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September 1, 2017

Appreciate Your Administrative Professionals Every Day

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 4:53 pm

Appreciate Your Administrative Professionals Every Day PaperDirect

The wacky work season is approaching. Black Friday. Fourth quarter sales goals. Juggling holiday time-off requests. Whew! You know how much you depend on and appreciate your administrative professionals during this hectic time of year so now it’s time to show them! Let’s spoil your right-hand helpers with a few of these ideas in the coming months!

Start the Weekend Early

To show your gratitude, let your administrative pros pick a Friday in the month of October or November to work a half day. After lunch, let them head home to unwind with a long weekend and some much needed R&R.

Decorate their Workspace

Get to the office early, start the coffee and surprise your administrative staff with a little cubicle makeover. Fresh flowers, bowls of snacks and new coffee mugs or tumblers are sure to let everyone that these folks rock!

Craft Personalized Notes

Pick out some beautiful stationery and write a little thank you note to each member of the administration team. Tell them how much you appreciate their dedication to the company, where they excel and how you look forward to their assistance going into the end of the year.

Deliver a Surprise

Everyone loves seeing a delivery person with a fruit basket, green plant or cookie bouquet approach the office. We all wonder, who’s getting spoiled? This month, send those special deliveries directly to your administrative professionals.

Make an Announcement

If your business relies heavily on social media and a growing audience, introduce your fans to the admin pros behind the scenes with a heartfelt thank you post online. Share a photo album of fun and festive pictures of them setting up at events, goofing off in the office and smiling for the camera.  

Treat Them to Lunch

Present your administrative professionals with Awesome Admin Pros certificates. After gushing about why you appreciate them, note that the certificate is good for a work-day lunch outing to a favorite local restaurant with another member of the office of their choosing.

Do you need to stock up on motivational gifts, paper certificates or other paper office supplies? Browse the PaperDirect website today. We have everything you need for the fall season and as an added bonus, it can all be shipped directly to your office.

July 19, 2017

Quotes for National Parents’ Day

Filed under: Phrases & Wording — PDWriter @ 12:34 pm

Quotes-for-National-Parents-Day-PaperDirect

While we celebrate our moms in May and honor our dads in June, we can give them both the kudos they deserve on National Parents’ Day in July. Celebrated on the fourth Sunday in July, National Parents’ Day may not be as well-known as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, but it’s just as important. It’s a day to pay tribute to our parents as a team, and the double love they provided, that helped shape us into who we are today.

And there’s no better way to show your love than sending a heartfelt greeting card with an equally heartfelt quote. We gathered up six of our favorites you can share to make your parents’ day complete.

Adorable Acronym

The meaning of FAMILY:

Father

And

Mother

I

Love

You

Tender Tear-Jerker

I believe in

Love at first sight –

Because I’ve been

Loving my Parents

Since I first opened my eyes.

Sweetest Sentiment

Heaven

must be really small –

because I can see it in

my parents’ eyes.

Generational Greeting

The only thing better than

having you as parents is

my children having you as

grandparents.

Graceful Gratitude

All that I am, or hope to be,

I owe to my parents.

Personalized Passage

Card front:

A parent’s unconditional love is the foundation on which children build their lives.

The stronger the foundation, the higher and sturdier the children can build. (Randi G. Fine, author)

Card interior:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thanks to you, I can build mountains!

Feel free to mix, match, edit and add to any of the quotes to make them as uniquely special as your parents are. And don’t forget to include a wish for a Happy National Parents’ Day!

Need more help? Contact one of our PaperDirect experts and let us guide you towards the perfect sentiment.

July 13, 2017

8 Fun Ways to Improve Employee Engagement

Filed under: Office Fun — PDWriter @ 11:05 am

improve employee engagement high five

Is the typical workday at your office filled with laughter, chatter, and lots of work completed with loads of enthusiasm? If your answer is no, you may want to work on boosting employee engagement. Here are eight fun and easy ways to improve employee engagement and make your staff excited to come into work every day.

In-Office Events

In-office events can be something as simple as a weekly staff lunch hour, or as elaborate as monthly catered event for birthdays or milestones met during the month. Contests are another fun way to bring people together and improve employee engagement, with prizes offered for the biggest sales, most productive workweek, or other achievements.

In-Office Awards

In-office awards can include work-related endeavors, or you can also go outside the box with awards for fitness achievements, creativity, or even reaching humorous goals. Perhaps a monthly award for staying calmest in the midst of chaos can be on the list. Awards can consist of certificates, plaques, trophies, and motivational pins and gifts.

Out-of-Office Perks

Take employees out to the ballgame, a play, a picnic in the park, or weekly happy hour. Planning social time outside of work can improve employee engagement inside the office. Out-of-the-office events take away the confines of the office and let employees get to know each other on a more personal level.

Team Building Activities

Team building activities can range from office trivia contests to mini-car races, with annual retreats or off-site scavenger hunts as additional options. The most important aspect of team building activities is not necessarily what you do, but that the team is doing it together to improve employee engagement and strengthen bonds.

Setting Goals

Whether you set daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly targets, setting goals is another way to fortify teamwork and engagement. Bonds can’t help but form when people work together for a common cause that benefits the bigger picture. Strengthen the bonds even further by celebrating goal achievements with one of the aforementioned in-office events or out-of-office perks.

Mentoring

Pairing up employees for training and mentoring opportunities can also work to improve engagement. It may not only be the senior staff members who can offer something worth learning. Have two employees spend two weeks with each other, giving each person a week to be the mentor. Longtime employees can share their experience, while newer employees can bring knowledge, insight, and new perspectives to the table.

