Boundaries often blur through time. Take the concept of the “office.” Spaces for executives and lower-level employees were clearly defined – corner offices for the executive leadership, and cubicles for the mid-level employees.
More and more, offices are like pods – without walls separating each worker and wherein team members can collaborate more easily, and hierarchies are not as important. It stands to reason that the desk-scape itself has changed dramatically in just a couple of decades.
Additionally, homes and apartments are now equipped with some sort of office or desk where personal business is done. In fact, nearly 30 million Americans work out of a home office at least one day a week – and this number is expected to incline sharply by 63% in the next three years, according to a study done by the Telework Research Network.
“The well-dressed desk is the new corner office with a view. Productivity is a priority and looking the part has taken a back seat to creating a space to mirror my personality,” described entrepreneur and author Emily Ley, who told Sam Ujvary, author of the article “The Well-Dressed Desk,” appearing on www.stationerytrends.com (February 24, 2016). “Here on our team, we’re busy mamas, wives, college students and business ladies. We get it. We know life is fast-paced and busy. Having the tools to make the good stuff (and the necessary) happen is essential.”
Kevin Andrews of Leeds/Bullet Line observes that the modern desk-scape is now more mobile. Many workers are not working solely in the traditional office settings they once were; because of mobile technology, many people are working from a variety of places including home, as well as hotel rooms, planes/airports, trains, coffee shops, and in parks on nice days. “With this switch to a more mobile lifestyle many of the things you would typically find on a desk have become more mobile as well,” he said. “The modern ‘desktop’ now features items like charging stations, power banks, and phone stands.” An example is Bullet’s Multi-functional Desktop Set (SM-3707). This set keeps the recipient’s desk organized with places for business cards, pens, paper clips, and a phone stand.
“And as we are a more mobile society and always multi-tasking, we need our tools to do the same,” Andrews adds. Bullet’s sm-3724 2-in-1 Charging Cable in Clip comes with a swivel lobster tip to doubles as a name badge and a charging cable.
Courtney Butler of Gill Line observes that while desktops are “becoming less cluttered and technology has moved in, that real estate advertising space remains a highly sought-after location.” Marketing experts have pointed out that nearly 90% of all business decisions made by management throughout the day are done while at the desk. It therefore makes great sense to ensure your client’s message is somewhere on that desk, not in the desk drawer or in the cloud.
Charley Johnson of HandStands has a different take, noting that a viable desk-scape can vary depending on the individual. For example, he describes, “If you are a product guy, it means your desk is cluttered from top to bottom with the next best idea. If you are anyone else, it’s clean and organized. Long gone are the days when the messenger delivered a memo in a brown envelope, now we send someone an email or a ‘txt.’ The modern and minimal lifestyle is happening now which means desk-scapes areas only have the essentials.”
Studies show that more employees find that greater work-life balance is very important, and Carrie Lewis of BIC Graphic asserts that promotional products industry can help provide functional work environments that are comfortable, helping to ensure that time spent at work is more enjoyable, productive and thus may even help to avoid employee burnout. “Companies that provide stress relievers, items to spruce up a desks-capes and use recognition programs often see improved employee performance,” she comments. BIC Graphic examples include the Adult Coloring Book Desk Pad (#6511), Office Mini Spinner (#32121), and JAFFA® Plato Paperweight (#35546).
She added that the modern workforce is no longer tied to a desk all day, even though they may be working all day. “As more employees regularly travel and work remotely, a mobile workspace is essential,” she comments. “Bags with organization features, multi-function tools and desk caddy organizers help keep employees work-ready on the go.” BIC Graphic examples include Deluxe Desk Caddy Organizer (#32150), Skyscraper Messenger (#15894) and 10-in-1 Office Multi-Tool (#32115).
Potential Essentials
There are some trends in this sector, and because working is essential, the trends may be considered somewhat essential by your customers as well. One trend is privacy, and this is also fast becoming a necessity for many employees. Says Johnson, “An essential desk accessory product is our Private Eyes Webcam Cover. Do we really want to know how many creeps are out in this world? We especially don’t want them creeping on us. An essential product for any desk area is a webcam cover, allowing the employee peace of mind.”
Health, well-being and fitness are greater priorities among younger workers than their predecessors, and even those predecessors are now more health-conscious than ever. This increased health-consciousness, says Andrews, “has caused items like Leed’s Raised Desk (#1071-24) to become very popular. When you need a break from sitting all day you can raise your laptop up and stand for a while, this gives you a healthy option while not completely committing to a full stand-up desk. Plus, it is small enough to move from place to place.”
Another popular trend is any type of “reboot” where something classic and beloved is refreshed and reintroduced. A great example of this is, he points out, is Leed’s 3-in-1 Mobile Set (#1071-09). “This classic building block look will bring out your inner child,” he comments. “It comes with a phone stand, stylus, and screen cleaner.”
According to Lewis, the hottest products in the office category reflect the brisk shift to a mobile working environment, therefore, such products as notebooks with attached pens and multi-function accessories are popular. For example, Lewis offers, BIC Graphic’s Wave Notebook with Epiphany Pen (#15860 )has a durable plastic cover with a coordinating pen. This item would be welcomed as a recruiting gift or an incentive/reward.
In keeping with the mobility, work-on-the-go trend, Lewis observes, portable charging devices and cables are necessities to keep devices work-ready. BIC Graphic’s myCharge® RazorXtra (#32145) features 2.4A shared output that can power two devices simultaneously.
And some classics remain perennially favored. Asserts Butler “few desktop products can deliver like paper, from paperboard coasters, adhesive note planners, scratch and adhesive note pads to cubes, they are the ultimate desktop billboards. Paper delivers exposure by its very nature with cost reflective to its size and sheet count. It's written on for somebody else to read which immediately cuts the cost per impression in half,” she explains.
Don’t just look to sell one item. Depending upon the client – advertising/marketing firm, bank, insurance, and the size of the client, a unified package may be warranted.
For example, says Lewis, “Onboarding packages are a great way to welcome new team members while prepping them for success. Campaigns for onboarding packages can be tailored to meet specific business needs while also providing a welcome gift to show appreciation to new employees from day one.” Some examples from BIC Graphic include: 10-in-1 Office Supply Kit (#32148), Memo Tape Roller (#31922), and Premium Business Card Holder (#26044).
Another way to look at office items for onboarding, Andrews comments, “One idea for selling more items would be to take the guess work out for the end-user. Package items together as a sort of ‘desk in a box.’ This could then be promoted as everything a company would need to give their employees to get them started.”
With promotional paper products, the office itself creates different needs and require different sizes and functions of pads, Butler says. Adhesive notes come in a variety of sizes, for example. Get to know the typical projects employees do and what their needs are. For some, 3 x 3 are too small, while 5 x 8 are too big. “We prepare virtual product ideas using multiple products at different price points for distributors to develop opportunities for their clients,” she says. “Most companies, groups and organizations have services and products that evolve annually. For these situations, a single pad of paper can be collated for multiple messages and images to support any launch.”
Although the mechanisms of how and where we work have changed dramatically since before the advent of mobile technology, the concepts of comfort and convenience to achieve and grow in our jobs and careers remains the same. Finding products – solutions – for businesses to help them reinforce and support their employees will undeniably pay off in future and more orders for other promotional campaigns.