tunderstandtheterm

“metaverse” –itisthedescriptionforamore immersiveinternetwherewe’llbeabletowork, play,andsocialiseonapersistentplatform.

Accordingtothearticle,expertspredictthatthe metaversewilladd$5trilliontotheglobal economyby2030,and2023willbetheyear thatdefinesthedirectionofthemetaversefor thenextdecade.Augmentedreality(AR)and virtualreality(VR)technologywillcontinueto advance.Oneareatowatchisthework environmentinthemetaverse.Bernardpredicts thatin2023we’llhavemoreimmersive meetingenvironmentswherewecantalk, brainstorm,andco-createtogether.

Thenewyearwillalsobringmoreadvanced avatartechnology.Anavatar—thepresencewe projectasweengagewithotherusersinthe metaverse—couldlookexactlylikewedoin therealworld.Theavatarwillhavemotion captureabilitiestoadoptouruniquebody languageandgestures.

3.Nomoreclouds

Bernardbelievesthatblockchain technologywillalsoadvance significantlyin2023ascompanies createmoredecentralisedproducts andservices.Althoughcloud storageiscurrentlythewaywe protectourinformationanddata, wewillstarttodecentralisedata storage.Datawillbeencrypted usingblockchainwhichwillmake ourinformationsafer,andwillgive usmoreinnovativewaystoaccess andanalyseit.

4.Bridgingtwoworlds

Bernardsaysthatwearealready seeinganemergingbridgebetween thedigitalandphysicalworldsand heexpectsthatwillcontinuein 2023.Accordingtohimthereare twocomponentsofthismerger: digitaltwintechnologyand3D printing.

Digitaltwinsarevirtualsimulationsof real-worldprocesses,operations,or productsthatcanbeusedtoevaluate newideasinasafedigitalenvironment. Designersandengineersareusingdigital twinstorecreatephysicalobjectsinside virtualworlds,sotheycantestunder everyconceivableconditionwithoutthe highcostsofreal-lifeexperiments.In 2023,we’llseeevenmoredigitaltwins, fromfactoriestomachinerytocarsto precisionhealthcare.

Aftertestinginthevirtualworld, engineerscantweakandedit components,thencreatethemintherealworldusing3Dprintingtechnology.

Forexample,Formula1teamscurrently collectdatatransmittedfromsensors duringraces,aswellasracetrack temperaturesandweatherconditions,to seehowcarschangeduringraces.Then theystreamthedatafromthesensorsto digitaltwinsoftheenginesandcar componentsandrunscenariostomake designchangesonthefly.Theteams then3Dprintcarpartsbasedonthe resultsoftheirtesting.

5.Editingnature

Theworldweliveinwillbealteredby humans.Nanotechnologywillenableus tocreatematerialswithcompletelynew features,suchaswaterresistanceand self-healingcapabilities.

Infuturegene-editingwillgiveusan increasedcapabilityto “editnature” –like withwordprocessing,wherewordscan beaddedorreplaced,DNAwillbealtered orcorrected.Thismaysolvetheproblem offoodallergies,increasehealthofcrops orevenchangetheeyecolourandhairof aperson.

trilliontimesmorequicklythanthefastest traditionalprocessorsavailabletoday.

Thepotentialdangerofquantum computingisthatitcouldrenderour currentencryptionpracticesuseless—so anynationthatdevelopsquantum computingatscalecouldbreakthe encryptionofothernations,businesses, securityindustriesandmore.Thisisa trendtowatchcarefullyin2023as countriesliketheUS,UK,China,and Russiapourmoneyintodeveloping quantumcomputingtechnology.

7.GreenTechnology

Bernardmentionedthatoneofthebiggest challengestheworldisfacingrightnowis puttingthebrakesonourcarbon emissionssowecantackletheclimate crisis.

In2023hebelievesweneedtolookto continuedprogressaroundgreen hydrogen,anewclean-burningsourceof energythatproducesclosetozero greenhousegasemissions.Shelland RWE,twomajorEuropeanenergy companies,arecreatingthefirstmajor greenpipelinefromwindplantsinthe NorthSea.

We’llalsoseeprogressinthe developmentofdecentralisedpowergrids. Distributedenergygenerationusingthis modelprovidesasystemofsmallpower generatorsandstoragethatarelocatedin communitiesorindividualhouses—so theycanprovidepowerevenifthemain gridisnotavailable.

Teslaisonecompanythatisworkinghard tocreateahuman-likerobotthatwill workinourhomes.InSeptember2022, ElonMuskrevealedtwoOptimus humanoidrobotprototypes,andsaidthe companywouldbereadytotakeorders withinthenext3to5years.Therobot canperformsimpletaskslikeliftingitems andwateringplantssoyoumaysoonnot havetoliftafingerinthehouse!

6.QuantumProgress

Anothertrendtofollowistheworldwide racetodevelopquantumcomputingat scale.Quantumcomputing,whichuses subatomicparticlestocreatenewwaysof processingandstoringinformation,isa technologicalleapthat’sexpectedtobring uscomputerscapableofoperatinga

8.Botsbecomemorehuman

Anotherpredictionisthat(ro)botswill becomeevenmorelikehumansin appearanceandcapability.Inthenear futurebotswillbeusedtogreet delegatesateventsorbecomebartenders, concierges,andcompanionsforolder adults.Certaintasksinwarehousesand factoriesmaybeperformedbybotsas theyworkalongsidehumansin manufacturingandlogistics.

9.AutonomousSystems

Progressincreatingautonomoussystems, particularlyarounddeliveryandlogistics, willcontinueandmanyfactoriesand warehouseshavealreadybecome partiallyorfullyautonomous.Bernard believesthatinin2023,we’llseeeven moreself-drivingtrucksandships,as wellasdelivery(ro)bots.

10.SustainableTechnology

Finally,Bernardbelieveswewillseea pushtowardmoresustainabletechnology in2023.Many(ifnotmost)ofusare addictedtotechnology–our smartphones,tablets,andcomputersare neverfaraway.Doyoueverstopand thinkaboutwherethecomponentsare comingfromtomanufacturethese gadgets?

Hepredictsthatpeoplewillbemore consciousaboutwherecomponentsfor thingslikecomputerchipsoriginateand howwe'reconsumingthem.Hereminds usthatwe’realsousingcloudservices likeNetflixandSpotify,whichstillrunin hugedatacentresthatconsumevast amountsofenergy,thoughthisisunlikely tochange. �

BernardMarr isaninternationallybestsellingauthor,popularkeynotespeaker, futurist,andastrategic business&technology advisorandthisarticle waspublishedon http://www.forbes .com

SixDaysontheRoad

Deliveryiskeytoabusiness’success,sotomeettheexpectationsofthe customeryouneedtokeepthetrucksontheroadandthewheelsturning.

Intheabsenceofalternativeoptions, roadfreightremainstheheartbeatofour economy-businessesandconsumers alikerelyheavilyonthetransport industry.

CONVENIENCEISKING

Thishasbecomeofevengreaterimportance sinceCOVID-19started.Manyconsumers havestarted,andarecontinuing,tomakeuse ofonlineshoppingwhichresultedinthe openingofawholenewmarketintheindustry. Consumersnowhaveconvenienceattheir fingertips.

Onlineshoppingandotherindustriesarefacing awholenewsetofchallengesthatinfluence fromthebusinessesthatrelyonroadtransport rightdowntotheconsumer’spocket.

FACTORSIMPACTINGONTRANSPORT

Werepeatedlybraceourselvesforyetanother fuelincrease,mainlyduetotherisingofcrude oilpricesandthedeprecationoftheRand againsttheUSDollar.Theriseinfuelprices impactssomuchmorethanjustthepriceoffuel -italsohasasignificantroleinthecostof maintainingvehicles.

Infrastructureisvitaltothesurvivalofour economy.Likewise,poorroadconditionsarea majorcauseoffatalaccidents.Addtothis driverfatigueandtheshortageofskilleddrivers andyouhavearecipefordisasterontheroad transportsystem.

Theshortageofskilledworkersremainsoneof thebiggestchallengesinSouthAfrica.Many companiesaremakinguseofforeigndrivers. Thisbringsanothersetofchallengesofwhich fakelicensesisonetonote.Althoughitis difficulttodifferentiatebetweenalegitimate licenseandafakeoneitisestimatedthat about75%ofPrDp’s(ProfessionalDriving Permit)and30%ofnormaldriver’slicenses arefoundtobefraudulentwhengoingthrough aprocessofvalidation.

Technologymakesiteasyforcertain employeestoworkfromhomebutthisalso creatednewopportunitiesforcybercrime.An increaseinthenumberofransomwareattacks sincethestartofthelockdownhasbeen reported.Transportationcompaniesusuallydo notemploylargewebsecurityteamstoprotect themselvesfromcyber-attacks,leavingawhole lotofcompaniesvulnerabletocybercriminals.

Addtothemixtheriseinhijackings,vehicle andcargotheft,andtheinfamousZuma-riots ofJuly2021anditisclearwhySASRIA premiumshassuchastronomicalincrease.

TYREINSURANCE

TheEngineeringNewsreportedinJune2022 thatthelocalDunlopTyresmanufacturerand distributorSumitomoRubberSouthAfrica (SRSA)launchedtrucktyreinsuranceinSouth Africa.

AsofAprillastyearthecompanyextendedits DunlopSurevalue-addedtyreinsurance–previouslyavailableforonlycertainpassenger tyres,allsportutilityvehicletyresandlight truckradialtyres–tothe315/80R22,5 SP835Ainitstruckandbusradial(TBR) rangeatnoadditionalcost.

TheirCEO,LubinOzouxsaidinthearticlethat buyingnewtyresisabiginvestmentandlocal deterioratingroadconditionsmakethisahuge worryforfleetownersanddrivers.Headded thattyresareanessentialaspectofkeeping truckfleetsmovingandgettingdriversand cargosafelytotheirdestinations. “Withthe high-mileagerequirementsofheavyvehiclesin thelogisticssector,thereisenormouspressure toimprovecostperkilometer,reduce breakdowncostsandovercomechallenging trafficcongestionandroadconditions,all whileensuringon-the-roadsafety,” Ozouxsaid.

ADDINGUP

Whenlookingatalltheseadditionalcosts factorstransportersareexpectedtoabsorb,itis

evidentthathavingamorecost-effective insurancesolutionforbothtrucksandthe cargothattheycarryisrequired.

Althoughsomeofthesechallengesareoutof ourcontrol,liketherisingcostoffuel, somethingliketheinsuranceyouhaveisa wayofmanagingcostfactors.Itisalso importanttoInvestintrainingand developmentofyourdrivers,tocombatthe skillsshortage.

Allthesechallengesarelinkedandaddtothe costoftransportwhichultimatelyaffectsthe consumerandtheoverallcostofdoing business.

Whatskillsdoessomeoneneedtobeatruck driver?

� Communication.abilitytoconvey informationinapromptandclearmanner.

� Organization.Itisimportanttokeep travelinglogsanddeliverybooksupto date.

� Discipline.Itisimportanttotryanddeliver theloadontime.

� Trustworthiness.Thecustomerandyour employertrustyoutodeliverthegoodson timeandingoodorder.

� NavigationSkills.FollowingtheGPSisnot alwayshelpfulforabigtruckastheroads maynotbesuitable.Soadrivermust havetheabilitytonavigatethebestroute betweenpointAandpointB.

� ProperDrivingSkills.Makesurethatthe drivercarriesthecorrectandlegallicence.

� Patience.Trafficjamscausedbyaccidents, heavytrafficflowinpeakhoursorasa resultofloadsheddingispartofanormal day.Driversmustlearntobepatientand nottakechancesthatmaycause accidents,lossofcargo,lossoflivesand additionalcostduetoclaimsagainstthe companyfornegligence.

� Basicmechanicalknowledge.Astheyare sometimesinremoteareasafterhours,the drivermustbeabletofixminor mechanicalissuesonthetruck.

� NOSA offerstrainingfortruckdrivers. �

Sources: MarnaRoets,InsCorp https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/ truck-tyre-insurance-a-localfirst-2022-06-03

Engraving&Stamps

Engraving & Stamps

Papercraftingandhowstampsandengravingenhancethiscraft

Stampsdatefrommorethan9000years ago.It’samazingtothinkofthestampas havingsuchanancientpastandtorealise that,althoughithasevolvedgreatly,westill need,useorareincontactwithsomething stampedalmostdaily.

Letusdelveintothepastandseehowthe stamphaschangedoverthecenturies, lookingateverythingfromcylindersealsto thehi-techelectronicstampssoldonline today.

Cylinderseals(7,800BCE)

Thefirstincarnationofthestampwasthe cylinderseal.Thesewereveryintricate impressionstampsthatwereused throughoutMesopotamiaandwereusedto finalisebusinesstransactionsandsign letters.

Knownas kishib inSumerianand kunukku inAkkadian,thesealswereusedby everyone,fromroyalstoslaves,asameans

ofauthenticatingidentityincorrespondence. Intime,theycametoberecognizedasone's personalidentification.

Thedesignoneachsealwouldbe completelyunique.Thecylinderwouldbe wornonastringaroundtheowner’sneck andiftheownerneededtosignsomething, theywouldtakeitoffandrollitinmoistclay toleaveanimpression,sortoflikea signature.

Woodblockprinting(220CE)

Theearliestinstanceofwhatwewould acknowledgeasstampingcomesfrom ancientChinaandexistedeonsbeforethe inventionoftheprintingpress.

Woodblockprintingwasessentiallya techniqueforprintingtext,imagesor patternsusedwidelythroughoutEastAsia andoriginatinginChinainantiquityasa methodofprintingontextilesandlater paper.

Theprocessinvolvedcarvingimagesand charactersintoablockofwoodandthen applyinginkandfabrictoforman impression.Theprocesswasusedtomake decorativesilksandbooks,andtheoldest survivingexampleistheDiamondSutra,a 5-metre-longBuddhistscrolldated868CE.

Waxseals(500CE)

ThewaxsealfirstappearedintheMiddle Ages,andlikemanysealsbeforeitwas usedtocloseofficialdocumentsandseal correspondence.Waxsealingwastakenup bytherulingclasses.Asitbecamemore common,insteadofcarryingaround handheldstamps,thoseinpowerstartedto wearsignetrings–aringemblazonedwith theowner’sseal.Thismadeitaloteasierto transportandledtotheintroductionof customslikeringkissing.

Theprintingpress(1450CE)

Woodblockprintingwascommonplacein 14th-centuryEuropebutbecauseitwas

costlyandtimeconsuming,many metalsmithsstartedtoexperimentwith movabletypepressing.

JohannesGutenbergperfectedthe techniquein1450,adaptinganoldwine pressandmetalhandsetblocks.His inventionbecamefamousandmadeit easiertomassproducebooksliketheBible. Unfortunately,hedidn’tgettoenjoyhis inventionforlong,asitwastakenfromhim inalawsuitandgiventooneofhisdebtors.

Quick-dryingink(1800s)

Inkhasbeenmadefromdifferent substancesoverthecenturies,fromsoot andturpentinetoleadandeggwhites. Printersaddedchemicalstotheirinksfora numberofreasons.Itwasn’tuntilthe19th centurythatsolventswereadded,which dramaticallycutthetimeittookfortheink todry.Thismadestampingeffectiveand feasibleandstampswereusedtodateor priceitems.

Rubberstamps(1860s)

Therubberstampcameaboutinthe mid-1800safterCharlesGoodyear discoveredthevulcanisationprocess.Soon after,rubberstampsbecamecommercially availableandweresoldprimarilyto businessesfordatingandpricing.Infact, oneoftheoldestexistingself-inkingstamps isavintagepricingstamp,circa1886.

Briefhistorytillthepresentday Stampswerecarvedoutofbone,wood, stoneandalmostanyotherhardy substance.Thisevolvedtorubberandmore recentlyacrylic.Foraperiod,signetrings withasealwereusedtoauthenticate documentsbypressingtheringintohot wax.

Themostfamoussignetringinusetodayis the“RingoftheFisherman”-animportant pieceoftheceremonialregaliaofthePope. Inatraditionthathasbeenpracticedsince atleastthe13thcentury,anewringis madeforeachnewPope,bearinghisname alongwiththetraditionalimageofSt.Peter asafisherman.

Historically,theoldringwasceremonially destroyedwithahammerafterthedeathof thePopeithadbelongedto,butmore recently,theoldringhasbeenmarredwith scratchesinlieuofbeingcompletely destroyed.