Volunteering

You already heard how working toward a common cause can improve engagement, and that cause can include volunteer opportunities outside the office. Consider donating time to an organization or activity that betters your community while contributing to your mission. Adjust work schedules to accommodate those interested in participating.

Listening

Giving your employees a voice, and then letting them know their voices are heard, is another strategy that can improve employee engagement. Keeping an open avenue of communication via email and in-person meetings is one way to do it. Conducting monthly surveys, establishing a suggestion box, and holding a weekly sound-off are others.

Feel free to mix and match any of the ideas to best suit your company’s personality and culture. Also feel free to ask employees for ideas, giving them yet another way to contribute to and become more engaged in the workplace. When handing out office awards or prizes, stop by PaperDirect for all your motivational award needs!

July 11, 2017

The Importance of Visual Presentations

Filed under: Designing Your Business Communication — Tags: , , — PDWriter @ 12:32 pm
The Importance of Visual Presentations-PaperDirect

With all the various forms of online communication at our fingertips, it can be very tempting for a manager to simply convey new tasks, methods, or ideas through an email or text chat. If you’re one of those employers who might be overlooking the importance of visual presentations, then you’re missing out on a chance to utilize one of a manager’s most effective presentation tools.

The next time you’ve got a new assignment or a change in policy, here are some reasons to consider getting your team in the same room and walk them through a visual presentation.

Add Some Visual Pizazz

Any manager knows that when you send an email, most of your team won’t read it word for word. With a visual presentation, you’ve not only got a captive audience, but you have the opportunity to make the information stick with graphs, pictures, and bright colors.

Help Visual Learners

Most of your employees fall into one of three major categories of learning: hands-on, aural, and visual. In other words, when you whip up a visual presentation, you’re appealing to members of your team who learn through both seeing (visual) and listening (aural) to the information. Toss in some audience participation (hands-on), and you’re engaging with all three.

Get Everyone on the Same Page

By encouraging your team to interact with the material in a group setting, you can make sure that everyone is getting the information they need to succeed in the workplace. As a manager, it’s reassuring to know that you’ve gotten your message across to the whole team efficiently and effectively.

Give Your Team a Chance to Ask Questions

To ensure that everyone on the team is properly grasping a topic, encourage them to ask questions. This tactic helps guarantee that you’re explaining things clearly to your people. Not only that, but a question-and-answer session can help get your team talking and thinking about the assignment at hand which raises the chances that they’ll absorb the information.

Explain Complex Ideas Simply

You’ve heard the expression, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” That absolutely applies when you’re trying to explain complex new ideas to your team. A short video or a few slides with strong images can sometimes explain those complexities better than an email ever could.

cornerstone report cover for presentations

Let PaperDirect Tell Your Story

When it’s time to bring your ‘A’ game and make your point with confidence, it’s time to whip up a visual presentation. At PaperDirect, helping you make the most of these opportunities is our life’s work. We have an entire suite of supplies that will help you make your next visual presentation pop.

Papers, envelopes, report covers, and so much more are at your fingertips when you enlist PaperDirect to help with your next visual presentation. Contact us today and let one of our experts help make your next visual presentation a hit.

June 30, 2017

4th of July Office Party Ideas

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 5:08 pm

4th-of-July-Office-Party-Ideas-PaperDirect

The 4th of July is almost upon us, and if you’re sensing that summertime itch brewing among your employees, you’re not alone. As we approach the nation’s most patriotic holiday, American workers across the country are spending just a little bit more time staring out the window than they are staring at their monitor.

But, that’s okay — you won’t get anywhere if you try to force your team’s collective nose to the grindstone. Give in to the feeling and throw your hard-working team a 4th of July party that celebrates the United States and their combined work ethic.

Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Have Everyone Bring Their Favorite American Meals

You can get your team involved and have people sign up to bring in some homemade dishes to celebrate the 4th of July. You don’t need to enforce an American theme, but as the boss, it might be a good idea to order in some US-style grub just to make sure the theme is cohesive.

Pass Out Sparklers

Fireworks have been a part of the 4th of July since the very first anniversary way back in 1777. Indulge in your ability to blow stuff up by handing out some Snappers or Sparklers to let your employees indulge in some old-fashioned July 4 fun. Just make sure they go outside first.

Play Some Games

You don’t need to leave the office to have fun. Organize a scavenger hunt with some small prizes for the winners. Orchestrate a relay race using common office materials, or plan a scavenger hunt.

You can also use some 4th of July-themed paper products and have your team pit their best-designed paper airplanes against one another.

Get Outside and Cook Some Food

The 4th of July is the quintessential outdoor American holiday. Families and friends will almost invariably commemorate the 4th by getting outside and enjoying a little bit of summertime fun. When it’s your turn to celebrate the holiday in your office, why not follow suit and get your team gathered in a local park for some fun in the sun.

However You Celebrate, PaperDirect Can Make It Special

No matter what kind of celebration you choose, you can spice things up with some top-of-the-line paper products from PaperDirect. When you need to decorate your office for the 4th of July, PaperDirect is your perfect source for a wide variety of certificates, border paper, brochures, postcards, and more! We absolutely have what you’re looking for.

June 29, 2017

How to Show Your Patriotic Pride for July 4th

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 4:32 pm

Show-Your-Patriotic-Pride-for-July-4th-PaperDirect

Every year on July 4th, Americans from every corner of the country come together to celebrate the magnificence that is the United States. What remains true of our nation is that — no matter how entangled we may be in our own political struggles — the most liberal person and the most conservative person will always uniformly agree that our country is absolutely worth a celebration. If you’re looking to get especially patriotic on this July 4th, here are some tips from your friends at PaperDirect.

