Around The Office | Your Office Stop

Best Laminating Machine for the Classroom or Teacher

2014-09-02T14:37:00.000-04:00

One of the questions we are often asked is "which laminator is best for a teacher?" A laminating machine is certainly an asset to the classroom and can provide many functions, so that is a legitimate question.

Overall a laminating machine is great benefit to have in the classroom. Many schools don't offer one to their teachers, or have strict guidelines on the use of the front office's machine. But, a smaller hot pouch laminating machine can be purchased by a teacher for an affordable price and will give them many years of use.

Teachers like to laminate many things in the classroom to protect them from dirty hands and lots of use. Laminated items tend to hold up much better than an unprotected piece of paper, making them easier to carry over from year to year, rather than having to recreate items at the beginning of each school year. Flash cards, task cards, reference sheets and charts, and even classroom decorations can be laminated to keep them in good condition for years of multiple use.

Smaller machines (desktop size or 9" width machines), such as the Royal PL2100 or Majestik HRL-2109, tend to be portable and light weight enough that they can be carried from classroom to classroom, from classroom to home, or even sent home with parent volunteers to help you out in preparing classroom materials.

Larger oversize machines that can handle 11" x 17" paper are great if you plan on needing to laminated larger items, like posters you make for your classroom. Machines such as the Royal PL2112 or the Majestik HRL-2112 are still small enough to fit on a table in the corner of a classroom, however they aren't as portable as the desktop size machines are for carrying home. But, they are more functional, since they give you a broader range of sizes to work with.

The other great thing about a hot pouch laminating machine is the supplies it uses are so readily available. Unlike the larger machines many schools have on hand, which use rolls of laminating pouches, much of which can get wasted due to being to large for standard laminating projects, these machines use butterfly laminating pouches that come in a variety of sizes. This allows you to pick the perfect size for your project.

Unlike many retailers who only sell their laminating pouches in larger bulk boxes, Your Office Stop offers many of our popular sizes in smaller packages, saving you money, since you only have to buy as many as you need for a a job.

Cassida 5700 Professional Money Counter Newly Released – Loads Like a Top Loader and Can Count Different Denominations at a More Economical Price

2014-08-27T12:23:00.000-04:00

Cassida USA has announced the release of their new Cassida 5570 Professional Money Counter, and it features some pretty nifty new perks for those that much deal with, and count, large amounts of cash.

The Cassida 5700 Professional Bill Counter incorporates the industry’s first bill turner design, combining the ergonomics of a top loading bill counter with the economical design of a back loader. Now you can load money quickly and easily and then count at speeds up to 1,300 bills per minute. No more paying for a more expensive top loader, when this features is now built into a more economical money counter.

The 5700’s innovative bill flippers push bills directly into the hopper, eliminating the need for bills to be manually flipped, which is an industry first. Counting begins automatically when bills are placed on the hopper platform, similar to a top load counter. A large LED screen showcases the number of bills counted, as well as denominations and total count values, when using the available ValuCount™ feature.

ValuCount™, a Cassida exclusive feature that calculates the total dollar value of the count, even if counting different denominations, is also built into the 5700 automatic money counter. The 5700 ends the need to tally and track – and instead displays the value right on screen. While it is not a discriminating money counter, it can function as a lower cost version of one, with this exclusive technology.

And, like with other Cassida money counters, the Cassida 5700 includes available ultraviolet (UV) and/or magnetic (MG) sensors for the latest in counterfeit detection, as well as infrared (IR) error detection to keep your counts from having chain, half or double notes.

Accuracy, reliability, and ease of use are not the only advantages of the 5700 – its lightweight, compact design and integrated carrying handle make it easy to take it on the go, allowing you to count currency anywhere.

Learn More About How ValuCount™ Works in Cassida Machines

Understanding the Different Types of Business Card Printing

2014-08-21T18:56:00.002-04:00

Even in the age of online global business, people still use business cards as a leave behind when meeting with new customers and clients. Business cards offer a convenient size for filing away in a wallet or rolodex (for those that are still using these dinosaurs), to keep needed information on hand about people that they meet.

Traditionally business calling cards included phone numbers, addresses and the name of the company the person you met worked for. Now, with the internet being used so much in business, these handy calling cards also tend to include things such as email addresses, websites, and even Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn account addresses.

Some people don't have a need for a lot of business cards, so they will design and print their own business cards using perforated business card paper, with their computer and inkjet or laser printer. While some of these papers are plain, and come in different colors, others have preprinted designs and allow you to drop in your personalized information, for a beautiful card without the cost of professional printing.

Other people have a need for business cards in bulk and rely on traditional printing to get them produced. With business card printing there are several different types of printing available.

Standard Offset (Flat Print) Printed Business Cards

With standard offset printing, the most common form of printing, your cards are printed in what is called "spot colors" and come out with a flat ink. This is the type of printing that is used on most traditional printed materials we see every day. This offers fast and easy production, as no special equipment, beyond a standard printing press, is required to print them.

With an online print shop, you can either design your business card online, or upload custom artwork, to be printed in one or two spot colors. You will receive a flat printed business card on a quality business card stock.

Thermographed (Raised Print) Business Cards

Thermography is a method of printing that works in conjunction with offset printing. After your business cards are printed, and while the ink is still wet, the cards are dusted with a powder and then run through a heating unit, which causes the powder to melt and raise. This gives you the nice glossy raised printing that you may have seen on some people's business cards.

Generally these are also done in spot colors and offer a more "elegant" looking finished card. However, be aware that it is best not to use really fine or detailed artwork or logos with this method of printing, as the process of "raising" the ink on the business card will "blow out" any detail work you may have, and you may not be happy with the final product.

Full Color (4 Color Process) Business Cards

For cards that are going to feature color photographs, and more than one or two colors, you would want to upgrade to a full color printed business card. While slightly more expensive than the other two business card printing methods, full color cards allow you to really shine and can make you stand out from the crowd.

There was a time, before the advent of digital printing, that producing a full color business card was prohibitively expensive for the average person. Full color printing required multiple negatives and metal plates, and time consuming stripping and prep work, along with several passes through a printing press, to bring to fruition. But, along came digital printing, making it so much more cost effective for the average person to be able to get a nice full color printed business card printed.

Design and Order Your Own Business Cards Online

The internet has made the ordering of business cards so much more streamlined. You can now utilize online printing services to design your own business card, or upload a design you have done in a computer graphics or page layout program, and order business cards online. This makes trips to the smelly traditional corner print shop a thing of the past!

No matter which method you choose for your business cards, it's always good to have a few on hand at all times. You never know when you will need to pass on your information, and it looks great to be prepared.

Your Office Stop Re-Launches Custom Online Printing Website

2014-08-21T16:44:00.000-04:00

Even in the age of the internet and web based marketing, many businesses still rely on print shops for the basics – letterhead, business envelopes, business cards and promotional products. But, in the age of the internet, you no longer have to schlep halfway across town to visit a dirty, smelly print shop to order your marketing materials, promotional products, and business printing.

Your Office Stop is proud to announce the re-launch of our online print shop. While we have offered online printing services since the start of our business in 2003, our new website has been updated, and new products have been added, to service the printing needs our customers have been asking for.

Now printing online has never been easier! Our new online printing site allows you to either design your printed items from our web-based design interface, or upload completed designs in .TIFF, .BMP, .EPS, and for color printing, .JPF file formats.

Ordering printing is as easy as:

1. Choose your type of printed item or promotional item,
2. Create your design online or upload a custom design,
3. Proof and complete your order online.

That's it – three easy steps and you are done! All that's left is to sit back and wait for the printing to be delivered to your door.

And, the best part is our prices are totally competitive with your local print shop, and, in many cases, even beat their pricing! We are able to do this because we are selling online, globally, so our presses are running all the time. A local print shop may have to fire up a press and print your order on a particular day, depending on your ink choices and if they can "group" your order together with their other customer's orders to avoid costly ink changes to their printing presses.

Our long time customers, who know the history of our business, know that the founder of Your Office Stop opened the business after a 20 year career directly in the printing industry herself. She knows printing and she knows how print shops work.

So the next time you are looking to order business cards, business envelopes, letterhead, custom labels, custom post-it notes, rubber stamps, shipping labels, embroidered shirts and hats, or a promotional item, be sure to give our online printing design center a try and see if we can save you time and money!

Why Buy Refurbished Office Equipment?

2014-08-18T23:14:00.000-04:00

Buying factory refurbished equipment is a great way to get a bargain on an otherwise expensive item. Many companies buy their equipment exclusively as refurbished. When many people think of the term "refurbished" they think of old, used, torn apart, rebuilt equipment. However, that is not generally the case at all when it comes to electronics!

Basically, an electronics item can be classified as refurbished if it meets ANY of the following criteria:

Customer Return - Most major retailers have a 30-day return policy for their products and many consumers, for whatever reason, return products within that time period. These are fully functioning items, that are the same as new, but because the box has been opened they must be sold as refurbished. Most of the time, if there is nothing wrong with the product, stores will just reduce the price and resell it as an open box special. However, if there is some sort of defect present in the product, many stores have agreements to return the product to the manufacturer were it is inspected and/or repaired, and then repackaged for sale as a refurbished item.

