Get organised
Have you ever waited until the last minute to order a product, only to find it’s out of stock? The only reliable way to avoid this situation is to think ahead.
We know teachers have a lot on their plate. You can’t help last-minute orders sometimes. However, careful planning can do much to prevent unneeded stress.
You could take advantage of weekly delivery slots and create an inventory list so that you can keep a close eye on your stock. Then make a note of what you need to add to each delivery.
Remember that product promotions don’t just take place during summer, but all year round. This includes the YPO Budget Stretcher promotion.
We usually have about 900 products on sale with discounts of around 20%. So keep a close eye out and try to catch those opportunities before they go.
Sustainable stationery for schools
With the impact of plastics on the environment now firmly on the agenda, schools can help do their bit. It’s important to consider environmental sustainability when making your purchases. This might be the composition of the products themselves (if/how they use recyclable materials, for example). Or you might opt for products with reduced or no plastic packaging.
As you’d expect, there’s now a much wider range of environmentally friendly stationery for schools to choose from. One example is glue sticks made from recycled materials. You can, in turn, dispose of these in your plastic recycling bins.
YPO is taking steps to build on this by looking into ways of recycling heavily used items such as pens and other plastic stationery essentials. Other common stationery items have been made from recycled materials for some time, such as punch pockets.
Get best value
Many members of staff will take it upon themselves to hunt out stationery bargains. However, are there other practical, less onerous ways of getting the best value for your money?
You could place orders for the whole school, instead of individual departments or year groups. Then you can distribute class packs once the supplies arrive.
Don’t be afraid to try a new brand when certain products are on promotion. If the item does the same job, why not give it a go?
‘Own brand’ stationery for schools can work out as far cheaper than offerings well-known brands in the long run. But, at the same time, ‘value’ shouldn’t always be based on price alone.
You might want to consider more expensive products if you know they’ll last longer or perform better. Always think about how you’ll use a given product. Then you can work out if it’s worth paying a little more or not.
Melanie Godley is YPO’s category buyer for stationery.