Massproductionstarted

Themostcredibleclaimanttotheinvention

oftherubberstampisaNewYorkernamed JamesOrtonWoodruff.Sometimebetween 1864and1866,Woodruffisgivencredit forinventingtherubberstampbecausehe thoughttousevulcanizationtoimprovethe basictool.Also,hebeganawell-publicized businesstomassproducecustomstamps. Noneofhisstampsareknowntoremainin existencetoday,astheinksoftheday containedsolventsthatdestroyedthe rubber,butsomeofhiscompany’sstamp blocksreportedlystillexist.

J.F.W.Dormansuccessfullycommercialised therubberstamp.Hewasateenage travelingstencilsalesmanwhenhewas introducedtotheconceptoftherubber stamp.By1866,hisBaltimorebased companywasmakingstamps.Dorman revolutionizedthestampmakingindustry whenhepatentedasteamvulcanizerin 1889thatwasdesignedspecificallyto producestamps,replacingthedental vulcanizerspreviouslyusedbystamp makers.

By1892therewereatleast4,000 companiesmakingrubberstampsand,in 1911,atradeassociationwasformed.The InternationalStampTradeManufacturers Associationstillexiststoday,afterhaving gonethroughseveralnamechanges.Today, itgoesbytheInternationalMarkingand IdentificationAssociationandcovers businessesfaroutsideofrubberstamps.

In1886B.B.Hillpatentedtheself-inking stamp,arevolutioninofficeautomationthat canstillbeseeninusetoday.

Withadvancementsintechnology,thelast decadehasalsoseenphotopolymerstamps riseintooverwhelmingpopularity.

Photopolymerorclearacrylicstamps,are stampsmadeoutofphotopolymer.Theyare transparent,comingonplasticsheets,and usedwithacrylicblockstoaddontodesired surfaces.

Acrylicstampsarepopularforacouple reasons.Theyareclearortransparent,the stampercanseetheexactpositioningofhis orherstampallowingforaccuracy. Secondly,cost;acrylicstampsaremuch lessexpensivetomake.However,rubber stampscontinuetobepopular,dueto enduring,belovedbrandscontinuingto makerubberstamps(aswellasnewer craftingbrands)andrubber’sreputationfor beinghighquality,durable,andlonglasting.

Engraving

Engravingisoneoftheoldestandmost importanttechniquesinprintmaking.

Itistheartofincisingadesignontoahard, usuallyflatsurfacebycuttinggroovesintoit withaburin.Theresultmaybeadecorated objectinitself,aswhensilver,gold,steel,or glassareengraved,ormayprovidean intaglioprintingplate,ofcopperoranother metal,forprintingimagesonpaperasprints orillustrations.Theseimagesarealsocalled "engravings".

Thefirstevidenceofhumanengraving patternsisonachiselledshell,dating backbetween540,000and430,000 years,fromTrinilinJava,Indonesia.Ostrich eggswithhatchingandbandingandbeing usedaswatercontainerswerefoundin SouthAfricaintheDiepkloofRockShelter anddatedtotheMiddleStoneAgearound 60,000BC.

Stamp-cylinderseal("theTyszkiewiczseal")

Engravingonboneandivoryisanimportant techniquefortheArtoftheUpper

Palaeolithic,andlargerengraved petroglyphsonrocksarefoundfrommany prehistoricperiodsandculturesaroundthe world.

EngravingintheBronzeAge

DuringtheearlyBronzeAge,peoplestarted workingwithmetal,andthetechnologyof engravingprogressedinleapsandbounds. Atthattime,engravingwasoftenusedto signifywealthandpowerandtohonourthe divine,aswellastomemorializethedead.

Exceptionsincludedstampsandmusic, whichbothcontinuedtouseengravingasa mainproductionmethod.

3DCrystalGlassSubsurfaceEngraving

Ifyou'relikemostpeople,it'shardnotto feelamazedwhenyouseeacrystalcube withaflawlessthree-dimensionalshape imbeddedinitscentre.Thetechnologythat underliessubsurfacelaserengraving(or SSLE)isfascinating.

Alsoknownasbubblegrams,becauseof theshapeitcreatesduringtheengraving process,ituseslasertechnologytocreate tinybubblesinsidetheglass.Thesebubbles thencometogethertocreateabeautifully preciseimage.

SSLEworksbyusingaverystronglocal temperaturegradienttotreatthespecific pointintheglasswiththermalstress,which resultsinasmallfracture(bubble)atthe pointofprecision.Oncemanyofthesesmall fracturesarecombineditcreatesanimage.

Historically,engravingwasanimportant methodofproducingimagesonpaperin artisticprintmaking,inmapmaking,and alsoforcommercialreproductionsand illustrationsforbooksandmagazines.Ithas longbeenreplacedbyvariousphotographic processesinitscommercialapplications and,partlybecauseofthedifficultyof learningthetechnique,ismuchless commoninprintmaking,whereithasbeen largelyreplacedbyetchingandother techniques.

Lineandsteelengravingwereusedfor reproductiveprints,illustrationsinbooks andmagazines,andsimilaruses,mostlyin the19thcentury.Traditionalengraving,by burinorwiththeuseofmachines, continuestobepractisedbygoldsmiths, glassengravers,gunsmithsandothers, whilemodernindustrialtechniquessuchas photo-engravingandlaserengravinghave manyimportantapplications.

Othertermsoftenusedforprinted engravingsarecopperengraving,copperplateengravingorlineengraving.Steel engravingisthesametechniqueusedon steelorsteel-facedplates,andwasmostly usedforbanknotes,illustrationsforbooks, magazinesandreproductiveprints, letterheadsandsimilarusesfromabout 1790totheearly20thcentury.Afterthis thetechniquebecamelesspopular,except forbanknotesandotherformsofsecurity printing.

IronAgeEngravingTechniquesandUses

Astechnologyimproved,engraversturnedto harderandmorediversematerials, includinggems,stones,bone,ivoryand more.InAncientGreeceandRome,artisans usedarangeoftechniques,including pushingandchasing,alongwithdrilling.

EngravingDuringtheMedievalPeriod

DuringtheMiddleAges,variousfunerary traditionscontinuedtouseandbuildupon engravingtechniques.Inthe1300s,the plaguesweptacrossEurope.Forsanitary reasons,thedeadwereburiedin undergroundcatacombsandin remembrancegoldenglassdiskswereused asmemorialmarkers.

IndustrialAge:EngravingandMemorials Astheindustrialagegatheredsteam, engravingtechnologiesevolvedquickly.The industrybegantransitioningfromhandpoweredtosteam-poweredpresses.Bythe 1800s,steelengravingwasalltherage.

Engravedplaquesweretobeseen everywhere,fromtrainstationstobuilding facades.Evenbanknoteswereoftenmade fromengravedsteel.

ModernDayEngravingandMemorials Astheworldmovedintothe20thcentury, engravingtechnologycontinuedtoevolveat anexponentialrate.However,some industriesbegantomoveawayfrom engravingwiththeadventofphotography.

Contemporaryuses

Contemporaryusesforengravinginclude creatingtextonjewellery,suchaspendants orontheinsideofengagement-and weddingringstoincludetextsuchasthe nameofthepartner,oraddingawinner's nametoasportstrophy.Anotherapplication ofmodernengravingisfoundintheprinting industry.

There,everydaythousandsofpagesare mechanicallyengravedontorotogravure cylinders,typicallyasteelbasewitha copperlayerofabout0.1mminwhichthe imageistransferred.Afterengraving,the imageisprotectedwithanapproximately6 µmchromelayer.Usingthisprocess,the imagewillsurviveforoveramillioncopies inhigh-speedprintingpresses.�

stampmaven.com speedystamps.co.uk Wikipedia.com

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Anantiquecommercialpricing kitfromthe20thcentury-including abottleofvioletink,aninksolvent, andapricingstampgun

DiamondSutra

ANewYear

Outwiththeoldandinwiththe(almost)new

Withthestartofthenewyear,wealllook toresolutionstomakeourselvesbetter, usuallyatgreatcostandultimatefailure!

Therearefewamongusthathavenot startedanewyearwithagym membership,orafancydietplanthat involvesmoresupplementsthanactual foods,onlytofallbacktoouroldways beforetheendofJanuary.Thereis absolutelynothingwrongwithimproving yourhealthandwell-being,butthereare waysofdoingitthatdon’tcauseyouto spendafortuneforthenext12months withouta“get-out-of-jail”clause.

Herearesomeideasthatmayappealand notbreakthebank,whilstalsobeing environmentallyresponsibleandeven improvingthelivesofothers.

Clothesswappingparties

No,thisisnotasrisquéasitsounds!Get agroupoffriendstogetherandaskthem togothroughtheirwardrobesandto bringeverythingthattheydon’twear, don’twantornolongerfitinto.Youcan putalltheclothesoutandpeoplecan chooseitemsthatwouldliketowear.

Grantedtherewillbeitemsthatnobody wants(includingthepreviousowner)theseitemscanbedonatedtohomeless shelterorthoselessfortunate.Ifthereis someonewithphenomenalsewingskills, theymaybeabletore-purposeclothes intonewoutfits,oraquiltorpicnic blanket.Yousavemoneyandgetridof unwanteditems.Shoes,belts,bagsand otheraccessoriescanalsobeswapped.

Gardens

Atthemomentwehavehadalotofrain (especiallyinGauteng),buttherewillbe atimethatthisisnotthecase.South Africahascyclicalweatherandwewill againgothroughdroughts.Ifyouhave succulentsinyourgarden,takecuttings andpopthemintopotstopropagate.

Gradually,youwillbeabletopopulate yourgardenwithdroughtresistantand hardyplants,savingyoualotoftimeand moneyongardeningandwater.Share cuttingsbetweenfriendsandfamilyto

groweachother’sgardens.Evenoutona hikewheresucculentsgrowwild,takinga smallcuttingwon'tharmtheplantand theycanbetransplantedinyourgarden.

Cultivating

Noteveryonehasthespaceforaveggie garden,butthereareverticalgardensthat canbeleaneduponawallonabalcony orpotsthatyoucangrowherbsand veggiesin,evenwithlimitedspace.

Trystartingasmallveggiepatchorinvest inaverticalgarden.Itdoesn’ttakeahuge amountoftimeandtherewardsare great.Yougettospendtimeintheopen, andyougettoeatwhatyou’vegrown. Thiscanbealotoffunforchildrenand sincemanyveggiesaresosimpletogrow itjustmakessense.

Strawberriescanbegrowninpotsor specialplantersorjustinthegarden,and whodoesn’tlikestrawberries?

Markets

Trydoingsome,orevenall,ofyour groceryshoppingatfarmersmarkets.The produceisoftenlessexpensive, organicallygrownandit’salotmorefun thangoingtoashoppingmallorchain store.

Asmostoftheproduceisfresh,youwill belesstemptedtobuychocolatesand crispsanditmayinspireyoutoliveand eatabithealthier.Manymarketsallow dogs,soitcanreallybeanoutingforthe wholefamilyandthehounds.

Manyofthevendorsdothistoearn additionalincomeandsupportingsmall businessisaworthwhilecause.

CarBootSales

Thesehavebecomemorepopularover theyearsandtherearesomethatarea regularweeklyoccurrence.Whilstyouwill bechargedafeetosellthere,youcan usuallymakethemoneybackfromyour sales.

Thisisanidealwaytogetridof unwanteditemsfromyourhomeor unwantedclothing.Thereiseverything

andthekitchensinkavailableatcarboot sales.Grantedsomeitemsare unsaleable,buttherearerealbargainsto behadandtherearealwayspeople sellinghomemadebiscuitsandsweets whichisjustdelicious.

Whetheryougoasasellerortobrowse, youmaybeabletofindalittlesomething thatyoujustlove.Thereareoftenpeople sellingonbehalfofcharities,sobygoing youaresupportingthoseinneedtoo.

Donating

Donatingunwantedgoodstoacharity, liketheSPCAorasecond-handshopthat sellsonbehalfofacharity,isawayto declutteryourspaceandraisefundfora goodcause.Oneman’strashisanother man’streasure,asthesayinggoes-this doesnotmeandumpingbrokenand reallysoileditemsonsomeoneelse’s doorstep.Donatethingsthathavesome valueanditemsthatwouldbeuseful.

Repurposing

Ifyouhaveoldclothesorlinenthatare stainedordamagedbeyondrepair,these canstillbere-purposed.Manypeoplecut oldclothesintoragsforuseinthehouse orthegarage.Thesecanbeusedtomop upspillsinthekitchenoroilspillsinthe garageortheycanevenbeusedasa paintingtoolforanirregular“washed” effectonwallsorfurniture.

Anotherpurposeforoldclothesiscutor tearthemintostripsandtiethemtogether toformaballofmaterialthatcanbe knittedorwoventogethertomakecloth rugs.Thesearegreatforuseasmats whenit'sraining,asdogbeddingoreven outdoorblankets.Theyareeasily washableandbecausetheycostnothing tomake,youwon'tmindthemgetting dirtyorifyourkidsspillpaintordrinkson themorevenifthedoghasagoodchew!

Plasticcontainers

Ifyouarelikemostpeopleandyour plasticcontainersmysteriouslylosetheir lids,hereareafewideasthatyoucan employforthecontainersthatremain:

� Uselargecontainersinthebathroom

andkitchenasa“spacetidy”–this allowsyoutoputallthebottlesina containerratherthanrandombottles gettingbumpedoverandmaking messinyourcabinets.

� Usethemasoutdoorfoodcontainers whenyourkidsplayoutside,theyare largelyunbreakableandweatherproof.

� Theseareusefulasmixingbowls whenusinghighlycolouredadditives liketurmericorfoodcolouring.

� Theycanbeusedaswaterbowlsfor dogswhenyou’rehiking.

� Useacontainerforeggsifyoubuy thelargetraysthatjusttakeuphalf yourshelfinafridgeorcupboard.

� Drillafewholesonthebottom,oruse asolderingiron,andmaketheminto planters,theyareidealforseedlings.

Declutter yourhomeatthestartofthe year.Takeawaythatwhichtakesup spaceandwhichyouneverorvery

seldomuse.Havinglesscluttermakes organisationeasier.Also,takethe opportunitytochangethingsupinyour livingspace-movefurniture,tidy cupboardsandshelvesandre-purpose, sellordonatethingsthatyounolonger wantorneed.Trytobuylessin2023 andgivemore.

Startrecycling.Therearemanyschools thathaverecyclingstationsandearn fundsfortheschoolthroughthis initiative.Dropoffunwantedpaperat yourlocalschool.

Alternatively,theremaybearecycling initiativeinyourareawhereyoucan leaveyouoldpaper,glass,tinorplastic. Theyoftenprovidebagsforthispurpose andyouwillmaketheworldalittlebetter. Therearemanyinformalcollectorsthat wouldbehappytotakerecyclinginas thisishowtheyearnaliving.Justkeep

therecyclableitemsinaseparatebag andputitoutwithyourrefuse,theywill happilytakeit.

Givingbackcantakemanyformsandit won’tnecessarilyputyououtofyour comfortzone.Ifyoucanvolunteerator collectforacharity,dothat.Ifthisistoo faroutofyourcomfortzone,supportlocal businessesandindependentstoresand markets-youwillstillgetyourshopping doneorbeabletoenjoyyourcoffee,and itwillgotowardsupportingyourlocal economy.

Make2023ayeartogrowasaperson andmaketheworldabetterplace!We havecomethroughatoughcoupleof yearsandmanyarestilltryingtosort theirlivesoutafterthepandemic.Makeit agoaltohelpyourselfbuthelpothers too,givebackwhereyoucanandbethe differenceyouwanttoseeintheworld. �

Howtosellaplannerordiary

MostdiariesrunfromJanuarytoDecemberandhave365days.Whenyousellthistoyourcustomer,youarenot sellingaplanneroradiarybutratheranewpageforeachday–thisisyourchancetogivepeopleafreshstart eachday.Focusonthepositiveimpactthiscanhaveandsellthosediaries.

BytheendofJanuarymostdiaries andplannersaredeadinventory thatyouneedtorecycle–soitis importanttoactivelysellplanners anddiariesduringthismonth. Mostpeoplevisitingthestationerystoreor onlineshopisbusygettingthemselvesin the“work-frame-of-mind”–sousethatto sellthemanewdiaryorplanner.

Eventhoughweareinthedigitalera,many peoplestillprefersometypeofplannerso thatpersonalandprofessionalappointments andnotescanbedotteddown.Assoonas theyearpicksuppace,people’smindsget anoverloadofinformationandimportant deadlinescanbemissed–bywritingit down,weusemoreofoursensesand thereforarelesslikelytoforget. Diariesdatebacktothe2nd CenturyAD whenitwasalreadyusedintheMiddle EasternandEastAsia.TheBritish StationerybusinessnowknownasLetts FilofaxGroupdistributedthefirstpre-printed diaryin1812!

