A break room shouldn’t only be a place where employees eat lunch. It can also be a place where they can rest and recharge. It may also serve other functions, such as being a place for informal meetings and even entertainment. Ideally, you want it to be a space that will help employees be more productive and increase retention over time. Let’s look at what you definitely need to have when it comes to breakroom supplies. Keeping the snacks stocked Keeping track of the snacks you provide is a smart idea. Make sure to check weekly inventory to see what employees like and what’s collecting dust on the shelves. One area where companies waste money is on food that ends up expiring or going uneaten. Avoid overstocking, and instead get an idea of exactly what kind of snacks your employees want. This is a simple way to support your employees while keeping costs down. Once you have a good rotation in place, you can schedule routine deliveries of snacks and other office goodies. This will reduce waste while saving you time and money. Investing in reusable breakroom supplies You should keep a good stock of supplies in the breakroom, including cups, silverware, plates and glasses. Many offices choose paper plates and plastic cups, but this ends up being wasteful and can cost you a lot of money. If your company is large enough to justify using disposable products, you may want to look at recyclable supplies. This allows you to make a more environmentally friendly choice while still giving your employees what they need. Finding the right equipment One area many employers overlook when it comes to breakrooms is investing in the right equipment. You might want to do everything on your own and devise DIY solutions, or you might be tempted to take a risk and assume certain equipment won’t be needed. But this is a short-sighted decision. Investing in the right equipment in the breakroom—whether it’s a projector, a comfortable couch, a high-end coffeemaker or a quality set of tables and chairs—will pay dividends in the future. You won’t have to replace equipment as often, and your employees will appreciate the extra effort. Let the professionals help you If you’re concerned about keeping all your breakroom supplies and office supplies well stocked, it makes sense to find a professional firm that can help you. You can schedule deliveries on a regular basis to get exactly what you need, when you need it. The experts can even anticipate your needs and will do everything they can to keep your office running smoothly. The next time you need the best quality in breakroom supplies, turn to Devine’s Office Supplies. We’ve been your office supply store since 1939 and have everything you need to keep your home or business office running, from pencils and pens to reliable printers and copiers. We also sell office furniture, office décor and a range of other office supplies. Find out how we can help your company by giving Devine’s Office Supplies a call or visiting our website today to check out our products!

Copy machines are still the workhorses of the modern workplace. As such, they take a beating, especially in a busy office where they see constant use. Not only are these machines expensive to replace, but an out-of-service copier can disrupt daily operations in the office. Follow these four simple copier tips to ensure you get the most from this valuable piece of office equipment. Prevent paper jams The best way to keep paper jams from harming copy machines is by preventing them from occurring in the first place. Make sure you never use torn or folded paper when you’re making copies, since tears catch in the rollers and cause paper jams. It’s also important to make sure the paper going into your machine is completely dry—even the slightest amount of moisture can wreak havoc on copy machines. You should also make sure the interior components of your copy machine are in excellent condition to prevent paper jams. When rollers get dirty, they’ll slip and lose their ability to firmly grab paper to roll it through the machine. Consult your local office equipment maintenance provider to remove any buildup on rollers to ensure smooth operation whenever your staff needs to make a quick copy. Stay current with software updates A copier running on old software isn’t working as efficiently as it should. Be proactive about performing software updates, since they impact both the driver and printer utilities. Completing software updates as they are introduced will reduce the costs of running the copier, ensure you’re getting the best print jobs possible and even protect against the threat of hackers from getting information from your machine. Stay below the recommended optimal monthly volume The instruction manual that came with your machine should provide a clear figure for the optimal monthly volume that your device can handle. This is also commonly referred to as the “maximum monthly duty cycle.” Many copiers have a maximum cycle of 10,000 pages, which equates to about 333 pages per day. Staying below the maximum ensures your machine will last as long as it should. Keep the area around the copier clear One of the easiest and most important copier tips to follow is to never have food or drink near the machine. Not only can a spill lead to paper jams, but it can also affect the machine’s interior components and even the wiring. Leave food and drinks at your desk or in the breakroom and you’ll prevent any unnecessary damage from affecting your copier. Copy machines are expensive pieces of equipment, but they don’t require a huge amount of effort to keep running for years to come as long as you follow the copier tips outlined above. If you have a machine that’s not working as well as you think it should, contact Devine’s Office Supplies for a professional inspection. Rather than buying a new machine entirely, a quick inspection and some insightful repairs can usually get a copy machine back up and running in no time.