Shipping Damage - Many times, packages can get damaged in shipping, whether due to mishandling, the elements, or other factors. In most cases the product in the package may be perfectly fine, but the retailer has the option to return the damaged boxes (who wants to put a damaged on box on the shelf?) to the manufacturer for full credit. The manufacturer, then, is obligated to inspect the products and repackage them in new boxes for sale. However, they cannot be sold as new products, so they are relabeled as refurbished units.

Cosmetic Damage - Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, a product may have a scratch, dent, or other form of cosmetic damage that does not affect the performance of the unit. The manufacturer has two choices; to sell the unit with it cosmetic damage visible or fix the damage by placing the internal components into a new cabinet or casing. Either way, the product qualifies as refurbished, as the internal mechanisms that may be unaffected by the cosmetic damaged are still checked.

Demonstration Units - Although, at the store level, most retailers sell their old demos off the floor, some manufacturers will take them back, inspect and/or repair them, if needed, and send them back out as refurbished units for sale. This may also apply to demo units used by the manufacturer at trade shows, returned by product reviewers, and internal office use.

Defect During Production - In any assembly line production process, a specific component can show up as defective because a faulty processing chip, power supply, disc loading mechanism, or other factor. Most of the time, this is caught before the product leaves the factory, however, defects can show up after the product hits store shelves. As a result of customer returns, inoperative demos, and excessive product breakdowns within the warranty period of a specific element in the product, a manufacturer may "recall" a product from a specific batch or production run that exhibits the same defect. When this occurs, the manufacturer can repair all the defective units and send them back out to retailers as refurbished units for sale.

The Box Was Merely Opened - Although, technically, there is no issue here other than the box was opened and was sent back to the manufacturer for repacking (or repacked by the retailer), the product is still classifies refurbished, because it was repacked, even though no refurbishing has occurred.

Overstock Items - Most of the time, if a retailer has an overstock of a particular item they simply reduce the price and put the item on sale or clearance. However, sometimes, when a manufacturer introduces a new model, it will "collect" the remaining stock of the older models still on store shelves and redistribute them to specific retailers for quick sale. In this case, the item can be sold either as "a special purchase" or can be labeled as refurbished.

What does this mean to the consumer?

Basically, when an electronic product is shipped back to the manufacturer, for whatever reason, where it is inspected, restored to original specification (if needed), tested and/or repackaged for resale, the item can no longer sold as "new", but can only be sold as "refurbished". Therefore you can get a great machine at a reduced price!

Perforated Postcard Paper and Printable Postcard and Index Card Stocks Now Available From Your Office Stop

2014-07-30T11:53:00.001-04:00

Your Office Stop has just introduced their own brand of perforated printable postcard stocks. No more fumbling with smaller size postcards that never want to feed right in your printer, and don't seem to work at all in most laser printers. Our postcard stocks are on full size 8.5" x 11" sheets of paper, for easy printer feeding, and perforate out into the size of your choice.

These post cards are easy to print with a laser or inkjet printer and easy to update on the fly. They are great for filing, reminder post cards, invitations, announcements, or flat panel greeting cards.

We are currently offering the following sizes:

White 3-Up Perforated Postcard and Index Card Stock in 3.5" x 5" Size

White 3-Up Perforated Postcard and Index Card Stock in 3.5" x 5.5" Size

White 3-Up Perforated Postcard and Index Card Stock in 3" x 5" Size

White 3-Up Perforated Postcard and Index Card Stock in 4.25" x 5.5" Size

Are you looking for a unique post card size, similar to these? Give us a shout. We can do custom perforating as well (minimum order required) and would be happy to give you a quote for customized printer postcards or perforated paper.

Blank Laser and Inkjet Printer Labels Save Money

2014-06-12T21:28:00.000-04:00

Creating your own custom printed labels can save you time and money. Whether you need laser labels or inkjet printer labels for creating your own mailing labels for mass mailings, creating product labels, or for other marketing needs, Your Office Stop carries a large variety of labels in different colors and sizes, perfect for getting the job done.

By creating your own custom label, you can make your company stand out from your competitors and be remembered by your clients and customers. Even a mailing label doesn't have to be just a plain old mailing labels, it can also serve as an advertisement for your company.

There are a variety of label templates available online, which allow you to easily design and print your own custom labels, right from the convenience of your own desk. And, because so many label sizes are now standardized, it's easier than ever to find a template that will work for you.

View Our Blank Laser & Inkjet Printer Labels

Quickly jump to a more detailed page regarding the product by clicking on the "Buy Now" link. This will take you to the standard white version of the label. These labels are also soon be available as florescent labels, white gloss labels, and clear labels. All labels are die cut on 8.5" x 11" sheets.

Avery Label Number*	Label Size	Labels/ Sheet	Our Item Number	Buy
8126, 5126, USPS Click-N-Ship Labels, UPS 2-Up Shipping Labels Download Template	8.5" x 5.5"	2	DT400	Buy
5165, 5265, 5975, 6465, 8165, 8465, Crack and Peel Labels Download Template	8.5" x 11"	1	DT175	Buy
5164, 5264, 5524, 5734, 6464, 8164, 8464 Download Template	3-1/3" x 4"	6	DT150	Buy
5163, 5263, 5523, 5923, 5963, 5978, 8163, 8463, 8663, 8763 Download Template	4" x 2"	10	DT125	Buy
5162, 5262, 5522, 5962, 8162, 8252, 8462, 8662 Download Template	4" x 1.33"	14	DT100	Buy
5167, 5267, 5667, 8167, 8667, Return Address Label Download Template	1.75" x .5"	80	DT25	Buy
5161, 5261, 5961, 8161, 8461, Return Address Label Download Template	4" x 1"	20	DT75	Buy
4-Up Shipping Labels Download Template	4.25" x 5.5"	4	DT450	Buy
5160, 5260, 5520, 5810, 5960, 6970, 5971, 5972, 5979, 5980, 8160 Download Template	2.625" x 1"	30	DT50	Buy
5352, 5663 Download Template	4.25" x 2	10	DT625	Buy
Download Template	8.5" x 3.5"	3	DT425	Buy
File Folder Label Download Template	3.4375" x .667"	30	DT200	Buy
Download Template	4" x 5"	4	DT475	Buy
Download Template	4" x 3"	6	DT500	Buy
Download Template	4" x 3.25"	6	DT525	Buy
Download Template	4.25" x 2.75"	8	DT550	Buy
Download Template	3.75" x 2.438"	8	DT575	Buy
Download Template	4" x 2.5"	8	DT600	Buy
5163, 5263, 5963, 8163, 8463 Download Template	4" x 2"	10	DT650	Buy
5198 Download Template	2.83" x 2.2"	15	DT750	Buy
5190 Download Template	2.688" x 2"	15	DT775	Buy
Download Template	2.5" x 1.563"	18	DT800	Buy
Return Address Labels Download Template	2.83" x 1"	33	DT900	Buy
Download Template	1.5" x 1"	50	DT975	Buy
Download Template	1.5" x 1"	50	DT1000	Buy
Download Template	1.5" x .5"	100	DT1100	Buy
5199-F, VHS Labels Download Template	3.0625" x 1.8125"	10	DT1125	Buy
	1" x 2"	40	DT1325	Buy
	2" x 3"	10	DT1375	Buy
	3" x 5"	4	DT1450	Buy
	3.5" x 5"	4	DT1475	Buy
	4" x 6"	2	DT1500	Buy
Round Labels / Circle Labels
Download Template	1" Diameter	63	DT1025	Buy
	1.5" Diameter	30	DT1350	Buy
5193, 5293 Download Template	1.625" Diameter	24	DT325	Buy
	2" Diameter	12	DT1425	Buy
5294, 5194 Download Template	2.5" Diameter	12	DT350	Buy
5295 Download Template	3.33" Diameter	6	DT375	Buy
5824, CD Labels, DVD Labels Download Template	4.5" Round	2	DT1250	Buy
	2" x 3" Oval	9	DT1400	Buy

*We do not sell Avery Dennison or Maco products. Additionally, we are in no way affiliated with the Avery Dennison or Maco products / companies. Our "Popular Brands Cross Reference Charts" and/or numbers are used here with the sole intent for selection of proper software template layout in most popular label software programs. The Avery cross reference charts/numbers are not indicative of sheet performance in any laser or inkjet printers. All product names, product numbers, logos and trademarks are registered to the respective companies.

Creating Effective Email Signatures For Interacting With Your Customers and Clients

2014-05-22T17:14:00.001-04:00

In our line of business it is important that our emails get delivered through to our customers. Our company sends important information such as order confirmations, shipping updates, and other pertinent information in regards to orders via email. We have been asked by some customers, why in this day and age, we still use text based email formatting, rather than rich text or HTML formatted emails. The answer is plain and simple – deliverability and readability.

While we now have the ability to create fancier, graphically oriented emails that some people seem to be so fond of, the question is should we do it. In business you have to be cognizant of the fact that not every email client is going to deliver the exact same viewing experience to your customers. Emails may look one way on the Macintosh Mail app, and another on a PC in Outlook. And, they can look different on Gmail, then they do on a Blackberry, Android or iPhone.

Therefore we use text based email to make sure that the message is (1) delivered and not caught in SPAM filters, due to excessive graphics, HTML formatting, and links; and (2) is legible across the board, on all devices. Often times people will check their email from a smartphone or tablet, rather than a computer. We want to make sure the customer gets the same experience, whether checking it on the road, or from behind their desk.