BESTYEAREVER

Whensellingadiary,neverjustsellabook withdates!No,sellanexperience–educatethecustomeraboutthespecial featuresofthediarylikespaceforpersonal details,publicholiday,andschoolcalendars andhowtheycanalreadyblockouttimefor theirnextadventure.

Itisimportanttoknowthedifferenttypesof calendarsavailablesothatthecustomercan beguidedtowardstherightpurchase.Ask somequestionstounderstandwhattheir needsareandwhatthepurposeofthediary willbe.

Iftheyneedtohavemultipleappointments enteredeachdaytheyneedaplannerwith appointmenttimesscheduledevery30 minutes,butforolderpeoplewhomayhave fewerappointments,abookwithhourly appointmentsorjustadivisionbetween morning,midday,afternoonandevening couldsuffice.

NICETOHAVE

Somediariesareabsolutelyamazingand becomesanessentialpartofaperson’slife. Thesediarieswilltypicallyincludespacefor adailytasklist,apageforgoals(monthlyor annual),aweeklyormonthlyoverviewand spacefornotessoitcandoubleupas notebook.Therearediariesthatcontaina spaceforareadinglistandevenfitness, healthandnutritionnotes–allinone storageforwellnessandperformance.

Someplannersanddiariesofferblank pages,whereyoucanenterthedateasyou needto.Theseareexcellentforlifein generalasyoucankeepyourfinances,date nightsandthechildren’sactivitiesallinone placeonthedaysyouneedtobereminded. However,somepreferthemoretraditional diarieswherebirthdays,anniversariesand otherinformationcanbestoredasa reminder.

Diariescontainingmorehelpfulpageslike shoppinglists,budgetspace,placefor personalcontactsandemergency informationanddailymotivationsor scripturescanalsoassistpeopletoput someorderbackintheirlives.

Withpowerinterruptionspartofourdaily routineinSouthAfrica,resortingbacktoa paperdiarymaybesavingyoufromtrouble. Ifareminderonthemobiledeviceorlaptop doesnotcomeupbecausethepowerwas downorsignalwasweakasaresultof loadshedding,youatleaststillhaveyour printeddiarytoreferto.

TYPESOFDIARIES

Therearevariousdiariesonthemarket,like academic,school,foodandhealth.There areprofessionaldiariesforuseinapractice orofficeandthenmorepersonaldiariesthat aredecorated,havemotivationaland inspirationalmessagesandspacefor doodlesandothercreativeactivities.

DiariesareavailableinA3,A4andA5 sizes.

Therearealsopocket-sizediaries,apage-aday,weekperview,weekperpageoryear plannersinbookformatwitheachdayof eachmonthbeingshown,withoutspecific times.

Bindingoptionsarecasebind,perfectbind, saddlestitchorwireorspiralbind.The casebindisthebestbyfarastheinsides aresewntogetherinsectionsbeforebeing gluedtothespine.Itisdurableandcan openflatonthedesk,butthisisacostly methodandweightcanbecomeanissue.

Theperfectbinddiariesaremoreaffordable withthepagesgluedtogetherbutitisless durableanddoesnotopenflat.Youalways mustholduponesidewhenwritinginit. Thesaddlestitchiseconomical,butwedo findalimittothenumberofpagesthatcan beboundinthisway.Thewireorspiral

bindmakesthebookalittlebitbiggerand sometimeshardertofitintoabackpackor handbag,butitisstrong,lastslongand opensflatonadesk.

BENEFITSOFUSINGAPRINTEDDIARY

Theprinteddiaryisaconvenientbookasit candoubleupasjournalornotebookin meetings.

Thismeansyouonlyhaveoneitemtocarry withyou.Itisapersonalmatterandnota one-size-fits-alldecision.

Whetheryouuseittoprioritize,executeor analyze,aprinteddiaryfreesupspacein yourmind.Ithelpsyoutobeproductive, coordinatemeetingsandscheduletasks.

Helpyourcustomerstomake2023their bestyeareverbysuggestingthattheyusea printeddiarytogetorganizedthisyear! �

Absencedoesnotmakethe heartgrowfonder

EveryJanuarywereceivecomplaintsfromemployersbecauseemployeesdonotreturntoworkfromthenewyearbreak.

Thelawconsidersabsenteeism overshortperiods(adayortwo) withoutleaveorwithoutgood reasonasminormisconduct. However,whenevenshort periodsofabsencebecomethenorm amongstaworkforcethiscanconstitute anextremelyseriousproblemforthe employer.

Thisisobviouslybecauseemployersrely heavilyonthepresenceoftheir employeesatworktogettheworkdone. Itisthereforeamajorsourceoffrustration foremployerswhenworkersareabsent.

Wheresuchabsenceisrepeatedortakes placeoveraprotractedperiod,the frustrationoftenturnsintointenseanger. Itprovokestheemployerintowantingto getridoftheabsentemployee permanentlyandtoreplacehim/herwith someonewhocanbereliedontobeat work.

Thisisparticularlysowhenemployers needtogetthebusinessgoingagainin thenewyearbutcannotdosobecause employeesdisappearoverthisperiod.

However,suchemployersareoften caughtinthefollowingviciouscircle:

� Theemployerhasanemployeewho isabsentwithoutleave;

� Theemployerneedstoholda disciplinaryhearinginordertogetrid oftheemployeeinalegallycompliant manner;

� Buttheemployeeisabsent,andthe employerhasnowayofknowing whethertheemployeewillbecoming back.

� Thelawsaysthatemployeesare entitledtoparticipateindisciplinary hearingsbroughtagainstthem becauseoftheemployee’srightto defendhis/hercase;

� Buttheemployerisunabletogetthe employeetothehearingbecausethe employeeisabsentandcannotbe located.

Theveryoffenceofunauthorized absenceisthuspreventingthe employerfromdiscipliningthe employee.Intheirresultinganger, frustrationandconfusion,employers oftenactbeforecheckingwhatthe lawallowsthemtodo.

Theyeither:

� Immediatelytaketheemployeeoffthe booksandrecordthathe/shehas dismissedhimself/herself.

� Holdadisciplinaryhearinginthe employee’sabsenceandfirehim/her.

Employersarenotentitledtoworkon theassumptionthattheemployeehas dismissedhimself/herself.

Thecourtshaverepeatedlysaidthat, unlesstheemployeeclearlyresigns, he/shehasnotterminatedhis/her employment.Thisraisesthequestion astowhatconstitutesresignation.

Inmyviewresignationcanbeindicated inthreeways:

� Firstly,aletterornotefromthe employeestatingthathe/sheis leavingtheemployer’semploy.

� Secondly,anoralstatementbythe employeesuchas‘Iherebytendermy resignation’andtheemployeealso packsuphis/herthings,physically departsanddoesnotreturnbythe employee’snextshift.

Section37(4)oftheBasicConditions ofEmploymentActrequiresnoticeof terminationtobeinwritingunless givenbyanilliterateemployee. However,inmyview,theemployee’s

failuretoputtheresignationinwriting wouldnotnecessarilyinvalidateitif his/heractionsmadeitclearthat he/shewasleaving.However, employersshouldactwithgreat cautioninsuchcircumstances.

� Thirdly,theemployeeleaveswithout sayinganythingandgoestoworkfull timeforanotheremployerina permanentpost.Inmyviewthis couldconstitutetacitresignation.

Again,employersshouldactwith greatcautioninsuchcircumstances.

Whereemployersfailtoexercise cautionindealingwithemployees who‘disappear,’theyusuallyendup onthelosingendattheCCMA.

Forexample,inthecaseofSiswanavs ThomasRestorations(2007,1BALR12) theemployeedisappearedforamonth afterinformingtheemployer telephonicallythathewasathome attendingtofamilybusiness.

Theemployerheldadisciplinaryhearing intheemployee’sabsenceandfiredhim. Thearbitratoracceptedthattheemployee hadpreviouslyreceivedseveralwarnings forabsenteeism,andalsofoundthatthe employeehadbeeninformed,whenhe phonedin,thathewouldfacedismissalif hedidnotreturntoworkthefollowing day.

Despitemakingthesefindingsthe arbitratorstillfoundthedismissaltobe unfairbecausetheemployerhadfailedto attempttocontacttheemployeeathis homeandhadfailedtograntthe employeeahearingwhenhereturned afteramonth.

Inthelightofthisdecisionemployersare advisedtogetproperlabourlawadvice beforeactingagainstemployeeswho disappear.�

Backtoworkin2023

Theideaofgoingbacktoworkafterholidaysandfuninthesunislessthanappealingformanyof us,butworkwemust.

Thebeginningoftheyearis simultaneouslydauntingandfull ofpromise;afterabreakweall feelabitmorerelaxedand optimisticeventhoughwewould preferjustabitmoretimetodoallthe projectsthatwepromisedwewouldget roundto.Somehow,weneverhadthe timeorthemotivationtodotheseduring theholidays.

Rememberingthehecticpaceofthe previousyearcanmakemanyfeelmore thanalittleanxiousaboutreturningand dealingwithstressandpressureforawhole newyear.

Whilethereisnowaytoavoidreturning, otherthanwinningthelottoorinheritinga fortune,therearewaystochangetheyear fromtheoutsettomakereturningapositive challenge,ratherthanadailygrindtobe endured.

Januaryisthetimeforresolutions–but, insteadofpushingyourselftoundertakethe usualtriedandfailedresolutions(smoking, drinking,gymanddiet),aimyourgoals towardimprovingorchangingtheareasof yourlifethatcauseyouthemoststressor unhappiness.Andno,wedon’tmean resigningfromyourjob-wemeanactively lookingatareaswhereyoucanmakea change.

Thinkingaboutourlivesingeneral,there areclearportionsofourdays,weeksand monthsorevenseasonswhichnegatively impactonourpsycheorheightenour emotionsandcausestress.Formostpeople thereisacleardividebetweenhome,work, commuting,socialisingandfinancial obligations.

It’ssimplisticbuteachofthesesectors impactsonalloftheothers.Veryoften changingjustonesectorinapositiveway willhaveacatalyticimpactonalltheother sectors.Insteadofsettinggoalsthatyou havepreviouslyfailedat,chooseanarea thatyoucanachieveinandbuildonthat.

Formanyofus,thehourswespendatwork duringtheweekexceedthetimethatwe spendathome.Despitethefrequentlyrical commentsaboutwork-lifebalance,thisjust isn’tanoptionformanypeople.Thatsaid,it ispossibletomakesubtlechangesforthe better,sure-notalloptionsarefeasiblefor everyone-butsomesmallchangescan yieldahugelypositiveoutcome.

Change

Changeissomethingthatmanyareaverse to,butweareanever-evolvingsocietyand changewillhappenregardlessofour feelingsaboutit.

Herearesomeareaswhereyoucaninitiate changetomakeapositiveimpactonyour

life:

Organisation–Ifyoufindyourselfconstantly onabackfootatworkorathomeorboth, forgettingcommitmentsormeetings, runningoutofmilk,arrivinglateatwork etc.;lookatimplementingasystemto combatthis.Littlechangescanreallyhelp.

Identifyanareaofyourlifethatneeds organisationandimplementaplanto organiseit

� KeepasmallA5notebooktojotdown thingsastheyoccurtoyouandrefer backtoitoftentoremindyourselforto crossouttasksachieved.

� Keepadiaryandsynchittoyour phone,ordownloadanapp.

� Buystapleitemsinbulkthatcanbe storedorfrozen.

� Pre-packlunchestheeveningbefore,or buysnackpacksthatcanbekeptat workorinyourcar.

� Makehair,dentist,optometrist appointmentsatthestartoftheyear andputitinyourdiary.Thiswayyou cangroupthematthesametimeand youcanthenbooktimeofffromwork fortheseappointments.Itwillalsohelp managefinances.

Work–ifyoufindthatyouareunhappyat work,decidewhatcanbedonetoimprove thesituation.Jobsatisfactionisimportant aswespendsomuchtimeatworkand dissatisfactionimpactsouremotionsand moodslongafterwehavelefttheoffice. Therearesomanyfacetsofajob,youmay discoveratalentforsomethingbymakinga change.

Asolutioncanbefound,orachangemust beaffected.

� Lookwithintheorganisationforanother position.

� AskHRwhetherthereisanopportunity toupskill.

� Getcertifiedinyourfield,orgeta furtherqualification.

� Takeonnewchallengesinyourcurrent role.

� Lookforamentortoguideyou.

� Lookatchangingyourfield.

� Lookatwhatisavailableinthe marketplace.

� Startanewproject,orsidehustle,open yourselftoopportunity.

Commuting–anecessaryevil.Some peoplearefortunatetobeabletowork remotelyoronahybridmodel,butformany thoughthere’sthedailycommuteintraffic oronpublictransportthatmustbeendured twiceadayeveryworkday.

It’sunavoidable,somakethecommutea littleeasier.

� Trytoleaveontimetoavoidthestress ofrunninglate.

� Makeahabitofrefuellingyourcaron specificdaysonthewayhometoavoid arushinthemorning.

� Keepyourcarcleanandtidy.Thingsare justbetterwhenyourcarlooksgood andgiventheamountoftimewespend inourcars,theinteriorisjustas important.

� Keepasnackortwoandabottleof waterinthecarasaccidentshappen andbeingstuckinacarforhours waitingfortheroadtoopencanbe

frustrating,especiallyifyou’rehungryor thirsty.

� Keepamagazineorbookinthecarfor timeswhenthere’saroadclosure–data blindspotsexistandstaringattheback ofthecarinfrontofyouisnot entertaining.

� Listentoanaudiobookoraserieswhile drivingandtimewillflyby.

� Tryadifferentroute–achangeisas goodasaholiday.

� Startaliftcluborjoinoneifexpenses arecausingstress.

� Manybusinesseshavecorehoursthat startearlyandendlate.Timeyour commutetoavoidpeaktraffictimesif feasible.

� Shoparoundforinsurance,payingless willsurelyaddpeaceofmind.

� Maintainyourcarsoyoudon’thave additionalconcernswhileyou’redriving, ifthecostsarekillingyou,optfor somethinglesscostly.Imageisfinebut carsareinparkinglotsorgaragesmost ofthetime,soitdoesn’tneedahuge pricetag.

Family-thosewithfamilieshaveto constantlyjuggletokeepalltheballsinthe air,commitmentsandobligationsoutsideof workputpeopleunderpressure,even singleshavefamilyorpetcommitmentsthat cannotbeneglected.

� Organisationandplanningcannotbe understated,ifyouhavekidsinstilthese skillsinthem,itwillsaveyoursanity.

� Packschoolbagsthenightbefore–books,sportsbags,extra-curricular,just beready.

� Prepbreakfastandschoollunchthe nightbefore.

� Bookkids’hairanddentist appointmentswhenyoubookyours.

� Keepayearplannersomewhereand enterappointments,schoolandsport meetings,andotherimportanteventson thisandinyourdiary.

� Annualinoculationsforpetscanbe scheduledatthestartoftheyear.

� Planoutingssothewholefamilyhas fundaystolookforwardto–evenjusta daytriptoabotanicalgardenoralake, itneednotcostafortune.

Thesearejustafewareasthatcanbe adjustedandorganisedtocreatemore harmonyandlessstress.Asmentioned,all areasimpactoneachotherarea.Thereis nofacetofourlivesthatexistsinavacuum.

Creatingorderandorganisationwillreduce stressandimproveyourdailywellbeing. Though,manypeoplelackorganisationand hateplanningandscheduling,butthose samepeopleareoftenverystressed becauseoftheirlackofplanning. Organisationsavestimeandoftenmoney too.

Setgoals,writethemdownandevaluate themandhowcloseyouaretoachieving yourgoalsoften.Makethegoal,whateverit is,adailyendeavour-everydayshould bringyoualittlecloser.

Iffinance,orlackthereof,isacausefor distress,lookatchangesthatcanbemade. Whetheritmeansmovingtoamore affordablehouse,buyingalessexpensive car,changingyourinsuranceormedicalaid, evensocialisinglessordifferently–make thechange!

Rememberchangeisnotpermanent, changeevolvesasyourlifeevolves.Today youcan’taffordyourdreamcar,sellitand drivewhatyoucanafford,yougaincontrol andpeaceofmind.Inayearorfive,things maybedifferent.

Changewhatyouneedtochangetogain controlandimproveyourqualityoflife. Makebudgetsandactuallysticktothem, makeprovisionsforunforeseenexpensesby havingasavingsaccount.

Goingbacktotheimpactofeachsectoron thenext,organisationwillallowyouto makechangesinfinances,improved financeswillallowyoutoimproveanother areaofyourlifeandimproveyourmood overall,ahappieryouwilltakepositivityinto workrelationshipsandfamily,happierwork andfamilyrelationshipswillmakeyoufeel moresecureandsothecyclecontinues.

