You could say that the Swine Flu epidemic has a direct effect on our average work day at Shoplet.com. Everyone from our sales team to our customer service dept and even our marketing dept has been busy trying to help our customers prepare. We understand that everyone wants to protect their employees and their families from any sort of germs going around.

It is interesting to see reports of the epidemic on the news and the way people are preparing. I can’t say that I feel the urge to to wear a face mask in public but I have been reaching for the hand sanitizer a bit more often that usual. I don’t know a lot of details about who is actually getting swine flu. It seems like a healthy diet and a healthy body is just as important as using hand sanitizer and washing our hands properly. It is much easier to catch all that junk if we don’t have healthy immune systems to begin with.

Those opinions aside, in the healthcare and government sectors, keeping your hands germ free is crucial. At work, we all have these little Purell Pals on our desk: (You can get your own Pals here.)

Here are some other great products from Purell that are great ways to keep your hands clean and avoid germs.

Purell NXT Space Saver Hand Sanitizer Dispenser and Refill
“Promotes hand hygiene by killing most common germs without need for soap and water.” The perfect duo.

PURELL Hand Sanitizer Bucket
“Use anytime for quick cleanup. Durable, textured wipe sanitizes hands while wiping away light soils; dries quickly.Ideal for offices, restaurants, health clubs or anywhere germs may be.” I like the idea of having a big bucket of wipes you can grab all day long but it does seem kind of wasteful. Then I again I do prefer rags over paper towels to clean and rags are definitely less sanitary.

Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer with Aloe
“Kills 99.99% of common germs that may cause illness, without soap or water.” Plus, aloe always feels really nice and light green is such a soothing color. I wish I had some of this stuff.

PURELL Moisture Therapy Instant Hand Sanitizer
“Sanitizes and moisturizes your hands in one simple step.” This would be perfect for me. I always forget to put lotion on- this would kill two birds.

The Purell Tfx Dispenser
This is how you can be real hi-tech. I recently flew out of JFK with Jet Blue and the Jet Blue terminal is stocked with these guys. “Touch-free dispensing system means no need to touch a dirty dispenser. Automatically dispenses the perfect amount of soap needed in a single shot.”

Has anyone tried any of these products? Please share your opinions or advice! Also, if there are any other products you would recommend please feel free to comment with a link. I would love to hear your tips and advice for protecting yourself from germs!

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Is your office desk buried under mounds of clutter? Do you have trouble finding your phone when it rings?? Are you STILL looking for that half slice of pizza you were eating for lunch 3 days ago?? OK, that’s just nasty! Reorganizing your desk can give you peace of mind, allow you to find things you’re looking for more quickly, and make a good impression on the people who see your work area, such as your boss, customers, and other employees. You will be more productive and will benefit from having a tidy and attractive workspace, as you can better focus on your work without so many visual distractions. Even if your desk looks like the above, all hope isn’t lost! Here are a few tips:

Step 1: Clear it Out! Pull everything (except perhaps very large items, such as computers or printers) off and out of your desk.

Step 2. Scrub It! Now you can clean your desk! Get out the Pledge and glass cleaner and wipe down your desk and drawers, including all the nooks and crannies (what WAS that gunk in the back of the drawer?). Amazing the things you find back there, isn’t it!

Step 3. Sort It! Sort through your things and group similar items together, i.e. office equipment (pencils/pens, paper clips, rubber bands, post-it notes, white out, staplers) accessories, filing materials, paperwork, knick knacks (framed pictures, work awards, etc.)

Step 4. Keep or Toss? Keep a recycle bin and garbage can nearby to get rid of things - especially paperwork - you don’t need. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help determine what to keep and what to TOSS. Is the item an unnecessary duplicate? If the answer is “Yes,” toss it! Is the item current and relevant to my work? If the answer is “No,” toss it! How often will I need to use or refer to this item? If “Never,” toss it! Does this item add anything to other information on hand? If “No,” toss it! Don’t forget to recycle!

Step 5. Strategize! Now it is time to define a place for everything. In doing this, follow two principles: the Frequency-of-Use Rule and the Grouping/Separating Rule.