One thing we have always struggled with is keeping an email engaging to read, using just plain text. One area of special interest has been our email signature line. Because we aren't including fancy graphics, or the equivalent of a pretty digital business card, we want to make sure we include pertinent information in our signature, so customers know who they are dealing with, at first glance, without having to rack their brains.

An overly long signature can make it difficult for the recipient to wade through the information to find your contact info. However, not providing enough information in your signature may leave a new client or customer wondering who you are and why you are contacting them.

Therefore, we have come up with some best email signature practices that we like to follow when our staff create their email signatures, and thought we would share them with you.

Try to keep your email signature as short as possible, and put the most important information towards the first few lines. A good rule of thumb is approximately 4 to 6 lines, if possible. If need be, condense your lines into fewer lines by using dashes, colons or other characters to separate fields.

Don't start your signature right after the last sentence in your email. Put a couple of extra line breaks at the end of your message, to keep it separate from the main message.

Try to keep your signature lines to 70 characters or less, as this is the set screen width default for many email programs. We try to keep ours as close to 60 characters as possible to avoid strange line wraps on the recipient end of things.

Plain text emails are usually best for a more unified experience across multiple email clients. If possible, skip colors, special fonts and graphics. Actually, there are many people that abhor receiving HTML and rich text formatted emails, for a variety of reasons. You are generally on the "safer side" sticking to plain text.

Use the appropriate signature separator in your emails, which is "-- " (dash dash space). Then start a new line with your signature information. Many email clients, including Outlook and Mozilla, use this to detect signatures from the main body of the email. This is useful for removing signatures from quoted material in replies, or for message highlighting. Other fancy separators may not be recognized as such in many email clients.

Be very careful when using HTML formatting, as it might not appear the same in everyone's email client. What looks beautiful and professional on your screen, may be a garbled mess on someone else's. This could lead them to have a negative view of you and your company's professionalism.

If you must use logos or graphics, it is always best to optimize them for web use and upload the files to your server, and then use an absolute URL to pull them into your email. Some email clients will throw an email into a SPAM folder if it has graphic file attachments. And many mobile email clients won't show the graphics at all. You have a bit better chance of the recipient actually seeing your graphic with an absolute URL from your server.

Include links to your social media profiles, only if they are integral to your business. If you are sending a client a business email, there is no need to include your personal Facebook link, Twitter page, etc. However, if your company has a Facebook business page you may want to include that.

Avoid multiple contact numbers and email addresses in your signature. Pick one of each as your main point of contact and eliminate the rest. As a matter of fact, you may even consider dropping the email address from the signature altogether. They already have it, since you sent them an email. They just need to do a reply back to contact you.

Only include Skype and IM information if you want the customer to contact you that way. Otherwise skip it.

No need to include your physical or mailing address. Chances are the customer is going to contact you by email, not snail mail, and if they need that information they can go to your website for it.

When putting URL's in your signature, write the complete URL out, including the "http://www." part of it. Simply putting yourdomain.com may not make it a clickable link in the receiver's email client. While it may work in many, it may not work in all.

Don't use the vCard feature in your messages. Many people don't use them, or know how to use them, and those that do don't need to keep receiving them with every email.

Try not to include personal quotes or cute sayings in your business signature. While it may be important to you, you never know who you may offend, or give the wrong impression to, on the receiving end of your important business message. And, for heaven's sake, don't put controversial or political quotes in your business email signature!

Don't include a legal disclaimer or "virus checked" message at the end of your emails, unless you are required to do so for your type of business. It takes up extra space and clutters the email message, and, quite frankly, is overkill for most general business emails.

Double check your signature file, before using it, to make sure everything is spelled correctly and all the information is current and correct. Nothing scream "unprofessional" worse than incorrect or misspelled info. This just makes customers question your business savvy and lack of attention to detail.

Set up your email program to automatically add your signature file to every email you send, so you don't have to keep typing it in manually. Almost all email programs have a way to set a signature file in them for repeated use.

Make sure to transfer your email signature, once you have perfected it, to your smart phone, if you use your phone a lot for responses to customers.

In our quest for the perfect signature, we have read many articles and opinions on the matter, and boiled it down to much of what we outline above.

A really great example of some poor email signatures can be found in this SitePoint article. I am sure we all know at least one of each of these type of signatures!

Cassida Discontinues and Replaces Two Of Their Popular Counterfeit Detector Models

2014-05-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

On May 15, 2014, Cassida announced that it is discontinuing and replacing two of it's popular low cost counterfeit money detectors. The Cassida 3310 counterfeit detector will be replaced by the new and improved Cassida 3300 counterfeit detector, and the Cassida 2200 counterfeit detector will be replaced by the newer 2230 model of counterfeit bill detector. Each of the new models has been upgraded and is being offered at an even lower price point than their predecessors.

Cassida 3300 with Counterfeit Shield Guarantee Replaces Cassida's 3310 Counterfeit Detector

The Cassida 3300 is an excellent replacement for the 3310 because it offers all the features, including ultraviolet (UV), magnetic (MG) and infrared (IR) security mark detection. Plus, the 3300 is the market's ONLY counterfeit detector backed by the Cassida Counterfeit Shield Guarantee, which eliminates all worry that you'll take a fake bill.

The guarantee reimburses you for the full face value of the counterfeit bill should your Cassida 3300 accept one as genuine. The Cassida 3300 is the market's most reliable detector, with the ability to spot bleached bills and other sophisticated counterfeits.

Cassida 2230 with IR Technology Replaces Cassida's 2200 Counterfeit Detector

The just-introduced 2230 IR counterfeit detector is very adept at identifying counterfeits. Its special frequency camera quickly allows operators to tell if bills have IR security markings, which have never been known to be counterfeited. Simply look for the presence of stripes and you'll know the bills are genuine.

Compact, easy to use and with a pivoting head to allow users to sit or stand, you'll be thrilled with how easy and functional the Cassida 2230 can be when it comes to catching counterfeits.

Counterfeit money costs businesses millions of dollars in lost revenue every year. Those businesses that fail to carefully examine the bills that are passed on to them are victimized daily. Don't let the counterfeiters get the best of you and your business, protect yourself with some of the best counterfeit detectors on the market today.

How To Detect Counterfeit Money

2014-05-20T21:33:00.001-04:00

Counterfeit bill passing costs businesses millions of dollars in lost revenue every year. Those businesses that fail to carefully examine the bills that are passed on to them are victimized daily. Don't let the counterfeiters get the best of you and your business. Learn how to spot counterfeit money and stop the thieves in their tracks.

You can help combat the threat of counterfeiters by becoming more familiar with United States currency. Examine the money your business receives. Train your employees in how to spot fake bills. Compare suspicious notes with genuine ones of the same denomination and series, paying attention to the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Don't look for similarities – instead look for differences.

There are a variety of things to look for when examining money for counterfeit bills.

Portrait
A genuine portrait on a bill appears lifelike and stands out distinctly form the background. A counterfeit portrait is usually flat and lifeless. Details merge into the background, which is often too dark or mottled.

Federal Reserve and Treasury Seals
A genuine bill will have clear saw tooth points of the Federal Reserve and Treasury seals are clear, distinct, and sharp. A counterfeit seal may have uneven, blunt, or broken saw tooth points.

Border
The fine lines in the border of a real bill are clear and unbroken. On the counterfeit, the lines in the outer margin and scrollwork may appear blurred and not distinct.

Serial Numbers
Genuine serial numbers have a distinctive style and are evenly spaced on the bill. The serial numbers are printed in the same ink color as the Treasury Seal. On counterfeits, the serial numbers may differ in shade or color of ink from the Treasury Seal. Also, the numbers may not be uniformly aligned or spaced, as they will be on a real bill.

Paper
Genuine current paper has tiny blue and red fibers embedded into it. Often counterfeiters will try to simulate these fibers by printing tiny blue and red lines on their paper. But on close inspection, one may see that on the counterfeit notes the lines are printed on the surface, not embedded in the paper. It is illegal to reproduce the distinctive paper that is used in the manufacturing of U.S. currency.

But, if your business deals with lots of cash, it is often impossible to stay on top of the counterfeits all of the time. This is where counterfeit detectors come into the picture. Counterfeit detecting machines are specialized pieces of equipment that are used to spot fake money.

The price ranges on counterfeit detectors runs the gamut, from very cheap to very expensive. You are paying for the technology that is embedded in the machine model that you choose. Obviously, the more sophisticated machines, with several modes of detection, will cost more than a simple tabletop non-electric model.

For instance, a lower end model will often come with UV counterfeit detection. They carry the smallest footprint, which means they don't require a lot of counter space, offer the lowest cost in the fake money detector market, and include many models that don't require a power outlet to run. You simply turn the machine on, swipe the bill, and the detector checks to see if UV is detected. No training and no hassle searching for a UV security thread is needed. These machines take the place of the older method of using a counterfeit pen to detect frauds.

A machine that falls in this market space would be something along the lines of the Cassida SmartCheck Counterfeit Detector with UV Detection. You could step it up a notch and move up to the Cassida M-18 Counterfeit Detector, which offers UV and watermark detection, or the Royal Sovereign RCD-3 Plus or the Money Lab HTC-40, which check for UV, magnetic, and watermarks. The economical counterfeit detectors in this category are going to run anywhere from about $39 to $50 in price.