Now that many Americans have been working from home for over a year, we’ve created home offices that allow us to stay productive while being more comfortable than a traditional office space. We recommend including candles in your home office, because scents can affect your productivity. Keep reading to learn a little bit more about which candles to buy for your home office: Enhance your productivity: Believe it or not, you might not need an extra cup of coffee in the morning to stay productive—the right candle can do it for you! Candles boost our productivity because the scent triggers extra activity in the brain’s thalamus, which controls motor function. Some Japanese offices circulate lemon and rosemary scents through the air vents to give employees more mental and physical energy. Put your mind at ease: While some scents enhance productivity, others help alleviate any stress you’re feeling at work. Scents can release serotonin and dopamine that help regulate your mood and keep you feeling nice and calm, even during stressful or lengthy Zoom meetings. Mask overwhelming odors: It’s true that scents can affect our productivity, and they set the right mood for your home office—but they’re also great for hiding any nasty smells. Whether it’s the trash can or the litter box, bad smells can throw off your day. If you don’t have time to remove the odor source now, simply light one of your candles. What are some of the best candle scents for your home office? As we alluded to above, different scents can serve different purposes. Though it ultimately depends on your personal preference, these are some of the best candles for working from home: Rosemary : The woodsy and fresh scent of rosemary is known to lower stress levels while stimulating your mind. This is a great option for anyone dealing with stressful Monday morning meetings. Jasmine : Even if they’re not in the actual office, stress, tension, anxiety and even depression are common among workers. One of the best scents for alleviating these feelings is jasmine. Coffee : One of the top scents that triggers activity in the thalamus is coffee. A coffee-scented candle is the perfect pick-me-up for workers who aren’t exactly early birds. Lemon : A lemon candle is ideal for relieving tension and boosting productivity. The fresh scent even creates a perception of cleanliness, which is ideal for anyone who needs a clean workspace. Lavender : Consider using a lavender candle to give yourself a feeling of total relaxation. We recommend lighting a lavender candle towards the end of the work day to help decompress right before logging off. Buy your candles from Devine’s Office Supplies Whether you want a scent to give you an extra boost of energy or one that’ll help keep you calm, be sure to buy your candles from Devine’s Office Supplies. We have all of the best candles for working from home, and we sell them at fair and competitive prices. Come see us today to check out and smell all of our different options!

From how we shop to how we work, the coronavirus pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of our daily lives. As recently as January, over 50 percent of Americans were still working from home at least part time. Even though they might not be in the office, workers still face technology troubles that make getting through the day a challenge. Continue reading to learn more about the top computer problems and how you can resolve them. Internet connection Most workers require a speedy internet connection to be productive throughout the day. These are some of the possible culprits if you’re experiencing slow or no internet connectivity: Computer : The first thing to check if your internet is out is your computer. Is the wi-fi turned on? Most laptops have a little icon in the corner of the screen that looks like a cellphone tower. Ensure this icon didn’t accidentally get clicked, as this can disconnect you from the internet. Router or modem : Your router or modem is connected to the internet and sends a wi-fi signal throughout your home. Sometimes, these devices malfunction and need to be reset. To do this, simply unplug the device and wait 30 seconds before reconnecting it. ISP : If the issue isn’t with your computer, modem or router, your internet service provider (ISP) may be to blame. ISPs sometimes suffer from outages or are undergoing planned maintenance, which may be why you’re not connected to the internet. Hardware troubles Many of the computer problems we see have to deal with the computer’s hardware and not the software. Here are a few of the issues you may run into while working from home: Printer : A broken printer can really throw a wrench into your workday. You can troubleshoot many problems by unplugging the printer, waiting 30 seconds and then plugging it back in. You might also need to uninstall and reinstall the printer software on your computer. If nothing seems to work, call the pros at Devine’s Office Supplies to take a look at it. Touchpad or keyboard: No work is going to get done if your laptop’s touchpad or keyboard stops working. The first thing to check for is any moisture, which can cause the cursor to jump around. If the keyboard is acting up, you may need to update the drivers. Monitor : Having an external monitor can really improve your productivity—that is, until it stops working! If the screen is blank, first check to ensure all of the cords are plugged in. Then, listen for any beeps or other sounds coming from the screen. If it’s making any weird noises, you may need to replace it. Consider buying new equipment from Devine’s Office Supplies If you consistently have slow or no internet connectivity or if you need new computer hardware, be sure to shop at Devine’s Office Supplies. In addition to repairing copiers and selling new equipment, we also carry an array of office supplies and office furniture to meet all of your needs. Stop in today to see what we can do for you.

