Here’s an update from The Consumerist:

Senate Signs Off On Marketplace Fairness Act; Online Sales Tax …

On Tuesday, May 7th, the Senate voted in favor of the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would give each state the authority to compel online businesses to collect applicable taxes. Currently, online businesses without a physical …

Although the bill passed through the Senate, it’s may have a more difficult time actually becoming a bill as not all politicians are in favor of it.

Grover Norquist Sets the Record Straight on the Marketplace Fairness Act

ATR President Grover Norquist appeared on Fox Business Network’s Varney & Co. to explain his opposition to legislation that would establish an Internet sales…

So how do most consumers feel about this legislation? Well, according to a study from Gamepolitics.com, here’s the answer:

“If the Marketplace Fairness Act that was enthusiastically passed in the Senate earlier this month were to somehow end up becoming the law of the land (through some sort of divine intervention in the House where it will likely stall for lack of support, in my opinion) then 44 percent would cut back on buying products online. This is according to data from a study sponsored by electronic postage software company Endicia and posted on Mashable.

The study also found that 75 percent of participants ages 18- 25 would cut back on Internet buying and instead shop at local brick-and-mortar stores. This is interesting because that is exactly what members of the National Retail Federation were hoping to hear. The trade group that represents traditional brick-and-mortar retailers has long argued that online retailers have an unfair advantage over traditional retailers because customers don’t have to pay sales tax..

Overall 61 percent of participants said that they disagreed with the Marketplace Fairness Act (MFA), while 39 percent had a favorable reaction. Around 60 percent said that they believe that the bill becoming law would be bad for economic growth. Finally 42 percent of respondents who identified themselves as Democrats agreed with the bill, while 34 percent of Republicans said the bill was a good idea.”

Hopefully, some common sense will prevail before this bill gets any further along.

The post Update on the Marketplace Fairness Act appeared first on Business Supply Blog.

Such was the case late last week when we donated nearly 19,000 pens to Teacher’s Treasures, a non-profit organization (and KINF Affiliate) serving the Indianapolis, IN. area.  We knew they were low on pens, but we didn’t know they were almost completely out.

While I was out of the office, Barb Sweeney, Executive Director, left us a voice message.  It was about as sweet of a message as I’ve ever heard.  She was so appreciative of the donation, and she spoke of the number of students and teachers that can be helped by such gifts.

Really, though, its all of us at Business Supply who are grateful.  We’re thankful to our customers. Without such a supportive customer base, this program wouldn’t be anywhere near as successful as it has been.  And it’s people like Barb who are out there working hard every single day to make a difference in the lives of millions of schoolchildren.  So you don’t need to thank us, Barb.  We want to thank you for your efforts.

The post Business Supply Donates Nearly 19,000 Pens To Indianapolis Resource Center appeared first on Business Supply Blog.

A quick summary of the bill: currently, online retailers are not required to collect sales tax in any state where they don’t have a physical presence.  The Marketplace Fairness Act would require sales tax to be charged on all orders regardless if the retailer has a physical presence in the state (the bill does exempt businesses which have less than $1 million in yearly out-of-state sales). The goal of the bill is to remove any ‘advantage’ that an online retailer has over a traditional brick-and-mortar establishment.

Sounds fair, huh?  Only the bill will do the opposite of what it purports: it will make the landscape unfair for small-medium businesses online and give a leg up to the retail 1%ers such as Amazon and Wal-Mart. Here’s how:

The cost of collecting sales tax on every purchase will financially cripple the small online retailer.  Currently, there are 9,600 different taxing jurisdictions in the U.S. The bill proposes to reduce that to 27, but that will still require significant resources (assuming the Government is able to figure out how to cut it to 27 jurisdictions). That means hiring an additional staff member, buying additional sales tax software, and configuring it.  You’re talking about tens of thousands of dollars—if not more—in costs.

IT resources are precious and scarce for small-medium online retailers. Integrating new tax software subscriptions into an existing Ecommerce platform takes time and a significant amount of IT resources. For retailers like us, we need to utilize those scarce IT hours for making our sites better for our customers and for innovating.  Not correcting sales tax tables.

Amazon and the other Ecommerce 1%ers know that they can absorb these costs (Amazon already has the foundation in place and sells a sales tax service to merchants) without having to pass additional costs on to the consumer.  These companies know that smaller online retailers will have to inevitably raise prices to stay compliant.  The result? More customers flocking to the retail 1%ers.

eBay’s CEO John Donahoe is leading the charge against this Bill, and I applaud his efforts. However, we disagree on one point.  Donahoe wants to raise the cap on revenue from $1 million to $10 million.  While that’s admirable, I think status quo is even better.  Why should Business Supply, eBay, or even Amazon have to spend incredible amounts of resources to collect sales taxes where they gain zero benefits?  Granted, Business Supply isn’t the one being taxed—it’s the consumer—but it sure feels like “Taxation Without Representation.”

