Wrong!

As a family-owned, minority-owned, woman-owned local independent office supplies supplier, AVE offers so much more than a mammoth store with the pervasive nobody-cares-enough feeling. Here are a few good reasons to consider:

1. Buying from independently-owned stores means avoiding many costs that big boxes simply can’t escape: Big boxes spend a lot of money on advertising to keep in top view and create the perception that they have no competition (it’s not true!). Also, big boxes have high overhead costs – think of their out-of-state headquarters.

2. Locally-owned stores feed the economy more than national chains do! We provide local jobs. In fact, shifting market shares by just 10 percent from big boxes to independents would create 1,600 new jobs and $53 million in wages!

3. We recycle revenue back into the community by supporting local charities. (AVE Office Supplies is a huge supporter of Operation: Kid Equip!)

America has always been a country of mom-and-pop shops. The big-box craze that began in the 1980s and catapulted us into the new century ran many startups and hometown companies out of business.

Now, Americans are cycling back, yearning to find that everybody-knows-your-name feeling of an independently-owned unique local store. Support that!

The personal touch you get from a mom-and-pop is priceless. Of course, we have to offer the same products, vast inventory and competitive prices. Any local company that doesn’t is just not doing good business.

When the store owner knows you, remembers your name and – like we do at AVE – remembers your unique needs and preferences, you save time, you feel good, you get what you want and need, exactly when you need it. And there’s a personal touch that you can’t put a price on.

When you patronize locally-owned companies, you’re building community – creating relationships with people who live in your part of the world, which strengthens the community in which you live and work.

I can’t way to hear your money-saving ideas!  Thank you for sharing.

As the 2009-2010 school year winds to a close, what are you going to buy your children’s teachers? Buying an end-of-year gift is typically a good way to show gratitude and thanks at the end of a school year, for all the time, energy and attention our educators bestow on our children.

Teachers work tirelessly, especially in the face of budget cuts and school district consolidations, to educate our children and nurture them without undue focus on what’s been trimmed from the primary and secondary year budget.

No longer are classroom supplies a given! Whether parents purchase an array of supplies at the beginning of the school year, or send in snacks, tissue boxes and other much-needed supplies throughout the year, it’s a community-wide effort to keep our schools going.

So what better way to say THANK YOU than to give your children’s teachers gift certificates to defray the costs of all the things they buy with their own money?

Whether or not a school provides supplies and tools, many teachers make them available in the classroom – from pencils and erasers to paper and markers. And that generosity cuts into their salaries even further.

This year, purchase AVE Office Supplies gift certificates in any amount for your favorite classroom leaders. Or just stock the teacher’s closet with all the things they’ll need for the next school year.

Here are some great ideas for *practical* teacher gifts:

• Storage bins and organizers
• Media carts (for books, AV equipment and computers)
• Cameras – for recording classroom activities and special events
• Paper, Paper, Paper!
• Air Freshening/Sanitizing System (some come with a timer the teacher can set so it cleanses the air automatically)
• Pumps of Purell and packages of hand-cleansing wipes
• Everyday necessities: scissors, erasers, lined paper and more
• Or…create a gift basket of supplies for your teacher – school supplies and even a cute mug with chocolates or other yummy treats

 At the end of every school year – and really, throughout each week – find a special way to say thank you for everyone who touches your life. Teachers. Friends. Colleagues. Family. At the end of the day, it’s the relationships that make meaning in our lives.

One Shade Greener is based in Plymouth, MI.  You can contact them through their website at www.oneshadegreener.com.

Either you pay more up front for a product or service you *know* will yield benefits down the road – or you pay later on for going cheap.

When it comes to going green at the office, environmentally-savvy products may appear pricier at the outset, but think of how much you save in the long-run by not contributing to the destruction of our environment!

The purchase and use of environmentally-friendly products can have a big impact, and not just on the trees and sky. Buying green affects everything from worker safety to the bottom line. Here’s how:

- Products that are reusable, refillable, more durable or repairable create less waste and are more cost-effective than disposable products.

- Manufacturing recycled products uses less energy than goods made from virgin materials. Buying recycled products saves natural resources.

As always, what you put into something, is what you get out of it.

Did You Know…

Of the $250 billion spent every year on powering computers globally, only 15% of that power is spent computing-the rest is wasted idling. That means: Turn Off Your Computer When Not In Use!

- Program your computer to sleep after 30 minutes of non-use; you’ll reduce power demand by up to 90%.

- If you’re away from your computer for longer than a half-hour, turn it OFF! Also, unplug the surge protector. (Booting up again uses the equivalent of only two seconds of run time and won’t hurt the hard drive).

- Monitors are HUGE energy drains. Turn them off after 20 minutes of non-use.

- Printers, scanners and peripherals that are used occasionally should be unplugged until needed.

So many of us are accustomed to going around the house and unplugging lamps and TVs when they’re not in use.

We recycle newspapers and ask for paper bags at the grocery. Being green is an everyday way of life in America.

And with Earth Day around the corner (April 22nd), it’s a great time to firm up our awareness of all things green.

