January 15, 2009

Happy New Year……………I hope!


Can you believe the uncertainty as we start the New Year? I am probably the world’s leading optimist, but even I have to admit I don’t know what to expect from 2009.  Fortunately, the one thing I do know is that I’m not in control….but I have complete faith in the One who is! 

For Office Express, 2008 was actually an “up” year after having to make some very tough decisions along the way.  I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that fact.  I sincerely appreciate all of you, and the trust you place in our business relationship.  So even though I don’t know what the future holds, I do know that we will continue to do our level best to provide you with great products, competitive prices, and outstanding service.

Trust is such an important part of any relationship.  You might want to take a look at this article on Office Depot for an example of what NOT to do in the trust department! (http://www.truecolorsconsulting.com/?p=231)

And here’s one more thing I do know.  Part of why we all have been successful is because we’re sticking together. Please don’t let up!  Now more than ever it’s important to help our neighbors and do business with each other. 


Office Depot Closing its Plymouth distribution center plus 112 stores

One of the things we always try and do is support other local businesses. I feel we have to live what we preach. Money spent locally stays locally at a much higher rate than a national chain. When the national chain happens to have more people working in the area the percentages are closer.

Office Depot happens to have a 209,000 square foot distribution center in Plymouth. Well it just happens that they will be closing that facility along with 6 other like it around the country not to mention closing 112 stores as well.  They are closing 7 stores in Michigan: Auburn Hills, Bloomfield, Dearborn, Jackson, Muskegon, Pontiac and Rochester Hills.  Hmmmm, I wonder if the article about trust above might have anything to do with it.

For the complete article about the closings, follow this link:  

http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2008/12/office_depot_to_close_112_stor.html


Managing the Price Increases from Office Supply Manufacturers

I have good news and bad news about office supply prices in 2009. The bad news is that many manufacturers have raised their prices effective January 1. Our buying group had a contract that held prices through 2008, but once that contract expired, the manufacturers needed to adjust pricing to compensate for substantial losses mainly due to the fuel spikes in 2008.

That’s the bad news.  Unfortunately, it’s going to affect every single retailer who sells products from these manufacturers. So what’s the good news?  There’s actually quite a bit of good news! 

Let’s start with this fact.  Office supplies are typically less than 3% of a company’s overall budget. While I don’t advocate a free-for-all in the supplies department, the fact is that office supplies are a rounding error in most budgets.   It’s amazing how much time and energy are spent on policies and price-shopping for this tiny little amount!

And here’s some better news.  Streamlining and consolidating your ordering process will save you more than cutting product costs.   We can help you design a process that is cautious but not obsessive; one that identifies your desired products in advance and then holds the pricing for a set amount of time; one that minimizes the administrative busywork often associated with this tiny segment of your budget.

We will continue to do our best to offer you competitive prices, outstanding service, and tools that will help you simplify the purchase of office supplies. Single sourcing the amount of vendors utilized can add significant savings to time and energy costs that are often not considered and a single-source supplier is your long-term most cost-effective solution.  We would be honored to fulfill that role. 

We may provide products/services that you wouldn’t think of a typical office supplier for such as: break room products, furniture, printing services and more! Ask your sales rep or any one of our friendly team members how you can begin a single source program with us. Don’t be ashamed to make what may seem to be an “off-the-wall” product request. You just may be pleasantly surprised. 

Please feel free to call us if you have questions, or if you would like us to do a review of your purchasing history and help you set up guidelines for 2009.
 

National accounts program

I am pleased to announce that Office Express can now offer the personalized service of a local supply company to any of your office locations though out the United States.  We have joined American Office Products Distributors (AOPD), an organization of independent supply dealers across the country.  This allows us to create contracts and set pricing for national accounts with multiple locations. 

·                Have all of your locations enjoy the benefits of ordering from Office Express at a national level.

·                Free next day delivery.

·                Dollars spent in your branch location areas stay in that area benefiting other local businesses.

·                Face to fact rep meetings when required at branch locations.

·                High service levels of dependable local dealers.

·                Consolidated billing through Office Express.

