2021 Holiday Volunteering Guide
As the holiday season approaches, you might be eager to find avenues for both community outreach and team bonding. If you've already organized an office-wide gift-giving event (check out EON office catalog for ideas!), engaging in holiday volunteering as a company presents another wonderful opportunity to embrace the spirit of giving. In this guide, we offer insights and ideas to assist you in orchestrating a meaningful holiday volunteering initiative for your office.
Join an Online Volunteer Group
Looking for opportunities to help others while adhering to social distancing guidelines? Try connecting with a virtual volunteering opportunity through an organization like VolunteerMatch. This site will help your team members match with the perfect cause, so you can volunteer time by helping nonprofits with newsletter writing, social media management, research, and more. It’s a great way to give back to those small organizations that are in need of a helping hand during this busy season.
Visit an Animal Shelter
Who doesn’t love visiting with four-legged friends? Volunteering in small groups at a local animal shelter is a fun way to pass the time during the holiday season. Walking shelter pups, organizing supplies or paperwork, or helping out with adoption events is sure to bring some smiles to your team members while benefiting pets in need of homes. If you can’t organize an in-person trip to your favorite shelter, consider reaching out to the organization to arrange a donation. Shelters often need gently-used blankets, towels, and other necessities to keep the animals comfortable.
Organize a Food or Clothing Drive
Setting up an office-wide food and/or clothing drive is a team effort that can make a much-needed difference in your community. Before you begin collecting goods or funds, be sure to contact your local food bank or shelter to determine the most-needed items.
Sponsor a Family
Sponsoring a family is a tried-and-true way to spread some holiday cheer. There are many families that could use some help with gifts this year, so consider teaming up with a local nonprofit to make this gift-giving occasion a memorable one. If you have a larger office, you can split up into groups to sponsor several families to make a bigger impact.
When companies volunteer, they better the community and build important bonds between team members. The holiday season is the ideal time of year to get started, and the options highlighted here are just a few of the ways you can contribute as an office. Whether you’re organizing a volunteering opportunity or just showing your employees how much you appreciate them, our EON office catalog has all the supplies you need (and much more). From must-have office supplies to nifty gadgets and tech, we’ve got it all. To learn more about how we can improve your work life, please contact us.
Corporate Holiday Gift Ideas For 2021
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and it’s not too early to start thinking about gifts for your hardworking team and valuable clients. If you’re on the search for fun and practical gift ideas, our team is here to help. We offer a wide variety of custom products that are ideal for any gift-giving occasion- here are a few of our favorites:
Modern Sprout Seek Peace Take Care Kit
Things have been hectic since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. If your team members have been feeling the effects of these once-in-a-century circumstances, treat them to the Modern Sprout Seek Peace Take Care kit this holiday season. Packaged in a gorgeous retail-inspired gift box, this self-care kit comes with a Lavender Grow Kit, non-GMO Lavender Seeds, a Meditation Hourglass, and Soothing Essential Oil Roller.
Thanks Snow Much Chocolate Drink Bomb
If you want to treat your employees to a comforting winter beverage, the Thanks Snow Much Chocolate Drink Bomb is a fun way to make a cup of hot cocoa. Like a bath bomb, this drink bomb will melt into rich hot chocolate when added to hot milk or water. It comes complete with marshmallows and can be bundled with 16 oz drinkware.
Personal Fireplace
When the team is working from home and in need of some portable warmth that doubles as desk décor, look no further than a personal fireplace. This product is made in the USA and fueled by rubbing alcohol, so it’s safe for indoor use in a well-ventilated area. It’s also great for outdoor use (s’mores, anyone?).
Bose Soundlink Revolve II Bluetooth Speaker
Music can be relaxing or motivating, and can be helpful in improving workflow. When you’re looking for a luxurious gift that employees are sure to love both at work and in their personal lives, the Bose Soundlink Revolve II Bluetooth Speaker is the perfect option. The Bose brand is synonymous with an immersive sound experience, and this wireless speaker provides portable sound with 13 hours of battery life.
Mophie 15W Wireless Charging Pad
Desk clutter is distracting, and the Mophie 15W Wireless Charging Pad makes it easy to reduce cords that take up surface area. In addition to its sleek appearance, this wireless pad offers fast charging and even works through most plastic phone cases. It’s compatible with most iPhone and Android devices, so it’s certain to be an office-wide favorite.
