When it comes to outfitting your office, the big things were probably what you thought of first: computers, printers, desks and furniture, along with shelves and cabinets. Although all those are definitely necessities, that doesn’t complete the whole picture and you’ll need to equip your business with some other important supplies, no matter your industry.
Maybe you’ve heard some of these questions around the office:
“Does anyone have a screwdriver? The arm on my chair just fell off.”
“Is there a power strip around that no one’s using? Mine’s no longer working.”
“I have a headache — who has ibuprofen?”
Whenever a doorknob comes loose, a switch plate falls off the wall, or a team bulletin board needs to be hung, you’ll need to have the right tools and supplies to handle the task at hand. Essential items to stock include:
A first aid kit: Whether it’s to deal with a paper cut or a headache, a first aid kit will be a major necessity. Hopefully, your company will be free of any emergencies, but if they occur, you’ll need to have some first aid supplies. A fully stocked kit could prevent a bad situation from growing worse. Also, check your first aid kit regularly to make sure supplies haven’t been depleted.
Tool supply: Your office probably won’t require a complete set of socket wrenches, but keeping your supply closet stocked with some basic hand tools — such as pliers, screwdrivers and a hammer and nails — will help you take care of any small repairs. Being able to make some quick adjustments can prevent prolonged disruptions during the workday.
Office supplies: Making sure you have plenty of office supplies on hand for day-to-day operations is important, but aside from the basics like printer paper, pens, highlighters and sticky notes, you should also have a back-up for items that are essential to the functionality of your business. For example, you should have extra printer cartridges and toner cartridges, a back-up power strip and a few USB cables. Also keep batteries stocked, if you have items like a wireless mouse that requires batteries.
These are just the basics, and you may find that some various other necessities would be good to have at the ready, such as a spare coffee machine and an extra water cooler, as well as cups, plates, plastic utensils and paper towels.
You can never plan for an accident, mishap or emergency, but you can prepare for them, and having the right supplies and tools when you need them can help you avert most office maintenance woes. Just as you wouldn’t want a software malfunction or Internet outage to bring business to a halt, you don’t want a missing supply, faulty part or mechanical malfunction interrupt your workers during the day. Every business wants to maximize its office efficiency, and outfitting your company with all the essential tools and supplies can play a role in achieving this.
Originally posted on September 26, 2013 @ 3:23 pm