Back to School Giveaway Winner

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We have our Back to School Giveaway winner! But before I tell you who won more than $500 in FREE school supplies, I need to thank everyone who participated. Your enthusiasm made the 2013 Back to School Giveaway the best one yet!

Back to School Coupon Code Bonus Prize

As a thank you, we’re sending all eligible Back to School Giveaway participants a coupon code good for 10% off anything you want at On Time Supplies.com! Keep an eye on your email folks! Your coupon code is on the way!

Now for the part you’ve been waiting for. The 2013 Back to School Giveaway Winner is… Continue reading

Tips for working from home from the On Time Supplies telecommuters.

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I have to tell you, working from home is pretty sweet. Not having to start my day with a grueling commute is truly a blessing. Not that working from home doesn’t have its challenges. You have to work a little harder to stay motivated, productive and connected with your colleagues. The staff at On Time Supplies are old hands at this. We all work from home every day, and most of us have been at it for years. I’ve rounded up some of our best tips for working from home successfully. Continue reading

X-ACTO Electric Pencil Sharpener Giveaway

Update: We got a lot of great entries in the X-ACTO Electric Pencil Sharpener Giveaway, and now we have our winner! Congratulations to Holly!

I should win this pencil sharpener because I am in a newly created classroom that does not have a pencil sharpener. At this point I will have to either have to win this contest, find the nearest classroom that has one, or buy one myself. I have been trying all summer to win a pencil sharpener and have come up empty handed in that department each time so hopeful this time it will be different…Come to think of it, I do have a clock either. Oh well, I wonder what other things that I have forgot. We will soon see with school starting in just over a week.

Enjoy your new pencil sharpener, Holly! Everyone else, head on over to our new Avery HI-LITER Giveaway! Don’t miss your chance to win three dozen pink, green and yellow highlighters!

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This week, we’re giving away a X-ACTO Electric Pencil Sharpener to one lucky winner! X-ACTO Electric Pencil Sharpeners are perfect for classrooms and offices!

  • No more sharpening your pencils down to a nub! Cutting blades automatically retract when pencil is sharpened.
  • Multiple hole selector sharpens a variety of pencil sizes.
  • Pencil shaving receptacle eliminates messes!

Enter now for your chance to win a free X-ACTO Electric Pencil Sharpener!

How to Enter the X-ACTO Electric Pencil Sharpener Giveaway:

  1. Subscribe to Office Ink Blog via email or RSS.
    OR
    Follow On Time Supplies on Facebook & share the giveaway on your Facebook page.
    OR
    Follow On Time Supplies on Twitter and re-tweet the giveaway.
  2. Leave us a comment on this post telling us why you should win!

You get three entries and three chances to win if you enter on Facebook, Twitter AND the blog. The X-ACTO Giveaway ends next  Monday, August 12. We’ll announce the winner here at Office Ink Wednesday,  August 14.  Good luck!

How to use Avery Templates to customize discount 3-ring binders, labels & dividers.

So, you probably already know you can to design and print custom Avery labels, presentation binders, index dividers and more at Avery Design and Print Online. But did you know you can use Avery templates to customize office supplies from Universal, the On Time Supplies discount house band? Well, now you do!  Save time AND money by using Avery templates with discount Universal office supplies to print custom labels, binders and index dividers.

How to print custom labels with Avery templates and Universal discount label alternatives.

Nothing beats the convenience of Avery templates when you have a thousand shipping and address labels to print. You can use Avery templates with Universal’s discount labels. You  just need to know the compatible Avery label number. Luckily, On Time Supplies features an Universal /Avery Label Template Guide that lists that info for you.

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Once you’ve located your label and compatible template, just enter your label in the search box at Avery.com.

How to print custom 3-Ring Binder Covers & Spines for Universal presentation binders with Avery Templates.

You can also  create custom presentation binders with discount Universal view binders and Avery Templates. You just need to know the size of your binder.  Avery offers templates for 1/2″ – 2″ spine inserts and labels, as well as standard and mini 3-ring binders. Just find your binder size on the Avery binder template page and let your creative juices flow!

How to use Avery templates to print custom table of contents index dividers on Universal alternatives.

Universal index dividers are a great low-cost alternative to Avery Ready Index products. To use Avery templates to customize your Universal index dividers, you need to know the compatible Avery product number. Use the chart below to find the right Avery template for your discount index dividers.

Universal® Table of Contents Dividers for Printers

Universal Index Divider Style

Compatible Avery Template

A-Z 11125
January-December 11127
1-31 11129
5-Tab 11131
8-Tab 11133
10-Tab 11135
12-Tab 11141

Best Leather Office Chair: basyx® VL601 Mid-Back Leather Chair

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From time to time, I like to highlight some of our best-reviewed office products. The OnTimeSupplies.com All-Stars.  Trying  to find the best leather office chair?  Our customers have a recommendation for you. The basyx® VL601 Series Managerial Mid-Back Leather Chair is one of the bestselling office chairs at On Time Supplies. With a price tag of $113 and reviews like these, it’s easy to see why!