Decorate With Red, White, and Blue

Why not put out some commemorative decorations to celebrate Independence Day? Do you have some red, white, and blue pillows? Even solid color pillows placed one right next to the other are great decorations. Red, white, and blue stuffed animals can also make a cute impression, too!

Hang a Flag

The old standby for celebrating the Fourth, you can’t go wrong hanging the stars and stripes. The flag of the United States of America, also known as Old Glory, is a universally beloved symbol of the country that helps dress up any home or office – no matter what time of year it is.

Send Out Patriotic Stationery

You can either take the time to send out a letter to your friends and families to commemorate our national holiday, or you can switch up your business stationary to something a little more patriotic for the week before and after the Fourth. It can be a nice touch of individual charm that also celebrates the United States.

Dress for the Day

The odds are good you have a red or white T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. That means you’re at least two-thirds of the way to sporting a patriotic outfit. If you have a little cash to spend, a lot of national chains will put out limited release T-shirts to help you show off some American pride.

Set Off Some Fireworks

Provided that it’s legal in your state or city, why not hit a fireworks stand near you and set off some small bursts of color. This tradition has been a part of the Fourth of July celebration since 1777 — also known as the first official celebration of the holiday. Lighting some fireworks while oohing and ahhing at the multi-colored results is as American as apple pie.

Let PaperDirect Help You Celebrate Correctly!

No matter how you choose to show off your patriotic spirit, PaperDirect can help. Whether you’re using patriotic stationery to send a message or you’re choosing from our variety of patriotic invitations to call your friends and family to a barbecue, PaperDirect is your ally for the quintessential American holiday.

June 26, 2017

7 Office Bonding Activities – That Aren’t Lame

Filed under: Office Fun — PDWriter @ 12:31 pm

office-bonding-activities-that-aren't-lame-PaperDirect

Professional development workshops complete with trust falls and scavenger hunts are so 1999. If you want your team to come together without rolling their eyes at your outdated team building ideas, plan activities that are both engaging and exciting. We’re here to help you think outside the box.

1. Go zip lining.

It’s easy to address trust and fear when you’re about to sail over the tree line with your boss in tow. But, once you’re both safe on the platform on the other side, you can celebrate yet another challenge tackled together!

2. Attend karaoke night.

Have the team gather at the local pizza place for beer and Bono on karaoke night. There will be ample words of encouragement spoken to the employees who risk grabbing the mike. The benefit: Everyone practices being supportive.

3. Build something together.

Volunteer as a company to help with a local Habitat for Humanity build or a community playground rehab project. When creating teams to tackle various tasks, mix it up so the staff gets to meet people outside their usual circles.

4. Host an 80’s prom.

Do a throwback event to encourage mingling among staff and their significant others. The nostalgic clothing is a perfect ice-breaker, giving everyone at the party have a common ground.

5. Do a charity walk.

Take a Friday morning off as a team and support the community. Employees can bond through race prep walks leading up to the event, making homemade tie-dye team T-shirts at the office and volunteering to help the race organizers set up for the festivities.

6. Schedule lunch buddies.

Put everyone’s name in a hat and draw four names each Friday. These lucky winners get an employer-paid offsite lunch and a chance to learn more about one another away from the office setting.

7. Plan a Taco Tuesday.

One Tuesday each month, encourage everyone to stay in for lunch and share their favorite Mexican recipes potluck style. Employees can bond over homemade guacamole and enchilada casserole.

Stock up on motivational gifts and certificates to award the staff as they celebrate their achievements. Celebrate the Goofiest Dressed Team from the charity walk and the Almost a Rock Star singer from karaoke night! PaperDirect can ship motivational products directly to your office.

June 22, 2017

Who Knew? Fun Facts About Paper of the Past

Filed under: Helpful Resources — PDWriter @ 3:09 pm

fun-facts-paper-past-PaperDirect

Since the beginning of time, mankind has struggled to find the perfect way to express himself. Once spoken language was mastered, the struggle to put those words on something permanent began.

Artisans throughout history used everything from clay and papyrus to wood and slate in the search for a permanent, but portable means of communicating through the written word. Then, in 105 AD, paper was invented, and the world would never be the same again.

Let’s take quick look at the life of paper from its humble beginnings to the prominent product we know and love, today!

Paper Was Invented by Cai Lun. A court official during the Han Dynasty, Cai Lun constructed the first paper using leftover rags.

The Chinese Perfected Paper First. Building upon the lessons learned by Cai Lun, the Chinese became the first civilization to produce specifically sized, coated, and dyed paper.

The Japanese and Koreans Gave Paper Its Signature Look. In 610, paper made its way to Korea and Japan. There, craftsman developed a process using heavily beaten and treated fibers from the mulberry tree to create the high quality and characteristic look.

Arab Communities Created Thin Sheets of Paper. Without mulberry trees, Arabian men and women extracted pulp from the ground and then strained it through screens made of reeds. The product was the thin paper we know today.

Italian Papermakers Turned Paper into a Business. In the 14th century, Italian businessmen implemented innovative machinery like a stamping mill, wire mesh molds, a technique for drying paper on ropes, and more to make paper more common and less expensive.

Johannes Gutenberg Invented the Printing Press in 1440. In the 15th century, Johannes Gutenberg created the printing press and ignited a period of feverish learning that kicked off some of the most important discoveries in history. And he couldn’t have done it without paper.

Paper Mills Were Commonplace By the 16th Century. Paper had become so integral to daily life by the 1500s that jobs provided by paper mills formed the backbone of some communities. Germany, for example, was home to 190 paper mills alone.