Conversely,dissatisfactionbreeds contemptandbitternessandwhowould wanttobebitterandunhappyby choice? �

SAFE-NotSorry

Safetyisnotagadget,butastateofmind–EleanorEveret

Safetyintheworkplaceisa sharedresponsibility–inas muchasthecompanyis obligatedtoprovideasafework environment,theemployeesare responsibletofollowtheguidelinesand safetymeasures.

TheOccupationalHealthandSafetyAct, Act85of1993,governs thesafetyand healthofpersonsatwork,whentheyuse plantandmachineryandtheprotectionof peoplefromhazardsarisingoutoforin connectionwiththeactivitiesfrompeople atwork.

InaccordancewiththeAct,employersare requiredto provideandmaintainsafety signsintheworkplacetocommunicate potentialhealthandsafetyrisksto employeesandpeopleinteractingonsite asvisitors.

Itisalsorequired,intermsoftheAct, thatacompanyshouldhaveaSafety OfficerorCommitteeandofficialSafety Planthatispartoftheinductionofnew employees.Themostimportantaspectof thesafetyplanishowthecontentsare communicatedwiththeteam.Proper training,instructionsandclearsignage aresomeoftherequirementstokeep youremployeesandvisitorssafefrom harm.

Signage

Allhazardsmustbeclearlyidentifiedand theappropriatesignagemustbe displayedinallareaswherehazardshave

beenidentified.Appropriatesignagemust bedisplayedinareasthathavebeen declaredhazardous,wherehazardous activitiesoccur,orwherehazardous substancesarestoredand/orhandled (GeneralSafetyRegulationsGNR1031, Reg2B).

Theemployees’safetyawareness increaseswhentheyseethesignageand thishelpstoreducetheriskofworkplace accidents.Itisimportantthatsignage mustbeproperlydisplayedandthatthe employeesunderstandthemeaningofthe signs.Theymustalsobeinformedabout whichhazardsthesignsareabout.

Signageisimportantforthefollowing reasons:

•Itindicatesthepotentialofimmediate danger,whichmeansactionmustbe taken,orthatsomethingisprohibited.

•Itindicatesthatprecautionarysteps shouldbetakentoensuresafety.

•Itindicatesescaperoutesorfirstaid/ measurestoassistsintimesof danger.

Typesofhealthandsafetysigns

Thereare3maintypesofsignsthatyou shouldbeawareof:Mandatorysigns, Emergencysigns,andWarningsigns.

Mandatorysigns

Mandatorysignsshowwhatactionis requiredandisusuallyawhite safety symbol orpictogramonablue background.Theseareusedtoshow requiredactionsorbehaviours

implementedwithinaworkplaceorpublic areastoensurecompliancewithrelevant healthandsafetyregulations. Theseare requiredbylawandincludeemergency andsafetymessages.

Thefollowinglistincludesthesafetysigns thatmustbedisplayedintheworkplace:

Cautionsigns

Electricalpowershutoff

Firesafetysigns

Firesignage Hazardsigns Hazardouschemicals Importantnoticesigns Restrictedentry Safetydirectionalsigns

EmergencySigns

Emergencysignsarestrategicallyplaced markersthatguidepeopleoutofthe buildingduringanemergency.Sincethe electricitymaybeoutincaseslikethis, thesignsshouldideallybe photoluminescent andbeclearlyvisibleinthe dark.Emergencysignsmustalwaysbe highlyvisible,abletoholdtheirlightforat leastanhour,andabletowithstand severeheatsothattheydon’tmeltina fire.

TheSouthAfricanBureauofStandards (SABS)manufacturesallemergency signage,butitistheemployer’s responsibilitytodisplaytheminthe appropriateareas.

WarningSigns

Warningsignsgivesafetyinstructionsand

arethemostcommontypeofhealthand safetymessagedisplayed.Thepurposeis tokeepallemployees,visitorsand contractorssafe.Examplesofwarning signsare“WorkmenOverhead”or“High Voltage.”Thesignscaninclude information,exitpoints,rulesand regulations,andspeedlimits.

Allwarningsignsneedtobeclear, specific,andeasytounderstand.Forthis reason,theyareusuallyinpictureformthisensuresthateveryonecan understandwhattheymean,evenifthey cannotread.InSouthAfrica,wherewe haveadiversenationwithdifferent languages,thepicturesare understandableasitisauniversal language.

Therearesomegeneralrulesaroundthe shapesofwarningsigns:

•Squaresandrectanglesconvey information,suchashowtousefire equipment.

•Circlesareinstructionsthatshould befollowed,suchasspeedlimits andnoentrynotifications.

•Triangleswarnaboutdangerous situations,suchasslipperysurfaces.

Displayingsigns

Alldangerouslocationsmusthave specificsigns.Forexample,slippery surfaces,lowheadroom,andoverhead construction.Safetysignsmustcomply withregulationsandbeinuniversal pictureformatasfaraspossible.

Ensureallstaffunderstandthesignage andwhatactionsneedtobetaken.Signs andmessagesmustbeplacedatthe observer’slineofsightandfarenough fromthehazarditselfsothattheviewer hassufficienttimetoheedthewarning, butcloseenoughsothatitisobvious wherethedangerlies.

Signsshouldnotbeplacedonmovable objectssuchasdoors.Donotpositiontoo manysignsincloseproximity.Whentoo manymessagesaredisplayedclose togetheritcancauseconfusion.

Signsthatarenolongerrelevantmustbe removed,forexamplewhenconstruction inaparticularareaiscomplete.All signagemustberegularlycleanedand maintained.Regularinspectionstoensure thattheyaresecurelyfixedandnot damagedareessential.

Allexitsmustbeclearlymarked-exitand escapesignsshouldbevisiblefromany placewithinthebuilding.Signsmustbe positionedinwell-litandhighlyvisible areas.signsmayberequiredforfire safety.Forexample,exitdoorsshould havewarningssuchas:“FireEscape–KeepClear.”

Areaswherehazardouschemicalsare storedmustbeclearlyindicated.The worldwidestandardofayellowtriangle withblackpictogrammustbeused.

Regularriskassessmentsandsafety inspectionswillensurethatthenecessary healthandsafetysignsforyourunique workplacearecorrectlydisplayed.Itisthe employer’sresponsibilitytoadheretoall recommendationsandlegalrequirements.

Top10safetytipsfortheworkplace

Herearetensafetytipsfortheworkplace –itisgoodtocommunicatethiswithyour employeesregularly.Thiswillhelpcreate andmaintainacultureofsafety:

1.Understandrisks

Everyworkenvironmentisdifferentand thesewillvaryfromindustrytoindustry andfromworkplacetoworkplace.It’s criticalthatemployeesunderstandthe inherentrisksthatcomewithaparticular job.Thiswaytheywilltaketheproper stepsnecessarytoavoidinjury, particularlyifworkingwithdangerous equipmentorinahazardous environment.

2.Beawareofyoursurroundingsatall time

Constantlyremindemployeestoalways beawareofwhatisgoingonaround themandtolookforhazardsconstantly.

3.Knowwherethefirstaidkit/officer are

Ifsomeonerequiresfirstaid,doyour employeesknowhowtoaccessitinthe workplace?Ensureyourstaffknowwhere thefirstaidkitisandifyouhavea designatedfirstaidofficer,ensurethey knowwhothatpersonissotheycanget assistanceshouldtheyneedit.

Itisimportanttotrainstaffmembersin basicfirstaidsothattheycanassistin caseofinjuryorotheremergencies.

4.Takingregularbreaks

Manyworkplaceinjurieshappenasa resultofanemployeebeingtiredor

burnedout.Bytakingregularbreaks, employeescanstayfreshonthejob.Itis importanttomonitorstaffastheirstateof mentalwellnessmayalsocausethemto benegligentorexperiencelossoffocus.

5.Alwaysusingequipmentproperly

Whenmachinesandtoolsareusedinthe workplace,employeesshouldalwaystake properprecautions.Nevertakeshortcuts andneverusetheequipmentfor purposesotherthanwhatisintendedto reducetheriskofworkplaceinjury.Staff shouldalsobewell-trainedintheuseof themachinesandtools.

6.Payattentiontosignage

Signageisplacedtoindicatethatthere couldbeapotentialhazardinthearea andincludesimportantinformationabout maintainingasafeworkenvironment. Employeesshouldregularlybereminded aboutthewarningorinstructionofa particularsignsothattheyknowhowto act.

7.Knowwhereemergencyexitsare

Allemployeesshouldunderstandwhere theyshouldsafelyexittheworkplacein theeventofanevacuation.Assembly pointsshouldalsobeclearlyindicatedso thateveryoneknowswheretogo–this willpreventpeoplefrompanickinginan emergency.

8.Keepemergencyexitsaccessible

Becauseemployeesneedtoaccessexits quicklyintheeventofanemergency,itis imperativethatthesebekeptclear. Nothingshouldbeplacedinfrontofthe exitsthatwouldblockthemorimpede themfromopening.

9.Reportingunsafeconditions

Employeesshouldknowhowtoreport unsafeconditionssomanagementcan quicklyaddressanysafetyrisksor hazards.Theregularinspectionof machinery,equipmentandsignagewill alsohelppreventincidentsfrom happeningaspeoplewillknowthatthey areenteringadangerousorhazardous area.

10.Wearcorrectsafetyequipment

Everyemployeehasaresponsibilityto ensuretheyarewearingproperprotective equipmentthatwillenablethemtosafely carryouttheirjob.Theequipmentshould ideallybereplacedregularlytoensure thatemployeesareprotected.

Communicationiskey

Goodcommunicationisessentialto ensurethatemployeesunderstandthe safetyplanofthecompany,knowwho thesafetyofficersareandwhat requirementstheymustabidebyinthe workplace.Thiswillhelptobuildasafety culturewherepeoplespeakupabout potentialhazardsandunderstandtherole thattheyhaveinkeepingthemselvesand theircolleaguessafe.

Ensuringthatyougetemployees’ attentioncanbechallenginginthe

modernworkplace:therearesomany competingsourcesofinformationthese daysthatpeopledon’thavetimetopay attentiontoeverything.Ifyousendall yoursafetymessagesbyemailorput themontheintranet,there’saveryhigh likelihoodyouremployeeswillmiss them.

Itmaybeagoodideatoincludewritten communicationonsafetywithpayslipsor haveastaffmeetingwheresafetyis discussed.Assumingthattheemployees knowwillnotprotectyouincase somethinghappens.�

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

https://www.makrosafe.co.za/blog/ Why-must-Health-and-Safetymessages-be-displayed Departmentoflabourlabour.gov.za

https://www.alert-software.com/ blog/top-10-workplace-safety-tipsevery-employee-should-know https://siza.co.za/health-andsafety-signage/

Shifthappens

Weneedtolearnhowcustomersuseourproductsandservicestodeterminethevaluewewanttoadd

Onecouldarguethatchange

hasbeenourconstant companionforalong,long time.

Changehashowevernotbeenevenly distributedovertimeandforsome generationstherateofchangewas differenttothosebeforethem.

Thisistypicallyfuelledbychangesin technologywhichmakespossiblenew economicmodels.

Profoundchangeislesscommonthanwe thinkandthecurrentshiftfromthe industrial,capitaldriveneconomicmodel tothedigitaleconomybasedondatadriveninsightshasasignificantimpacton thecurrenteconomicandpolitical systems.

Thescopeandscaleofthisshift,ifnot upendingoroptimisingexistingbusiness models,iscreatingthepotentialtobuild brandnewbusinesseswiththeabilityto empowerandenablepeoplepreviously excludedonabasisofaccesstocapital.

Predominantmodel

Weneedtoacknowledgethoughthatthe industrialeconomyisstillthe predominantmodel(it’sashiftnota switch),andthiscreatesachallengefor manybusinessowners.

Onetheonehandtheyneedtoruntheir existingbusinessasoptimallyaspossible inanincreasinglycompetitivemarket whiletheybuildnewbusinessesthatwill makethemparticipantsinthedigital economy.

Unlessofcourseyourbusinesshasdigital technologyatitscoreandit’sthewayyou createvalueforyourcustomers.

Technologyand,morespecifically, ubiquitousaccesstoinformationhasalso shiftedthepowerfrommanufacturersof productsandservicestothecustomer. Thiscoupledwiththefactthatcustomers increasinglywanttosharetheriskof ownershipandvaluerealisationwiththe provideroftheproductandserviceshas lefttotheemergenceofhighlyas-aservicebusinessmodels.

Thevaluechainisthereforeinverting, andwehavenowtofirstlyshowthe customerhowwewilldelivervalueand thenalsolearnhowtheyareusingour productsandservicestoderivevalue.

Traditionalroles

Thishassignificantimplicationsfor traditionalroleslikesalesandmarketing. Theshiftinsalesistowardscustomer successandmarketingisshiftingfroma productled,competitorfocusedapproach toacustomerledanduse-casedriven model.Thefocalpointisoncustomer empathy,anditiscriticalaseachofour

customersembarkonaprocessof digitisation.

IntheSouthAfricancontext,itcan changethestructureofoureconomy, createnewandmodernjobsandensure thatweremaingloballycompetitive.

Wewillneedtore-imagineour educationalsystematalllevelsbuteven heretechnologywilldrivethechange needed.Ourtechnologysectorisalready developingworldclasssolutions,butwe candosomuchmoreifweleverage enablingtechnologieslikethecloud,high speedinternet,IOTandrenewable energy.

Ourchallengeistoembraceallthese shiftsandensurethatwelistentoour customer–theyareonthesamejourney asus.

Noneofushasalltheanswersand,the needtoworktogetherinanetworkof alliancestosolveforcustomerchallenges andopportunities,isbecomingacore capability.

Thisisthestartofashiftawayfrom verticalvaluechainsintoanadaptive ecosystemthatwillevolveandmorph alongthepathourcustomersareon.But moreaboutthatnextmonth…. �

Nice tohave Nicetohave

FunGadgets

PortableAudioConferencingDevice

Insteadofhavingmultiplebulkymicrophones clutteringyourconferencetable,useportable conferencespeakerswithabuilt-inmicrophone andone-touchcontrols.Quicklymuteand unmutethedevicewithatouchofabuttonand experienceimpressivesoundquality.

AdjustableStandingDesk

Anadjustablestandingdeskallowsyoutoswitchbetweenstanding andsittingwhenyouareworking.Oversittingcancausebackpain andvarioushealthissues,andmanyusersreportthatthese problemsgoawayaftertheystandmorewhileatwork.Astanding deskisdefinitelyacoolofficegadgetandagreatadditiontoyour officeworkspaceorhomeofficesetup.

FLEXISPOTEssentialHeightAdjustableDesk(Source: Amazon)

ScreenMirroring Device

Screenmirroringallowsyoutoshareascreenfromone devicetoanother,makingcollaborationandinformation sharingquickandeasy.Mirroringdevicesareparticularly usefulforofficecollaboration,training,andexternal presentations.Dependingonthedevice,wireless screencastingisgenerallycompatiblewithalldevices,like phones,tablets,andcomputers.

GoogleChromecast(3rdGeneration)(Source: Amazon)

UniversalTravel Adapter

Thisisperfectforpeoplewhotravelforworkorforfreespiritedsolopreneursandfreelancerswhoworkonline anywheretheycangetservice.TheAppleWorldTravel AdapterKitisbestforAppleusersat$29.00.Atthe sametime,theEPICKAUniversalTravelAdapterisa highlyrecommended,all-in-one,worldmultifunction traveladapterpricedatabout$25.Theadapterisa luggageessentialthatequipsyouwithinternational poweradaptersforallyourdevices.

FoldingHDPhone SmartphoneMagnifierScreen Amplifiers-Black

Smartphonetechnologycontinuallygetsbetterandbetter,andscreensizesare noexception.Themoderntrendforlargescreensdoesn’tseemtobestopping anytimesoon,asthebiggerthescreen,theeasieritistousealltheamazing functionalityonyourphone.Butwithvideos,moviesandimages,theaverage smartphonescreenjustdoesn’tcutit.Soifyou’relookingfortablet-sizedviewing withouttheheftypricetag,theScreenMagnifieristheperfectphoneaccessory. Witha18cmscreen,thishandymagnifyingframeallowstheimagesonyour phonetobeamplified,makingthembiggerandeasiertoviewthaneverbefore. Allyouneedtodoisalignyoursmartphonetothebasebehindthemagnifier, grabacupofteaandacomfyspotandenjoytheamplifiedimage!Thereareno plugs,charging,orbatteriesrequired,andthismagnifierislightweightandfully portable.Perfectforfestivals,campingortravelling,theScreenMagnifiergives youthatbigscreenfeelingonthego!Increaseyoursmartphone'sscreensizeby upto3timeswiththisScreenMagnifier.Compatiblewithallsmartphones,it's lightweightandfoldable.Agreatgiftforfamilies,eldersorchildrenPicture qualityvariesdependingonviewingangleandplacementofproduct.Incorrect placementmayleadtopoorviewingexperience.

