Business
Fact-checked

At SmartCapitalMind, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What are Office Supplies?

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Along with technology and office furniture, office supplies make up one of the main categories of items needed to completely establish an office environment. They could be characterized as the items used in, around, and with the furniture and technology in the work of the office, whether a home office with one employee or a multi-national company with a huge workforce. Unlike technology and office furniture, most office supplies are relatively inexpensive, but many are essential to the smooth running of a business. Of course, the specific needs of each office are tailored to the work done there. Nevertheless, some items are fairly universal.

Stationery is one element of office supplies. Office workers use writing paper, copying paper, printer paper, typewriter paper, letterhead, notepads, envelopes, forms, memos, and telephone message pads. Other items that are made of paper but are not strictly stationery are sticky notes, calendars, and planners. Writing utensils are an office supply that goes hand-in-hand with stationery. Pens, pencils, markers, and highlighters may all find a place. Don’t forget the correction fluid, correction tape, or eraser.

A printer.
A printer.

Desk and storage organizers are another category of office supplies. Manila folders, hanging files, and their accouterments, such as labels, are crucial to certain office organization systems, just as binders and sheet protectors are crucial to others. Index dividers to organize binders and hole-punches to prepare plain paper for binders are additions to the system.

Office supplies may include paperclips.
Office supplies may include paperclips.

Small tools that have a role in the office include staplers, scissors, letter openers, compasses, and protractors. Products that connect items such as tape, glue, binder clips, paper clips, pins, tacks, rubber bands, brass fasteners, clipboards, and Velcro®, are essential office supplies. These often reside in desk organizers or drawer organizers.

Printer paper is a common office supply.
Printer paper is a common office supply.

Presentations may be made with flip charts or easels, and notes and messages may find their way onto bulletin boards or dry erase boards. Other items that don’t fit so neatly in categories but are important office supplies include file cards and boxes to hold them, address books and devices, book racks, and CD and/or DVD storage racks.

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to SmartCapitalMind about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to SmartCapitalMind about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...

You might also Like

Discussion Comments

mutsy

@Latte31 - Wow that is awesome. I have to say that there are always office supply coupons in the Sunday paper. I always end up going to these stores even though I don’t need anything. I could never leave the store without spending at least $100. I just love the highlighters and different pens that they have.

I could spend the whole day at one of these office supply stores. My son is the same way. He loves to draw so he is in heaven in one of these stores because he always looks at the specialty pencils and markers.

Lately he has taken an interest to specialty erasers because some of the kids in his class have some. He recently bought these erasers that were shaped like hamburgers and shakes. They were really cute, but a little pricey.

latte31

@Icecream17 - I know what you mean. I would always buy office supplies for my company and the pens were the first things to go. I wanted to add that a lot of office supply stores offer corporate discounts.

In fact, I get a 78% discount when I shop at our preferred discount office supply company that we have a contract with. The discount gets taken off at the register when you pay.

icecream17

I love going into office supply stores. I usually stock up when they have those back to school sales. I always buy tons of crayons, pencils, papers and pens. It doesn’t matter how many home office supplies I buy, I always seem to need more. I can never have enough pencils or pens.

I buy bags of pens and within a month, I can’t find a single one. I don’t know if people just walk away with them by mistake or what, but I can never figure it out.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • A printer.
      By: Maksym Dykha
      A printer.
    • Office supplies may include paperclips.
      By: Jakub Krechowicz
      Office supplies may include paperclips.
    • Printer paper is a common office supply.
      By: Roman Samokhin
      Printer paper is a common office supply.
    • Office supplies commonly include calendars.
      By: gena96
      Office supplies commonly include calendars.
    • Hole punches are used as part of an office organization system.
      By: Virynja
      Hole punches are used as part of an office organization system.
    • Address books are used to record contact information of clients and associates.
      By: Leenvdb
      Address books are used to record contact information of clients and associates.
    • Though relatively inexpensive, office supplies are critical to running a business.
      By: serkucher
      Though relatively inexpensive, office supplies are critical to running a business.
    • Pencil and erasers are among standard office supplies.
      By: Dmitriy Syechin
      Pencil and erasers are among standard office supplies.
    • Pushpins may help with organization.
      By: jojje11
      Pushpins may help with organization.
    • Office supplies include different types of tape.
      By: S_E
      Office supplies include different types of tape.