Frequency-of-Use Rule: Items should be placed according to how frequently you need to access them. Items that are accessed quite frequently (i.e., on a daily basis) should be placed within immediate reach/view, while things that are used less often (i.e., weekly, monthly, or yearly) should be placed further away so that they do not interfere with your daily work. So first, think about what items you need most at your fingertips – i.e. telephone, rolodex, calendars and planners, frequently-accessed reference materials, staplers, pens, etc.  - and place these items in easy-to-access places in, on, or above your desk. Items that you use fairly frequently, but not every day should be placed either in desk drawers, filing cabinets near your desk, or shelving above or near your desk.

Grouping/Separating Rule: Similar items should be placed together, while dissimilar items should be separated from each other. For example, put similar items together, such as paper clips, and separate them from dissimilar items, such as pencils.

Step 6. Organize! Store items in storage areas and containers designed to accommodate them. Action items can be stored on your desktop in single or multiple stacking paper trays. Store supplies like paper clips, rubber bands, pencils/pens, scratch paper, Post it, and white-out in desktop supply caddies or drawer divider trays designed to organize such items. Arrange the items you need for clear viewing under a clear desk pad or in an orderly fashion on a tackable board over your desk.

Step 7. Nix the Knickknacks! If you can bear it, try and keep the number of knickknacks to a minimum (you don’t need five pictures of your kids), and place them in areas on or above your desk that will not interfere with your work.

Step 8. Make Your Work Area More Functional! Obviously you need to leave some clear space on your desktop for writing purposes and to give your desk a tidy appearance. Make use of the numerous office organizing products on the market - e.g., paper trays, drawer divider trays, computer disk holders, desktop supply caddies, shelf dividers, etc. Don’t be afraid to purchase something or ask your boss to purchase something for you if it will help you get more organized.

Once you’ve organized your desk, keep it that way! To maintain your new found tidiness, make an immediate decision about what to do with each item that comes across your desk. Resist the temptation of saying to yourself, “I’ll just put it here for now.” If you keep files in your desk, make appointments with yourself to go through them several times per year to discard outdated material (again, don’t forget to recycle!) Try to put things back in their proper places as soon as you are done using them. Straighten up your desk at the end of each workday. It only takes about five or ten minutes and it is much easier to clean up a day’s worth of mess than a week, month, or year’s worth.

HAPPY ORGANIZING!

[via www.thecluttercoach.com]

View these Hall-of-Shamers

Clean At Last!

There Now, Doesn’t That Feel Good!

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I used to fantasize about wearable electronic gadgets that are fashionable enough to be on a runway show. And then I realize that, as of 2008, when Fashion meets office supplies and/or electronics, it almost only means mediocrity.

Necktie with a Cooler. Starting off, we have another office-compatible tie. This tie developed by Thanko has a built in USB-powered silicon cooler underneath the knot of it.The purpose of the tie is to provide ventilation in the neck and head area for guys who have to wear a tie in summer. Powered by a USB cable, the tie is turned on by a switch that reminisce a table lamp switch, on which you can control the speed of the fan. In the event that you do not have access to a computer, a separately-sold battery case that can fit into your shirt’s chest pocket is available. Also, with the use of the fan, there is always a wire hanging down from the tie whether or not you are trying to go for that look.

Portable Keyboard. Designed by Erik De Nijs, these pair of jeans are actually a bluetooth keyboard to a computer. The keyboard is infused in the front at the most convenient spot to lay your hands on. The back pocket is specially designed for your mouse and a pair of speakers are places on the outseam of the jeans around the knees area. To sum it up, there is also a joystick controller witfully placed right behind the fly of those jeans and I wonder why.

Convertible Heels. Both driving shoes and heels, these convertible heels designed by Sheila’s Wheels, focus on providing with a comfortable and healthy driving experience and the beauty most women would love. These pair of shoes are developed as a result of a research conducted by Sheila’s Wheel, a sub devision of a UK insurance company, uncovering that inappropriate footwear is regularly worn by British women when driving. The shoes have a grip pattern underneath the sole to provide better pedal control.

