Office supplies are considered fairly expensive on their own, but when the office supply cost is left unchecked for a while, it can escalate pretty quickly. With companies running lower on business funding, shopping for office supplies can get a bit difficult. Running a business is one stressful and expensive task, but there are some savvy ways to make this almost impossible-looking task a bit more affordable. If you have a small team and wish to cut down on your office supply expenses without compromising the quality and quantity of the supplies, you have arrived at the right place. In this article, we will reveal some effective ways to reduce office supply shopping costs. Continue reading to know more!
1. Regularly keep track of your inventory
One of the first unsaid rules of affordable and smart office supply shopping is to first check over your current inventory for office supplies. Before stepping out of the door on a shopping spree, make sure to create an efficient game plan mapping out your needs for at least the next month first. However, if you wish to escape the chaos of shopping for office supplies every month, then consider opting for a quarterly or semi-annual shopping plan.
2. Reuse Old Office Equipment
If you wish to cut down on the office supply cost, you should definitely consider reusing your old office equipment, instead of replacing them with a new one. For instance, your office’s old computers may not have the latest operating system, but that doesn’t necessarily require you to swap them with new hardware. Instead, you can make them work with new software. Upgrading, repairing, and reusing the old office supplies, can bring down the expenses dramatically.
3. Shop for Office Supplies Online
Instead of shopping for office supplies the old-fashioned way, opt for an easier and more affordable alternative. The best part about shopping for office supplies online is that you not only can do it at the convenience of a few clicks but get to save huge as well. You will be pleased to know that there are plenty of leading retailers like Staples, Office Depot, Amazon, BestBuy, and more that offer various exclusive deals and coupon codes on online purchases. When used the right way, relying on online shopping can prove to be advantageous for your budget.
#Tip: Currently, Staples has issued a range of promo codes with which users can enjoy a flat 20% discount on their online office supply shopping.
4. Shop from Multiple Stores
While it may appear more convenient to shop from a single store, a more effective way to reduce office supply shopping cost is by shopping from multiple stores. Look around for stores offering better discounts or organizing sales. Restricting yourself to a single store will make you miss out on extraordinary deals and exclusive discounts. Different stores offer different perks and privileges. You just need to know what and where to shop to save more.
#Tip: If you shop for office supplies from the Hammacher Schlemmer store, you get free shipping on your order. On the one hand, Staples Weekly coupons offer up to 50% savings. On the other, Dollar General promises up to a $200 rebate on your office supply order.
5. Remain on the Lookout for Sales
Many online retailers often organize generous sales to prompt customers to shop online. You can take advantage of these sales to save more on your office supply shopping. There is no best time of the year to shop. The price for a product may fluctuate throughout the year, but there is no guaranteed season to get the best discount. The key to bag maximum savings is to compare and analyze different brand names’ prices and discounts offered in the sales.
#Tip: Make sure to check out the Staples Online sale active currently because by shopping here, users can save up to 75% on office supplies. You can also look for Office Depot Sale and enjoy up to 50% off on various office necessities.
6. Keep an eye for Member Special or Cashback Deals
Various brands and retailers have their loyalty program or member-exclusive deals, under which they offer handsome rebates on select categories. Some of the stores have gone one step further in providing the best discounts with the help of business credit cards that offer bonus points or extra cashback on office supplies. Using one of these loyalty programs, cashback or member-exclusive deals, you will be benefiting from every purchase you make for the company.
#Tip: If you opt for Staples Membership, you can earn 10% back on all ink and toner orders along with free delivery. The store also organizes a reward program, under which users can earn 30% back in rewards on their orders.
7. Buy Your Office Supplies in Bulk
If your number one priority while shopping for office supplies is to cut down on the expenses, then it is recommended that you shop for office supplies in bulk quantity. The price per item often goes down when you buy larger quantities at once. Some stores follow the “Buy more Save more” motto and offer huge rebates on bulk purchases for office supplies. Make sure to first check with your office supply inventory to check the things you need regularly. Don’t buy useless or irrelevant office supplies in bulk, just for the sake of lower prices. When purchasing in bulk, another thing to keep in mind is to stick with brands and products that you trust the most.
#Tip: At the moment, Container Store is running a deal for bulk purchases under which if users buy two or more products, they get a complete 20% rebate on their purchase value.
Office supply shopping can be stressful and expensive, but it can actually help you save significant bucks when done the right way. Here we have provided seven effective ways to reduce office supply shopping costs. Resort to brand names like Staples, Office Depot, Container Store, Best Buy, Dollar General, etc., and enjoy huge rebates up to 75% on your orders.
Featured Photo by Slava Keyzman on Unsplash