If you would like to explore ways in which this program could simplify your corporate purchasing, please contact me.  (mikecarr@officeexpressnow.com)

 

 

December 9, 2008

A Note From Mike Carr

Happy December everyone!  Mother Nature is sure doing her best to remind us that we live in Michigan, and winter has arrived.  I hope that all of you stay safe and warm during this cold and blustery month!

I know that we’re all pretty tense right now about the economy, especially in eastern Michigan as we watch the auto manufacturers beg for financial help from the federal government.  (Do you suppose they really consider the difference between say, twenty-five billion and twenty-six billion to be significant?) 

Someone actually asked my wife with concern about our business because her husband works at Chrysler and the first thing they did was cut their office supply purchases. I also saw that was part of GM’s turnaround plan. I have to confess that I laughed…out loud. 

First of all, if they are looking at cutting office supplies to save money, they’re searching in the wrong place!  That’s the financial equivalent of rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.  I think I mentioned last month that office supplies are typically between 1 and 3% of a company’s budget.  (And secondly, we don’t happen to count GM or Chrysler as one of our customers.)  

For the most part, office supplies are tools that help make the office run more efficiently. If they have a tool that makes a car more efficient, I assume they would purchase it.  I think the same thing goes for the office.  That being said, if you are really looking for savings in office supplies, usually the best way is to limit the purchasing of them or to streamline the process for ordering them.  I think GM and Chrysler better look somewhere other than the supplies closet to really turn the company around.  Maybe they could ask the banks for some advice.

Having said that let me reiterate that Office Express provides exceptionally competitive prices on office supplies.  You won’t save money going anywhere else.  And by working with us, you’ll be doing your part to help your local community and everyone in it thrive and grow.

Important Tax Break!

If you’re like me, you’ve probably been wondering how the economic stimulus package is supposed to affect you…outside of that check received in June that’s long-ago been spent!  Here’s one thing that businesses should seriously consider between now and December 31.

Small and mid-sized business owners have until December 31, 2008 to take advantage of the $152 billion Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 signed into law in February. The stimulus package gives new tax breaks for the purchase of or leasing of new equipment via the enhanced Section 179 tax code as long as the equipment has been placed in service after Dec. 31, 2007 and before Jan. 1, 2009.

Qualifying equipment includes:

• Property attached to the business but not part of the structure (i.e. large manufacturing tools);

• Machines purchased for business use;

• Tangible personal property used in business;

• Computers and software; and

• Office furniture/equipment.
  
  

You can expense up to $250,000 in new equipment purchased and put into service by year end.  When you expense this investment, you can deduct the entire amount from your income in the year it was purchased or financed, rather than depreciating it over time.   For those of you who are into “present value” calculations, that’s a tremendous savings.

Please contact us ASAP if you would like to coordinate a purchase by year-end.  Also, please consult your tax advisor for the full details on qualifications and how they will impact your business.

November 21, 2008

A Note From Mike Carr

Welcome back to the Express Press!!



An Impassioned Plea for Buying Local

I know I have beat this drum before, but I feel compelled to bang on it one more time as we all struggle to make ends meet in this challenging economy. 

I’d like you to think about three numbers: 

·         3

·         25

·         7

Three percent is the typical company’s budget for office supplies.  It’s a pretty small number…probably hangs somewhere just above your coffee and bottled water budget. 

Twenty-five percent is the average amount of your dollar that circulates locally when you buy locally. 

Here’s the big one:  when you spend money locally, it re-churns through the economy seven times.  Yes, seven times.  The impact is enormous.

Now here’s my plea:  WE NEED TO BUY FROM EACH OTHER.  Just think what we would do for our economy if we all spent our dollars here, where they could stay and have a seven-fold ripple effect on area businesses. 

What’s interesting is that I’ve price shopped, just like you have, and the superstores really don’t offer big savings on everything!  They tap into our emotional need to save money, but it doesn’t always add up at the cash register.  So I’m asking you to take a hard look at the numbers before you believe the advertising.  That’s true for office supplies, food, gifts…anything and everything you buy.

Also think about the benefit of spending $50 locally vs. spending $49 that doesn’t stay here.  You’re essentially costing your community $350 to save $1.  Does that feel right to you?