“If you need a quality chair at an affordable price this might be the chair for you.”

basyx® VL601 Series Managerial Mid-Back Leather Chair I just wanted to write a quick review on this chair that I purchased over the internet. I am currently working in Afghanistan as a contractor and was in desperate need of a new chair for my office. The process to purchases this chair was easy and user friendly. It only took about a week to arrive and was very easy to put together, only taking maybe 15 minutes to do so and tools were included. The chair is very comfortable and seems to be pretty durable. The leather seems to be of a high quality and I am sure it will hold up quite well over here. My boss likes it so much that he is going to order one for himself as well. So if you need a quality chair at an affordable price this might be the chair for you.

– Jason from Camp Marmal, Afghanistan

“I have had this chair for going on 5 years now and I couldn’t be more pleased with my purchase.” 

I have had this chair for going on 5 years now and I couldn’t be more pleased with my purchase. The pieces were surprisingly simple to put together and the compact size of it fits well in my medium sized room. The chair is still as comfortable as when I first bought it however, on a down note, one of the arms has become loose, I have tried tightening the screw but I think the hole is rounded so it just keeps spinning without tightening. This started about a year ago. Other than that I have had no other problems with this chair. All of the features still work perfectly, the one thing I was originally worried about was quality of the leather and would it hold up over the years. My chair has been used very heavily and has endured 3 moves over the last 3 years and to date not a single hole, tear, or rip. What can I say, for the price it has exceeded my expectations.

 from Sacramento, CA

All that & free shipping to boot! It’s easy to see why so many of our customers think the basyx® VL601 Series Managerial Mid-Back Leather Chair is the best leather office chair online!

Math Pack Giveaway: win calculators & pencils for your classroom

Update: we have our winners! Congratulations to Meg, Terri, Janice and Kelly on winning the Math Pack Giveaway! Enjoy your calculators and pencils.

Everyone else, the X-ACTO  Electric Pencil Sharpener Giveaway is still going strong! Enter today for you chance to win!

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This week, we’ve got Math Class Prize Packs to give to FOUR lucky winners! Enter the Math Pack Giveaway today for your chance to win:

  • 9 Innovera Pocket Calculators: sized to go anywhere and handles basic computing functions.
  • 5 Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils: perfect for standardized tests, which is great because there is always at least one kid who doesn’t have a pencil on test day.

How to Enter the Math Pack Giveaway:

  1. Subscribe to Office Ink via email or RSS.
    OR
    Follow On Time Supplies on Facebook & share the giveaway on your Facebook page.
    OR
    Follow On Time Supplies on Twitter and re-tweet the giveaway.
  2. Leave us a comment on this post telling us why you should win!

Pick up extra entries on Facebook, Twitter and Office Ink.  And hurry! The Math Pack Giveaway ends next  Monday, August 5. We’ll announce the winner here at Office Ink Wednesday,  August 7.  Good luck!

How to Clean a DVD Without Scratching the Surface

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Not everything is streaming online or stored on the cloud. Sometimes, you can’t get around storing and accessing data and media on DVDs. Keeping those fragile discs clean and scratch free has always been  a challenge. Today we show you how to clean a DVD without scratching the surface. We’ve also got some tips on repairing DVD and CD scratches.

How to clean a DVD without scratching the disc.

The first trick to successfully cleaning a DVD without scratching the surface is to use the right cleaning cloth. The hem of your shirt is not going to cut it. You need a very soft cotton cloth. Microfiber works great.  Microfiber cloths are reusable, and are also perfect for cleaning your smartphone, LCD laptop and tablet screens, your eyeglasses, etc.

Recommended Microfiber Cloths:

Innovera® Microfiber Cleaning Cloths 3M Microfiber Electronics Cleaning Cloth
Innovera® Microfiber Cleaning Cloths 3M Microfiber Electronics Cleaning Cloth

You can also clean a DVD with 100% cotton swabs and balls. Just on’t use any sort of paper product. Even the softest facial tissues are made from abrasive wood fibers that will scratch your DVD. Once you’ve got you’re cloth, you can choose a cleaning solution. A mix of dish soap and water will suffice in most circumstances. If that doesn’t do the trick, try cleaning your DVD with 99% Isopropyl Alchohol. This is most readily available in the form of specialty DVD cleaning solutions.

Recommended DVD Cleaners:

Scotch CD/DVD Disc Cleaner & Repair Kit/Solution/Cloth Read Right® CD/DVD Kleen™ Cleaner Innovera® Computer Cleaning Kit
Scotch CD/DVD Disc Cleaner & Repair Kit Read Right® CD/DVD Kleen™ Cleaner Innovera® Computer Cleaning Kit

How to repair CD / DVD scratches.

Repairing CD and DVD scratches is tricky. Success depends on the depth and location of the gouges. However, there are a few well documented fixes that gently buff and fill in DVD scratches:

  • Toothpaste
  • Furniture Polish
  • Car wax
  • Metal polish

Be gentle when repairing and cleaning DVDs. The old advice to lightly wipe in straight lines from the center hole to the outer edge is sound. Stubborn stains and scratches should be handled with a light hand and a ton of patience.  Good luck! Got some advice on how to clean a DVD without scratching the surface, or on repairing a scratched DVD? Share your tips in the comments.

