Office supplies is, like stationery, a word which is used for items in corporate offices or private home offices that support people to do office works. Some items in an office supplies catalog are of daily use, for example writing utensils, paper, calendars or staples. Usually, these items are regularly used up or can only be used once. But office supply is also containing more cost-intensive equipment such as computers, software, printers, scanners or copy machines. Office furniture is an integral part of basic office supply, too. Office furniture includes office chairs, desks, racks or cubicles which are especially designed and created for the corporate office. Office furniture supplies are designed to be most convenient and comfortable for the everyday use in office works. Tables are designed to be movable, racks and shelves are designed for the most effective storage of printers and folders. Conference room equipment is designed to be functional, but representing a company’s professional image.

 

A basic office supplies catalog also contains further office technology such as faxes, automatic stamping machines, laminators, enveloping and sorting machines or calculators. Technologies used in corporate offices have tremendously changed. The complete office information and communication equipment in a corporate office has become more technology and automation driven. Progress in the international telecommunications sector opened up the market for conference systems which support videoconferencing and teleconferencing, simultaneous translation or the presentation of slides with a projector. Today printers are not only used for duplication, but also for faxing, emailing and scanning.

 

In the global office supplies industry, many office suppliers and manufacturers have expanded their product portfolio and have introduced accompanying services in addition to their core wholesale or manufacturing business. Professional printing shops or copy centers do not only offer printing services, but also offer the creation, design, graphic work and binding for business collateral such as corporate brochures and business cards. Further related services are often bulk mailing or paper packaging. The service sector in office supplies is quite extensive. Car rental, for example, cleaning services, outsourced facility management, security and monitoring services and trainings belong to the office services market, too.

 

Retailers of office supply have started to also include school supplies in their portfolios. School articles contain, for example, pupils' calendars, various writing and drawing utensils, blocks and folders, but also school bags and cases, exercise books or plastic covers for school books.