How to use a Flip Chart – Do’s and Taboos:

While the technical progress increases constantly, flip charts fall more and more into oblivion. But they are more than just relics. Flip charts are still the most effective presentation media of all.

Usually, the simplest visuals are the best because you always have to remember that your visual aids should just enhance your presentation and that’s what flip charts do in the easiest way.

Often when high-tech computer generated presentations were used, they become the presentation and not the speaker. And that’s very dangerous for a successful presentation. It’s important to remember that you should be the biggest part of your lecture and not your visual aids.

However flip charts offer more advantages. They are low tech, reliable and don’t require any special skills to use them.

So here are some tips for using flip charts more effectively:

The first thing you should do is the planning of how your flip chart pages should look. Usually, one idea per page works the best, so don’t try to fit lots of ideas and diagrams onto one page. When you prepare your pages, it is advisable to first design them on paper before drawing them on the actual flip chart page. Be careful when writing words on the flipchart, make the letters large and clear enough so people at the back can read them. Moreover, not everyone has the gift of really neat handwriting, so write your text lightly in pencil first before using the actual flip chart markers.

The second thing that makes your flip chart presentable is using colours, diagrams and pictures. Graphics and pictures allow you to communicate your message more effectively and make difficult topics clearer to the audience. You should draw some, even if you are not an artist. It’s easy – you could do it the same way like the writing – just sketch them in pencil beforehand. You don’t have to do it freehand style.

 Using one dark colour and one light colour works best. The reason for using dark colours like black or blue is that they maximise visibility all the way to the back of the room and can be seen from a large distance. Light colours like orange or red can be used for highlighting your flip chart content, for example, circling or underlining. When using multiple colours, try to limit the variety to two or three colours per chart page.

The third and last thing is to be prepared for your own presentation. Before you are going to hold your lecture you should check the position of your flip chart to maximise visibility for your audience. Make sure every word you wrote on the flip chart can be read in the back row of the room. Moreover, check that all of your markers write well and that you have the expected number of flip chart pages. Another tip is to use pads with perforations at the top. They allow easier removal of the sheets and don’t cause a struggle to tear them off.

Today is Bastille Day and therefore we want to celebrate with our French friends!

The French National Day commemorates the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, a turning point of the French Revolution, as well as the Fête de la Fédération which celebrated the unity of the French people on 14 July 1790. But we from Office Supplies Ireland also remember the beginning of the French Revolution and want to congratulate our French citizens.

So today we are going to frame a picture of the Eiffel Tower. Moreover, maybe some people would like to bake some French toast muffins or to cut a baguette and eat it with some French cheese.

However, if you don’t like to cook you could also eat in one of our beautiful French restaurants in Ireland to remember all the nice things that France gave to us. So just let us think of the importance of Bastille Day and celebrate it with your family and friends.

We all wish you a happy Bastille Day! Vive la France!

How To Make Small Offices Look Big

The amount of people setting up and growing their own businesses increases more and more. Due to all the startup businesses, the demand for small offices has risen.  Often you have to cram all your necessary furniture into one tiny space, the results can feel claustrophobic and anything but restful. But a  small space doesn’t mean you have to be cramped. Try these 5 easy room-expanding tricks to help you make your office feel bigger and consequently you employees will work harder and happier.

Step 1: Looking for the right furniture!

Avoid heavy, weighty furniture that eats up too much of the usable space in the room. For example, some chairs in the waiting room will give you as much sitting space as a spacious sofa but will take up much less of your room.

Step 2: Arrange your furniture to the optimum!

When dealing with a small room, many people want to maximise the space by pushing all the pieces to the edges. But shoving furniture against the wall doesn’t guarantee a larger room. Sometimes it is better to group the furniture on one side of the room, so people can pass through unhindered.

Step 3: Do it bright!

We all know that different colours can affect us. For example blue has a calming effect and yellow is known for energy and happiness. When choosing colours for your office, it’s important not only to pick based upon on how it could affect your workforce but how it makes the actual room feel.

As you know, lighter colours make a room feel bigger, darker smaller. So try to use light colours such as white, cream, pale greys or ice blue to keep the room fresh, light, airy and open.