I’ll make you this promise:  Office Express will always match or beat the prices of any big-box store.  In addition, we will always look to our neighbors first when we need to make purchases for our business. 

We all have to stick together. That’s how we’ll all thrive in this economy! 

Charity Spotlight – Volunteers of America (VOA)

Over the summer, we were approached by a representative for the Volunteers of America, to sponsor a teen leadership program in conjunction with Major League baseball.  I thought to myself, “I have two teenage boys who love baseball and who need service hours for school. Maybe this is something we should do.”   This program runs an Adopt-a-Family program during the holidays and a reading program in the spring. 

Teen leaders are promoting these VOA programs in their schools right now.  Click here for information on the Adopt-A-Family program.  You can buy items for families in need, or you can provide cash so that the volunteers can purchase the necessary items.  Each family of four receives food and gifts for approximately $150. 

We believe this is a great program.  The employees at Office Express are going to participate in adopting some families, so join us this year and make a difference to someone in need!!  If you are interested in adopting a family, click here for a Sponsor Signup Sheet. 

We need to stick together as businesses, but also as a community.  Please consider donating your Rewards points to the Volunteers of America Adopt a Family program.  Remember, Office Express will match your points to double your gift.  For 250 reward points, we will send VOA $100.00!!  This is a wonderful way to help out and you won’t even have to write a check!   Just send us a letter (Attn: Sharon Horger) along with your points and we will take care of the rest.

 

The Benefits of Michigan

It’s true that we all have a tendency to think the grass is greener (and the air warmer and the weather nicer) on the other side of the fence (or of the country), but I have to tell you that for me, Michigan is still a great place to live.

For instance, our family went to South Carolina on vacation this summer.  I love it down there, but I spent the week feeling like I was going to start molding in the 95-degree humidity.   You can’t beat the warm sunny days and cool nights in Michigan.

And of course, there’s always the entertainment.  Our first week back after vacation featured the Dream Cruise, which I haven’t been to in years.  The Tigers were not the same this year, but Comerica Park is still an awesome place to spend an afternoon.  (I won’t even talk about the Lions.)  And we can all get revved about the Pistons and Alan Iverson, or the fantastic Wings who are back to defend the Stanley Cup.

What is also interesting to me, are the cultural differences between Michigan and other parts of the country.  People here know how to buckle down and do their jobs.  When you need something done, it gets done.  I’ve been to other places where the work week is four days long, if you count the Thursday afternoon when people are already loafing in preparation for the weekend!

For our family, the idea of “going up north” is full of treasured memories.  My grandmother was from Alpena, and I have so many great memories from Long Lake!   Our whole family – aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents – would rent cottages up there for two weeks in July.  It was always the highlight of the summer.  Fishing, waterskiing, swimming, canoeing, playing Jarts, sailing, lots of card games, the Go Kart track…what more could anyone ask for?

And maybe my most memorable “northern Michigan moment”….I got engaged on Mackinac Island! 

So while Michigan has its challenges right now, I ask you to remember the good things…the things that will endure long after this hiccup in the economy passes by.  It’s a great place to live and work!

  

March 20, 2008

A Note From Mike Carr

Fabulous Fridays

Well, it’s confirmed.  The paperless office is a myth. 

How do I know?  Because for our first Fabulous Friday Sale, we featured copy paper and we sold 400 cases!  In one day!!  Amazing!!!

Seriously though, I hope you’ve been enjoying the new programs we are offering to you, our valuable customers.  The Rewards Program (see story below), the Pen of the Month Club, and Fabulous Fridays are all just different ways for us to say “thank you” and for you to have some fun.

We’re very excited to let you know that our website is now ready for the Fabulous Friday Specials!!!   You can now place your order online!!  So when Friday arrives, click here to check out our specials.  Save this link as a favorite!!  Check back each week for the new specials!!

If you’re not signed up for these fun and fabulous programs, take a moment to visit our website at http://www.officeexpressnow.com/index.aspx.   Click on “Login” and you can see what’s in store.   While you are there, check out the other pages to see all the great stuff that has been added!! 