The holiday season is ideal for showing your team members and customers your appreciation and spreading some cheer. Corporate gift-giving can be challenging, but EON offers many products that are universally fun and useful. The ideas mentioned here are just a small snapshot of what we offer, so please contact our team to discover more options. We’d love to take the stress out of placing an order for company-wide gifts and fulfill any other office needs you may have.
How to Use a Bullet Journal For Work
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought sweeping changes to workplace culture and policies. Whether you’re back at the office full-time or working remotely on a permanent basis, you may be on the search for ways to boost your productivity and organization. Bullet journals are becoming increasingly popular for both personal and professional use and may be helpful in working remotely effectively. Interested in getting started with your bullet journal? Here are a few of our favorite tips:
What Is a Bullet Journal?
The bullet journal system was designed by Ryder Carroll as a method of streamlining tasks, ideas, and deadlines, and more into one convenient location. Many bullet journal devotees appreciate the simplicity of this style of organization, as it’s easy to understand your day (and year) with just one glance. Bullet journaling is ideal for creative individuals, since you have the ultimate freedom to create a system customized to your needs. It’s also incredibly simple and even fun to keep making changes to your journaling habits as you go.
Tips For Getting Started
When you’re ready to begin using a bullet journal for work, start by making a key of symbols. Commonly used symbols for bullet journaling include a solid bullet point for tasks, a dash for notes, an open bullet point for events, and an asterisk for high-priority tasks. However, how you journal is entirely up to you, so choose symbols that make sense to you and are relevant to your job.
When using a bullet journal for work, it may be helpful to organize your notebook into several sections. Many individuals using this method of organization include an index at the beginning, followed by a future overview, monthly log, and daily to-do list. By organizing the bullet journal from big-picture future events to the smallest daily tasks, you’ll be able to easily navigate and update your work life notebook. Some bullet journal-ers even choose to use color coding to effectively sort and track upcoming deadlines, tasks in progress, and projects.
If you’ve found that working remotely effectively is a challenge, switching to a different organizational system may help you streamline your process. When you’re ready to try out bullet journaling, you’ll need high-quality office supplies to get the job done. That’s where our team comes in--we make it easy to stock up on everything you need for a happy and productive work life. We’re always here to answer any questions you may have, so please reach out to us to learn more about our products and services.
Our Favorite Stationary and Writing Tools
Whether you’re gearing up for the back-to-school season or simply hoping to upgrade your office supplies, our EON catalog has everything you need to support your productivity. Although we offer a plethora of products and services for all office settings, we highlight our favorite stationary and writing tools here.
Southworth Parchment Specialty Paper
Parchment Specialty Paper by Southworth lends an elegant feel and appearance to your document. It’s available in blue, ivory, copper, gold, and gray to suit any project you have in mind. Whether you’re practicing calligraphy or using this stationary for menus or awards, this specialty parchment paper is a timeless choice.
Southworth 100% Cotton Business and Legal Paper
When you need a high-quality paper product for all your business needs, Southworth’s 100% Cotton Business and Legal Paper is the perfect fit. Cotton is known for its luxurious texture, and this product is crafted from 100% pre-consumer recycled materials so you can feel good about your purchase. Available in white and ivory, this business and legal paper is a practical choice for numerous uses.
Sharpie Gel Pens
A great gel pen is always an asset in the office. Sharpie Gel Pens are ideal for everyday use: they’re comfortable in the hand and fast-drying to minimize smudging. Sharpie gel pens are available in several vivid colors, including black, blue, red, and purple.
Paper Mate InkJoy Retractable Gel Pens
Paper Mate’s InkJoy Retractable Gel pens offer the best of both worlds--a plethora of fun colors in an easy-to-use, quick-drying product. InkJoy pens have a comfort grip for cramp-free writing and are known for their smooth ink that glides across the page.
Pentel EnerGel Deluxe Liquid Gel Pens
If you prefer a liquid gel pen and an ultra-smooth writing experience, you’ll love the Pentel EnerGel Deluxe Liquid Gel Pens. These writing tools are incredibly fast-drying and easy to control, and they’re made with 50% recycled plastic. We stock them in black, blue, and red ink.
Pilot G2 Mechanical Pencils
Although pens may be the most popular choice for everyday office needs, pencils are a must for moments when you need erasing capability. We love the Pilot G2 Mechanical Pencils for their comfortable rubber grip and durable #2 HB lead. We also stock lead and eraser refills so you can always turn to your trusted Pilot G2 pencils.
When you’re ready to restock your office with the best stationary and writing tools, the EON catalog has an abundance of choices. We stock a wide array of paper products and writing tools, and our team is happy to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. In addition to our expansive selection of paper and writing utensils, we offer managed print services, technology solutions, and more. To learn more about how we can meet your office or homeschooling needs, please contact us for a consultation.