Trust PaperDirect for Your Future Paper Needs

In today’s increasingly digital world, it can be easy to forget how important a simple roll of paper was (and still is) to society. No matter how many screens you look at on a day-to-day basis, there’s a magic to paper that will never really become obsolete.

When you want to say something, say it with a keyboard. When you want to say something memorable, say it with paper. For all your memorable moments, visit PaperDirect and let us show you the real beauty of great paper.

June 14, 2017

Elegant First Communion Invitations

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 12:14 pm

first-communion-invitations-PaperDirect

First Communion is a special time, and you want to make sure your invitations are just as special. Due to the formal nature of the event, a child’s first communion aligns especially well with invitations that are just as elegant as the entire affair. Here are some tips for creating an invitation with an elegant and sophisticated vibe.

Choosing the Stationery

Loud colors, boldface type and cartoon images are out. Church-themed, specialty invitations, postcards and border paper are in. Folded invitation cards are always a traditional classic, but you could also opt for postcard-type invitations sent out in matching envelopes.

Pick a subdued background color, such as beige, gray, light blue or pink. Add a dabble of flair by opting for a decorative border or subtle imagery throughout the background.

Choosing the Font

Script always adds an elegant flair to any invitation it graces, although it can be tough to read if it’s used for the entire text. A wise compromise is to use script for the text that you want to emphasize, such as your child’s name, the name of the church, and the request for invitees to RSVP.

Use a standard yet highly readable and attractive font for the rest of the text, such as Bookman Old Style, Georgia, or Baskerville Old Face. Times New Roman is another classic standby that works well in many situations.

Wording to Use

The wording for your first communion invitations should highlight the first communion recipient’s name while providing all pertinent details guests need to know to attend. These include:

  • Mention of First Communion
  • Name of First Communion recipient
  • Date and time of mass
  • Name of church (and location if people aren’t familiar with it)
  • Details on brunch, lunch or celebration following the mass
  • Where the post-mass celebration will be held
  • RSVP request and number to call

An example of First Communion invitation text that covers all the above bases would look something like this:

Please join us to celebrate the

First Holy Communion of (our son/daughter)

Jane Doe

Sunday, June 25, 2017

10 a.m. mass

St. Philips Church

Lunch immediately following

Casa Diedra

1426 E. Saguaro Road

Phoenix  

RSVP to (555) 555-5555 or e-mail address

Sticking with traditional wording, font, layout and stationery will create a classically elegant and special look for your first communion invitation, instantly letting guests now how important the occasion is for you, your family, and especially the recipient of this special sacrament.  

Still need help with your invites? Contact PaperDirect today and have one of our experts guide you in the right direction.

June 9, 2017

Father’s Day Activities for the Whole Family

Filed under: Event Planning Tips — PDWriter @ 9:00 am

father's day activities grilling

Struggling to find a fun way that you and your family can celebrate your dad this Father’s Day? Whether your dad is the strong, silent time or a social butterfly, you can plan him the perfect Father’s Day. Here are some fun Father’s Day activities your dad is sure to love.

Get Out and Grill

Do you have a Dad who likes to entertain? Invite some family and friends over to have a good, old-fashioned cookout. You can have Dad work the grill or give him a break and take over yourself. Either way, you can’t go wrong with good food and friends.

Leave Him Alone

Remember that Father’s Day is about your dad, and — let’s face it — sometimes Dad just wants a little bit of peace and quiet. If that sounds like your dad, just send along a note or greeting card expressing your appreciation for all his hard work and then let him have his day to himself.

Hit the Links (or the Lanes)

Is your Dad more active than most? Treat him to a day of golfing with the family. If you’ve got some kids in tow, you can always take Dad to the bowling alley for some great fun.

Let Dad Hold Court

Some fathers are more than happy to gather their family around them and simply catch up with one another, chatting into the wee hours of the morning. If your father is a social butterfly, why not give him what he wants and simply enjoy each other’s presence and stories for a few hours.

Whatever You Do, Make Sure Dad Feels Appreciated

More often than not, most dads across the world will insist that you don’t make a fuss about them when it comes to Father’s Day activities. Despite this, make sure that you show your appreciation in whatever way he would like best.

No matter how you celebrate Father’s Day, make sure you pick up a greeting card from PaperDirect. While you’re spending time with Dad, let us help you find the words to say thank you for all his hard work.

June 6, 2017

Certificates for Summer Camp Achievements

Filed under: Recognition & Motivation Ideas — Tags: , , — PDWriter @ 1:52 pm
summer camp certificate with kids camping

With tons of sun, fun, and friends, summer camp always gives kids something to remember. You can help make those memories even more meaningful, vivid, and long-lasting if you dole out summer camp certificates to attendees.

Not sure what type of summer camp certificate options to create? Read on for some fun ideas.

art award certificate paper

Best Lanyard Maker

Even if your arts and crafts sessions don’t have kids making any lanyards, you can certainly reward a job well done for any project. After each arts and crafts meeting, have children vote on the overall top project for the day’s creations. Then keep a running list of winners who can each go home with a summer camp certificate for the best lanyard, best friendship bracelet, best painted rock, and other projects you create.

athletic award certificate paper

Best Obstacle Course Runner

Excelling in sports can be another way your camp attendees can earn a summer camp certificate. Keep tabs on the winners of any running contest, obstacle course, rope climbing, and other sports activities, then present each winner with a summer camp certificate that proclaims their sporting superpowers.

Best Swimmer

Water activities are another summer camp staple, and they provide yet another way to reward attendees. A certificate for the best swimmer is a splashy option, and you can make additional waves with certificates for the best boater, best cannon baller, best windsurfer, or whatever else the kids end up doing in the water.