What began as a grassroots U.S. movement 30 years ago is now a worldwide directive, with more than 1 billion people in 190 countries pledging to add green initiatives to their lives this Earth Day. The goal? A healthier, cleaner, longer-lasting world for all of us.

Check out these tips from Biggest Book for how to embrace Earth Day 2010.

1. If you’re going to buy bottled water, be sure to recycle the bottles. Or, use a water purifier and refill an old water bottle.

2. Start a compost pile in your yard. Composting provides the perfect environment for seeds to grow.

3. Use compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) which will save you about 75 percent of that used by incandescent bulbs.

4. Use your microwave to cook meals and reheat leftovers. It uses less power than your oven.

5. Turn the water off while brushing teeth or shaving.

6. Shower instead of filling a tub.
7. Wash only full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine.

8. Sweep, don’t hose, your deck, sidewalks and porch.

9. Use public transportation, walk or ride a bike as often as you can.

10. Repair leaks. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons a day.
11. Set up a rain barrel to collect water from your gutters and use its contents to water your plants.
12. Recycle!
15. Reuse plastic grocery bags for pet waste or as trash can liners. When given the choice, ask for paper over plastic. Better yet, bring your own bags to the store.
16. Plant a tree.

18. Use bath towels several times before washing.
19. Call AVE Office Supplies for eco-friendly office products like recycled paper and rechargeable batteries!

In 1968, a man named Douglas Engelbart created a small rectangular wooden box with an attached cable to help people interact with their computers… a device which he called the “x-y position indicator.” Because the cord resembled a tail, this device soon became known as a mouse.

While the functionality and size of the mouse we use today has changed little over the past 42 years, the technology has changed greatly. Here are a few tips whether you’re shopping for a new mouse or want to optimize the use of your current mouse:
• If you’re still using a roller ball mouse, be sure to clean it frequently since dirt and dust on either the internal roller ball or the mouse pad can interfere with tracking and use.
• An optical mouse uses an LED light and has many advantages over a roller ball mouse: there are no moving parts to wear out, they can be used on most surfaces without a mouse pad (except shiny surfaces such as mirrors or glass), and they have better tracking and a smoother response.
• A laser mouse uses a laser beam instead of an LED light, which is more precise and accurate, but also more expensive. Unless you are a professional graphic designer or a gamer, the average user won’t notice enough difference to warrant the extra cost.
• If using a wireless mouse, be sure to replace batteries frequently, especially if you notice a lag or jerk in movement.
• To prevent wrist pain, don’t skate or flick the mouse from your wrist. Make controlled mouse movements using your elbow as the pivot point and keep your wrist straight and neutral.
• Choose a mouse the fits your hand and feels comfortable. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis or other dexterity problems, consider an ergonomic mouse which eliminates the twist in your wrist.
• If you can’t find a mouse that is comfortable, consider other input devices such as a joystick, touch pad, pen, or trackball.
If you’re looking for a printer that offers functionality and comfort every click of the way, look no further. Our team of professionals can help you get the ball rolling and light the way to printing success!

www.printmasters.com

The Final Four gets every office excited, so this year make March Madness a surefire way for officeplace bonding. This year, the final four basketball teams will play their championship games April 3-5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Transition into spring with a little basketball celebration. Invite your colleagues over to watch a game or two.

Make sure you have the right equipment – ideally, a widescreen HDTV. Enough seating. Well-stocked bathroom (with a little TV or radio set to transmit the game in there, too).

Stock up on basketball-themed plates and other party paraphernalia. Make the refreshments easy – deli trays, chips and dips, or even themed foods to match your team’s hometown favorite eats.

And of course, have enough cleaning supplies on hand to catch spills when they happen! Paper towels, brooms, mops and plenty of napkins.

AVE Office Supplies can help with this, of course. Just give us a call. Or visit us online!

Spring cleaning has come to symbolize a person who gets their affairs in order. Some sources trace the origins of spring cleaning to the Persian New Year, or the Iranian Norouz, which occurs on the first day of spring. Iranians do “khooneh tekouni,” or “shaking the house” – meaning cleaning everything from drapes to furniture to floors.

The Scottish New Year’s Cleaning on December 31^st is similar, and has spread to Ireland, New Zealand and parts of North America. Some point to the Jewish practice of cleansing the house prior to Passover, as the origins of Spring Cleaning, while others say it has to do with eastern Orthodox traditions of cleaning the house during the first week of Lent, also known as Clean Week (around April 1^st).

In America, in the 19^th century, March was the best time for dusting because it was warm enough to open windows and doors to rid a house of dust.

This year, take spring cleaning to your office! Follow the 3 D’s and you’ll be off to a great start:

De-clutter. Review and get rid of documents you don’t need in the filing cabinet, recycling papers and folders as you can. Go through your Rolodex, too, clear the bulletin board and make room in drawers. Of course, cleanse oft-used surfaces like keyboards, desktops and telephones.

Dust. Keyboard and mouse especially, but really everywhere around your workspace could benefit from a good dusting.

Delete. On your computer, eliminate old or never used files from your hard drove. You can store them on a backup disk or flash drive in case you need them. Deleting files will make your computer run faster!