BridgingtheGapbetween KnowingandDoing

Withmostpeoplenow(almost)backto routineandsettlingintoworkingoutofthe officeagain,wehavebecomeawareofneed forsharpeningofskills.Someofusneedtorelearnhowtoengagewithcustomersface-tofaceagainsowecanclosethedealandothers needtorefreshontelephoneetiquetteasmore andmorecustomersarereachingout.

SHOP-SA,inpartnershipwithTheMindspa Institute,isofferingsomesoftskillstraining courses.TheMindspaInstituteisasoftskills trainingcompanyandwillbeofferingtraining intwoformats,i.e.onlineorwithafacilitator atyourofficetrainingfacility(orothersuitable venue).Althoughthenumberofdelegatesis notaseriouschallengeintheonlinespace, wethinkthataminimumoffivedelegatesper coursewillmakethelearningexperience muchbetter.

Thetwo-daycourseslistedbelowareavailable toreadersofSHOP-SAatR3999perdelegate (excludingvenuehire,refreshmentsand projector) andcanbebookedwithSHOP-SA ordirectlywithTheMindspaInstitute (JohannesburgOffice0101100227and quoteSHOP-SAasbookingcode).

Wewillstartoffbyofferingthreecourses:

1.CustomerIntelligence

2.ProfessionalVoiceandTelephone Etiquette

3.SuccessfulSales

CUSTOMERINTELLIGENCE

CustomerServiceisnotadepartment,butan attitude.Itistheabilitytoprovideaserviceor productinthewaythatithasbeenpromised andthenaimingtoexceedthecustomer’s expectations.

TheCustomerIntelligencetrainingcourse equipsyouwiththetoolsandskillsto enhanceyourownEmotionalIntelligence(as wellasthatofyourteammembers),improve yourinter-personalskills,communicationskills anditenablesyoutodealwithconflictinan effectivemanner.Itwillequipyouwithtoolsto manageyourselfandyourteaminan emotionallyintelligentmanner.Thecoursewill alsofocusoninternalcustomercareand gettingyourorganisationandteamtowork together.

Topicsthatwillbecoveredinthiscourse:

•Customerintelligence

•Theimportanceofcommunicationin

customerservice

•Transactionalanalysis

•Theimportanceofcustomerservice

•Internalcustomercarer

•Moderntelephonemanagement

ADDITIONALINFORMATION

CourseDuration:2Days

Presented:In-houseoronline

Includes: Comprehensivemanual, Framed certificateofattendance, Notepad&Pen

PROFESSIONALTELEPHONEANDVOICE ETIQUETTE

“Thereisnoaccomplishmentsoeasyto acquireaspoliteness,andnonemore profitable.”GeorgeBernardShaw

TheProfessionalTelephoneEtiquetteand VoiceEtiquettetrainingcoursefocusseson moderntelephonemanagementskillsand effectivecommunicationskills.Oneofthe basicsinabusinessislearningprofessional businesstelephoneandvoiceetiquette becausethetelephoneispartofeveryday workandisoftenthefirstandonlypointof contactwithsomecustomers.Itcan potentiallymakeorbreakabusiness relationship.

Thecoursewilladdressthefollowing:

•UnpackingTelephoneEtiquette

•ModernTelephoneManagementSkills

•EffectiveCommunicationSkills

•ASouthAfricanCaseStudy

•ReferencesandRecommendedFurther

Reading

ADDITIONALINFORMATION

CourseDuration:2Days

Presented:In-houseoronline

Includes: Comprehensivemanual Framedcertificateofattendance Notepad&Pen

SUCCESSFULSALES(2Days)

“Salesarecontingentupontheattitudeofthe salesman,nottheattitudeoftheprospect."WilliamClementStone

MindspaCompany’ssalestrainingcourse deliverspractical,ready-to-useselling techniquestogeneratebetterresultsforyou andyourorganization.Duringthisprogram youwilluncoverwaystoincreaseyour numbersbyusingbothfundamentaland advancedsellingtechniques.Participantsare encouragedtoactivelyparticipateintheskills developmentsessions,asthehumanmindis

programmedtolearnbetterthrough“doing”.

Thecoursewilladdressfrequentlyasked questionssuchas:

� HowdoIbuildapersonalbrandto improvesales?

� Howtocompileasalesactionplan?

� HowcanIbetterunderstandpeoplein ordertosell?

� HowcanIdeveloppowerfulsales presentations?

� HowdoIdoprospectandappointment setting?

Whoshouldattend?

� SalesExecutives

� SalesConsultants

� AccountManagers

� BusinessDevelopmentManagers

� SalesManagers

TrainingOutline

•Understandingyourself,your colleaguesandyourclients

•Characteristicsofsuperiorsalespeople

•Tipsonattainingthecharacteristicsof superiorsalesrepresentative

•Understandingbuyingbehaviour

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ElmariePretorius TheMindSpaInstitute

BookCoverings

Fromtraditionaltocrafted–howtomakeyourbookslookamazing!

Books,especiallyschoolbooks, havebeencoveredforalong time.Backinthedaythiswas doneinbrownpaperor butchers’paper,butnow,the skyisthelimitintermsofdecoration.

Expresscreativity

Bookcoveringisadreadedtaskthatneeds tobecompletedformanyparents-usually atnightafterwork-anditcanbetimeconsumingandfrustrating.Evenmoreso forparentsfacedwithamountainofbooks frommorethanonechildthatallneedto wrappedbythenextday!Addtothisthe scourgeoftheself-adhesiveplasticwrap, andmostparentsopenabottleofwineto drowntheirsorrowswhilstwrappinglate intothenight.

Thankfullymanychildrenchoosetoexpress themselvescreativelybydecoratingand coveringtheirbooksinuniqueways.Ifyou havethebooklistfromschool,childrencan spendtimeduringtheholidaysdecorating thecoversasacraftproject.Thiswillfree youfromfindingthingsforthemtodo (usuallyatgreatcost),butalsofreeyou fromhavingtodothisyourselfinthenew year.Havefriendscomeoverwiththeirkids andtheycanallcraftawaywhileyouhave

sometimewiththeirparentsoratleasttime toreadabook!

Traditional

Mostparentsusedtraditionalcoveringsfor theirbookswhiletheywereatschool,so arefamiliarwiththeconceptofbrown paperrollsandplastic.Thisisstillinuse today,decadesafterandformanychildren thisisstillwhattheyuse.

Schoolshavebecomemorerelaxedwith regardtothedecorationappliedtobook coveringsandwillallowsomefreedom providingtheimagesusedarenotoffensive ortoocontroversial.Brownpapercanstill beusedasabasecovering,soitremains oneofthemoreaffordableoptionswhen coveringbooks.

Left-overwrappingpaper

Theuseofoldorleft-overwrappingpaper isanaffordablecoveringthatlooksgood andallowseachbooktobeuniqueand easilyidentifiableforthechild.Childrenare happytousepaperthatisnotexplicitly identifiableasChristmasorbirthday wrapping.Withthisinmind,whenbuying paperforChristmasorbirthdays,maybeopt forbrightorfestivecolourswithoutimages ofgiftsandSantaalloverit.Thiswayyou

willbeabletorepurposethepaperasa bookcovering.

Scrapbookpaper

Scrapbookpaperisabitthickerthan wrappingpaper,andcansometimesbe usedtocoverbooksifitislargeenough,or thebookissmallenough.Itaddsabitof strengthtothecoverduetothethickness. Thoughthepapercanbeexpensive,many scrapbookingshopswillhavepapersthat areonsale.

Thesecanalsobeappliedtoself-adhesive plasticandthenwrappedaroundthebook asacover.Alternatively,asmanyofthe papersprintedarehighlydecorative,they canbecutoutandappliedinpieceslikea jigsawpuzzleorappliedtobrownpaper. Therearemanywaysinwhichthiscanbe utilisedtocreateatrulyoutstandingcover thatiscompletelyunique.

Stamps

Ifyouareusingbrownpaper,youcanuse stampstocreateaneffectonthepaper. Eitherbuyormakestampsandgetafew differentcolouredinks.Thiswillprovide childrenwithsomeentertainment.

Itcanevenbedoneasaprojectduringthe holidays.Spreadtherollsofbrownpaper onatableandallowchildrentostampthe rollsusingdifferentstampsandinks.These canthenberolledup,readytouseinthe newschoolyear.Thiscanalsobeusedas wrappingpaperinemergencies!

Drawings

Forthosewithverycreativechildren,who lovetodraw,allowthemtodrawdirectly ontothebrownpapercoverofthebook. However,thisisonlyrecommendedfor thosewithchildrenthatareconfidentin theirability-a“mistake”wouldmeanthat thecoverwouldneedtoberemovedand reapplied.

Thismayalsotakealongtime,whichis lessthanidealifthebookshavetobe coveredinaspecifictimeframe.Abetter ideawouldbetoallowthemtomake drawingsonpaperthatcanthenbeglued tothecoverofthebook.Theystillgetto expressthemselves,butitisaltogetherless stressfulwhentimeisoftheessence.

Painting

Aswithdrawing,paintingonthecovercan beveryeffectivebutitismoretime consuming.Usinganacrylicpaintshould work,butpreferablynotdirectlyonasoftcoveredbookasitmaywrinkleandcrack. Paintingontorollsofbrownpaper,ordoing smallerpaintingsoncardthatcanthenbe

applied,isabettermethodandagainanice craftprojectfortheholidays.

Childrencanexperimentusingdifferent paintslikeacrylicorwatercolouronpaper, orinksdroppedontodamppaper,tocreate auniverseofuniqueimages.

Photographs

Aphotograph,whetherofnature,asunset orthebeach,oranyotherimagethatmay workforthesubjectofthebook,canbe used.Thesecanbeappliedtopaperanda framecanbehanddrawnorpatternscan bemadetoframethephotoonthebook cover.ThepagedoesnotneedtobeA4,it canbecutinanyshapeorsizethatfits.

Stickers

Mostchildrenlikeapplyingstickersandthis canbedoneonthecoverofbookstocreate somethingspecial.Stickerscanbeina seriesortheycanbelinkedwithabold markertoeachother.Evenfunnybumper stickers–notrudeorprofane–canbe used.I’msureteacherswouldgetachuckle lookingatsomebooks.

Glitter

Glittercanbeapplied,andonbrownpaper youneedonlypaintthesurfacewithalittle glueinthepatterofyourchoice,anddust theglitterovertheglue.Childrencaneither workonrollsoryoucancutbook-sized piecesofpaperoutandallowthemto decorateeachwithauniquedesignor pattern.Thiscanbecombinedwithimages, drawings,paint,photosoralmostanything elsetomakeanexclusiveone-of-a-kind covering.

Beadingandwire

Beadingandfinewirecanbeaddedtoa cover,thoughhard-coverbookswouldbe thebestoptionhere.Thisistime consumingandduethesizeofthebeads, probablyonlysuitedtoolderchildren.

Ifyouhavethestationerylist,youcanbuy allthesuppliesandmakethisaprojectfor theholidays.Allowchildrentocreateand

gluetotheirheartscontent–rememberto leaveaspaceforthenamelabelthough!

Beadingandwireisareallygoodideafor journalsordiaries.Plasticbeadswillstick betterandarelessweightythanglass beads,also,thesmallerthebetterwith uniformitybeingkey-thebookshouldn’t betoocumbersome,astheystillneedto useit,sovaryingsizesofbeadscouldmake forabumpywritingexperience.

Doodling

Forthosethatembracedoodlingordotting orotherpatternmakingdesigns,thisisthe timetobreakoutyourskills!Coveringa bookwithbrownpapergivesyouan awesomesurfacetoputmarkertopaper. Getanicethickmarker,chooseyour colours,andthen-ready,set…..go!

Varyingcoloursandthicknessescanbeused aswellascombiningthiswithother mediumsmentionedabove.Whetheradding animageatthecentre,orglitteroreven beading,thereisnolimittowhatyoucan designandcreate.Tryyourhandatdrawing amandalaandletchildrenaddcolouror otherembellishmentsfromthreadtosequins –theskyisthelimit.

Material

Materialcanbeusedtogreateffectwhen coveringbooks,thoughadmittedly,itworks betteronhardcoversunlessyouareusing somethingextremelylightweightsuchas silk.Anoldpairofjeanscanbecutand gluedtothecover–youcanhavethe pocketonthefrontasausefulpenholder! Oranoldt-shirtwithabandname,even oldscarves(thesilkvariety,notbigwoolly ones)canbeusedtogreateffect.

Collage

Thisisanoldfavouritefromyearsgoneby. Youcancutoutimagesfromoldmagazines andgluethemtothecover–ithasthe addedbenefitthatalabelcanbestuckover thetop.It’seasytocoverinself-adhesive wrapandeachbookwillbeexclusive!Just watchoutthatthechildrendon’tpillage yourcoffeetablecollectionofbooks.

Shoppingbags

Thisisunusualbutcanbeveryeffective. Wearenottalkingaboutgrocerystorebags, butshoppingbagsthathavecreative designs,coloursorimagesonthem.They canbecutoutasacollageorjustwrapped aroundthebook.Bothpaperandplastic bagswillworkwitheitherglue,double sidedcraftingtapeorgoodoldsticky-tape. Thiscanalsobecombinedwithother mediumsorevenglitterglueandissurely anexpressionofself,especiallyfor teenagers.

Plasticwrap

Thereareseveralvarietiesofplasticwrap available,fromtheheavierdutytoreally quiteflimsyplastic.Theheavierthebetter asthethinnerwrap,althoughusuallymore transparent,tendstoteareasily.Thisisless thanidealandreallyfalseeconomyifyou enduprecoveringbooksseveraltimesa year.

Therearesliponcoversinplastic,which canbeexcellenttimesaversbutsomeare pronetotearing.Thereareharderplastic coversmadefromPVC,someareeven availableinarangeofcolours,othershave adoublesheetonthefrontwhichisfilled withglitterandliquidorsmalltoysetc.so

evenifyouonlyuseaplainpapercovering, itwillstilllookspecial.

Self-adhesivewrap

Thisisthebaneofmanyparentsand certainlysomechildren.Thereisanartto applyingthis,avoidingwrinklesand bubbles.Ifyouwanttoavoidfrustration, therearemanylinksandvideosonthe internetthatwillshowyouhowtodothis withtheminimumoffrustrationand wastage.

Werecommendthatyoutakealookatthe videoswhenwrappingtextbooks,assome oftheadhesiveplasticsarenoteasily removedandcandamagethecoverofthe book.

Pre-cutbookcovers

Thisisago-toformanyparentsasitsaves timeandeffortandthecoversjustfit.The coverscanstillbedecoratedbeforeadding theplasticsheathattheend,soallisnot lost.

Conveniently,astheycomeinpre-cutsizes, thereisnowastageandnoneedfor scissorsandspace;childrencandecorate theseindividuallyasaDecemberproject,so thefunfactorisstillthere.Boththepaper

IndustryLeaders

andtheplasticareavailableaspre-cutand sizedtomakethingseasier.

Unfortunately,manyofthesewillnotfiton ahardcoverbook,soyoumayneedto resorttotraditionalmeansforthis!

However,youchoosetocoverbooks,you areguaranteedtohaveatleastone afternoonofcraftingfun.Ifyou’resneaky, youmayevenbeabletoconvincethe childrentocoveralltheChristmaspresents too!

Havefunandallowthemfreereignto demonstratetheircreativityand originality.�

Investinwomen toendpoverty Investinwomen toendpoverty

Womenholdthekeyto endingextremepoverty. Thereisstrongevidence thatwhenwomenand girlsareaffordeda qualityeducation,accesstohealthcare, asustainablelivelihood,andaseatat thedecision-makingtable,economies shift.

Incommunitieswhereallthisisinplace, povertyhasbeenremovedpermanently. Genderinequalityhasmanyformsthat areatthefoundationofpoverty.Inorder tofacilitateprogress,allgender inequalitiesneedtobeeradicated.

1.EducationalGenderBias

Educationbenefitssocietyasawhole andgirls’educationespeciallywill positivelyinfluencenotonlysociety,but alsoeconomies.Healthcareand educationaretwoofthebasicbuilding blocksofanempoweredcommunity.

Educatinggirlsaffordsthemthe opportunitytoactivelyparticipateinthe economyandbelessdependent. Childrenborntomothersthatare educatedarelikelytohavethesame educationalopportunitiesandarelikely tohaveaccesstobetterhealthcare.