Best Insect Identifier

Connecting with nature provides another entire category of summer camp certificates. Keep an eye on the kids who seem to have a special knack for identifying insects, plants, wildlife, and scat. Compile another list of attendees that excel at finding paths, pitching tents, hand-washing socks in the stream, or otherwise thriving in an outdoor environment.

Best Smile

Is there a kid that lights up the entire room every time he or she smiles? Or perhaps there’s an attendee who is an excellent helper, a terrific friend, or goes out of his or her way to make sure everything is neat and tidy after every project or event.

By all means, give out a few more summer camp certificates that acknowledge the massive variety of greatness. Create certificates for the best smile, the best helper, the best pal, the best cleaner-upper, and additional stand-out traits campers exhibit.

Wording for Summer Camp Certificate Options

The exact wording you use on each summer camp certificate depends, of course, on what the certificate is honoring. But you will want to include certain details on every certificate you issue. These include:

  • Reason certificate is being awarded
  • Name of camp, program, counselor or facility awarding the certificate
  • Name of recipient
  • Official signature and date
intersections certificate paper

One more tip is to ensure the certificate is as sunny and fun as the camp experience itself. Take a peek at the PaperDirect specialty certificate options that serve up a wide range of colors and designs to match your own particular summer camp vibe.

May 30, 2017

Sunny Summer Stationery from PaperDirect!

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 12:50 pm

The sun is shining, the bees are buzzing, and the lemonade is ice-cold. That can only mean one thing – summer has finally arrived!

Take advantage of this bright and cheery season by stocking up on your favorite summer stationery. We’ve pulled a few examples of our favorite summer designs for 2017.

Check them out and stock up for summer!

Watermelon Party Border Paper

Watermelon-Party-Border-Paper-PaperDirect

Perfect for birthday parties, barbecues, outdoor events, and more! Buy it here.

Baja Flip Flop Border Papers

Baja-Flip-Flop-Border-Papers-PaperDirect

Perfect for beach parties, summer correspondence, themed office parties, and summer camps. Buy it here.

Balloon Dreams Border Papers

Balloon-Dreams-Border-Papers-PaperDirect

Perfect for store promotions, team building activities, travel deals, award ceremonies and more! Buy it here!

Paper Lanterns Border Papers

Paper-Lanterns-Border-Papers-PaperDirect

Perfect for evening events, silent auctions, company retreats, product launches and more! Buy it here.

Sweet Summer Border Papers

Sweet-Summer-Border-Papers-PaperDirect

Perfect for networking events, golfing events, summer seminars, and ice cream socials! Buy it here.

No matter the event or industry you’re planning for, PaperDirect has the summer stationery supplies to make it the most memorable event of the season.

Check out our entire selection of PaperDirect border paper today!

May 25, 2017

Flyer Ideas For The Company Picnic

Filed under: Designing Your Invitation — PDWriter @ 9:28 am

Flyer Ideas For The Company Picnic-PaperDirect

Over the course of the next few months, business owners and managers across the country will host countless company picnics to celebrate the hard work and dedication of their team. However, most of these company picnics will be low on attendants – doomed to fail from the moment an employee sees the drab flyer and decides not to drag his or her family out to such a seemingly boring event.

Whether you realize it or not, your company picnic’s flyer says a lot about the event you’re planning to throw. Advertising on a template you simply printed on the office printer isn’t going to convey the right sense of excitement that you want to generate for your next company outing. To get the buzz going from the beginning, make sure to follow these tips for creating the best company flyer possible.

Make Sure to Use the Right Paper

Printing your flyer out on regular printer paper, or even low-grade colored paper is a mistake. Let your employees know that you’re going all out with this year’s company picnic by printing your flyer on high grade, richly colored paper. Details like this matter.

Use More Than One Font …

Don’t stick to the same font throughout your flyer. Mix it up to keep your readers entertained. That being said, make sure the pertinent details (contacts, time, and location) are printed clearly and prominently.

Don’t Use Comic Sans or Times New Roman

It’s a real graphic design no-no. Comic Sans looks like a kid drew on your company form with a crayon and Times New Roman is too stiff and formal to be anything but boring.

Don’t Forget to Highlight the Events

Make sure you’re giving your staff a reason to attend your company picnic. If there’s going to be free food and fun games, say so! Organizing activities to keep kids entertained? Explain what they are. You can even use the flyer to enlist ideas and event volunteers.

Don’t Be Afraid of Pictures or Exclamation Points

Remember, you aren’t sending out a corporate memo. It’s okay to use the dreaded exclamation point in your company flyer. In fact, when you first mention your event, do so in big, bold letters and kick things off with a nice, friendly exclamation point!

A Great Flyer Begins and Ends with PaperDirect

Don’t rely on your office printer to create the most effective flyer possible. At PaperDirect, you can customize the perfect flyer with ease; then we’ll print it out on the highest quality paper before ensuring the finished product arrives in your office in ready-to-post condition.

May 19, 2017

Staying in Touch With Your Pen Pal over the Summer

Filed under: Helpful Resources — PDWriter @ 9:00 am

staying-in-touch-with-you-pen-pal-PaperDirect

Just because the school year has ended doesn’t mean you have to lose touch with your buddies. You can stay in touch with your in-person friends by transforming them into penpal friends.  While pen pals aren’t as common as they once were, they remain a terrific way to maintain a strong and solid connection through the art of letter writing.

Check out some tips on how to stay in touch, topics to discuss, and how to find a new pen pal if needed.

How to Stay in Touch

Setting up an agreement with your penpal friends can help keep the letters flowing and the relationship strong. Writing one letter per month to each other is a totally do-able schedule, although you can certainly agree to write as many letters to each other as you wish.