Are Managed Print Services Right For Your Business?
On the search for ways to reduce your office expenses and boost productivity? Print-related costs are often a hidden source of waste. When you opt for managed print services, you’ll improve efficiency, optimize performance, and mitigate stress. If you’re thinking about investing in managed print services, here’s what you should consider to help you determine if this type of service is right for your office:
How Many Printers or MFPs Do You Have?
When clients begin the decision-making process, we often advise them to count the number of printers or multifunction printers they’re currently managing. Once there’s an exact number, they start evaluating how the print output is distributed across the machines. It’s also helpful to take note of how often the printers need to be serviced and recall whether broken machines have impacted office productivity. If the office is home to multiple printers or MFPs, investing in managed print services will improve employee efficiency by eliminating the frustration that accompanies running out of ink or toner.
Do You Maintain Networked Printers Offsite?
Whether your employees are working remotely or you’re managing a network of printers offsite, utilizing managed print services can help you keep each machine running smoothly. By outsourcing this task, there will be significant savings on IT and administrative costs while ensuring that even offsite printers are equipped with the exact amount of ink and toner they need and functioning at their best.
How Much Ink and Toner Supply Inventory Do You Maintain?
Monitoring and maintaining your ink and toner supply inventory for even a handful of machines can be challenging. If you’re managing a large office with multiple locations, this endeavor is often time-consuming, tedious, and expensive. When your employees are busy handling other tasks, it’s easy to lose track of the amount of ink and toner you have on hand. Disturbances in productivity undoubtedly occur when team members are unable to print the documents they need and have to take time out of their day to coordinate with the office administrator or place an order themselves.
Managing the printers (including multifunction printers) in the office is a task that many prefer to outsource. By opting for managed print services, you’ll simplify the process of ensuring that all machines are well-stocked and functioning as intended. EON offers managed print services that include OEM toner and ink, new and refurbished printers, technical support, and more. If you’re tired of spending time managing printer supplies or troubleshooting finicky machines, we’re here to help. Please contact us today to learn more about our managed print services and other products and services that will make the workplace more efficient and enjoyable.
Five Books That Every Aspiring Leader Should Read
Whether you’re already in a leadership role or you’re well on your way to reaching this goal, there’s no time like the present to begin honing your skills as a leader. While there are many ways to broaden your skill set, reading is a step that you can take right now. The books we highlight here are widely regarded as among the best for aspiring leaders of all industries. Whether you need inspiration for managing remote workers or you’re interested in building a company from the ground up, the books mentioned here belong on your reading list:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Regardless of the size of their team, leaders should strive to improve their own efficiency. Steven R. Covey explores the most common habits of successful leaders in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and this book has been a staple of leaders since its original publication in 1990. If you’re looking for a thought-provoking exploration of how to build your personal and professional skills, this book is a must.
True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership
The best leaders are often those who have a deep understanding of their authentic selves. If you’re driven to achieve greatness without sacrificing your uniqueness, True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership is for you. This book, written by Bill George, is a compelling combination of cutting-edge research and more than 125 first-person interviews with proven leaders, so you’re sure to walk away with important lessons.
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
A leader’s ability to influence others is crucial. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini unpacks the six universal principles of influence, which aspiring leaders can apply to improve relationships with team members, clients, investors, and more. This evidence-based and researched-backed approach allows individuals from all walks of life to enhance their ability to change the behavior of others.
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
Ever wondered what makes some ideas more memorable than others? Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath explores this phenomenon. Drawing on research of memory, motivation, emotion, and more, the authors demonstrate the six traits that are critical in making a message stick.
How to Win Friends and Influence People: The Only Book You Need to Lead You to Success
First published in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People: The Only Book You Need to Lead You to Success by Dale Carnegie remains a classic. In our fast-paced world, emotional intelligence is often neglected. This book offers timeless advice to help aspiring leaders develop the skills they need to develop the soft skills that are critical for relating to others.
If you’re interested in improving your leadership abilities, the books mentioned here will be excellent additions to your reading list. From adapting to the challenges of managing remote employees to securing funding for your startup endeavor, the ideas covered in these publications may help you reach your goals. Regardless of what you have envisioned for your future, you’ll need high-quality office supplies to keep your day-to-day projects running smoothly. Our EON team provides unparalleled customer service and we’re always here to answer any questions you may have. To learn more about what we offer, please contact us for a consultation.