A mid-range solution, generally running between $150 and $200, would be a machine such as the Cassida 2230 Infrared Counterfeit Detector. This type of machine uses powerful IR technology to authenticate security features present in currency. IR cannot be seen with the naked eye, which makes this a more advanced method for checking for counterfeit bills. Though still lightweight and easily portable, should the need arise, it does require power source (electrical outlet) to operate and is therefore meant to be a more permanent addition behind the counter than a lower end model.

A higher-end range, although still economical for a business that deals with lots of cash, would be something like the Cassida 3300 Automatic Counterfeit Bill Detector. This stand-alone counterfeit detector features several authentication methods, including UV, spectrum analysis, and infrared. On top of detecting counterfeits, it also features an automatic feed and large LCD screen, and has a distinct audible alert when it detects a counterfeit bill.

So, just how accurate are these machines? Well, no machine is guaranteed to catch fake bills 100% of the time, and the manufacturers never make the claim that they do. The technology for creating counterfeit bills gets better with each passing year. However, they do a fairly decent job of catching the majority of the bills that are passed and many of the higher end models are upgradable, via a software update, as needed. Obviously for the best detection, you are going to want a higher end machine with more features.

The Cassida 3300 does come with a unique offer from the manufacturer, however. It includes the exclusive Cassida Counterfeit Shield Guarantee. They have such faith in this piece of equipment, they are offering buyers who register their machine with them within 30 days of purchase this guarantee, which allows you to reclaim the full face value of a counterfeit bill should your Cassida 3300 accept it as genuine. This is an offer that can't be beat if you deal with a lot of cash in your business! (Terms and conditions apply.) No other manufacturer offers such a guarantee at this time, which makes it unique and worth the price of the jump into this model.

And, many money counters also now come with an option to upgrade to magnetic (MG), ultraviolet (UV), or a combination of both (UV/MG) features, when you purchase them. We personally like the Cassida line of money counters in this market space, for counterfeit detection, although many manufacturers now make them, including Semacon money counters, Royal Sovereign bill counters, and the AccuBaker line of money counting machines.

Counterfeiters get better and better, with each passing year, at what they do. And, they have not been afraid to adopt the new technology available to them to do their dirty work. Luckily technology has also made it much easier for the business person to protect themselves from these thieves.

Know your money. Teach your employees about money. Protect yourself with the technological tools available to you. Let's stop them in their tracks!

Cassida 5700 Professional Money Counter – An Economical Bill Counting Machine with Powerful Features

2014-05-14T15:45:00.000-04:00

Cassida Corporation announced today the introduction of the Cassida 5700 Professional Money Counter, the company's first bill counter to include the bill turner features, which gives this economical back loading money counting machine the convenience of a top loading money counter.

With the 5700, bill counting is triggered immediately when a stack of bills is placed on top of the Cassida 5700. The revolutionary design automatically pushes the bills into the back of the machine and begins counting at a speed of up to 1,300 bills per minute, making the 5700 bill counter a perfect choice for mid-size and larger businesses that process significant amounts of cash.

According to Matt Goldfain, product marketing manager for Cassida, "Cassida’s exclusive bill turning features solves a longtime challenge for the industry. Conventional back loaders are reasonably priced but they can be tricky to load and, if done improperly, it can interrupt counting. The Cassida 5700 combines the cost effectiveness of a back loader with the ease of a top loader. The result is the market’s easiest loading back loader, which is a real game changer."

This low cost money counting machine is designed to work hard for organizations that count a lot of currency and need the process to be simplified, Goldfain said. "Even those who have limited bill counter experience will find the 5700 to be as convenient and easy to use as top loading bill counters — plus it has a suite of features to really streamline counting and totaling."

The new money counter also features ValuCount™, a Cassida exclusive feature that lets users count different denominations while keeping track of the total value of the bills counted.

On top of all these great money counting features, the Cassida 5700 detects counterfeit and suspect bills during counting, giving organizations peace-of-mind that the cash they are processing is legitimate. The Cassida 5700UV comes equipped with ultraviolet sensors to detect counterfeit bills, while the Cassida 5700UVMG adds magnetic ink sensors to give users even more counterfeit protection as they process bills.

"We are thrilled with the technology of the 5700," Goldfain added. "It's extremely easy of use with its bill turning, its ValuCount™ and counterfeit detection software. The Cassida 5700 truly streamlines bill counting for busy cash processors."

The Cassida 5700 Money Counter is available for purchase now at www.yourofficestop.com.

Learn More About How ValuCount Works in Cassida Machines

Microsoft Releases Office for iPad and Expands Cloud Services

2014-03-28T16:03:00.001-04:00

Yesterday Microsoft released the long awaited version of the Microsoft Office Suite for iPad. Many individuals and small businesses who rely on their iPad for daily use and business use are excited to hear that it has finally arrived. And, from preliminary reviews, it is actually pretty good, unlike their earlier release of Office for the iPhone.

Now Office 365 users can simply add an iPad as one of their chosen devices included in their subscription and they will be able to create and edit documents with Word for iPad, PowerPoint for iPad and Excel for iPad. The iPad apps are available as free downloads from the App Store, however they will only allow people to read and present documents, spreadsheets and presentations, until they subscribe to the Office 365 service ($9.99 per month or $99.99 per year), at which time they will also be able to edit these documents, and create new documents, on their iPads.

The Office 365 subscription not only gets you the Office for iPad apps installed on up to 5 tablets, but also 5 copies of Office for your PCs and Macs. With one subscription all of your devices are covered, allowing more freedom for people so they are not chained to their desk to be productive.

At the same time Microsoft also announced the Enterprise Mobility Suite, a set of cloud services to help businesses manage corporate data and services on the devices people use at work and at home.

“Microsoft is focused on delivering the cloud for everyone, on every device. It’s a unique approach that centers on people — enabling the devices you love, work with the services you love, and in a way that works for IT and developers,” said Satya Nadella, chief executive officer for Microsoft.

Graduation Announcement and Invitation Etiquette 101

2014-03-27T21:08:00.001-04:00

Graduation is just around the corner and many are wondering about the proper etiquette for sending out their graduation invitations and graduation announcements. Many have questions such as when do I send my graduation announcements, or what do I put on my graduation invitations?

As far as when to send the graduation announcements or invitation out goes, it depends on which they are going to be. If they are invitations to the actual graduation ceremony itself then you want to give your guests at least 14 days, however four weeks would be better, especially if you are inviting guests that must travel long distances to attend. This gives them time to plan and respond to the invitation. Keep in mind that many schools and universities limit the number of people that may attend, due to seating constraints, so be sure to check with your school for any such limitations prior to sending our your invitations. Many people choose to only invite family and close friends to the actual graduation ceremony, and will then send announcements to others to let them know they have graduated.

If you are sending out announcements, to share your educational milestone, then you will probably want to plan them for anywhere between a month prior to and a month after the actual graduation ceremony takes place. Also be aware that while people receiving actual invitations to the graduation may assume a gift is required, announcements do not necessarily mean that a gift is expected. Still, you may want to add “No gifts, please” to the card, if you don’t want to put a feeling of obligation on the announcement recipients.

Some people also use the announcements as a party invitation, for those that were unable to attend the ceremony due to limits set forth by the school, and if they are being used as such they should be sent 3 to 4 weeks in advance of the party itself. Be sure to include directions and/or a map to the party venue, as well as the dress code (formal, informal, pool party, etc.).

With graduation announcements you can go formal or informal, but recipients really appreciate it when they are personal. Add your own message, school and degree information, or even a photo of yourself.

Also remember to send thank you notes to those who attended your graduation ceremony or sent gifts. Check out our site for some really cute graduation thank you cards.

The next cause for concern that new graduates experience is what do I say on the invitation or announcement. Again, you can get as formal or informal as you want. We have a page that lists some really great sample graduation invitation wording ideas that you may want to check out on our web site.

Also be sure to check out our complete line of graduation papers, including graduation invitation kits, graduation announcement kits, graduation thank you cards, graduation envelope seals and more.

Red Graduation Hats & Scrolls Invitation Kit

Grad Swirls Graduation Invitation Kit

Colorful Grad Graduation Invitation Kit

Hat Toss Graduation invitation Kit

Black Grad Hat Graduation Invitation Kit

One of the Most Affordable Money Counters on the Market Just Became Even More Affordable

2014-03-26T12:48:00.001-04:00

Have you always wanted a money counter, also known as a currency counter, but the cost of entry was just too high to justify it? For a limited time we are offering our customers $200 OFF our very popular Cassida Tiger Semi-Professional Currency Counter with Counterfeit Detection. The Cassida Tiger currency counter machine delivers commercial grade performance and features in a sleek, ultra compact design. Steel components are precision engineered for accurate and reliable operation, and a ground breaking one piece steel chassis means years of dependable service. Fast and powerful, the Cassida Tiger offers far more than you expect in a low cost money counting machine. And for those intimidated by money counting machines, it offers easy use instructions right on the bill hopper. Get high end quality at a low end price, without sacrificing a thing.