Figure out how you’ll kick off the connection, either with one person writing the first letter and the other person responding, or both agreeing to send out a letter by a certain date. Make sure you exchange addresses before you part for the summer so you’re both prepared to get the ball rolling.

Make the letter writing even more fun by stocking up on creative letter-writing supplies. These can include:

  • Paper: Plain white paper can be so bland, especially when PaperDirect has so many colored paper options just waiting to brighten the day for both of you.
  • Envelopes: Colorful envelopes are another cool option, and you can jazz them up even further with self-inking stamps or stickers.
  • Postage stamps: Get a batch of festive postage stamps that will last all summer.
  • Pens: Stock up on a few fabulous pens and markers to help your letters stand out even more.

What to Talk About

So what should you guys write about? You have tons of fresh and exciting options that go far beyond the same old stuff you chat about during the school year. You can talk about:

  • Summer vacations – where you’re going, where you’ve been in the past, your best and worst vacations.
  • Summer activities – your all-time favorites, least favorites, and what’s in store this year.
  • How you spend your days – real-life versus what you wish you could be doing instead.
  • Plans and goals for the upcoming school year.
  • Lessons you’re learning, either by choice or through mistakes (oops!).
  • The highlight and lowlight of each month, week or day, and why each item was a highlight or lowlight.
  • Your favorite and least favorite – movies, summer fashions, places to go, TV shows, music, summer memories, school year memories, or anything else that strikes your fancy. You can even include a “Top 5” and “Worst 5” list in each of your letters, picking a different subject each time around.

Keep the conversation alive by asking your penpal friends to respond with the same type of information you shared, and it’s highly unlikely you’ll run out of things to discuss.

How to Find New Penpal Friends

Sometimes even the best letter-writing intentions can fizzle out, and you may find you want or need a new pen pal. Finding new penpal friends isn’t all that tough, as long as you know where to look.

  • Relatives or friends of friends, especially those that live in different states or countries.
  • People you meet on vacations.
  • Connections from people in groups you belong to, like your soccer team, your art club, or your writers group.
  • Facebook Groups, with a search for “pen pal kids” to find groups that connect penpal friends.
  • Websites that help with pen pal connections, such as StudentsOfTheWorld.

Whether your summer is spent deepening your relationship with your school year friends or getting to know new ones, being a pen pal is a great way to do it and PaperDirect is here to help.

May 10, 2017

DIY Mother’s Day Poem, Card and Gift Ideas

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 11:02 am

DIY-mothers-day-poem-card-gift-ideas-PaperDirect

Moms are a special breed indeed, so it’s only right to give them the recognition they deserve by honoring them on Mother’s Day. One of the most magnificent ways to honor mom is with DIY Mother’s Day poems, cards, certificates, or other gifts that come with a truly personal touch.

Mother’s Day Poems

Roses are red, violets are blue, make sure you tell mom what she means to you—and you don’t have to do it with a cheesy poem. You can instead create any number of clever Mother’s Day poems with a few simple tricks.

Make a number poem list: Pick her age, your age, or your mom’s favorite number, and then write a sweet list of X reasons she’s the best mom on earth. You may end up having so much fun that you’ll want to create an entire page of numbered Mother’s Day poems.

Write a poem using letters of her name: Write your mother’s name, or the words “mother” or “mom” vertically down the left side of the page. Then have each line of your poem start with each of the letters. If your mom’s name is Marcy, for example, your poem could read something like:

Magically sweet

Always on time

Ready for action

Compassionate and kind

You are the best mom in the world!

Mother’s Day Cards and Certificates

When it comes to Mother’s Day greeting cards and certificates, you can give yours a professional edge by using a ready-made template. Simply find a layout you like at online shops like PaperDirect, then choose your colors, fonts, images, photos, and other available options to personalize to your heart’s content.

Your card can be filled with any type of sentiment you like. Mother’s Day certificates that tend to go over well include “Best Mom Ever” and “World’s Greatest Mother.”

Pick an option you can print at home, and you can have your Mother’s Day card or certificate in mere minutes.

Other DIY Mother’s Day Gifts

Giving mom a break is an excellent Mother’s Day gift that never goes out of style, and you can do exactly that with a number of awesome options.

  • Mother’s Day coupon book: Create a coupon book containing coupons redeemable for breakfast in bed, a night out on the town, or all the chores you’ll do for her when she simply hands over the coupon.
  • Surprise cleaning: Usurp mom’s usual house cleaning ritual by getting to it first. Find a time when she’s out of the house, or have someone take her out shopping or something, then clean the entire abode from top to bottom. She’ll be thrilled when she comes home.
  • Surprise cooking: Same idea as above, but with mom coming home to a home-cooked, gourmet meal. Don’t cook? Order a pizza.

As long as you put your heart into your DIY Mother’s Day gift, it’s bound to be a hit. And any amount of dusting, vacuuming, or laundry that the coupons might make you endure will be well worth the joy it brings the world’s greatest mother. Check out PaperDirect for cards, certificates, and other goodies for Mother’s Day and beyond.

May 2, 2017

Quick Tips for a Workplace Cinco de Mayo Party

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 9:00 am
tips-celebrating-cinco-de-mayo-in-office-PaperDirect

At least once a year, it’s completely appropriate to break out the sombreros and maracas. Celebrating Cinco de Mayo at the office should become an annual tradition, even if it’s only for one reason: Tacos!

Feeling festive? We are! Here’s how to get your co-workers into the Cinco de Mayo spirit!