Privacy Sweater. If you hates to feel like there is always someone looking over your shoulders, trying to see what you are doing on the computer, this would be a good thing for you to have. Although this may seem to be a regular sweater, it provides you warmth and the privacy you need, just imagine wearing this in a cafe.■

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What do you envision in an office space in 10 years? It is one of those questions that give you goosebumps, isn’t it?
Here are four nifty items that may give you some insight.

iPod Nano Tie
	Apple has made a few attempts in intergrating iPods with fashion. Their strategy is rather marketing-incline than subtlety; they want people to wear an iPod as an accessory. While the delicatly designed iPod looks as good as it is sitting on a desk as a talisman of industrial design, it may not necessarily look good with a Michael Kors watch or a Ben Sherman shirt. A British company came up with a tie that hides your iPod Nano. Flip over the tie, you will see 2 loops that help to hide the wire hanging off your iPod Nano and an extra flap of fabric that serves as a pocket to your iPod. The tie came in navy, red and pink and it is made of 100% silk. Steve Jobs may be an expert in computer products, but when it comes to fashion advice, you go to someone like Carson Kressley.
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Your Personal Massues in Your Office
One night, you are at your office; over time; on a deadline; don’t you wish there was someone who can give you a massage? One of the 2008 new invention is this Head Spa Massager. The moment you put on this device, it simulates thousands of little fingers massaging your scalp. Despite it’s ‘futuristic’ and interesting design, it is sold at an affordable price. The device uses a rechagrable battery and is fairly easy to carry with you. If you feel such an intense need that you need a personal masseuse in your office, this is probably a good option besides the fact that you are going to look lke the Borg Queen…
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Portable Office Work Station
I am a transformer fan, which explains why I find this Portable Office fascinating. This giant box looks like nothing but a decoration when it is condensed, it is in fact not one but two office spaces when extended. It includes 2 desks, outlets and a tone of storage space. It also has a handle and weels underneath it for mobility. Imagine the flexibility this invention can offer an office space. Would not it be cool if we use these things instead of cubicles?
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Robo Receptionist.
The final object that will most likely be implemented in an office space in countable years is possibly an android - a robot that look just like us human. Believe it or not, without make a big deal out of it, androids are being developed all over the world. One of the famous projects belongs to Kokoro, a Japanese company that specializes in anamotronics and robotics. Kokoro has came up with a few versions of female androids. They are all so advance at a point where they understands basic commands and interact with human beings. It has been announced and demonstrated that the female androids developed by Kokoro are capable of fulfilling receptionists positions. Androids are definitely the most fascinating invention and ought to be paid more attention to.■

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Let’s talk versatile. Most of the things you get for your office are probably of no use to your home and here are some cool, versatile gadgets that will better your office AND your home.

USB Drink Holder. When your coffee gets cold because you are working too hard, or when there is not a fridge in your office when you brought in a can of energy drink to boost your performance, don’t you think you deserve a better treatment for the kind of work ethic you have? Check this USB drink holder out. It comes in different shapes and designs to appeal your eyes. Plug it into an USB port and you can keep your drinks however you want it. A hot energy drink or a cold coffee without ice or the other way around, it’s all your choice.

Portable Natural Light. Our power is too little to control mother-nature, but if sunlight is a very important element for you to give your 100% at work, there is a way to cheat on the rainy days or in your windowless office. This blinds designed by Ms. Makoto Hirahara looks just like another window with a blinds on, but you will fall in love with it if you love a window in your space but cannot afford to dig a hole in a wall. Take a closer look; you will realize that the window is in fact a light fixture behind the blinds. The two pieces work together to mimic a naturally lit-through window. Maybe you do not get a view outside the window, but you will definitely get the light or the illusion you need.

The 2008 Fold-up Seating. From Molo Design, we have this fold-up seating called “Softseating”. Softseating is the combination of physics and the art of paper; it uses a honeycomb structure and is designed to fan out to create seating in different shapes to fit your needs. It comes in different colors and you have an option to purchase a textile version which is manufactured using class A fireproof material. The design and the flexibility of Softseating is definitely a good thing to both your office and your home.

Nappak. If you would like to work late and sleep over in your office, go right ahead (great perseverance, by the way), but don’t do it on the roller chair, do it with Nappak. Nappak is a portable, space efficient air bed. It almost looks like a golf club bag when Nappak is rolled up. It is very portable and will give you just what you need when you need a good sleep. Bring it to your office or leave it at home as the center piece for you “guest bedroom”.■

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