Weighing in at less than 10 pounds, this cash counter is portable, features a handy carrying handle, and makes a great asset for any small business that deals with large amounts of cash. It has a capacity of counting up to 250 bills at a time and counts at a speed of 1300 bills per minute. The Cassida Tiger rivals many commercial grade automatic money counters in performance and durability. From the first bank note to the last, the Tiger delivers fast, accurate, and reliable currency counting. This affordable money counter can “ADD,” which means it keeps a running counter of the bills counted ; “BATCH,” which lets you define the number of bills you need in a single count, such as when you are setting up a cash register till ; and also does “ADD” + “BATCH,” where a grand total is important. You are able to batch while keeping a running total in that mode.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is lower cost affordable money counters are NOT money discriminators. This means that all of the bills placed in the machine for counting must be the same denomination (i.e. a stack of 20’s, 10’s, and so forth). Money counters that can detect different types of bills in a single stack are called money discriminators, and the price point is much, much higher than standard money counting machines. We do carry a sort of “halfway” type product with ValuCount technology, which gives you some of the features of a discriminator in our Cassida 5520 product line without the higher prices of discriminating money counters.

But, back to the Cassida Tiger money counter, which has the smallest footprint in the industry. This low cost bill counter features a one-piece steel chassis and precision manufactured steel roller bearings, making it more durable than other low cost money counters in its class. An advanced bill density recognition system eliminates false stops, and this budget bill counter features automatic and manual counting modes for full control.

The Cassida Tiger comes in two models, offering varying levels of counterfeit protection. The UV model, our entry level model, offers ultraviolet counterfeit detection. The US Bureau of Printing and Engraving uses UV-florescent phosphors in their production of bills, which can produce a reaction when placed under ultraviolet light, which remains hidden when viewed under normal lighting conditions. This is a standard security feature in US bills, passports, traveler’s check’s, etc. The UV/MG model uses both ultraviolet AND magnetic counterfeit detection. Magnetic counterfeit detection looks for traces of iron particles in the ink characters printed on US banknotes. Please remember, no counterfeit detector can catch bills 100% of the time, however these machines are pretty accurate in stopping most counterfeit bills.

If you are looking for a more solid guarantee against counterfeits, you may want to check out the Cassida 3300 Automatic Counterfeit Bill Detector with Counterfeit Shield Guarantee. While is is not a money counter, like the Tiger, it does come with the manufacturer’s full backing that it will catch your counterfeit bills, or they will allow you to reclaim the full face value of the counterfeit bill if the machine accepts it as genuine. Terms and conditions apply, but it is about the most rock solid guarantee of catching counterfeit bills you are going to get in the industry.

If you aren’t ready to purchase the Cassida Tiger yet, and want to think about, please feel free to download our handy sales flyer and spec sheet, as a reminder, so you don’t miss out on this great deal. Remember the $200 off offer expires on May 22, 2014. Get it while it lasts!

UPDATE ON MAY 22, 2014:

The Cassida Tiger discount special was such a huge success that the manufacturer is permanently lowering the price of this model!

“The Tiger leads its class in both performance and durability,” said Cassida Sales Manager Matthew Holt. “The rebate lowered prices on the Tiger, allowing more people to experience the Tiger’s quality. Cassida is pleased that we found a way to permanently lower the price of the Tiger.”

And, we have discounted their already discounted price by even more! Be sure to visit our store for details on the new pricing.

The Cassida 5510 Money Counter will be discontinued this summer and will be permanently replaced by the Tiger series, as well.

Updated Spring and Floral Paper Stocks Announced for 2014

2014-03-25T17:25:00.001-04:00

Your Office Stop has updated our Spring Flowers and Floral paper stock line to new designs this year. From butterflies and gardens, to daisies and dahlias, we have beautiful floral paper stocks for your pleasure. Our paper stocks are acid and lignin free, making them great for scrapbooking, as well as for flyers, crafting projects, newsletters and more.

Our paper stocks are designed for both laser and inkjet printers and allow you to create beautiful advertising pieces, letterhead and flyers with minimal waste of your colored ink and toner cartridges, because we have preprinted the colored part for you already!

A sampling of the new items to our 2014 line of Spring Floral paper stocks can be found below. For the full product line, please visit our website and have a look around.

Daisy Plaid Spring Flowers Laser & Inkjet Printer Paper

Retro Spring Flowers Laser & Inkjet Printer Paper

Nouveau Butterflies Spring Laser & Inkjet Printer Paper

Gerbera Daisies Spring Laser & Inkjet Printer Paper

Sweet Blossoms Spring Flower Laser & Inkjet Printer Paper

Spring Ladybugs Laser & Inkjet Printer Paper

Paisley Flowers Spring Laser & Inkjet Printer Paper

Butterflies and Spring Flowers Laser & Inkjet Printer Paper

Bright Poppy Flowers Laser & Inkjet Printer Paper

Asian Influence Bamboo and Butterfly Laser & Inkjet Printer Paper

Brown Kraft & Yellow Spring Flowers Laser & Inkjet Printer Paper

Spring Flowers on Light Green Background Laser & Inkjet Printer Paper

Be sure to visit our website for more Spring paper stocks like these.

Cassida Upgrades Its 5520 Professional Currency Counter to Increase Efficiency and Streamline Money Handling

2014-03-17T16:55:00.001-04:00

Many people like the idea of a currency discriminator, also known as a discriminating money counter, but don't like the high cost that this type of cash counting machine comes with. Now Cassida Corporation, a leader in the money counting industry, just may have a solution for those people with the release of their new 5520 model featuring ValueCount™ technology.

Starting today, Cassida Corporation began shipping an upgraded version of its 5520 Professional Currency Counter that will save time and simplify operations for cash handlers and processors nationwide.

This new and upgraded model now includes ValueCount™ technology, an exclusive feature to Cassida, that lets users get a count of different denominations, while keeping track of the total value of the bills in the machine’s stacker.

According to Matt Goldfain, product marketing manager for Cassida Corporation, "ValuCount essentially allows the Cassida 5520 to be both a bill counter and have some properties of a currency discriminator, which is unique to the marketplace."

ValuCount™ uses the denomination selected by the user to calculate the dollar value of the count. By activating ValuCount™ in the add mode, users can count different denominations while keeping track of the total value, which brings the money counter to another level, making it sort of an in between for the standard currency counter and a discriminating currency counter. This is something totally unique in this price range of money counting machines.

Here is a short video to explain how ValuCount™ works:

While it is not a "true" discriminating money counter, it will allow users more options to help streamline many cash handling duties with this new feature, and it could offer businesses that don't currently have the funds to get into a much more costly money discriminator to enjoy some new benefits with their money counting.

The Cassida 5520 money counter also offers peace of mind because of its ability to detect a wide range of counterfeit bills, using ultraviolet and/or magnetic sensors, depending on the model. Once a counterfeit is detected, the 5520 stops the count and dispenses the suspect bill into its stacker for removal. The LCD screen also showcases the reason the counterfeit bill was rejected.

Built in infrared sensors allow the 5520 bill counter to spot a wide range of bill discrepancies, including half, double and chain notes. In all cases the user is alerted with an audible beep and an error message is shown on the LCD screen, making maintenance easy and facilitating continuous counting.

A new LCD screen on the front of the Cassida 5520 money counting machine showcases both bill counts and count values in large, easy-to-read numbers. The machine can process up to 1300 bills per minute and is compact enough to be transported wherever cash counts need to happen. Rounding out the new features is an upgraded steel hopper that makes this trusted machine even more durable than it already was.

Cassida Corporation is a leader in the money handling equipment, currency counters, coin counters and counterfeit currency detection arena. Since 1999, Cassida has used its research and experience in money printing and security to assure accuracy in the most demanding counting environments on the globe and offers buyers peace of mind with the quality of machines they produce.

The upgraded Cassida 5520 Currency Counter is available for purchase on our website now.

We also carry the other two models, mentioned in the ValuCount™ video above. The Cassida 6600 Professional Grade Currency Counter with Counterfeit Detection and the Cassida 5700 Professional Grade Currency Counter with Counterfeit Detection.

Clean Desk Person or Messy Desk Person - Which Are You?

2013-10-07T13:56:00.001-04:00

So, as you sit in your office and look around, are you a clean desk person or a messy desk person. What does one or the other say about you?

Researchers have, in the past, studied how certain personality traits affect health choices in people. Not surprisingly, they found that people who tend to be more organized and predictable, typically eat better and live longer than people who were less orderly. They also tend to have very clean offices and desks.

However, what has been less clear is whether or not clean work environments can create good habits, even in those who aren't necessarily as organized as others around them. In a study done by Dr. Kathleen Vohs and the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management, researchers decided to find this out.

In their first study, they randomly assigned college-age students to spend time in office spaces. One was very neat, the other cluttered with papers and other work related materials. The students spent their time filling out questionnaires totally unrelated to the actual study at hand. After 10 minutes, they were told they could leave and were offered an apple or a bar of chocolate as they left. The students who sat in the orderly office were twice as apt to choose the apple, then those who sat in the messy office.

In their second study, they found that working in chaos may have its own advantages, however. In this one, college students were placed in messy or neat offices and asked to dream up new uses for Ping-Pong balls. Those in the messy offices generated significantly more creative ideas, according to two independent judges, than those coming up with ideas in offices that were neatly organized.

According to Dr. Vohs, a behavioral scientist at the University of Minnesota and the leader of the study, the results were a surprise. In previous similar studies, few found much virtue in disarray. The broken-windows theory, from decades ago, stated that even slight disorder and neglect can encourage poor discipline and nonchalance. Chaos begets chaos. But, Dr. Vohs' study showed the disorderly offices promoted originality in her participants.