Peopleperpetuatewhattheyknowand knowledgecanchangeanexperience thatwillhavealastingeffectacross generations.Sadly,anestimated130 milliongirlswillneversetfootinsidea classroom.

Childmarriage,lackofadequate sanitation(especiallyforgirlswhoareof menstruatingage),andgender-based violenceintheclassroomaresomeofthe obstaclesspecifictogirlswhenitcomes tothisverybasichumanright.

2.Thegenderpaygap

Financialandeconomicequalityis imperativetogenderbalance.A2020 WorldEconomicForum(WEF)report suggeststhatifwemaintainthecurrent paceofcorrectingthegenderpay imbalance,itwillbeanother100years beforewomenreceiveequalpayfor equalwork.

Surprisingly,thegenderpaygapdoesnot seemuchdisparitybetweenhighincome countriesvs.low-incomecountries.Even moresurprisingisthefactthatsome lowerincomecountriesareactually furtheraheadincorrectingthegender paygap.

TakeRwandaforexample-theyarein thetop10countriesworldwideinclosing thepaygap.Whilstthereisstillalong waytogo,theyoutranktheUnitedStates inbothoverallandwagegap-specific progress.

Ensuringthatwomennotonlyearnthe samesalariesastheirmalecounterparts butalsogetthesameaccesstoeconomic independenceboostseconomies.Italso meansthatotherbasicneeds,like healthcare,education,andadequatefood andwaterareavailable.

Womenareoftentheheadofthefamily; thus,theyarelikelytomakebetter choicesforthewholefamilyandindoing sowillbechangingthetrendforfuture generations.

3.Gender55disparitiesinagriculture Atleasthalftheworld’sfarmersare women,buttheylargelyhaveless productivefieldswhencomparedtotheir malecounterparts.Reportsshowthat womenhavelessaccesstocriticaltools

andresourceslikefertiliser,seeds, training,andfarmlabour.

Morediscouraging,evenwhenthey receiveequalaccesstotheseresources, isthefactthatthereisevidencethatthey arenotequallycompensatedwhenit comestoincome.Astheprimary caretakersofchildrenandoftenheadof singleparentfamilies,womenstruggleto gettheirgoodstomarket,particularlyin ruralareas.

Withreducedharvestsandlowerincome, thishasaknock-oneffect,aswomen (morethanmen)reinvesttheearnings intotheirfamilyandthecommunitythat theylivein.Theinequalityisalossfor morethanjustthewomanandher family,it’salossfortheircommunityand societyasawhole.

Womenneedtobeempowered, especiallyinruralareasoflowincome,to startbackyardgardenstohelpfeedand nourishtheirfamily.Manywomendoing thisinanareawillallowforfooddiversity andforabartersystembetweenthe women,helpingtoalleviate malnourishment.

4.Pooraccesstohealthcare

Healthcareislackinginthosesuffering frompoverty.Thereisahighmortality rateamongsttheimpoverished, specificallywomenandgirlsfrom complicationsarisingfrompregnancy andbirth.

Thechronicabsenceofhealthcare, combinedwiththeongoing,unnecessary lossofsomanywomenfrommaternity relatedcomplications,resultsinmassive negativeimpactonfamiliesand communities.

Sickmothersareoftenunabletoseek treatmentforthemselves,theirchildren arelesslikelytoreceivehealthcareand olderchildrenareobligatedtotakecare ofyoungerkidsandthehomewhenthey haveanailingmother.Thiseffectively meansthateducationisforfeitedandthe cycleofpovertyisdestinedtoperpetuate itself.

5.Thehighpriceofcollectingwater

Ensuringthereiswaterforthefamilyis consideredawoman’sjob.Morethan twobillionpeopleworldwidedon’thave accesstocleanwaterathome.Many womenlivinginimpoverishedareas withoutdrinkingwaterathome,spend hourssourcingandbringingbackwater daily.Sinceno-onecanlivewithout water,thistakespriorityatthecostof education.

Astudyshowedthatschoolattendance increasedbyasmuchas12%when waterwasavailablewithin15minutesof thehome.Everyminutethatawoman spendscollectingwater,isaminutelost, thatcouldbeusedtoearnandsave moneyandtochangethecycleof poverty.

6.Gender-basedviolence

Figuresformarriagegloballyuncovered somedisturbingdata.Accordingto UNICEFmorethan700millionwomen weremarriedbeforetheyturned18in recenttimes.Morethanathirdofthat number,approximately250million,were marriedbeforetheageof15.Forboys

thefiguredropstoabout156million marriedbeforetheageof18.

Childmarriageclearlyaffectsmoregirls. Girlswhomarryyoungarelesslikelyto receiveacompleteorqualityeducation, andchildbrides(undertheageof18) arefrequentlysubjectedtomore discrimination,violence,andincreased maternalmortalityrates.

Forcedmarriageisoneofmanyformsof violenceagainstwomenandgirls.This includessexualviolence,femalegenital mutilation,trafficking,andhonour killings.Allformsofgender-based violence(GBV)contributetothebelief thatmenandwomencanandshouldbe treateddifferently.

Aslongastheseactscontinuetobeseen asthe“culture”ornorm,women’srights willcontinuetobeoppressed.

7.Lackoffemalerepresentation

Mostlegislatorsanddecisionmakersare men-evenonwomen’sissues,itisstill menthatmakethelawsandpoliciesand insodoing,womenareneverlikelyto getfairrepresentationandequality.

Giventhatwomenareoftentheheadof singleparentfamilies,andalreadysuffer inequalityonsomanyfronts,thisis somethingthatneedstourgently addressed.Policymakersandlegislators needtobeinclusiveofwomenasmuch asmenandforlawstobeembeddedto protectwomenandtheirrights.Thisis

notafeministleaningbutsomethingthat needstohappenforthegoodofsociety. Womenraiseandgenerallyhavemore dependantsthattheyareactivelycaring for,thereforeequalpayistheleastthat theyshouldbeafforded.

Thiswillenrichsociety,notjusta woman.Thatsaid,itshouldnotbea criterionforpay,whetherawomanis married,aparentorasingleparent.

8.ConcernandGenderEquality

Genderdisparityhasunderlyingsocietal andculturalfactorswhichneedstobe addressed,butconcurrenttothis,the needtoeradicatepovertyandhungeris equal.Theseneedsareinterlinkedand bymakingchangesinonearea,others arepositivelyimpacted.

Genderinequalityistheoverarching factorimpactingonmanyareasof concernandthecauseofmanyofthe currentglobalissuespertainingto education,poverty,healthandhunger.

Byinitiatingpositivechangesin addressinggenderinequality,manyofthe otherissueswilllessenandwithtime,be resolved.

Bethechangeforequalityandinclusion, lookwhereyoucanmakeanimpactand bringchangetoinfluencechangefora betterfuture. �

Healthyemployeesworkharder

The“battleofthebulge”isanannualstruggleformanySouthAfricans–returningtoworkafterthebreakoverthe FestiveSeasoninDecemberisalwaystough,butmoresowhentheuniformsarealittletighter,climbingthestairs leaveyououtofbreathandyoufindyourholidaycravingscontinuingintothefirstweeksofthenewyear.

Havingastaffcanteenor cafeteriaintheworkplaceis greatforthecompanyandteam culture–youmayfindthe marketingteamhavingcoffee withthefinancedepartment;something thatwouldnotusuallyhappeninthe workplace.

BENEFITSOFACANTEENATWORK

Staffwillperceivethecanteenorcafeteria asabenefitanditdoescontributetotheir productivity.Nestlépublishedanarticlein 2018thatindicatedthatstaffwillmost likelythinkmoreaboutworkiftheyhave lunchonthepremises.

Sincethehealthofyourstaffcanhave severeimpactsonyourcompany’s performance,itisanexcellentopportunity tointroducehealthiermeals.Thiswill contributetotheirgeneralwellnessand alsohelpthemshedsomeoftheholidaygainsaroundthemiddleandonthethighs.

Infact,innutritionweekin2016,our nationalDepartmentofHealthissueda bookletonhealthyeatingwhichcontained severalusefulbitsofinformationfor employerstoconsider.Thebooklet acknowledgethatobesityisanational problem.

GLOBALPLANOFACTION

Accordingtothisbooklet,theWHO’sGlobal PlanofActiononWorker’sHealth 2008-2017statedthathealthpromotion andpreventionofnoncommunicable diseases(NCDs)shouldbesupportedinthe workplace,inparticularbyadvocating healthydietandphysicalactivityamong workersaswellaspromotingmentalhealth atwork.

TheDepartmentsaidthataninvestmentin workplacehealthpromotionprogrammes, willresultinhealthandeconomicgainsfor boththeemployerandemployeealike.

Thebenefitsincludeenhancedworker productivity,improvedworkplacemorale andworkplaceculture,reduced absenteeism,improvedcorporateimage, improvedstaffretention,reducedworkrelatedinjuries,andreducedmedicalcosts.

GUIDELINESONFOODOFFERED

Thebookletoutlinedthetypeoffoodthat workplacecanteens,cafeteriasandcoffee shopsshouldprovide–healthymealsat affordableprices.Healthiercooking techniquesshouldbeusedandnutrition informationbeprovidedtopromotehealthy foodchoices.

Vendingmachinesandkiosksareanother wayofmakingfoodavailabletoemployees. Inpayingattentiontohealthyeating, snacksandfoodsinvendingmachinesand kiosksshouldconsiderprovidinghealthy option.

ENCOURAGEHEALTHIEREATING HABITS?

Discoverypublishedareportfromafairly recentstudyconductedby The NetherlandsNutritionCentre, Theeating habitsofmorethan2000participants wereassessed.Thestudynotedthat around43%admittedhavingtroublewith resistingtemptation.

However,thestudyalsoshowedthatat leasthalfoftheirassessedparticipantshad astronginterestinhavingahealthierrange offoodsmadeavailabletothem,oratleast beingexposedtoamoreequalbalance betweenoptions.

Takingthisintoconsideration,challenges withwillpowerarepotentiallywherealarge chunkoftheproblemlies.Employeesare awareoftheireatinghabitsandmaywish tobeexposedtohealthiervarieties,butare perhapsrespondingmorestronglytowhat isonoffer.

Theyrecommendedthefollowingsix considerationsforcreatinganideal workplacecanteen:

� Identifyingthemosteye-catching spotswithinthecanteenareato displayhealthierfoodandbeverage options(i.e.alongcountertopsoratop displayracks).Ifplacedalong countertopsornearthecashdesk, morenutritiousfoodoptionscanbe placedhereto‘bettertempt’selections ofahealthiernature.Chancesare,this iswhereemployeesarelikelytolook firsttoo.Otherresearchstudiessupport thesuggestionthatindividualsmay haveatendencytochooseoptions whicharemoreprominentlydisplayed andcanbeaccessedwithease.

� Betterutilisingthepowerofthe vendingmachine.Well-knowntostock lesshealthysnackandbeverage options,vendingmachinescanbeused toofferhealthieroptions.Insteadof manysweetsandcrispsoptions,packs ofnutsorwholegraincrackerscanbe mademorereadilyavailableintheir place.Likewise,bottledwatercan replacehighsugarcontentsodasand juices.

� Makingthemostofhealthier displays.Peoplearevisualcreatures andnaturallygravitatetowardswhat

mostappealstothem.Theintention behindadisplayistoentice,andin thisinstance,motivateemployeesto makehealthierchoicesmoreoften.The NetherlandsNutritionCentresuggests makingatleast60%ofthefoodand drinkondisplayorinvending machineshealthieroptions.Thiscan beincreasedupto80%ifemployees showenoughinterest.Withsuch sizableincreases,displayinghealthier foodsoptionscanbeusedwellina canteenspace.Moreindividualsmay selecthealthieroptionsmorefrequently ifthesearemoreprominentlyavailable.

� Encouragingemployeestodrinkwater whenthirstybymakingsafe-to-drink watertapsreadilyavailablewithinthe canteenspace.Inthiswaymore employeesmaybelikelytoseethe benefittothemandchoosewaterover othersugarydrinksmorefrequently (especiallysinceitdoesn’tneedtobe purchased).

� Presentationreallydoesmakea difference.Ifthedisplayofhealthier foodanddrinkoptionsispleasingon theeye,chancesaretheywilldraw positiveattentionfromemployees.The moreattractiveadisplay(usingcolour andvariety,forinstance),themore likelytheyaretobeselectedand

consumed.Themajorityofusdohave atendencytobedrawntothatwhich catchesoureyeinanappealingway first.

� Seatinginthecanteenareamakesa differencetoo.Whenwedine,welike tobecomfortable.Formanyofus, grabbingaquickbitealsoservesas ‘downtime’duringabusyworkday. Layoutarrangementswithacaféstyle orlounge-likefeeloffersemployeesa comfortablemeanstositandenjoy theirmeals.Manymayopttomakeuse ofthespaceforinformalmeetingstoo. Forthosethatdon’talwayshavethe timetotakeafulllunchbreak,‘graband-go’stations(placedcloseto entrance/exitpoints)canalsowork wellforthoserequiringmore flexibility. �

EnvironmentalFriendliness: Whataregreentrademarks?

Gogreen!Thisisnotasupportivecommentshoutedatyourfavouritesportsteam,butrathera passionatecrytosupportthiswonderfulplanetthatwecallhome.

Today’ssocietyisvery much,andrightfullyso, focusedonlivinga sustainablelifestylefrom buyingorganicproduce, supportingcrueltyfree beautybrands,to purchasingclothingfrom brandsthatclaimto producesustainablefashion.

Thelawplaysanintegralpartin promotingacarbon-neutralplanetand ensuringthatweareallteamplanet Earth.Onewayinwhichthelawplaysa role,isinrespectofthesocalled‘green trademarks’.Greentrademarksare normaltrademarkswhichcontainat leastonegreenterm,irrespectiveofnongreentermsincludedinthenameofthe goodsorservicescoveredbythemark.

TheEuropeanUnionIntellectualProperty Office(EUIPO)initsAnalysisofgoods andservicesspecifications,1996-2020, madeuseofthefollowingexamplein orderexplaintheterm“greentrademark” properly:

“…theSwedishfirmInnoVentumAB registeredanEuropeanUnionTradeMark (EUTM)in2012,forthefollowinggoods:

Nice6Towers[metalstructures].

Nice7Windturbines.

Nice7Generatorsforwindturbines.

Nice19Towers[non-metallicstructures].

Thealgorithmdevelopedforthisstudywill findthetwogreentermsofthistrade mark,highlightedabove.Itwillalsoassign thetrademarktothecategory‘Wind energy’withinthebroadgroup‘Energy production’…Intheexampleabove,two ofthetermsaregreenterms,andtwoare not,butinthiscaseitseemsclearthatthe mainactivityisrelatedtotheproductionof windenergy,theothertermsbeing subsidiarytothisactivity.Inothercases, thegreenactivityofatrademarkwillbe secondary.Therefore,thedefinition‘a trademarkisgreenifatleastoneofits termsisgreen’cansometimes overestimatethedegreetowhicha particulartrademarkistrulyrelatedto environmentalprotection”.

Inthisregardwemustdistinguish betweengreenbrandingandgreen washing.Greenbrandingreferstothe practiceofusingtrademarkswhichconvey amessagetothepublicthattheparticular brandisassociatedwithenvironmental conservationorpracticebusinessthrough sustainablemethods.Themessagecan

consistofwordssuchas“green”,“ecofriendly”,“naturefriendly”,“recycle”, “organic”etc.,or,symbolssuchastrees, plasticbottles,alightbulbwithaleaf insideetc.Greenwashingontheother handiswhenanorganizationmarkets itselfasbeingenvironmentallyfriendly, however,behindthescenes,havedone verylittle(ornothing)toreduceits environmentalimpacts.Themarketingof thespecificgoodsorservicesaretherefore misleadingandconductedforthesole purposeofincreasingsalesbycreatingan imageasbeingpartofabiggersocial movement.Greenwashingcantherefore bedisguisedasgreenbranding.

Itisthereforeuptotheconsumerto conductresearchintoaspecific organisationtodeterminewhetheritisin factenvironmentallyfriendlyandpractice businessthroughsustainablemethods,as greentrademarkscannotsolelyberelied upontoconfirmlegitimacy.Perhapsitis herewherethelawmustdevelopto includerigidrequirementsforthosewho wanttoregistergreentrademarksforgood orservices,forexample,whatisthe organisation/person’sgoalforregisteringa trademarkbesidetheobviouslegal protectionafforded.After-all,itpaystobe green. �

Readsoutthere

BuyBackYourTime:GetUnstuck, ReclaimYourFreedom,andBuildYour Empire byDanMartell

Learntoconquertheonerealhurdletoscalingyour companyandgrowingrich:TimeHowyouuseyourfree timewillmakeorbreakyoursuccess.Thesecret?It’s notaboutworkingharderorfindingmoretimetodo work.