Lighting is an underrated component of any home office. Poor lighting can have a negative effect on your mood, and can reduce your energy levels, cause headaches and ultimately make your workday a lot less efficient than you’d prefer. Conversely, the right kind of lighting can enhance your mood and help increase productivity. As a general rule, natural light is best whenever possible. This is the type of light that we as humans have evolved in and are most suited for, especially for long stretches of time. While this type of ambient lighting is great, it’s often not enough to fully illuminate a room. And it’s not going to be effective when the sun goes down, so it’s necessary to have some other kind of light available for the home office. Here are some of our top home office lighting tips in Woodward, OK. Natural light As mentioned, the best type of light is natural light. Sunlight filtering in through a window or a skylight can have a positive effect on your mood and productivity. This can create some glare, however, so it’s best to position your workspace to minimize any glare from the computer screen. If that’s not possible, there are window treatments and screens that can help reduce or eliminate glare all day or at specific times of the day. Indirect light The glare of overhead lights is an energy drain for our eyes and brains and can make a workspace feel stale. The best type of lighting next to natural light is indirect light, which comes from reflecting the light source against the walls and ceiling to disperse the effect of illumination. This can come from a floor lamp, a sconce or even a table or desk lamp. Lampshades will make a big difference here as well in terms of the overall amount of light in the room and the look and feel of the space. As opposed to overhead lighting, the purpose of indirect lighting is to reduce glare and contrast in the room and to eliminate unnecessary shadows. Task lighting Another type of lighting to consider is task lighting. This type of lighting focuses light on a certain area, for example on one side of a desk. This can be useful for times when you need more light for a specific task but don’t want to light up the whole room more than necessary. A desk lamp can be helpful here. Both tabletop desk lamps and clamp-on desk lamps can be found with adjustable articulations for maximum customization. All in all, finding the best solution for lighting your home office boils down to eliminating glare and making the most efficient, comfortable space in which to get work done. Whether you’re looking for specific types of lighting for your home office or you need some home office lighting tips in Woodward, OK, to make the best decision for your space, contact the pros at Devine’s Office Supplies today to make your home office space functional and beautiful.