 

 

Don’t Forget the Furniture!

Did you know that Office Express has a talented interior designer on staff?  Did you know that we sell all types of office furniture? Did you know that our new showroom features a wonderful variety of solutions from our favorite manufacturers?   If not, then it’s time you visited our new showroom, or at least cruise the photos on our home page, at www.officeexpressnow.com. 

Our furniture sales have been growing, despite the economy, so we must be doing something right!  I hope that if you are in need of desks, chairs, files, workstations, tables, or other office furniture you will give us a call. 

Our goal is your complete satisfaction. That, by the way, includes your budget!  Give us a chance to look out for your best interests, while creating a solution that works in every way.

Rewards Program

Thank you to everyone who has signed up for our Rewards Program!  Over 150 customers have enrolled in the first month.

Just to recap (in case you missed it last month): the Rewards Program gives you points for purchases you make at Office Express.  With our Rewards Program you will get 10 points for every $50 in your order (order minimum of $50 to receive point certificate.)  You can accumulate and redeem points for various items, or you can receive $50 cash for every 250 points that you accumulate.  (That’s $1250 in purchases or 2% for you math fans.)

So of course, if we have a Rewards Program, we need a catalog for you to browse so that you can cash them in.  But this catalog will be a little different, in that we are developing it to support the things we talk about all the time; supporting local businesses and charities.  It’s very interesting to see the restaurants, sports teams, celebrities and charities that all of you have suggested for our catalog.

We are looking for items, services or charities that we can promote within this program. If your business or charity is interested, please e-mail me about your idea. As far as charities go, we will match the points that you, our valued customers, might donate to these causes. We all have to support each other and I see this as just one more way we can do so.  We are also working to find “fun” things for the office, since so many of you have requested that option.  (Let’s face it…we all spend a lot of time at work.  Anything we can do to make it more fun is worth doing.)

So if you haven’t sign up for the Rewards Program yet…what are you waiting for?  You’re buying stuff anyway. Why not get something back for your office?  Here’s the link for the sign up form. http://www.officeexpressnow.com/rewards.aspx

And once again – from my team to you – thank you for your business.

February 20, 2008

A Note From Mike Carr

Rewarding Our Customers

My parents taught me a lot of things.  It seems obvious now, but two of the things they drilled into us kids were personal accountability and good manners.  As I have matured, I’ve come to realize that these things are an important part of business.  If I tell a customer I will do something, I do it.  When we let a customer down, I take it personally.  Even when things are out of my control, I still take personal responsibility for the outcome.  We’ve tried to take that attitude here at Office Express as well.  We will go out of our way to accommodate most requests.

In addition to personal accountability, the words “thank you” are an awfully important part of business.  It seems simple enough, but saying “thanks” makes a difference. People feel appreciated when you thank them.

So to you, my customers, I would once again like to say, “thank you.”  We appreciate your business very much.  It matters to every person that works here.  So although I don’t see you face to face as often as I would like, I still want you to know how much we appreciate you and your business.  Take a look at the next few articles to see some of the ways we plan to put that appreciation into programs and services for you.

New Rewards Program

Our current customers are the foundation of our success. In an effort to say “thanks” in a tangible way, we instituted a Rewards Program on the first of February.

I know that a lot of companies have rewards programs going these days. (I have a Speedy Rewards card and I don’t even know what it’s for!)  With our Rewards Program, you will get 10 points for every $50 dollars in orders.  You can accumulate and redeem points for various items, or you can receive $50 cash for every 250 points that you accumulate.  (That’s $1,250 in purchases or 2% for you math fans.)

Rewards Catalog…supporting what we are about.

So of course if we have a Rewards Program, we need a catalog for you to browse so that you can cash them in.  But this catalog will be a little different, in that we are developing it to support the things we talk about all the time:  supporting local businesses and charities.

We are looking for items, services or charities that we can promote within this program. If your business or charity is interested, please e-mail me about your idea. As far as charities go, we will match the points that you, our valued customers, might donate to these causes. We all have to support each other and I see this as just one more way we can do so.