OfficeShock:Creating BetterFuturesfor WorkingandLiving

byChristineBullenandRobert Johansen

DeepWork:RulesforFocusedSuccessin aDistractedWorld

byCalNewport

Thebookarguesthatoneofthemostvaluableskillsin theworldisquicklybecomingrare—theabilitytofocus withoutdistractiononademandingtask.AuthorCal Newportexplainsthatbymasteringthisskill,you’llbe abletomoreeffectivelyprocesscomplicatedinformation anddeliverbetterresultsinlesstimeasaresult.

NeverSplittheDifference:Negotiating asIfYourLifeDependedonIt byChrisVoss

Imaginethepressureyou’dbeunderifthehighly delicatenegotiationswithakidnapperweredependent onyournegotiationskills.Getitright,thehostagegoes freeandyou’retheheroofthemoment.Getitwrong, thehostageisharmedandyoubecomethevillain—in yourownmindatleast.Inthisunlikelybusinessbook, authorChrisVossknowsthefeelingalltoowell.

Heknowswhatit’sliketobeinthistypeofsituation. Vossisaformerinternationalhostagenegotiatorforthe FBI,hasfacedoffagainstbankrobbersandterrorists, thenultimatelybecametheFBI’sleadinternational kidnappingnegotiator.InNeverSplittheDifference,he sharestheskillsthathelpedhimsucceed—andhow thosestrategiescanbeusedtobecomemorepersuasive asanentrepreneur.

Theoldofficeisdead,butnewand betterwaysof"officing"arenow possible.Thisbookexploreshowto seizethisgreatopportunitytomake workmoreequitable,flexible, sustainable,andfulfilling. "Office shock" istheabrupt,unsettling changeinwhere,when,how,and evenwhywework.Officeshockand aftershockswillcontinuewithno endinsight.Thisisnotimetolock yourselfintoanyfixedstrategy.The futureofworkisupforgrabs.Inthis positiveandvisionarybook,three prominentfuturistsattheInstitutefor theFuturearguethattheofficeis bothaplaceandaprocess--offices andofficing--withanewrangeof choices,includingwhattheycallthe emerging officeverse.

AADDINGMACHINE,POINTOFSALEANDMACHINE ROLLS

PaperGeni Rotunda(Pty)Ltd.

ADHESIVES,GLUESANDSPRAYS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Gluesticks,White glue,glitterglue

BICSouthAfrica(Pty)Ltd. -Correction Fluid,Gluesticks&SuperGlue PalmStationeryManufacturers -NewWave

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) –Multi-Purpose Adhesive,GlueStick

ART,CRAFT,GRAPHICANDDRAWINGMATERIALS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Watercolourpaint set,paintingbrushes,paintingpalette, paintingwaterpot

CTPStationery -A4colouredposterboards

PentelS.A(Pty)Ltd. -Oilpastelsand watercolourpaint

RBEEVERYDAY -creativepaperandboard products

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) – Oilpastels, SoftPastelChalks,AcrylicPaints,Watercolour Paints,Paint,Brushes,ModellingClay

BATTERIES

Kolok -Duracell

NikkiDistributors -DuracellBatteries

NikkiDistributors -EnergizerBatteries

BINRANGE

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -WastePaperBins KrostOfficeProducts

BINDINGACCESSORIES

AZTrading -PlasticComb,Wire,Thermal& Covers

CTPDonau -Donaufilesandslidebinders, A4posterboard

ParrotProducts -ParrotCombBinding Machines

PressProducts -wire,combs,coil,covers RexelOfficeProducts -RexelandGBC

BINDINGMACHINES

AZTrading -DSB,Neorel D.O.S -Prima,DSB,Leitz ParrotProducts -ParrotCombBinding Machines PressProducts -Bindquip RexelOfficeProducts -GBCandRexel ranges

BOARDS

BICSouthAfrica(Pty)Ltd -BICVelleda SchoolWhiteboards

Butterfly -Fullrangeofboardsand accessories

BBAGSANDCASES

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd –McCaseyPencil Boxes,CaseySchoolandUtilityCases, McBagPencilCases,PVCMeshandzippa bags,Chairbag,Librarybag,Bookbag, Pencilbag-flat,Pencilbag-square.

D.O.S -iStay

FlipFile -Businesscases. Kolok -Kenton

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) -PencilCases

Topmark -SchoolBags,LaptopBags,Pencil Cases,SportsBags,Luggage

BARCODEPRINTERS

Doyouhaveaproducttolisthere?

BARCODESCANNERS

Doyouhaveaproducttolisthere?

CTPStationery -FlipChartPads HortorsStationery -LegalNoticesi.e.Basic Conditions&OSHActandLeaveand AbsenceChart

PalmStationeryManufacturers -New Wave

ParrotProducts -Fullrangeofboardsand accessories.Customboardsprintedtoyour specification

RexelOfficeProducts -NOBOwhiteboards, pinboards,easelsandaccessories.Quartet magneticwhite/corkboards

BOOKCOVERS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Printed/Laminated HardCoverAssortedDesigns,ClassicHard CoverPUNotebook,FlexiSoftCoverPU Notebook Butterfly

CTPStationery -PolyPropDonauheavy dutycovers

EmpireToy&Stationery -Butterflypaper GraftonPaperProducts

PalmStationeryManufacturers -brown paperrolls,polyrolls,gift-wrap RBE -Papersmart

RBEEDUCATION

BOOKSANDPADS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Softcover,Hard coverandPPcoverNotebooks

BSCStationery -Treeline Butterfly

CTPStationery -Impalaandpremierbooks andpads

HortorsStationery -Legalregisters

PalmStationeryManufacturers

PowerStationery -Powerstar RBE -NCRBusinessBooks

RexelOfficeProducts -Colourhidenotebooks

BOOKENDS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -BookEnds

BOXESANDCARTONS

CTPStationery -ArchivingSystems RexelOfficeProducts

SpecialisedFilingSystems -Archiveand Off-Site TidyFiles -Acidfreearchivingproducts

BUSINESSCARDSTORAGE

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -BusinessCardfiles andboxes

CCALCULATORS

Kolok -HP,Canon

NikkiDistributors -Trulycalculators

PalmStationeryManufacturers -New WavePowerStationery -Powerstar RexelOfficeProducts -IBICO

CALENDARS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -calendarbases

CTPStationery -Diariesassortedsizes

RBEEveryday -deskcalendars

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) -YearPlanner

CANTEEN

Kolok -Tea,Coffee,milketc

CARBONPAPERANDFILMS

RBEEnterprise -NCRBusinessBooks

CARTRIDGES

DisCartridges -Stockistsofgeneric/original cartridges

CD’S,DVD’SANDDISKETTES

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -CD/DVDstorage systems-PVC

Kolok -Verbatim,Kenton

CLIPBOARDS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Mouldedplastic, PVC,Masonite

CTPStationery -DONAUbrand

ParrotProducts -Masoniteandwhiteboard

CLIPS,FASTENERSANDPINS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Boatshapedpaper clips,Metalfoldbackclips,Metalfile fasteners

GripBinders -Essentials,Stephens,Penguin TidyFiles -Filingsolution

COLOURINGBOOKS

EmpireToy&Stationery -Empirebooks

PalmStationeryManufacturers -NewWave

COMPUTERACCESSORIES

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -ComputerPrintout binders

Kolok -Verbatim,Kenton,Valcano,Amplify KrostOfficeProducts

Pyrotec -TowerInkjet-laserlabels,business cardsandphotopaper

COMPUTERCLEANING

Kolok -ComputerCare,Multipro

Pyrotec -Towercomputercleaningrange

COMPUTERCONSUMABLES

CTPStationery -FullrangeofDONAUfiles

Kolok -Penguin(Ribbons,Toners,Inkjets), Tillandfaxrolls

RedfernPrintServices -Redferninkjet/ laser/copierlabelsandafullrangeof stationerylabels

COMPUTERHARDWARE

Kolok -Gicomlaminators

CONFERENCEACCESSORIES

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Conferencebadges, cases,foldersandcustomisedsolutions

CORPORATESTATIONERY&GIFTING

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Customisedsolutions

RBEExpress -Customiseyourproducts

CRAYONSANDCHALKS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Waxcrayons

PalmStationeryManufacturers -Chalks andCrayons

PowerStationery -Powerstar

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) –Crayons, RetractableWaxCrayons,Crayons

DOCUMENTSTORAGE

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd –Documentwallets, casesandboxes,Texomodularstorage system

DRAUGHTINGANDDRAWINGOFFICESUPPLIES

CTPStationery -A4PosterBoards

DDESKSETSANDACCESSORIES

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -DeskDrawer Organisers,DeskOrganisers,Memocubes, Paperclipdispensers,Tapedispensers, MagazineFilingboxes

BICSouthAfrica(Pty)Ltd -DeskSetSolo Delux

KrostOfficeProducts

RexelOfficeProducts -RexelEcoRange

DIARIES,PLANNERSANDORGANISERS

CTPStationery -CTPBrand HortorsStationery -Legaldiaries,bespoke diariesandstandardstockitems

RexelOfficeProducts -NOBOplanners, refillsandT-cardkits,QuartetMonthly/ Weeklyplanner

SouthAfricanDiaries -Forallyourdiary needs

DICTATION-TRANSCRIPTION

OlympusAudioS.A -DigitalVoice Recorders,TranscriptionKitsandAccessories

PowerhouseDictationforPhilipsDictation,transcription,meetingrecording, mini-tapes,footpedals,accessories

EEMBOSSERSANDENGRAVING

RubberStamp&EngravingCo -Ideal& TrodatEmbossers(pocket,deskand electronic),Trotec

ENVELOPESANDMAILING

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Polypropylene Business&ExpandingEnvelopes

BSCStationery -LeoEnvelopes

CTPStationery -Commercialenvelopes Grafton/Star

MerpakEnvelopes -Completerangeof qualityenvelopes

RBE -Papersmart

RBEEveryday -Envelopes

ERASERS&ERASING/CORRECTIONFLUIDS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -WhitePencileraser

BICSouthAfrica(Pty)Ltd -Tippextape, bottleandPen

PalmStationeryManufacturers -Tape/Erasers PentelS.A(PTY)LTD -Hi-PolymerandAin eraser,correctiontapeandpens

PowerStationery -Powerstar

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) -Erasers,PVC FreeErasers,Arterasers,Correctionpen, Correctiontape

FILESANDFILING

AfricanFilingSystems -Topretrievalfiling andarchingproducts

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Brochurefiling pockets,DisplayBooks,FilingPockets, Flexi-FileDisplayBooks,LeverArchFilesPP/PVC/Board/Polytec,MagazineFiling Boxes,ProjectFiles,Swinglockbinders, ReportCovers&SlideGrips,RingbindersPP/PVC/Polytec/Board,TelephoneIndexes

Butterfly -Brochurefilingpockets,Display Books,FilingPockets,Flexi-FileDisplay Books,LeverArchFiles-PP/PVC/Board/ Polytec,MagazineFilingBoxes,Project Files,Swinglockbinders,ReportCovers& SlideGrips,Ringbinders,dividers

BSCStationery -Treeline,Mobifile

CTPStationery -Fullrangeofquality DONAUbrand

FlipFile -Executivedisplayfiles,expanding files,Documentfolders,dividers

PalmStationeryManufacturers -Lever arch,Ringbinderfiles,Manillaflatfolders Grafton/Star

PalmStationeryManufacturers -leaver arch,ringbinderfiles,manillaflatfolders. PentelS.A(Pty)Ltd. -DisplaybookVivid, documentfile,clipfileandpresentationfile RexelOfficeProducts -PrimaandRexel ranges

SpecialisedFilingSystems -TopRetrieval, ArchiveandOff-Site TidyFiles -Filingsolutions

FOLDERS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Conferencefolders, SecretarialFolders,QuotationFolders-PVC /PP,SignatureOrganiser/Blotter,Smart Folders Butterfly

CTPStationery -DONAUBrand PalmStationeryManufacturers -Viewfiles, polypropylene&boardfolders TidyFiles -Specialised

FORMS-LEGALANDMISCELLANEOUS

HortorsStationery -completerangeof custom,company,miscellaneous, magisterial,etc.

FURNITURE-OFFICE&SCHOLASTIC

KrostOfficeProducts -accessories NewEraOfficecc -Specialisinginalloffice furnituredesks,chairs,credenzas, boardroomtables,etc

ReboniFurnitureGroup -Manufacturing anddistributionofeducationalandoffice furniture

SpecialisedFilingSystems -Cabinets, ShelvingandHi-Density

LLABELS

Pyrotec -Towerstationery,inkjet-laser labels

RedfernPrintServices -RedfernInkjet/ laser/copierlabelsandafullrangeof stationerylabels

GGUILLOTINESANDTRIMMERS

AZTrading -DSB,Kobra MaynardsOfficeTechnology -IDEAL Shredders&Guillotines -SADistributors PressProducts -BindQuip RexelOfficeProducts -SmartCutand ClassicCut

Rotunda(Pty)Ltd.

SpecialisedFilingSystems -Filing TidyFiles -Filingsolutions

LABELLINGMACHINES

KemtekImagingSystems -Distributorof BrotherP-TouchLabellingSystem

LAMINATINGMACHINES

AZTrading -DSB,Speedlam,Lamiace Kolok -Gicomlaminators

IINDEXTABBINGANDDIVIDERS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Dividers-PP/ ManillaBoard,Indexes-PP/Manilla/Mylar/ CardFileBoxes

Butterfly

CTPStationery -DONAUBrandboardand P.P

FlipFile -IndexTabs,Fliptabs GripBinders

PalmStationeryManufacturers

RBEEveryday -filedividers RexelOfficeProducts -Rexel,Mylarand Primaboard

INKS

Kolok -Canon,Epson,HP,Samsung, Brother,Nutek(LargeFormat)

RexelOfficeProducts -Numbering machineink

RubberStamp&EngravingCo -Trodat, Norisfastdry,security,numbering,franking. Laundry.

D.O.S -Tofo,DSB,Leitz ParrotProducts -ParrotA4andA3 Laminators

RexelOfficeProducts -GBCandRexel ranges

LAMINATINGPOUCHESANDMATERIALS

AZTrading -A0toIDcardsize ParrotProducts

RexelOfficeProducts -GBC Kolok -Penguinlaminatingpouchesand rolls

LEGALSTATIONERY

HortorsStationery -Alllegalregisters, forms,diariesandleases

LETTERTRAYS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd –OptimaLetterTray, OptimaOrganiserSet,VisionLetterTray KrostOfficeProducts

JJANITORIAL

Kolok -Goldenmarc(Cleaningproducts), Brooms,Mopsandequipment.

MMAILINGTUBES

CTPStationery

MARKING Doyouhaveaproducttolisthere?

MARKERS

BICSouthAfrica(Pty)Ltd -Permanent Markers,Highlighters,whiteboard

InterstatAgencies -Edding

ParrotProducts -Whiteboard,permanent andOHPmarkers.Widerangeof highlighters

Penflex -Whiteboard,flipchart,permanent markers,highlighters

Pentel(Pty)Ltd. -Maxiflo,whiteboard markerandpaintmarker

PowerStationery -Powerstar

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) -Permanent Markers,Whiteboardmarkers,Highlighters

MATHEMATICALGEOMETRYSETS&ACCESSORIES

PalmStationeryManufacturers

PowerStationery -Powerstar

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) –Mathematical instruments,Compasssets

MINUTEANDGUARDBOOKS

HortorsStationery -Companyregisters, minutebooksandotherlegalregisters

RBEENTERPRISE -Securitybooks& Registers

PPACKAGING

MerpakEnvelopes -Postsafepackaging range

PAPERANDBOARD

CTPStationery -DONAUA4posterboards Butterflypaper -boardandpaper Grafton/Star

Kolok -Geha(papermedia),EPSON,HP, CANON, Kolok –penguinphotopaper

PalmStationeryManufacturers-Cubesand board

PowerStationery -Powerstar RBE -Papersmart

RBEEveryday -Creativepaperandboard products

RexelOfficeProducts -PrimaPaper&Board

PAPERFOLDINGMACHINES

MaynardsOfficeTechnology -IDEAL Shredders&Guillotines –SADistributors

PENCILS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -HBtriangularpencils, HBjumbotriangularpencils,colour triangularpencils

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) -Mechanical pencilleads

PENCILSHARPENERS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Two-holesharpener withcontainer,Three-holesharpenerwith container

PalmStationeryManufacturers

PowerStationery -Powerstar

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) -MetalSingle andDoubleholeSharpener,Rotary Sharpener,Double-holetubSharpener

PENS

BICSouthAfrica(Pty)Ltd -Clic,Crystal, OrangeandPrismo

PalmStationeryManufacturers

Penflex -Penflexballpointsandrollerballs

PentelS.A(Pty)Ltd -SuperbBallpoint, EnergelPen

PowerStationery -Powerstar

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) –Ballpoint pens,Fineliners,Rollerballpens,Pigment Liners,Fibre-tippens,JumboFibre-tippens

PENCARBONBOOKS

PowerStationery -Powerstar

RBEEnterprise -NCRBusinessBooks

PERSONALSTATIONERY

NNUMBERINGMACHINES

RexelOfficeProducts

RubberStamp&EngravingCo -Reiner Dater/Numberer(manual/electronic),Trodat

BICSouthAfrica(Pty)Ltd -BICEvolution Graphite,BICMaticClutch,VelocityClutch, AtlantisClutch,BU4Clutch

PalmStationeryManufacturers

PentelS.A(Pty)Ltd -Hotshot,Mechanical Pencil,TechniclickPencil.