In the final portion of the study, adults were given the choice of adding a healthy "boost" to their lunchtime smoothie that was labeled either "new" or "classic." Those in the messy space were far more likely to choose the new one, while those in the clean space were more likely to go for the classic one.

Dr. Vohs and her co-authors concluded that, "disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition, which can produce fresh insights."

So, perhaps if you need to think "outside of the box," you should let the clutter rise and open up your mind to new possibilities and ideas. But, if your primary goal is to establish order and routines, eat well and exercise regularly, you may want to clean up that office.

So, what if you need to do both? Well, perhaps you could use or create a second space to work in. Maybe a conference room, or even two different desks in one office, or your desk and small table in another corner for tasks. Then depending on whether your goal is to get those creative juices flowing, or organization, use the appropriate space for that given task. Who says you have to pick one or the other?

Fall, Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Papers

2013-09-06T18:30:00.000-04:00

Pumpkins, falling leaves, and beautiful Autumn patterns abound in our Thanksgiving border paper stocks that are preprinted and designed with Fall, Autumn and Thanksgiving in mind. If you are looking for Thanksgiving computer paper, look no further. Our Fall paper and Autumn paper measures 8.5" x 11" and is perfect for use in ink jet printers, laser printers and copy machines.

Our Fall, Autumn and Thanksgiving computer paper is great for use as Thanksgiving sale paper, invitations, and posters.

Fall Leaves Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Fall Foliage Leaves Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Translucent Fall Leaves Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Harvest Apples Fall, Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Artistic Fall Leaves Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Crackled Fruit Fall, Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Fall Scene Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Painted Pumpkins Fall, Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Pumpkin Swirl Fall, Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Crushed Fall Leaves Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Painted Maple Fall Leaves Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Pumpkin Patch with Fall Leaves Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Autumn Harvest Fall & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Fall Pumpkin Harvest Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Patterned Leaves Fall, Autumn & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Autumn Geo Fall & Thanksgiving Computer Printer Paper

Bright Orange #10 Envelopes

Celadon Green (Light Green) #10 Envelopes

Ivory #10 Envelopes

Harvest Orange #10 Envelopes

And, for our reader's who follow our blog, we are offering a discount coupon code, good for 10% OFF any paper stock order of $19.99 or more. Simply use coupon code "PAPBLG10" on checkout, when you purchase from Your Office Stop.

What Does MIL Weight Mean For Laminating Pouches?

2013-08-26T23:10:00.000-04:00

The mil weight of a hot laminating pouch describes the thickness of the pouch, which determines how heavy, or stiff, the final laminated item will be. The higher the mil weight, the "stiffer" your final laminating project will end up being.

When an item is measured in "mils," your standard for conversion is one mil equals one thousandth of an inch. Standard mil weights purchased by most customers for their projects are the 3 mil and 5 mil weights.

When mil weight is being described for laminating film, it is important to know that most manufacturers are talking about the total mil weight of the hot laminating sheet. For instance, if a pouch is described as having a 10 mil weight, that means that each side of the pouch (flap) is 5 mils, for a total weight of 10 mils.

Keep in mind that a higher mil weight does not necessarily mean it is a "better" thermal laminating pouch for you. You need to consider the type of project you will be laminating and determine whether you need it to be of a standard thickness, or if you need a more rigid finished product.

You also need to make note of the type of paper you will be laminating. If your item is printed on card stock, you may be able to forgo a 5 mil weight and use a 3 mil weight instead, since the card stock has some rigidity to it already.

However, if you are printing something on copy paper and you need it to be a on the thicker side, you will probably want to consider a 5 mil or 7 mil pouch.

It also also very important to note the capabilities of your laminating machine. Not all laminating machines can handle all mil weights. Most standard laminating machines will be rated for 3 mil or 5 mil laminator pouches. Some may be able to handle 7 mils. Make sure you check with the manufacturer of your item to find out what it's capabilities are. Trying to laminating a pouch that is not rated for the machine will cause jams or an uneven laminating job with bubbles and other issues.

Generally, when you get into anything higher than a 7 mil, like a 10 mil or a 15 mil, there are going to be much fewer laminators that are going to be able to handle the heavier weights. Most 10 mil and 15 mil machines are going to be more commercial grade type of machines, which carry a heavier price tag than a standard machine.

As a rule of thumb, a 3 mil laminating pouch will provide a flexible and lightweight protection to your item. It will provide protection to your document from spills, dirt, smudges, dust and light handling.

A 5 mil laminating pouch will give you more protection from handling and use. It will protect from long term exposure to water, like rain, wind and sun. It should be resistant to crinkling and folding, while maintaining a slight bit of flexibility.

A 7 mil laminating pouch will provide more protection and rigidity. 7 mil or higher films are excellent for items that will be handled extensively, such as ID cards and menus.

When you get into the realm of 10 mils and above you are going to have a finished item that is almost as rigid as a credit card.

For roll film laminating, however, the terminology is different because rolls are sold separately and sometimes customers will laminating just one side of a sheet, an option your don't have with pouch laminating. So if the roll of film is 5 mils thick, it is just that, 5 mils.

At Your Office Stop we offer a large variety of laminating pouches in many different mil weights, for all your laminating supply needs. Stop by and check them out.

Paper Shredder Maintenance: How To Care For Your Machine

2013-08-23T11:43:00.002-04:00

Because paper shredders are such simple to use machine, many people tend to overlook the fact that you can prolong the life of your shredding machine with proper maintenance. So, we have put together a few tips on the proper maintenance of an easy to maintain machine.

Oil your paper shredder on a regular basis.

All paper shredders should be properly lubricated on a regular basis with shredder oil. This helps to keep the cutting heads moving and operating to their maximum efficiency. Proper oiling of your paper shredder will lengthen the life of the machine.

Over time the dust from paper builds up inside of the cutting blades of your machine. Eventually this dust can become packed together, forming a tight "brick" that can be difficult to remove and cause jams. It can dull the blades and burn out the motor.

Oiling your machine regularly softens the sediment in the blades and allows the cutting head to move more freely, pushing it our further. We suggest oiling, at the very least, once a week, but more often is better. Extremely heavily used shredders could even be oiled once a day. Cross cut shredders tend to require more oiling than a strip cut shredder might, due to the finer particles of dust they create.

Paper shredding oil comes in a squeeze bottle and is very easy to use. Oiling your paper shredding machine is very quick and can be accomplished in a couple of ways.

The paperless oiling method involves holding the bottle of oil over the shredder paper cutting blades, from the top of the machine, squeezing the bottle as you pass it along the length of the opening. It only takes a few seconds. Make sure your machine is turned off when doing this. After the oil has been applied, turn the machine on, in the reverse function, for about 15 seconds to allow the oil to transfer to the blades uniformly. Then simply shred a few sheets of paper in the machine, which will help remove any excess oil.

You can also use the paper method to oil the machine. Place a sheet of paper above a surface that will not be damaged if you spill oil on it. Apply the oil to one side of the paper, in a wide zigzag pattern, across the whole face of the page to ensure good coverage. Don't totally saturate the paper sheet, however. Turn the shredder on and run the oiled paper through the machine. As the paper shreds, the oil that has been absorbed will lubricate the cutting blades and distribute the oil. Follow up by feeding a few more sheets (non-oiled) through the shredder to absorb and extra oil left behind.

Do not attempt to oil your machine with anything other than proper paper shredder oil designed for this use. This oil is specially formulated to leave no residue in the machine's cutting blades. Use of a non-shredder oil, like WD40 or cooking oils will attract paper residue and dirt, leaving the cutting head clogged, and may cause damage to your machine.

Make sure you are aware of the paper capacity of your shredder.

Paper shredders are sold with a recommended number of sheets they can handle. Know your shredder's capabilities before you start shoving paper into the cutting throat. Remember, as with most types of machines paper ratings, these numbers are based on standard 20# bond paper, which is basically the weight of copy paper.

If you are shredding heavier paper, say card stock, you need to adjust the number of sheets you run through the machine down a bit, to ensure they will go through the cutting blades properly. Stuffing too much paper into the throat of the machine will surely cause it to jam your cutting blades.

Properly de-jam your paper shredder, should a jam occur.

The majority of jams in a shredder can be easily fixed by backing the paper out with the reverse switch on your machine. More difficult to remove jams may require you to gently pull on the paper while backing it out.

If you cannot back the paper out at all, at this point, there may still be hope. Many paper jams are caused by overuse or over capacity on the machine. Sometimes turning the shredder off for a while, to give the motor a chance to rest, is all that is needed to get it back up and running again at full capacity. Try turning it off for 15 minutes and then try the reverse button again to see if the paper comes free.

If it does not use your shredder oil to try and loosen the paper jam. Soak the jammed paper with shredder oil and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Once it is soaked in, try to run the paper through again, using both the forward and backward buttons. Usually this will clear the majority of jams.

If it still doesn't work it gets a bit more tricky. Unplug your paper shredder and look to see where it is jammed. Try soaking the blades with more oil, from the underside and see if you can manually get the paper to budge. However, be very careful when doing this. Even not moving, the blades on a paper cutter are still very sharp.