For many of us, the pandemic caused a shift in our work life. Offices were closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and many companies scrambled to make the necessary changes to allow their employees to work from home. On the flip side, many employees were also scrambling to adapt spaces in their home to function as an office. A home office furniture buying guide in Woodward, OK would have been helpful at the beginning of this pandemic, but it’s never too late to get started. Many companies are making the change to working from home permanent—or at least semipermanent. Others are incorporating it into their employees’ schedules with part of the week spent in office and part of the week working from home. While the corporate world is adjusting to this new reality, many people are finding that they are able to start their own businesses and have taken to converting part of their home into an office space. No matter the reason for the change, if you are going to be working in a home office five days a week, it needs to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. After all, you get to personalize the space to your personal taste, so why not take full advantage of it? Here’s a home office furniture buying guide for Woodward, OK. Desk A good office workspace starts with the right desk. Make sure your desk is right for the type of work you do and how you do it. For example, if you need a lot of storage space in your desk, look for something with a lot of drawers. If you need a large tabletop space to host multiple monitors or to spread out large papers, consider a desk with a large surface area. Also consider the size of your office space and how much room the desk will take up in the room. Chair A good chair is almost as important as a good desk in your home office. No matter if you’re going to be sitting for eight hours a day or just a couple hours a day, the wrong chair can make your body ache, from your back to your neck to your legs. Look for something that fits your body type and has all the adjustments you need. Also, consider whether you need armrests or not. While you may be able to visualize what kind of chair will fit best in your home office, the best way to be sure you are making the right choice is to try it out in person. Lighting An underrated component of the home office is lighting. Overhead lighting can create a glare on computer screens, so it may be a good idea to consider indirect lighting from floor lamps or table lamps. Window treatments can be useful to allow for natural light without creating too much glare on a screen. Whether you’re looking for specific tools for your home office or you need a home office furniture buying guide, contact the pros at Devine’s Office Supplies today to make your home office space functional and beautiful.

Anyone who’s worked in an office is probably all too familiar with dreaded copier malfunctions. Not only are they annoying to deal with, but they can also severely hinder your business’s workflow and productivity. After all, they always seem to arise at the least opportune time, such as in the middle of a huge job or right before an important meeting. Read on to learn more about common issues that arise and require copier repair in Woodward, OK. Paper jams Paper jams are probably the most common copier problem, and fortunately one that’s usually easily resolved. The most common causes are using the wrong sized paper or loading it incorrectly. Before you add a new ream of paper, fan it out first to prevent the sheets from sticking together. When you load the paper, make any necessary adjustments so it forms a tight and tidy stack with no misalignment. Don’t overstuff the tray, and make sure to only use paper weights that your copier can handle. Unwanted lines or spots If your copies have mysterious lines or dots that don’t appear on the original, there might be dust or debris on the glass. To clean the glass, avoid using abrasive cleaners and do not apply any liquid directly to the glass. Instead, use a soft cloth moistened with a nonabrasive glass or lens cleaner, and dry with another soft cloth afterwards to prevent spotting. If the lines and dots still persist, professional copier repair might be necessary since the internal mirrors could be dirty or a drum blade might be malfunctioning. Wrinkled pages Moisture in paper can cause copies to come out wrinkled. Replace moist copier paper with a fresh dry batch, and store copier paper in a cool and dry location to prevent further moisture. If you’re still getting wrinkled pages, the internal rollers that move paper in and out of the machine might be worn down. Other causes of wrinkled paper include worn-down paper trays or fuser assemblies. These issues will require repair by a professional copier technician. Too light or too dark  Copies that are printing too dark or too light might be corrected by changing the copier settings. You should be able to change the toner density to darken or lighten the printouts as necessary. Toner buildup can result in copies that are too light, which might require a manual drum cleaning. The photoconductor unit might also be dirty. Certain types of paper might change the darkness of the printouts because of their coating. Lastly, your copier could also simply be running low on toner. Are you looking for copier repair service in Woodward, OK? Devine’s Office Supplies has everything you need to keep your business running smoothly, including copier repair. Even if you didn’t buy your commercial copier from us, you can still bring it to us for repairs. We also offer on-site copier repair anywhere within 60 miles of our location. Contact us today or visit us to learn more about our services and products. We look forward to assisting you!

