In large offices you often have a stationery cupboard you can pull stuff from. In your home or small office you need to think ahead. Here’s your stationery checklist for your trip to the store before you set up your small or home office:
- Pens – blue, black, red
- Highlighter
- Permanent marker (Texta / Sharpie)
- Pencil and pencil sharpener
- Colored pencils
- Colored pens
- Colored markers
- Eraser
- Correction tape / fluid / Liquid Paper
- Mechanical pencil and spare leads
- Plain paper (for printer)
- Notebooks, ruled paper, binder books
- Scrapbook, art book
- Ruler
- Glue
- Sticky tape + dispenser
- Packing tape + dispenser
- Bulldog / Fold back clips
- Stapler and staples
- Rubber bands
- Paper clips
- Hole punch: 2 hole? 3 hole? 4 hole?
- Drawing pins
- Plastic pockets
- Manila folders
- Storage pockets
- Arch folders: 2 ring? 3 ring? 4 ring?
- Folder dividers
- Hanging files
- Filing trays
- Sticky labels (eg Avery) for addressing or filing
- Post-Its / yellow stickies
- Index cards
- Label maker and spare tape
- Scissors
- Box cutter / utility knife / Stanley knife
- Guillotine
- Calculator
- Printer toner
- Tissues
- Water bottle
- Paper towel
- Postage stamps
- Envelopes
- Rubber stamps (return address, entered, paid)
- Laminator and spare pouches
- USB memory sticks
- Batteries (for electronic equipment, for wireless keyboard and mouse)
- Calendar, wall planner
- Desk pad
- Blu-tack / green tack
- Wall hooks (eg ‘Command’)
- Whiteboard / dry erase markers
- Whiteboard eraser and cleaning fluid
And since you are out you might as well pick up a few other essentials:
- Coffee, tea, sugar
- Cookies / biscuits / snacks
- Desk lamp
- Wall clock
- Toilet paper
- Cleaning equipment: broom, mop, bucket, cloth, spray, etc
Did we miss something? Please share it with a comment below and we’ll add it to the above list.
Not sure on how to store all this new stuff? Check out our Ideas On How To Organize A Small Office.