If you still have not luck you may be in need of repairs. Check with your paper shredder manufacturer for their authorized repair centers. Don't attempt to take your paper shredder apart yourself, if you don't know what you are doing, as this may void any warranty you still have left on it.

Don't run your shredder non-stop, without giving it a break.

Paper shredders are not made to run continuously without a break. Doing so will shorten the life of the machine and, most certainly, cause problems in the way it functions over time. Even heavier duty "continuous rated" motors need a break once in a while. Overuse causes parts to wear down faster than they normally would with proper use.

Good paper shredders will come with a manufacturer's warranty. The time frame for the warranty can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so be sure to read all the information that came in your paper shredder box. It's also a good idea to keep the paperwork from the box, along with the receipt for you paper shredder purchase, in a safe place, in case a warranty repair is needed. The manufacturer will ask for this receipt, in all likelihood, as proof of the date you purchased it.

Many manufacturer's also warranty the cutting blades on their machines even long than they do the motor, so be aware of that as well.

Proper care and maintenance of your machine will give you a more stress free experience with it, but no matter how well you take care of it, it can still run the risk of defects or other problems. So be aware of where you stand with your warranty and make sure you don't abuse the machine, which could cause the warranty to become void.

Spooky Halloween Printer Paper Stock

2013-08-23T00:04:00.000-04:00

Halloween printer paper is perfect for use in laser printers, ink jet printers or copy machines. Create your Halloween flyer or Halloween invitation and print is onto the Halloween printer paper. Our border paper makes it easy to layout using most popular word processing and page layout programs. This Halloween computer paper is available in smaller packages, or in larger bulk packages for a discount. We even have business size black envelopes and bright orange envelopes for an added touch of spooky Halloween flair.

Midnight Magic Halloween Paper

Orange Skeletons Halloween Paper

Orange Spiders Halloween Paper

Painted Pumpkins Halloween & Fall Paper

Spooktacular Halloween Paper

Tombstone with Spider Halloween Paper

Jacks & Lanterns Halloween Paper

Candy Corn Halloween Paper

Creepy Spider Web Halloween Paper

Black #10 Halloween Envelopes

Orange #10 Halloween Envelopes

Businesses Need To Stay Aware of Domain Name Scams

2013-08-13T19:05:00.003-04:00

We recently received an email from a Chinese domain registry company, warning us that someone was applying to register a set of domain names based on our company name. It is not the first time we have received such an email, so I figured a warning to other businesses may be a good thing.

According to these messages, the company contacting you is trying to "warn" you that someone else is trying to claim your trademark, brand or domain. They give you a limited amount of time to reply, and warn that if you don't you are at risk of losing your rights to your name. It sounds so very official and scary, right?

The letter that businesses are receiving reads something like this (or variation of this):

Dear Manager,

(If you are not the person who is in charge of this, please forward this to your CEO)

We are a Network Solutions Service Company which is the Inernet Brand and domain name registration in China. Here we have something to confirm with you. We received a formal application on 11/08/2013. A company named "THD Import & Export Co. Ltd" was applying to register "yourdomain" as its Brand name and the following domain names:

yourdomain.asia
yourdomain.cn
yourdomain.com.cnyourdomain.com.twyourdomain.hkyourdomain.net.cnyourdomain.org.cn
yourdomain.tw

After our initial checking, we found the names were similar to your company's, so we need to check with you whether "THD Import & Export Co. Ltd" has any relationship with you and whether the registration of the listed domains by "THD Import & Export Co. Ltd" would bring any impact on you. If no impact on you, we will go on with the registration at once. If you have no relationship with that company and the registration would bring some impact on you, please inform us within 10 workdays.Out of the time prescribed we will unconditionally finish the registration for "THD Import & Export Co. Ltd"
Please contact us in time in order that we can handle this issue better.

Best Regards,

Daniel Chang
Auditing Department.
Registration Department Manager

Business owners, be aware that the claims in letters such as this are lies designed to coerce you into registering a series of domain names at prices that have been inflated by this company, so you can "secure" your rights to your company's name and brand.

In reality, these companies have, in all likelihood, not received any such application. They are sending these emails out to thousands of different website owners, replacing the area that says "your domain" with your actual domain, in hopes that some people will take the bait and purchase the domain names in question, at their outrageous prices, to keep their brand "safe."

If you receive one of these scam emails, it is best just to hit the delete button and not follow any of the links to reply back to the original sender.

If you reply, some versions of the email will have an "agent" contact you with instructions on how to pay the registration fees for the domains you wish to "secure," and other versions will direct you to a link where you are requested to pay immediately. Either way you are handing your credit card information over to someone you didn't contact directly. A big no-no in security terms.

On the flip side, if a legitimate third party does try to register a domain name that is similar to yours, for example the ".net" version of your ".com" domain name, it is highly unlikely that the registrar will contact you to let you know first. From a business perspective, if you want to keep your "name" safe, it is never a bad idea to go ahead and register all the common versions of your name, such as ".net", ".com", ".biz", ".co", ".info", etc. That way you maintain control of your brand and no one else can try to capitalize on your good name.

You can get additional information about domain name scams by clicking here.

Buying a Letter Paper Folder / Paper Folding Machine

2013-08-06T22:48:00.001-04:00

Everyone know it's a pain to fold brochures, letterhead, sales letters, marketing material, invoices, statements, newsletters and church bulletins by hand. It's time consuming and tedious, not to mention the painful paper cuts you can endure while doing it.

Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to making folding paper easier? The use of an automatic paper folder can increase the number of sheets you can fold dramatically, without all the back breaking labor involved in manual paper folding.

An automatic paper folder will:

Increase the number of sheets you can fold per hour
Save you a considerable amount of time
Reduce physical stress and mental fatigue
Increase the types of folds you can create for your projects
Save you money by increasing output and decreasing manpower

Unless you are mailing out small quantities, or have a need for more automated folding only occasionally, an automatic paper folder can definitely boost your productivity and be a welcome addition to any office or organization.

So if you have determined that you want to buy a paper folder, before considering the purchase of one there are several things you should keep in mind:

How often you will be using the folder.

Some paper folders are meant to be used continuously, usually in a commercial bindery operation, mailing house or print shop, while others are only meant to be used occasionally, such as in every day office use. Some paper folders are built to withstand mass mailings. Others are built to fold an occasional sheet of paper. Some folders can fold "sets" of paper, others are what is known as a single sheet folder, meaning, while they only fold one sheet at a time, they do so at a high volume, saving you back breaking work and lots of time. Be sure to get the folder that works with the volume you intend to fold on a regular basis.

What type of paper folding machine your projects will require.

Paper folders can start as small as a letter desktop manual folder and go up to more expensive commercial air-fed paper folding machines. A manual letter paper folder may be your best option if you are looking to fold "sets" of paper, for example a several page document that will be placed into an envelope for mailing, and only intend to use it for light general office folding.

Keep in mind, as the name implies, it is a manual process, meaning you fold your paper one set, or one sheet, at a time. These paper folders tend to be very small, easily fitting on a desk or into a small workspace, and relatively inexpensive. Keep in mind with a manual folder you may only have the option to do a fixed fold, such as a letter fold. They often do not allow you to change your type of fold.

Some popular manual desktop folders include two models made by Martin Yale, the P6200 3-Sheet Letter Folder and the P6400 Letter Folder. The P6200 allows you to fold one to three sheets of paper in a standard letter fold, while the P6400 can handle two folds, standard letter and half fold.

Another popular type of letter folding machine is known as a friction fed paper folder. These are also called single sheet paper folders. A friction fed folding machine has rollers which pull the paper into the paper folder, one sheet at a time, but at a high rate of speed. This type of paper folding machine relieves the problem many offices face with handling bulk folding projects in an efficient manner. They are know to be great time savers on staff. They generally feature easy manual setup options that revolve around making settings on the removable paper guides, to match the type of folds you want to create, and the size of paper you will be folding.

These machine are used a lot businesses that require a lot of folding of statements, invoices, brochures, sales letters, customer letters, and many churches use them for folding church bulletins for services. They have also become popular with schools and universities, to handle their diverse paper folding needs.

One caveat of this type of high volume machine to consider is that they do, from time to time, jam or misfeed. It's just the nature of the technology. It will happen at some point. It's not a matter of "if," but "when." So, if your job requires matching names with envelopes or keeping consecutive numbers in sequence, this may be an issue for you. For jobs like this, you may need to consider manual feeding, whether through a friction fed folder that offers that manual bypass feature, or by using a small manual fed folder, as mentioned above. It will be slower going, but the frustration factor of numbers getting out of sequence may offset that for you.

Some friction fed folders can also do "sets" of paper, like a manual folder, making them a multi-use machine in a business operation, however it will always be through a "manual bypass" tray, making the process less automated. This means some friction fed folders can also function as a manual letter folder, when needed. Not every friction fed paper folding machine will offer this manual option, however, so please read it's specs closely before purchasing, if this is a feature you require.

Popular friction fed folding machines include the Techko LF283B Paper Folder, the Martin Yale Premier P7200 Paper Folder, and the MBM 93M Paper Folder. The prices on these type of machines varies based on brand name, the types of folds it can do, the type of paper it can handle, etc.

Friction feed paper folders are generally pretty maintenance free, however they do have a few low cost wearable items. Typically, the front rollers on your paper folder wear out the most. It is very common to have to replace these on a regular basis if your paper folder is folding to its maximum duty cycle.