Sources: The DIY Video Editor, Wikihow, How Stuff Works

How to Clean a Laptop Screen

how-to-clean-laptop-screen-blog Laptop screen covered in dust and finger prints? We have some tips on how to clean a laptop screen. First things first: don’t use ammonia-based glass cleaners such as Windex to clean your laptop screen. Ammonia can damage modern LCD screens. Your best bet is to use wet wipes specifically formulated for use on computer screens. The advantage of laptop screen cleaning wipes is the wipe material, specially fabricated to not scratch your screen. Plus, the cleaning solution is great for quickly cleaning fingerprint. If you don’t have any screen cleaning wipes on hand, just use a soft cloth moistened with plain water.

Recommended Laptop Screen Cleaning Wipes:

Innovera® Antistatic Screen Cleaning Wipes Read Right® Kleen & Dry™ Wet/Dry Wipes  3M Notebook Screen Cleaning Wipes 
Innovera® Antistatic Screen Cleaning Wipes Read Right® Kleen & Dry™ Wet/Dry Wipes 3M Notebook Screen Cleaning Wipes

Once you’ve cleaned your laptop screen, you may as well deal with the keyboard. Use compressed air (or hey, a Post-it note) to get rid of dust and debris under the keys. Then wipe the keyboard down with the same cloth or wipe you used on the screen.

Got some advice on how to clean a laptop screen? We’d love to hear them! Leave your tips in the comments.

Office furniture wheelchair accessibility guide

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Not sure of the best office furniture layout of wheelchair accessibility? Use our office furniture wheelchair accessibility guide to develop an office furniture plan that optimizes maneuverability and ergonomics.

Wheelchair Maneuverability:

Your office furniture layout should allow ample space for workers who use wheelchairs to move around in. Here are a few guidelines:

Wheelchair passage: office furniture should be placed a minimum of 32″  from walls and other obstructions to allow for smooth wheelchair passages.

Turning space: allow  60′ clearance so workers can rotate and turn around corners.

Wheelchair Workspace Ergonomics:

In office settings, wheelchair accessible work spaces aren’t too different then standard work areas. The main thing to keep in mind is that workers will need to be able to reach without standing. Here are a few dimensions to keep in mind wjen configuring your office furniture.

Floor space for stationery wheelchair: allow 30″ x 48″ for workers to sit in front of desks and tables.

Desk Height: between 24-36 inches high. Standard desks are usually 30″ high.

Forward reach: workers shouldn’t have to reach any higher than 48″  and no lower than 15″. ”

Side Reach: When workers need to reach to the side,  items should be now higher than 54″ and now lower than 9″.

Source: ADA Standards

Paper Mate Giveaway: win pens, mechanical pencils & Liquid Paper!

Update: We have our winners! Congratulations to Janine and Nancy one winning the Paper Mate Giveaway and free pens, pencils & correction tape!

Janine:

I would love to win because these are great supplies to help my 5th graders with their writing. Mechanical pencils and ball points are easy to use and write smoothly. The varied colors would be great for the editing process, which can even be done with a friend to give you suggestions in cool colors! Oh! So many possibilities.

Nancy:

For the last several years, I have donated supplies to children in my neighbor whose parents couldn’t afford to give them what they needed for school. Everyone is experiencing hard times and I have come to believe that it takes a village. Also, as many teachers, I spend more money than I can truly afford on supplies for my classroom. See, I teach in an area where many of our students come from broken homes and many are homeless. Winning these supplies would go a long way and I would love to share with the children who have touched my life.

Looks like both our winners will make great use of their prizes! Congratulations again!

The Paper Mate Giveaway is over, but our Math Pack Giveaway is just starting! Enter today for your chance to win extra calculators and mechanical pencils for your class. And don’t forget: today is the LAST day to enter the awesome Back to School Giveaway and $500 in free school supplies. Good luck!

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This week, we’ve got a Paper Mate prize pack to give to one lucky winner! Enter the Paper Mate Giveaway today for your chance to win:

  • Paper Mate Inkjoy Retractable Ballpoint Pens: two dozen in a range of colors –from basic black and blue to fun orange and purple pens!
  • Paper Mate Quick Flip Mechanical Pencils: a doze smudge proof pencils featuring two-in-one erases that last twice as long as standard mechanical pencils!
  • Paper Mate Liquid Paper WideLine Correction Tape: tear-proof Liquid Paper correction tape size to completely cover handwritten mistakes and typos!

How to Enter the Paper Mate Giveaway:

  1. Subscribe to Office Ink via email or RSS.
    OR
    Follow On Time Supplies on Facebook & share the giveaway on your Facebook page.
    OR
    Follow On Time Supplies on Twitter and re-tweet the giveaway.
  2. Leave us a comment on this post telling us why you should win!

Get extra entries by entering on Facebook, Twitter and Office Ink.  And hurry! The Paper Mate Giveaway ends next  Monday, July 29. We’ll announce the winner here at Office Ink Wednesday,  July 31.  Good luck!