Step 4: Let’s brush up the walls

If you have any wall space left, consider using mirrors to help the office feel bigger and deeper than it actually is.They not only reflect light, they also reflect the view, thereby tricking the eye into perceiving more space. So mirrors are an easy way to make your office appear larger.

Step 5: Create an uncluttered working atmosphere

Always keep clear of your clutter. It’s usual that piles of paper and post heap up around your desk. But it’s very essential that you keep this at bay. Be sure that post is either stored away or shredded and that all other items are put away after use. If possible store certain documents online or save them on USB sticks or hard drives. That will free up space.

Raise your glasses - today is the Fourth of July and we are celebrating American Independence Day!

The 4^th of July remembers the signing of the declaration of independence between the USA and Great Britain in 1776.

So get up off your chairs and celebrate the history, tradition and the government of the USA. Get out your American flag. It's almost a sin in America to not wear red, white and blue on the 4th of July. Basically anything is acceptable, and the bigger the better!

According to expert Geoff Cob writing in Irish America Magazine, the blind Irish composer Turlough O’Carolan wrote the song regarded as the “ancestor” of the American national anthem, his 1723 tune “Bumper Squire Jones,” honoring one of the composer’s patrons.

In case you like to listen to traditional songs like “The Star-Spangled Banner“, “America, the Beautiful“ and “God bless America“ maybe you need your CDs for your CD player.

But most important to highlight on your calendar is your local 4^th of July party, do not miss that!

Office Supplies Ireland wish a happy 4th July to everyone!

The Benefits of a Paper Shredder

Every office has many tech tools they use every day. However, the paper shredder is one of those tools that often gets looked over, though it has many benefits that every office is going to need. It is important to note that there are several types of shredders on the market, including:

• Commercial shredders
• Small office shredders
• Personal shredders

The difference in these shredders is the level and intensity of jobs that the shredder faces. Most offices will find that an office shredder may work for their shredding needs. Yet, many corporations have commercial shredders that are meant to handle large jobs.

There are also several different blades that these shredders come equipped with, that defines just how secure these shredders are. These are levels 2 through 6. The higher the level, the more shredding in which the shredder will perform. For the most part, an office is going to want to go with a higher level of shredding to ensure all their information is safe.

For those who may be thinking that a shredder is not something that they need for their office, they need to consider the benefits of having one of these. For one, shredders provide a sense of privacy that is hard to find with other types of technology. When the paper is put through a shredder, it is no longer going to be the target for identity thieves, an important concept to offer potential clients. Secondly, paper shredders can also help the office to become greener. The paper that is shredded can be recycled into new products, making these a great green option for those who are trying to be more environmentally safe.

With these benefits in mind, most people wonder what type of shredder they should buy. One of the first factors to consider is just how much shredding you plan on doing? For those who are going to use this every day, a personal shredder is not going to fit the ideal. Instead, an office shredder like the Fellowes DS-1200Cs Deskside Shredder can handle the job level, while also providing a great level of security. For those who plan only on using their shredder once a week or less, then a personal shredder like the Fellowes M-7C Cross Cut Shredder will be sufficient.

Once the level of jobs is determined, the person needs to consider if they need a certain cut on their shredder. The higher level shredders are going to provide the highest level of security, which is something to consider before making a purchase. Budget, warranty and other factors will also affect your decision as to which shredder is going to fit your needs.

Desk Organisation and Feng Shui

These days, if you work in an office, you’re more likely to see your stapler more than you do your family. It’s true, the office atmosphere can prove extremely dull and leave you feeling drained of energy, so how can you adapt your environment to prevent your enthusiasm from melting away by Friday?

The answer is simple. All you need is Feng Shui.

Feng Shui is the ancient art of maximising your flow of chi to bring health and happiness into your life. Simple adjustments to your desk space can improve your energy balance by a ridiculous amount.

Update on the DDR Devils !

Kevin called into us yesterday - he is one of the DDR Devils. He came to our office and we gave him the camera and the T-Shirts we are sponsoring for them. He really appreciated it and promised us lots of photos from exotic locations! Moreover, he gave us some details about their route to Mongolia. Amongst other places they will pass through are Nuerburgring in Germany, Prague, Istanbul, Tehran and Samarkand. They will be following the old Silk Route - it all sounds very adventurous and dangerous! They will start their epic journey on the 14th of July in London. We are looking forward to following their progress.