A third type of paper folding machine is an air fed paper folder. An air fed paper folder uses air to suck the paper into the paper folding machine, a sheet at a time, to be folded. The puff of air lifts each sheet of paper up from the next, before it is caught by the rollers and pulled into the machine, separating your sheets and reducing the static build up on each sheet of paper. This is especially important in use with glossy paper stocks.

If you are looking to fold "glossy" paper stocks, you may want to consider an air fed paper folder instead. The friction that builds up in the folding process on the friction fed folder will cause your paper to start to stick together, which will result in jams and misfeeds. On a matte (standard) finish paper this problem is minimal, but on a glossy paper it can easily turn into a nightmare for the user when doing large amounts of paper.

If you tend to do a lot of glossy paper, this may be the way to go. However, be aware that this type of folding machine is quite a bit more expensive than a standard friction fed office folder. In some cases it may be upwards of 10 times the cost of a standard machine, so it is generally purchased mostly by commercial companies that are in the business of doing a lot of mass mailing work for their customers, such as bindery houses, print shops and mailing services. The entry price point on an air fed machine tends to be much higher than what most businesses are looking to pay for an office folding machine.

What type of paper you will be folding.

Paper comes in various thicknesses and finishes. Different types of paper require different machines. Make sure the paper folder you purchase can fold the paper you need it to fold now, as well as grow with you in the future.

Most paper folders are going to handle your standard office type papers equally well. These would include basic copy paper, 20# bond paper, 24# bond paper, 50# offset paper, and 60# offset paper. Beyond standard papers, it gets a bit trickier. Most generally don't like an extremely thin paper, anything lower than about a 16# paper weight and most don't work all that well with glossy paper or very heavy weight papers.

As I mentioned above, glossy paper stock is a consideration. Most machines simply do not handle glossy stock as well as an air fed paper folder will. I have personally, on occasion, used a friction fed folder on smaller jobs printed on glossy paper stock. However, I knew going into these jobs that I would have to "babysit" the machine, due to frequent misfeeds and jams. And, sometimes they happened, and other times they didn't, depending on a lot of variables, including the weight of the paper, how much static build up was in the room at the time of the folding job (which tends to be more prevalent if the folder is kept in a room with other electronics such as computers and printers), and other conditions and factors.

Just something to keep in mind if you think you may have an occasional need to fold glossy stock, but don't want to pay for a much more expensive air fed machine. Just don't say you weren't warned that it will be a bit more challenging!

If you are looking to fold card stock, I simply would not recommend a standard paper folder for this job. You will not get a clean fold and the paper will most certainly jam most paper folding machines. If you have a job that is printed on card stock, my recommendation would be to have the paper "scored." The scoring process involves creating a crease in your paper, where you want the fold to be, making it easier for you to fold the sheet in half.

This process can be done by hand, or for larger projects I would recommend taking your paper to a bindery shop or print shop, either after the job is printed or prior to printing it, to have the paper scored. The scoring process creates a "crack" in the paper, making in effect a "spine," which will give you a guide for folding your finished product by hand, as well as make it a clean fold.

Some rotary paper trimmers now offer a variety of different types of removable and interchangeable blades, including a "scoring blade," which does not cut all the way through the paper, but rather creates a score, making it easier to score small quantities of paper yourself.

What size paper you will be folding.

Before you make your purchase of a paper folder it is a good idea to consider what size sheets of paper you will be folding on a regular basis, as well as the types of folds you will need to make. Some folders only do preset folds, while others can be set for custom folds with removable, adjustable guide plates.

Lower priced folders may only handle up to letter size paper (8.5" x 11"), while a mid-range model can do both letter size and legal size paper (8.5" x 14").

If you have a need to fold tabloid size items (11" x 17"), you will need to look at larger format machine. However, much like an air fed folder, tabloid size paper folders will be much more expensive than it's little sister, the friction fed paper folding machine. Larger format friction fed folders would include models such as the Martin Yale 1217A Medium Duty Paper Folder.

What type of folds you will need to do.

Different paper folding machines can do different folds. Standard folds include double parallel, half fold, letter fold (tri-fold or brochure fold), and z-folds. Additional folds include accordion folds, gate folds, double gate folds, roll folds, vertical half folds, french folds, baronial folds and right angle folds. As you move into these more complicated folds, the cost of a machine that can handle them goes up quite a bit. Because of this, many companies opt for a machine that can handle the standard business folds such as letter and half fold, on both letter size and legal size paper.

Be sure to read the description of the paper folder you want to buy carefully to determine its capabilities. Generally, only machines that have adjustable guide plates will allow you do multiple folds. Fixed fold machines, such as lower cost small desktop models, may only be able to do a standard letter fold.

How many documents you will need to fold in an hour.

An important feature to consider is how many sheets of paper you will need to fold in each batch. Some office folders are made to fold up to 12,000 sheets per hour, while commercial or heavy-duty folders handle up to 18,000 sheets per hour. Keep in mind these are estimates and what you will actually be able to fold depends on a variety of factors, including how many sheets you can put in the hopper tray at a time. Most folders "max out" on the number of sheets that can be held by the tray, which means it will need to be refilled as it runs out.

It is important when folding a job not to set it up and walk away from the machine. Not only can jams and misfeeds happen, which must be cleared immediately, so as not to burn up the motor in your folding machine, but paper trays will need to be refilled, to keep the job moving along. Yes, a paper folding machine will make your life easier, in that it can fold paper faster than you can by hand, but that does not mean you can "set it and forget it" and walk away from the job.

How much space you have to store a paper folder.

Another consideration would be how much room you have for another piece of office equipment. Some paper folders have a small footprint, allowing them to be placed on a desk or table top, while others are larger and heavier and may need their own dedicated area in your operation.

Some paper folders sit at the side of your desk, providing mobility and ease of use. Larger, more heavy-duty folders require a table or counter top to rest on. For heavier paper folders, use a work station with wheels for mobility and ease of use.

If you are in need of a basic desktop friction-fed paper folder, the most popular type of machine in many offices for every day office use, we recommend the:

Techko LF283 Letter Folding Machine: The Perfect Entry Level Paper Folder for Offices, Churches and Schools

For a small to medium sized office, or a church or school, who has a desire for a good entry level paper folding machine that can handle normal office paper folding needs, we recommend the Techko LF283B Letter Folding Machine.

Offered at a great introductory level price, for a small friction fed paper folder, it fits perfectly into any business environment, and can fold up to 4,000 sheets of 60 lb. bond paper per hour.

This paper folder is versatile and allows you to do four popular letter folding styles: standard letter fold, z fold, double parallel fold and half fold, on either letter size (8.5" x 11") or legal size (8.5" x 14") paper.

The paper tray can hold up to 80 sheets of paper at a time, based on 20 lb. paper stock, and uses standard household electricity. With dimensions that don't tie up a lot of desktop space, this handy paper folding machine is a great addition to any office.

The Techko LF283 Letter Folder comes with the following:

LF283B Letter Paper Folding Machine
Metal Paper Catch Tray
Metal Desk Stand
Warranty, Instructions and Paper Folding Guide

This model of desktop paper folder is great for those in need of a machine that can handle folding church bulletins, monthly statements, invoices, brochures, reports, fliers, newsletter and more.

Click here to purchase and learn more.

Back to School With Our Designer Kid's Themed Paper Stocks

2013-08-05T21:01:00.001-04:00

Attention teachers, schools, Sunday school teachers, principals, scout masters, and even moms and dads, we have just added to our already well stocked line of computer laser printer and ink jet printer kid's themed and school themed papers.

Our predesigned printer paper has already been printed in colorful designs and patterns, which saves you time, in the design process, and money, in the printing process. No more wasting expensive ink toner cartridges, trying to put out a classroom newsletter that rocks in full color!

Now you can create a professional looking teachers's letter, or school flyer or school poster, by simply using your favorite word processing program and a laser or inkjet printer. You can even print a "master copy" of your design, and then print multiples on our preprinted paper, using your copier, to save even more money in printing.

This year we have brought back our beautiful children's themed paper from designers such as Masterpiece Studios, Gartner Studios, Great Papers, and Geographics, and have also added the Scholastic Teacher's Friend® line of paper stocks to our store, offering an even larger variety of designer paper stocks.

And, for our reader's who follow our blog, we are offering a discount coupon code, good for 10% OFF any paper stock order of $19.99 or more. Simply use coupon code "PAPBLG10" on checkout, when you purchase through our online store.

Your Office Stop Named an Amazon Top Holiday Seller for 2012

2013-03-19T17:42:00.000-04:00

It's so nice to be recognized for the outstanding job and hard work that we do to keep our customers happy every day. We received a very pleasant surprise from Amazon.com today, which is one of the major alternate venues that we offer our products on.

We knew we had a very good holiday season in 2012, but didn't realize just how good until we received an award as one of Amazon's Top 25% of Holiday Sellers for 2012.

We share this, not to brag about our sales, but rather to share with you the fact that, even during a very busy and chaotic holiday season, we were able to maintain an A+ excellent customer satisfaction rating among our customers. This is the real accomplishment!

As anyone who has ever purchased from us knows all too well, customer satisfaction is what matters most to us, and it's good to know that our staff was able to maintain customer satisfaction, even during the busy holiday season.