Please let your Senator know that you don’t support this bill.

The post The Marketplace Fairness Act: Great for Retail 1%ers, Bad for Small Online Businesses appeared first on Business Supply Blog.

• Overall weight
• Durability
• Long term usage

Quartet Melamine Whiteboard

Let’s talk melamine whiteboards first. While Melamine has a number of different applications, the melamine resin is what’s used to create the dry-erase board surface. Essentially, melamine whiteboards are comprised of pressboard with the resin coating. While melamine boards are less expensive than their porcelain cousins, they aren’t quite as durable.

Melamine boards need to be cleaned after every use or you may begin to see ghosted images and stains. These whiteboards are not magnetic and they scratch relatively easily. I wouldn’t consider using a permanent marker on a melamine board as it will stain permanently.

Lorell Porcelain Whiteboard

Porcelain whiteboards are covered in a ceramic coating, which is a variation of porcelain. The actual board itself is typically produced from steel, making them magnetic and extra-durable. Although porcelain boards are more resistant to stains, they still require occasional cleaning. Porcelain boards are really designed for heavy or long term use, while the melamine boards don’t typically last as long.

Here’s something to think about: Budget and/or price is almost always a major decision-making factor when buying something of this nature. If you foresee the board getting heavy use, then consider a porcelain model as it will significantly outlast a melamine one. Yes, the cost is higher, but chances are you’ll go through 2 or more melamine boards before wearing out one porcelain model. In the event the board will only be used sparingly and cleaned after each use, then the melamine version is a good choice.

The post Porcelain Or Melamine Whiteboard – Which Should I Buy? appeared first on Business Supply Blog.

The earliest records involving staples were attributed to King Louis XV of France during the 18th century. Although there aren’t records specifically regarding a stapler device, this was the first recorded use of a staple. Each staple for King Louis XV bore the inscription of the royal court as required by the King.

As the use of paper expanded in the 19th century, it lead to a need for some sort of paper fastening device. The first documented record of a paper fastening device occurred in 1841, when inventor Samuel Slocum applied for a patent on a device that stuck pins into paper in order to fasten them together. Historians argue about giving Slocum credit for the modern day staple as his device was really designed to fasten large quantities of papers together in more of a commercial intent as Slocum made his living selling the pins that fit into the device.

Most historians credit American, George McGill, as the father of the modern day staple. In 1866, McGill applied for and received a U.S. patent for a flexible brass paper fastener. In 1867, McGill applied for and received his second patent for a special press that inserted the fastener into paper.

European historians argue that that first true staple and stapler was designed and patented in England by British inventor C.H.Gould, although not a great deal is known about the device.

In 1877, American Henry R. Heyl filed a patent on the first device that would both insert and clinch a staple in one step. Based on this design, many consider him the true inventor of the stapler in the form that we know it today.

The post Interesting Facts – History of the Stapler appeared first on Business Supply Blog.

Most Boss products will ship in 2-3 business days, and come with a 6 year limited warranty on most chair models. We let the staff test out some of the Boss chair samples that we received, and the general consensus seemed to be they offered an excellent value for the money.

We’ll be doing some in-depth reviews of the more popular Boss chairs down the road. Until then, give Boss a look if you are in the market for a new office chair. Here’s a listing of all the Boss products we are currently carrying: Boss Office Chairs.

The post New Vendor – Boss Office Chairs appeared first on Business Supply Blog.

It’s my long held opinion that every pen has a definite personality all its own. The way it writes, feels, and looks all contribute to that personality. Although it’s a very common everyday item, the pen is a very uncommon possession, because its personal to the writer.

The ink pen has always been an intimate item for the user. From ancient Egyptian Reed Pens to the first ball points of 1938, all the way to the felt tips of the 1960’s, users have developed their unwavering preferences for the writing implement they favor. Don’t believe me? Go “borrow” your office mate or a co-workers favorite pen without telling them, and let me know how that works out for you.

The funny thing about pens is people have real trouble articulating why they like them. Just ask any scribbler who has a favorite tool. They will tell you that the pen of their choice became the favorite because?

Although it’s simply my humble opinion and personal preference, I select a pen model as my favorite or one of my favorites based on factors like:

• The tactile feel of the pen in my hand. I’m a stickler for comfort so it absolutely has to be comfortable in my hand.
• The ink should never skip. I already have terrible handwriting so using a pen that skips just makes it even more unreadable.
• I prefer an even flow of ink letter to letter with some room for errors in the event I lift the pen off the paper.

