In a bold move, the Post-it brand from 3M is entering the writing instruments category with a bright and clever range of Post-it Index Pens and Highlighters.

These neat and innovative products combine either a gel pen or a highlighter with the ever popular Post-it Index Flags. With its dual functionality, 3M’s consumer research* suggests that the Post-it Index Pens will fast become a stationery essential.

Paper shredders manufacturer IDEAL have launched a new UK-specific online site for their range of shredders and cutting products at www.ideal-uk.co.uk.

The launch of the site is being boosted by a nationwide marketing campaign including a draw to win an award-winning personalized AL1 shredder.

With two major exhibitions, Paperworld and SOPX taking place early in the New Year, John Silver, MD of Cathedral Products outlines the reasons why the company will again be exhibiting at both events.

After 25 years in the industry I am still as enthusiastic regarding exhibitions as I was in the days of STATINDEX and TOPS and find it very sad from a suppliers point of view to witness the apparent low level of interest and enthusiasm shown by some of our colleagues in the trade towards these events.

Cathedral, now in its 12th year, started with just the metal Home Office file box, which it still manufacturers in its factory in the West Midlands. The company now boasts a range in excess of 40 product categories, all products being of the utmost quality and very competitively priced.

James Cropper Speciality Papers will be participating in this dynamic event, presenting both traditional and innovative papers suited to all modern printing techniques.

The Paperworld exhibition provides an ideal forum to showcase many of the specialist and coloured papers produced at our mill in the English Lake District and will give visitors an overview of James Cropper Speciality Papers including stock lines, capabilities and areas of expertise.

Craft, Hobby & Stitch International is Europe’s largest trade show for the art, craft, needlecraft & hobby industry taking place at Birmingham NEC from 21st – 23rd February 2010 where it will celebrate its 35th Anniversary. 

DOT N’ GO® Dispensers are an addition to the Office Market range from Glue Dots International. The DOT N’ GO® allows you to apply GLUE DOTS® Adhesive Products faster and easier than ever before.

Most offices now have a plethora of white boards, in meeting rooms, break out areas and even kitchens. 

As one of the most visible and instant office tools, it is important that they look smart, bright and professional.

Ease of use and minimum mess has helped increase sales of Bostik Sticki Pen by five times over the last 12 months. 

A market first, innovative Sticki Pen is proving popular with children, schools and crafters who are looking for an adhesive that offers accuracy when working on precision or detailed craft projects.

Whether at home, in the office or at college, the Snopake new  Highlighter range is always there to help. Celebrating 55 years, Snopake has extended its range of Index Tab Highlighters to appeal to a wider target audience.

Satisfying consumers’ demands for reliable, flexible and convenient office product solutions, Avery® is launching innovative writable Label Pads and NoteTabs™ to feature alongside its printable products. The range offers superior quality and added functionality that’s set to rival anything that’s currently on the UK market.

Westcoast are proud to be partnering with 3M to promote the new MPro120 pocket projector. This is 3M’s second generation pocket projector and they have certainly built on the strengths of its predecessor the MPro110. The MPro120 will operate four times longer, delivering up to 4 hours operation on a single charge. The MPro120 is also brighter at 12 lumens and has an integrated fold-out foot for elevating the miniature projector.

Mitsubishi Electric a leading manufacturer of innovative, high quality display solutions has introduced two new DLP™ projectors, the XD250U and XD280U. Complementing Mitsubishi’s current range of display products the XD250U and XD280U, have been designed as flexible and versatile projectors – ideal for business applications.

Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd has been voted ‘Supplier of the Year’ by attendees of the BAPC (British Association for Print and Communications) annual conference. The award is in recognition of the Konica Minolta bizhub PRO range of digital production print systems coupled with the service, care and support it provides for customers.

DURABLE Hunke & Jochheim GmbH & Co. KG has acquired the business of Idealplast from Ensto Ensek AS of Finland, effective 1 January 2010.

Last year, Samsung announced that it had set itself the ambitious goal of becoming the world’s leading print brand by 2012.

Competition in the print market is fierce, but when a company like Samsung makes such a bold statement it must be taken seriously. After all, Samsung has a legacy of rapidly growing its businesses to become a leader in its chosen industries, and the company has invested heavily.

There is no doubt that 2009 was a difficult year for the stationery and office product markets – especially for consumables. Sales of OEM toner consumables dropped by an astonishing 24.9% in the first half of 2009 and OEM inkjet consumables didn’t fare much better, with a sharp decline of 19.2% during the same period. (Source: IDC EMEA Consumables Tracker)

DCI/Jet Tec – the UK’s leading manufacturer of compatible and remanufactured inkjet cartridges – has the widest range of inkjet cartridges and laser toners to complement every home and office printer.

Each and every remanufactured product is tested to the highest level before leaving the DCI/Jet Tec factory in Boston, Lincolnshire, so customers will be safe in the knowledge that they are buying a reliable, quality product.

AF International, specialist suppliers of ICT cleaning products to the office market, are launching an unique range of environmentally-friendly cleaning solutions for the entertainment gaming industry at Paperworld Frankfurt 2010 (Hall 4.0 / Stand C22). The new range will target the users of hand held gaming units like the Nintendo DS Lite, Wii and Sony PSP in addition to the home games console units i.e. Playstations and X-Box and a wide variety of their accompanying accessories.

SOS 2009

Over 1,100 dealers, manufacturers, suppliers and industry professionals came together last month to discuss the key issues and new office products for 2010 at Spicers 10th anniversary SOS show.

The show, held at the NEC in Birmingham on 8th and 9th December, aimed to help attendees grow their business, to ensure they could start 2010 with renewed enthusiasm. Former champion athlete and television presenter, Kriss Akabusi and Dragon’s Den’s Duncan Bannatyne, headlined the Business Experience seminars, along with other industry experts who delivered seminars providing dealers with top tips on how to boost sales and drive business in the New Year.