Whether we like it or not, the home office has become a ubiquitous feature of office life. With so many companies doing away with traditional offices altogether, working from home has become much more than just a fad. If you need ideas for creating a more permanent workspace in your home, here are the top home office trends in 2021 in Woodward, OK. Emphasize home, not office Break out of any perceived notions you may have about home offices needing to be a replica of the corporate environment. Instead of an uncomfortable office chair, you could use a chair that matches the ones at your dining table, which can double as extra seating when you’re entertaining guests. Alternatively, a sit-stand desk will allow you to change your position throughout the day, which can be beneficial to your posture and overall health. Don’t be afraid to let your personality be reflected in your décor. Choose bright and bold colors if that’s what your tastes gravitate towards. Decorate your space with pop culture knickknacks if they make you happy. Bring a little bit of nature indoors with plants, whose presence alone has been known to increase productivity. Gone are the days of office culture stifling your creativity. It’s not unprofessional—it’s your home! Maximize productivity As important as it is to make your home office feel cozy and comfortable, it still needs to be an environment that’s conducive to productivity. Avoid clutter by making sure you have enough shelving and storage for your needs. A defined workspace will also help create and reinforce firm boundaries between work and home, which is crucial to improving work-life balance when the distinction between them is so blurred. For multi-person households, reducing noise and distractions will be key. Noise canceling headphones can provide a quick and easy fix, but it might be worthwhile to employ additional soundproofing techniques such as thicker window panes, soundproof carpeting or acoustic paneling. If you need to block out the noise while still being able to keep an eye on what’s going on outside, consider installing a sliding glass door. Get ready for your closeup  Video conferencing is practically synonymous with working from home, so it’s no longer uncommon to have a dedicated Zoom room in your home. When you’re designing your own space for video calls, the main elements to focus on are the lighting and the background. Make sure you have plenty of lighting to avoid shadows, which can be achieved with lamps, light fixtures, ring lights or any combination of them. To add visual interest for your backdrop, try a gallery wall, bookshelves or even a statement wall. If you’re looking to get in on these home office trends in 2021 in Woodward, OK, Devine’s Office Supplies is your one-stop shop for all your office supply and furniture needs. We also provide services such as printing and copying, as well as commercial copier repair. Contact us today or visit us to see our offerings and get recommendations from our knowledgeable staff!

When you’re in need of new pens for your business, you’ll find a whole lot of options available on the market. As you browse the available options in Woodward, OK, you might find yourself wondering, what’s the difference between rollerball and ballpoint pens? What do each of the various types of pens you find provide in terms of advantages and disadvantages? What is the best choice to purchase in bulk for your operations? Here’s an overview of what you should know. Ballpoint pens Ballpoint pens feature a more viscous ink that’s ideal for writing on slick surfaces, like receipts. Other types of water-based inks might smudge on those surfaces, but ballpoint pens will create crisp and easily legible lines. These pens are highly dependable, and are most commonly used as everyday pens for a wide range of circumstances and applications. They don’t just write well on slick paper—they are also used for note taking. Because you’ll need to use a bit of pressure to write with them, they also work well with carbonless copy paper so you can create dark marks. The ink in a ballpoint pen is made from a blend of dyes, alcohols and fatty acids to ensure smooth ink, constant lubrication of the tip of the pen and a thicker ink coverage even on low-quality paper. Rollerball pens Rollerball pens feature liquid ink that is capable of creating flowing lines with a light touch. If you’re going to be taking a whole lot of notes, this type of pen is beneficial because it doesn’t force you to press the pen as hard to the paper, which can reduce the potential for hand cramps. Thus, this is a great type of pen to choose for students, or for people who use pens a lot throughout the day for more than just occasional signatures or note taking. The liquid ink in these pens features dyes dissolved in water, similar to what you’d find in fountain pens. The ink flows very freely in comparison to ballpoint and even gel pens, requiring the least amount of pressure of the options on this list. Keep in mind that paper choice is important here—the ink will bleed through lower-quality paper, and you’re more likely to feel the paper through the tip of the pen. Gel pens  Gel pens are also great for students and everyday note-taking in high volumes, because they don’t require a firm pressure against the paper and the liquid ink easily flows out of the pen. What’s great about gel pens is that they offer a wide range of colors, making it easy for you to color-code specific sections of notes. Gel ink features pigments suspended in a water-based gel, which offers precision and vibrancy of colors. The ink has longer dry times, which increases the potential for smudging if you don’t take the appropriate level of care. To learn more about what the differences are between a ballpoint and rollerball pen, and when you might consider using a gel pen, visit Devine’s Office Supplies in Woodward, OK.