Create a South-of-the-Border Vibe

Whether you play cultural music over the office intercom as employees arrive for the day, or schedule a surprise visit from a roaming Mariachi band – you’re sure to kick off the celebration with class! Encourage employees to get up from their desks and dance to the beats!

Host a Sombrero Contest

Everyone loves a little competition, so ask your staff to sport their favorite sombreros (or, any hat will do) for the day. Have everyone cast their vote for their favorite Mexican-theme head wear and present the winner with a special certificate or award just before starting the lunch festivities.

Create a Taco Buffet

There’s no better way to kick off a noon staff meeting than with a taco buffet lunch. Load up on the queso and guacamole, then discuss those sales numbers. Everyone will be feeling a little spicy and ready to share their ideas with the rest of the bunch.

Try Salsa Dancing

If you have a small team, take an afternoon break and learn new dance moves at a local studio. Or, hire a dance pro to come to the office and give a Salsa demo and quick lesson. The impromptu exercise will fire up the team for a productive end to their work day.

Schedule an Afternoon Drink

Break out of that 3pm slump and make a toast to Cinco de Mayo with some fruity virgin margaritas or a bottle of Mexican beer. Pair the drinks with a homemade salsa and chips to keep the snackers in the bunch happy!

Are you ready to let the crew know about the plans for Cinco de Mayo at the office? Stock up on festive paper to post the taco lunch menu and day’s festivities so everyone can get ready to say olé!

April 25, 2017

How to Keep Track of Office Birthdays

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 9:59 am
PaperDirect-how-to-keep-track-of-office-birthdays

When you’re together eight hours a day every weekday, your work colleagues can start to feel more like a work family. One of the best ways to encourage that family vibe is to acknowledge each employee with a glorious greeting card on his or her birthday. Of course, this strategy only works if you actually remember all the office birthday dates. Here are some useful ways to do exactly that.

pocket-sized calendar for birthdays

Create an Office Birthday Calendar

Whether you use a computer program or a physical date book, set up a specific calendar that’s exclusively used to track office birthdays. Google Calendar is an online option, while a pocket datebook, binder, or planner can work for those who prefer putting pen to paper. While you want to update the calendar when new employees are hired or existing ones depart, you can keep the same foundation year after year after year.

Post an Office Birthday Board

Posting an office birthday board in the breakroom lets you and the entire staff see, at a glance, when employees will be celebrating their special day. There’s no way you can miss an office birthday date when it’s posted in plain view for the entire world to see. Use a dry erase board with a year-long calendar format or create a calendar-type bulletin board featuring an index card for each person’s birthday.

Design a Master Office Birthday Spreadsheet

Another way to keep track of office birthday dates is with a good ole spreadsheet. Set up a chart in Excel or similar spreadsheet program, with a total of 12 columns, one for each month. Each row is dedicated to an individual employee, with his or her birthday noted in the appropriate column. Spreadsheets make it easy to search, sort, and print reports, which you can do on a monthly basis to ensure you’re ready for every upcoming celebration within the next 30 days.

Make Sure Your Card Supply is Always Stocked

One more tip is to always have a generous supply of office birthday cards on hand so you can hand them out as needed. This tip serves two functions. First, it works as another reminder that office birthdays are coming up. When you constantly see your card supply in your supply cabinet or desk drawer, you’re reminded you’ll need to give them out when birthdays roll around.

Birthday card set for employees

The second function is to ensure that you’re always ready to celebrate when the celebration days come up. After all, it would be a tad embarrassing to make a big deal out of keeping track of office birthdays–only to realize you have absolutely no greeting cards to hand out for the occasion.

Keep your office birthday greeting cards happily stocked to the hilt with the sensational selection at PaperDirect.

April 21, 2017

Things Only Stationery Lovers Will Understand

Filed under: Helpful Resources — PDWriter @ 9:17 am

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Some people collect shoes. Others collect statues. And then there’s a special breed of folks who can’t help but collect stationery. We are the letter writers. The poets. The romantics. The people who preserve the art of hand-written correspondence. We are, indeed, the stationery lovers. If you happen to fall into the stationery lovers category, then you certainly know how a brand new pack of stationery is an absolutely festival of delight for our senses.

Sight

The sight captures us first. Fresh, clean, and wholly pristine, our brand new stationery awaits. We are as giddy on children on Christmas as we make a gentle incision in the stationery packaging to slowly, carefully extract a crisp, new piece of paper. We gaze at the color. Visually embrace the design. Wonder what color ink will look best as we fantasize about penning our very first letter.

Smell

The aroma hits us next. Fresh, new paper. It smells of hope. It smells of promise. It smells of connections and friends, aspirations and dreams. It even smells better than a new car. We actually once saw an incense aroma billed as “new car smell.” Wonder if anyone has yet to come up with the same for new stationery?

Touch

Whether we’re fans of smooth-as-silk paper or prefer stationery with a fibrous texture, nothing beats the feel of the pen gliding effortlessly across the page. Our fingers glide as gracefully as the pen. We smooth out the page with our palm. We pick up the paper, feel its generous weight, then put it back down to write some more.

When we’re ready to fold the paper for the envelope, we do so with an engineer’s precision. We make the crease sharp, accurate, and perfectly straight so the missive slips seamlessly into the awaiting envelope.

We lay the remaining paper neatly in our drawer, or as neatly as it can get on top of several other packages of stationery for every mood, purpose and occasion. The drawer feels as if it weighs 1,000 pounds as we gently, slowly slither it shut. We use our knee to help push the drawer as we press down on the top pack of paper so the drawer will actually close.