PowerStationery -Powerstar RexelOfficeProducts -RexelHB&Derwent

OOFFICEERGONOMICS

RexelOfficeProducts -Kensington copyholders,risers,footrests,Rexelrangeof electricstaplersandpuncheswhichreduces chancesofRSI(repetitivestraininjury)

OVERHEADPROJECTIONANDACCESSORIES

Kolok -PenguinTransparencies

ParrotProducts-DataProjectors,OHPs, screensandrearprojectionfilm

Penflex -PenflexOverheadprojectorpens

RexelOfficeProducts -NOBO

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) –tradition® pencil,tradition®eco,Styluspencil,Wood freepencils,Carpenterspencils,Charcoal pencils,Clutchpencils,Mechanicalpencils, Colourpencils,Woodcasedtriangular ColourPencils,Woodcasedtriangular watercolourpencils,WoodFreecolour pencils,WoodFreeBeginnerspencils

PENCILLEADS

BICSouthAfrica(Pty)Ltd -Criterium 0.5mmleads

PentelS.A(Pty)Ltd -Ainlead,standard lead-variousgrades

CTPStationery -Homeofficeandpersonal filingsystem,diaries Grafton/Star RBEExpress –Customiseyourproducts

PLANNINGBOARDSANDACCESSORIES

ParrotProducts -Rangeofyearplanners, termplanners,mapsandin/outboards. customprintedboardsdesignedto specification.

RexelOfficeProducts -NOBOplanners

POINTOFSALE

POINTOFSALEAIDS

CentralCashRegister -Moneydetector, Moneychecker,Penchecker

POINTOFSALEPRINTERROLLS

Rotunda(Pty)Ltd.

PRINTING

Kolok -Epson,Lexmark,HPPrinters,Oki (Hardware)Pantum,Samsung

40

BUYERS’GUIDE

OlivettiImports -Distributorsof MultifunctionalPrinters/Copiers

RBEExpress -createcustomproducts StarStationersandPrinters

Unicopy&StationersCC -forallyour printing&stationeryrequirements

PRINTERCONSUMABLES

Kolok -Epson(inkjet,largeformatetc), Lexmark,HP,Brother(TonersandInks),Oki (Toners,inksandRibbons),TallyGenicom (Ribbons),Seikosha(Ribbons),Panasonic (TonersandRibbons),Kyocera(Toners), Printronix(Ribbons),IBM(Ribbons),Ricoh (Toners),Fujitsu(Ribbons),Pantum(Toners)

RoyceImagingIndustriesRemanufacturersandsuppliersofinkjetand lasercartridges

TechnicalSystemsEngineering -Suppliers ofqualitycompatiblecartridgesandbulk inksforEpson,Canon,Lexmark,HPand Samsung

PUNCHESANDPERFORATORS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd –Bantexrangeof perforators

KrostOfficeProducts

ParrotProducts -Parrotrangeofpunches

PowerStationery -Powerstar RexelOfficeProducts -Rexel

SSCHOLASTICSUPPLIES

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -projectfiles(10-50 pockets),Displaybooks,Casey,McCasey, Shuttles

BSCStationerySales -Treeline CTPStationery

EmpireToy&Stationery

Butterfly

FlipFile -FlipFiledisplaybooksA5,A4, A2,A3

GraftonPaperProducts

HortorsStationery -schooldiaries

PalmStationeryManufacturers

ParrotProducts -chalkboards/slates

PowerStationery -Powerstar Pyrotec -TowerAdhesiveBookCover45cm x2m

RBEEducation -ExercisebooksandPads

SLATES

ParrotProducts -Whiteboardandchalk board

STAMPS,STAMPPADSANDINKS

KemtekImagingSystems -Distributorof BrotherStampcreatorPRO

RubberStamp&EngravingCo -Trodat, pre-inkedstamps,stampandfingerprint pads

STAPLINGMACHINESANDSTAPLES

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd -Bantexrangeof Staplersandstaples

InterstatAgencies -Genmes

KrostOfficeProducts

ParrotProducts -Parrotrangeofstaplers

RexelOfficeProducts -Rexelrange

STATIONERYSUNDRIES–SCHOLASTIC

Butterfly

SCISSORSANDCUTTERS

Bantex -13,17and21cmand13cmlefthandedscissors

PalmStationeryManufacturers

PowerStationery -Powerstar RexelOfficeProducts

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) –Multi-use Scissors14cm,14cmLefthanded,17cm and21cm

SCRAPBOOKING

RexelOfficeProducts -Trimmersand guillotines

CTPStationery -DONAUScissorsand cuttingknives

PalmStationeryManufacturers -New Wave

PowerStationery -Powerstar

STORAGESYSTEMS

BantexSA(Pty)Ltd –PortableSuspension FileBoxes,SuspensionFiles,Suspension FileRack,TexoModularStorageSystem, VisionWallPocketOrganiser

Butterfly

RRUBBERSTAMPS

RubberStamp&EngravingCo. –Trodat Kolok -Rubberstampsanddaters

RUBBERSTAMPMANUFACTURINGEQUIPMENT

RubberStamp&EngravingCo -AZLiquid polymer,TROTEClaserengraver,flash system

RULERS

PalmStationeryManufacturers

PowerStationery -Powerstar Penflex -PENFLEXrulers

STAEDTLERSAPTY(Ltd) –Shatterproof Ruler30cm,FlatscaleEngineeringruler, ReductionScaleRuler

RubberStamp&EngravingCo -Making memories,Clearsnap,Marvy,Ranger, Bazzill,Carl

SHREDDERSANDACCESSORIES

AZTrading -DSB,Kobra,Roto,Repairsto allmakes

D.O.S -Kobra

Kolok -GEHAentrylevelandhigh-end shredders

NikkiDistributors -Nikkishredders

ParrotProducts -Parrotrangeofvalue shredders

RexelOfficeProducts -Rexelrange

MaynardsOfficeTechnology -IDEAL Shredders&Guillotines -SADistributors

CTPStationery -ArchivingSystemsSuspensionFiles

Kolok -Verbatim(harddrives,USBsticks etc),HP,Sandisk

RexelOfficeProducts -Storageboxes

SpecialisedFilingSystems -Filing TidyFiles -Filingsolutions

TAPES

TPalmStationeryManufacturers

TECHNOLOGY

Kolok -Cubot,Alcatel

CONTACTDETAILSHERE

Kolok-PortElizabeth

RedfernPrintServices-CapeTown

AfricanFilingSystems

� 0116149445www.africanfiling.co.za

� 0865406892info@africanfiling.co.za

AZTrading

� 0861114407www.aztradingcc.co.za

� 0117929732sales@aztradingcc.co.za

BICSouthAfrica(Pty)Ltd

� 0114740181Box43144,Industria,2042

� 011474606816MaraisburgRoad,Industria,2042

BSCStationerySales

� 0110862900Box278,Brakpan,1540

� 0114203322sales@treeline.co.za

Butterfly

� 0116142243BusinessPark,Gosforth,SilverstoneSt,

� 0116143075Elandsfontein,JHBempire@netactive.co.za

CTPStationery

� 0112265600Box43501,Industria,2042

� 0114749242sales@versafile.co.za

D.O.S(DentonOfficeSolutions)

� 0860007468info@dosptyltd.biz

� 0862374614www.dosptyltd.biz

FlipFile

� 0216383105Box2190,Clareinch,7740

� 0216336942ashly@flipfile.co.za

Grafton/StarPaperProducts

� 0112620777Box550,Bergvlei,2012

� 0112620780sales@graftonpaper.co.za

HortorsStationery

� 0116204800Box1020,Johannesburg,2000

� 0866124663orders@hortors.co.za

InkSpotSuppliers

� 0118543013

� 0118523013info@inkspotsuppliers.co.za

InterstatAgencies-Durban

� 0315696550Box201707,DurbanNorth,4016

� 0315696559interstat@mweb.co.za

InterstatAgencies-CapeTown

� 0215519555Box36696,Chempet,7442

� 0215575456Capetown@interstat.co.za

InterstatAgencies-PortElizabeth

� 0414532558Box27693,Greenacres,6057

� 0414538504pe@interstat.co.za

KemtekImagingSystems

� 0116248000Box86173,CityDeep,2049

� 0866101185labelling@kemtek.co.za

KemtekImagingSystems-Cape

� 0215219600Box181,CapeTown,8000

� 0215515032brenth@kemtek.co.za

KemtekImagingSystems-KZN

� 0317009363Box15685,Westmead,3608

� 0317009369Sandim@kemtek.co.za

KemtekImagingSystems-PE

� 0415825222Box15685,Westmead,3608

� 0415825224clinth@kemtek.co.za

KemtekImagingSystems-PTA

� 0128041410POBox816,Silverton,0127

� 0128044286johlettat@kemtek.co.za

Kolok-HeadOffice

� 0112480300Box4151,Johannesburg,2000

� 0112480381infojhb@koloksa.co.za

Kolok-CapeTown

� 0215972700Box6385,Roggebaai,8012

� 0212972799infoctn@koloksa.co.za

Kolok-Durban

� 0315704900Box4206,RiverhorseValleyEast,4017

� 0315696880infodbn@koloksa.co.za

KolokPolokwane

� 0152988795Box862,Ladanna,0704

� 0152988315infopol@koloksa.co.za

� 0414069900Box3163,NorthEnd,6056

� 0414069920infope@koloksa.co.za

Kolok-Namibia

� 00264(61)370500Box40797,Ausspannplatz,Namibia � 00264(61)370525valne@kolok.com.na

Kolok-Nelspruit

� 0137582233Box4338,WhiteRiver,1240

� 0137582235infonel@koloksa.co.za

Kolok-Bloemfontein

� 0514331876PvtBagX01,Brandhof,Bloemfontein

� 0514332451infobfn@koloksa.co.za

Kolok-Botswana

� 002673932669PvtBagB0226,Bontleng,Gaborone

� 002673170762clemencem@vbn.co.bw

KrostOfficeProducts

� 0116262067Box75401,Gardenview,2047

� 0116262912sales@krost.co.za

Maynards-OlympusAudioS.A/OlivettiDistributors

� 0860001922sales@maynards.co.za www.maynards.co.za

MerpakEnvelopes

� 0117197700sales@merpak.co.za

� 0118853174www.merpak.co.za

Nikki-CapeTown

� 0860006731cpt@nikki.co.za

� 0800204868www.nikki.co.za

Nikki-Durban

� 0860006731dbn@nikki.co.za

� 0800204868www.nikki.co.za

Nikki-Johannesburg

� 0860006731jhb@nikki.co.za

� 0800204868www.nikki.co.za

Nikki-Pretoria

� 0860006731pta@nikki.co.za

� 0800204868www.nikki.co.za

OptiplanadivisionofWaltons

� 0116204000PencilPark,CroxleyClose,Herriotdale

� 0866818256rcurrin@gp.waltons.co.za

PalmStationery

� 0315077051viran@palmstat.co.za

� 0315077053www.palmstat.co.za

ParrotProducts

� 0116077600debbie@parrot.co.za

� 0116152502www.parrotproducts.biz

Penflex

� 0215212400Box36964,Chempet,7442

� 0215212402/3info@penflex.co.za

PentelS.A(Pty)Ltd

� 0114741427/8Box202,CrownMines,2025

� 0114745563www.pentel.co.za

PowerhouseDictation

� 0118871056info@speech.co.za

� 0865553833www.speech.co.za

PowerStationery

� 0325334003Box1305,Verulam,4340

� 0325333254powersta@netactive.co.za

PressProducts

� 0114936332marketing@pressproducts.co.za

� 0114991019www.pressproducts.co.za

Pyrotec

� 0217879600PvtBagX1,CapricornSquare,7948

� 0217879791tower@pyrotec.co.za

RBEStationeryManufacturers(Pty)Limited

� 0117937321sales@rbe.co.za

� 0117937348www.rbe.co.za

ReboniFurnitureGroup

� 0861732664www.reboni.co.za

� 0866277737sales@reboni.co.za

� 0215529680Box403,Milnerton,7435

� 0215529681sales@redfern.co.za

RedfernPrintServices-Durban

� 0312059598dbnoffice@redfern.co.za

� 0312057092www.redfern.co.za

RedfernPrintServices-Johannesburg

� 0118374119Box1445,CrownMines,2025

� 0118378917jhboffice@redfern.co.za

RexelOfficeProducts � 0112263300www.rexelsa.co.za

� 0118372781sales@rexelsa.co.za

Rotunda(Pty)Ltd.

� 021799577015HillstarAvenue,Wetton,7780

� 0217615601rotunda@iafrica.com

RoyceImagingIndustries

� 0117929530www.royceimaging.co.za � 0117929480sales@royceimaging.co.za

RubberStamp&EngravingCo-HeadOffice

� 0112621400Box931,Wendywood,2144 � 0112621414trodat@rse.co.za

RubberStamp&EngravingCo-CapeTown

� 0214487008Box931,Wendywood,2144

� 0214487014cpt@trodat.co.za

RubberStamp&EngravingCo-Durban

� 0833774109Box931,Wendywood,2144 � 0312661082dbn@rse.co.za

SouthAfricanDiaries � 0214422340Box4862,CapeTown,8000 � 0214422341phoneyman@sadiaries.co.za

StaedtlerSA(Pty)Ltd � 0115791600www.staedtler.co.za � 0116083497admin@staedtler.co.za

SpecialisedFilingSystems

� 0114770640www.specfiling.co.za � 0114773528

StarStationersandPrinters � 0315691061luke@starstat.co.za � 0315691094www.starstat.co.za

TechnicalSystemsEngineering � 0117082304Box1532,Northriding,2162 � 0117081799sales@tse.co.za

TidyFiles � 0119434210www.tidyfiles.co.za

Topmark � 0118378045info@topmarksa.com � 0118377442

Tower(DivisionofPyrotec)-CapeTown � 0217879600PvtBagX1,CapricornSquare,7948 � 0217879791

Tower(DivisionofPyrotec)-Johannesburg � 011611182059LepusRd,CrownMines,2025 � 0116111834tower@pyrotec.co.za

Tower(DivisionofPyrotec)Durban � 0317010192Box594,Pinetown,3600 � 0317011285tower@pyrotec.co.za

Unicopy&StationersCC � 0312018415122CheGuevaraRoad,Glenwood,4001 � 0312018672sales@unicopy.co.za

Versafile � 0112265600Box43501,Industria,2042 � 0114749242sales@versafile.co.za

SHOP-SA memberbenefits

•Bepartofanindustryassociationwithalegacyof107years.

•Connectwithlike-mindedbusinesseswherewepromotethe industry,lookforopportunitiesanddiscussmattersofmutual interest.

•Haveaccesstoinformationabouttheindustry,fromtheindustryand whatimpactstheindustry.

•Usetheplatformofferedthroughourweeklynewsletters,special mailers,ourdigitalmonthlymagazineandourwebsitetoreacha targetedaudience.

•Shareyourcataloguewithpotentialnewclientsonourwebsite.

SHOP-SAistheAssociationforStationery,HomeandOfficeProductsof SouthernAfrica.TheAssociation,firstcalledthe“TransvaalStationers’ Association”,wasfoundedin1916anditsfirstelectedboardhad16 members.TheAssociationwillbe107yearsinJanuary2023andwe currentlyhave30members,representingsomeofthebiggestbuyer groups,suppliergroupsandretailers.

Joinustodayandbepartofthehistoryofthestationery,homeand officeproductsindustryinSouthernAfrica.

ContactHanlieon0829082295orhanlie@shop-sa.co.za formoreinformation.