I've been given the unique opportunity to review office products on an ongoing basis from Shoplet.com. I'm an office products geek (among other things). If you have a favorite pen and know the name and manufacturer, you can probably identify. Whether you work outside of the home, inside the home or even for personal use, office supplies are a must have for organization. I'm always looking for new and unique ways to organize at home and at work.
Not only do I work outside of the home, but I also use office supplies to organize my personal finances. In addition, I am a blogger. Since I review products, I need to keep an organization system for the companies I work with as well as blog post ideas, affiliate programs and more such as keeping a log of color codes and fonts used on my blog. While I like to keep a large portion of this electronic, you never know when data loss could occur or when technology is not within reach and you must scribble an idea on paper. I am also part of two major blogger media networks for which I contribute ideas, assist with organization, Public Relations, blogger support and more. In addition, I am also an Avon Independent Sales Representative. Need I say more?
I received a Pendaflex Divide it Up File Folder, Esselte Copysafe File Jacket, Pendaflex Ready-Tab Lift Tab Reinforced Hanging Folders and an Ampad Project Planner from Shoplet.com for free in exchange for my honest review.
Without further adieu, here is my review:
Pendaflex Divide it Up File Folder
This is not your average file folder. It is a folder with 3 built in tabbed subsections. I found it best suited for short-term project management, though it can hold up to 175 sheets of paper. I might have accumulated 1/3rd of that in a week for a month long promotional project for my work outside of the home job. It definitely feels sturdy enough to withstand the project since I simply transferred my month-to-date materials into the folder upon receipt. The theme changes each month, so the fact that these are sold in packs of 12 is PERFECT for me! Before I received the product, I kept everything in one manila file folder and constantly found myself fumbling for like documents. Previously I was simply adding documents to the front of the standard manila file folder. Now, all of my initial reports, mid-month progress reports and end of the month progress reports are in section 1. In section 2, I've stored program objectives, a basic contact list and product listing. In section 3 are printed versions of my call reports. I did not label the tabs, as I wanted to ensure my initial use of the product was the ideal use for me. I can't think of anything I dislike. I've used this product daily and it couldn't have come at a better time. I can think of many ways to use these folders in the other areas of my life needing organization.
Esselte Copysafe File Jacket
At first I wasn't sure what this was. It's a clear poly file jacket, similar to a sheet protector, though it's only sealed on two-sides as opposed to four, with a unique design for privacy. It wasn't until I looked up the product description that I realized it was for privacy. It can hold multiple sheets of paper. Currently, I think I've got about 20 comfortably inside the file jacket. I've designated it for storing a customer list for my work outside of the home job. I keep the list in a incline file sorter on my desk at the very front. Now when customers drop in, I don't have to worry about shuffling things around to ensure confidentiality. I can think of multiple uses for this product. It would definitely come in handy for management or Human Resources (i.e. vacation requests to be processed before filing), documents containing price sensitive information, resume storage for the job hunter (i.e. storing copies of your resume inside the file jacket and leaving it on the seat of your car, while job hunting) and more.
I left this at work, so I don't have a pic. I am only required to review 3 of the 4 products, but I like this one, so I wanted to include my thoughts, anyway.
Pendaflex Ready-Tab Lift-Tab Reinforced Hanging Folders
Another not-your-average product. These hanging file folders offer 5 built in tabs versus the standard hanging folders, which offer insert-able clear tabs with paper labels. I've got a desk drawer full of those. Not only can the tabs pull out, but they go right back in. You can use one tab and then change the folder label by putting the original tab back in and pulling up the new tab or you can use multiple tabs to store a set of documents. For me, I think I will use them for storing sets of product reference material. Alternately, I could use them for my Avon business to store customer information by "group", such as customers that are colleagues in one folder, customers that are out-of-state in another folder and local customers in another folder. I could even use them to organize my personal documents with one folder for credit cards, another for utilities, another for personal documents (such as birth certificates, social security cards, etc.). I really love the versatility and multiple uses. The hanging folders feel sturdy and have 5-tabs that can be written directly on or you can use included sticker labels.
Ampad Project Planner
At first, I wasn't sure this product met my needs, but came to find out that it best suits me for my Avon business. It is a spiral-bound, 9-1/2" x 7-1/4" project planner with numbered spaces for planning as well as an action column. It has 84-sheets, which is more than enough to accommodate order planning for my customers. My handwriting has always been dubbed as LARGE. I feel that the line spacing is ample to meet my needs and I can write naturally. 84-pages is more than adequate to suit a year worth product sales as I am just beginning, if not more. I find this to be a preferred alternative to a daily planner, as the campaigns span over multiple weeks.
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