Opening our drawers full of stationery is done just as precisely, careful not to catch or bend the bulging stacks, our mountains of marvelous stationery. Even those who tease us about our mounds of magnificent paper are always thrilled to receive one of our hand-written, heartfelt letters. And even those who say we have more than enough stationery to last us several lifetimes still purchase us new sets as gifts.

Just like oxygen, love or pizza, you can never have enough stationery. No matter how much we amass, there’s always one more package or one more design, just waiting for us to enjoy. And stationery lovers will find plenty to enjoy with the selection at PaperDirect.

April 18, 2017

Hosting a Fun “Take Your Child to Work Day”

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 9:25 am

take-your-child-to-work-day-paperdirect

On April 27, more than 30 million Americans will let their kids take a day off from school to visit mom or dad at the office for Take Your Child to Work Day. This day is meant to inspire kids and get them excited about their future contributions to whatever workforce they choose to pursue.

All sentiment aside, Take Your Child to Work Day does present an interesting problem. That is, how do you keep your kids satisfied with the work experience while also ensuring that your business isn’t losing focus?

Here are some tips to help your office make the most of Take Your Child to Work Day.

Make Sure to Strategize Beforehand

Hold a meeting and let your employees know that kids will be in the office on April 27th.  Brainstorm ways to interact with the kids on their level as well as ways to get your whole office in the spirit. The more people that participate, the more fun everyone will have.

Talk to Your Child Beforehand

On the homefront, parents who are taking kids into work should sit down with them the night before to help them understand what’s expected. Be sure to ask them questions to try and get an idea of what they’re looking for out of the day, as well.

This is also a good time to lay out some ground rules for the day ahead. Examples can include:

  • No running
  • No yelling or screaming
  • Be respectful of others who are working
  • No devices like handheld video games

Be Inclusive

Even if some of your employees aren’t bringing in children, invite them to participate in the fun. Let anyone who wants to participate in the planning and execution of the day do so.

On the flip side of the coin, be aware that every office has that person who would rather be left alone to do their work, so try not to force Take Your Child to Work Day on them. Consider creating a quiet work space away from the hustle and bustle of the day’s activities so they can focus on their work.  

Pack Them Some Toys and Games

No matter how well you plan for Take Your Child to Work Day, there will inevitably be some downtime. To combat that potential chaos that could ensue, be sure to have your child pack a bag with some fun stuff like books or headphones to keep them occupied. You could even have them bring some of their homework along, though you might not win any popularity points for that suggestion.

Introduce Your Child to Your Coworkers

It’s never a bad idea to show your child around the office and introduce them to your fellow employees. This will help your child learn the basics of office interactions and hierarchies as well as help them put a face to the names you mention when talking about your day.

Communicate With Your Kids

Whenever possible, explain to your child what you’re doing as well as what your responsibilities are. Have them help you problem solve the situation and when you make a decision, explain to them how you came to that conclusion. And more than anything, let your child see that the workplace isn’t just a place you go to each day, but a challenging environment that requires collaboration and hard work.

Commemorate the Day

If you’d really like to drive home the experience of Take Your Child to Work Day, there’s nothing like a special keepsake. Why not give them something business specific with any of PaperDirect’s expansive line of Child-Themed Stationary. Or, if you’re helping to organize activities for the entire office, look into creating branded name tags or printed certificates to celebrate the completion of a day in the office.

Whether it’s envelopes, paper, or brochures – PaperDirect has everything you need to help your children get into the real swing of things on Take Your Child to Work Day.

April 11, 2017

Ways to Appreciate Administrative Professionals

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — Tags: , , — PDWriter @ 1:26 pm
Ways-to-Appreciate-Administrative-Professionals-PaperDirect

Admit it, if your administrative assistant quit tomorrow, you’d be in a whole lot of trouble. Administrative assistants keep your schedule aligned, your files in order, and manage all of the little things in your office that you just don’t have time for. Your job would be a lot harder if you didn’t have your administrative assistant there to help take some of the work off your shoulders.

On Wednesday, April 26th, Administrative Professionals Day, take a few moments to give your admin assistant a token of your appreciation. Even if you regularly praise your staff members, a little keepsake can really emphasize how much their hard work means to you.

At a loss for how to celebrate? Here are some fun ideas for making the most of this year’s Administrative Professionals Day.

lunch with administrative assistant

Appreciation Lunch

It’s a classic expression of appreciation, but it’s a classic for a reason. Find a time to take your administrative assistant out to a swanky lunch to let them know their hard work is invaluable.

Gift Card of Appreciation

Use what you know about your administrative assistant’s personality and get them a gift card they can enjoy. Even if it’s just $20 to the coffee shop down the street, your administrative assistant will appreciate the thought.

Leave Early on A Work Day

The odds are, your administrative assistant is working a full 40 hours each week and trying to have a life outside of work as well. So, tell them you recognize that by letting them get to their life a little bit early – maybe they can go use that gift card you got them!

Switch the Roles for a Bit

On Administrative Professionals Day, bring your administrative assistant coffee or answer phone calls for an hour so he or she can take a long lunch. Not only will you allow them a little breath of fresh air, but you might also find a new appreciation for the work they do day in and day out.

fill-in-the-blank gift certificate

Appreciation Certificate

No matter what you get for your administrative assistant, a professionally-made certificate is a wonderful addition or can even make a great stand-alone gift. Tailor something to match your administrative assistant’s personality with something from PaperDirect’s expansive stock of options!

Let Your Admin Assistant Talk to You

Here’s the real secret to Administrative Professionals Day: talk to your administrative assistant. Make them feel comfortable and have an honest conversation about how they enjoy their job, how you could improve as a boss, and ask them what they’re interested in doing professionally.

You might just discover an entirely new side of the person who’s been sitting just a few feet away from you.

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