From the inexpensive stic pen to the stately gold filled Cross professional pen, a pen should fit your needs and personality. Even in this e-mailing and texting culture, there is no written expression that conveys our humanity more than a hand written note or letter.

Whether it’s Medium, Bold, Fine or Extra Fine tips, the ink pen defines the message we are trying to convey. And the design of ink pens vary almost as much as the diverse messages for which they are intended.

So, if you are ready to begin your search for a pen that is right for you, Here is a good place to start.

The post Pens and Personalities appeared first on Business Supply Blog.

When stocking your workplace first aid supplies, it’s a good idea to follow the recommendations by OSHA.  (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3317first-aid.pdf

OHSA recommends employer’s either give or assign a specific person in the organization the responsibility for choosing the types and amounts of first-aid supplies and for maintaining these supplies. The supplies must be adequate, should reflect the kinds of injuries that occur, and must be stored in an area where they are readily available for emergency access.

In addition to the standard first aid supplies, OHSA is also now suggesting that companies consider having an automated external defibrillator (AED) on site along with a percentage of the employees or staff with training on how to use it.

In addition to the suggested supplies for first aid, OHSA has added ten items that are listed as required supplies. The new standard also calls for the kits to be labeled with specific wordage.

The first 10 items below are considered required now:
1. Gauze pads (at least 4 x 4 inches).
2. Two large gauze pads (at least 8 x 10 inches).
3. Box adhesive bandages (band-aids).
4. One package gauze roller bandage at least 2 inches wide.
5. Two triangular bandages.
6. Wound cleaning agent such as sealed moistened towelettes.
7. Scissors.
8. At least one blanket.
9. Tweezers.
10. Adhesive tape.
11. Latex gloves.
12. Resuscitation equipment such as resuscitation bag, airway, or
pocket mask.
13. Two elastic wraps.
14. Splint.
15. Directions for requesting emergency assistance.

If you happen to be responsible for the first aid kit in your office, you have two choices:

• Create the kit by purchasing supplies individually
• Purchase a pre-prepared kit

The pre-prepared kits are the most popular option, and the model that we carry can be seen here. For larger operations, employers or management should determine how many first-aid kits are needed, and if it is appropriate to augment the kits with additional first-aid equipment and supplies. Employers who have unique or changing first-aid needs should consider upgrading their first-aid kits.

If you aren’t sure or are confused about the content of a first aid kit, consider consulting with the local fire and rescue service or emergency medical professionals.

By assessing the specific needs of their workplaces, employers can ensure the availability of adequate first-aid supplies.

The post Workplace First Aid Kits appeared first on Business Supply Blog.

Each year calendar manufacturers produce a certain number of calendars for the upcoming year. That number is determined by factors like past sales, market research, and projected sales. Since calendars are basically a seasonal item, most calendar sales occur a the very end of December or the beginning of January. Once the stock pile of calendars for the year are shipped to office supply vendors, which is usually completed by March, the calendar manufacturers begin working on next years models.

When the existing stock is sold, no more are produced so office supply stores are truly “out of stock” on the calendars for that year. Most calendar makers would rather estimate low on the production for the upcoming year and actually have demand exceed supply versus over estimating and having surplus calendars that equal lost revenue.

The moral of this story: Don’t wait to stock up on your calendars and calendar refills as they will be gone before you know it.

The post The Story Behind Out of Stock Calendars appeared first on Business Supply Blog.

It starts out as a coughing sound. First softly then louder. Then gasps for air.

Your  co-worker is choking. They need assistance fast. What do you do?

If the person can cough or make sounds, let them cough to attempt to get the object of the obstructed pathway.

At the same time If you are worried about the person’s breathing have someone else in the office call 911 .

If the person can’t breathe, cough, or make sounds, then:

• Stand or kneel behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist. If the person is standing, place one of your legs between his or her legs so you can support the person if he or she begins to faint or black out.

• Make a fist with your dominant hand. If you are right handed, for example, place the thumb side of your “right” fist against the person’s belly, just above the belly button but well below the breastbone (  at the diaphragm ).

• Grasp your fist with the other hand. Give a quick upward thrust into the belly. This may cause the object to pop out. You may need to use more force for a large person.

• Be persistent, repeating thrusts until the object pops out or the person faints.

This procedure commonly known as the Heimlich Maneuver works in most cases but in the event that you cannot dislodge the object from the victim’s airway.

It is imperative that Emergency 911 has been called at the outset of the situation as choking can result in unconsciousness and cardiopulmonary arrest.

Choking caused by foreign body airway obstruction accounts for about 3,000 deaths each year.

In most cases, quick action and a cool head can save a life.

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