Coming Soon….Fabulous Fridays

I know that a lot of people breathe a sigh of relief when Friday rolls around.  Well, now we are going to offer you a reason to get really excited about Fridays!  Office Express is pleased to introduce Fabulous Fridays beginning March 1.

Each Friday, we will put a special offer on our website.  Look for the new tab on our site called Fabulous Fridays. We will put some outstanding offers on it each week.  In fact, one of the items we plan to feature at least once per month is copy paper. (Does anyone use copy paper now in the era of the paperless office? J )

We will send you an email when this new feature is up and running.  It’s just one more reason to look forward to Fridays!

January 31, 2008

A Note From Mike Carr

I have to confess… I’m getting out my megaphone with this issue of the Express Press!  Why?  Because I feel there are some critical things we need to think about and know about before we spend our corporate or private dollars. 

I hope you’ll read this information and think seriously about it.  If you have thoughts you would like to share, please shoot them back to me and we can get a dialogue going.

Who Keeps America Going?

We sometimes use the expression “mom and pop” business to describe small businesses in America.  I often hear people refer to these types of businesses in a rather mocking tone.  However, before we laugh at them, we should consider their impact.

Did you know that 70% of all U.S. businesses are classified as small businesses?  That’s right!  Small business drives the U.S. economy. 
   

1. Small businesses employ half of all private sector employees.

2. They pay 44.3 percent of total U.S. private payroll.

3. They generated 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs annually over the last decade.

4. They produce 13 to 14 times more patents per employee than large patenting firms.

5. Small businesses employ 39 percent of high tech workers (such as scientists, engineers, and computer workers.)

(Source: SBA)

"Small business drives the American economy," said Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the Office of Advocacy in a press release. "   Main Street  provides the jobs and spurs our economic growth.

However, in addition to the tremendous contribution that small business makes to the overall economy, there are two other things I would like to point out. 

The first point is something you’ve heard me talk about before.  When you spend your money with a small local business, more than 25% of the money stays in the local economy.  Furthermore, every dollar spent is re-churned seven times among other businesses as well. So your dollars have a lasting impact on the region.

Click here to see a Power Point Study by one of our suppliers.

Click here to see just the graphs from the study. 

Chances are good that if you are reading this article, you are a small business.   Would you like to see some re-churned money coming in the door?  I thought so!  Who wouldn’t?

The second point is about competitiveness.  The perception is that small businesses can’t compete with the “buying power” of large businesses. I’m sure it’s true that larger companies have some advantage.  My question is: do those dollars go to the customers, or to the corporate wallet? For example, Staples’ public earnings reports show their average GP% as 34%. I could only dream of a 34% gross profit margin!  How can this be? 

It’s simple.  Many large companies offer low prices when they enter a market.  Their deep pockets allow them to drive out the competition, and then they raise their prices.  Do you ever wonder why they ask for your zip code before you get your price?   (Think about this…)  So yes, while large companies may be paying less for the goods they sell, you’re not receiving the benefit of that savings unless you own stock in their company!

It’s really all about perception.  For example, we do routine, apples to apples audits against our competition.  We make sure the item and the units of measure are the same…and we are competitive.  But if your competition doesn’t measure the same way, the results are skewed.  So does that make them cheaper?  Or does that just provide the perception (erroneous) that they are cheaper?

If you are curious, take a look at a few of these links regarding Office Depot and the massive fraud that has been uncovered in their organization by an independent audit.

www.idealercentral.com/archives/id_SPjan08.pdf

http://www.hillonsales.com/?p=82

The Bottom Line

We make choices every day about where we spend our money.  We make choices every day about how we conduct our business.  I hope you will think seriously about how our individual actions can lead to success…or failure. 

It is my personal goal to make sure we support each other in this difficult economy, and beyond.  I want all of you to be around next year, and I sure am planning to work hard so that we are too!

January 11, 2008

A Note From Mike Carr

We started off the New Year in a rather unusual fashion – we had no power at our new facility, thanks to the enormous dumping of snow that we received on New Year’s Day.  I just can’t say enough to thank Kim Sutton, who very kindly allowed all our calls to be routed to her home that day.  She entered 106 orders in a single day!  Thank you so much to everyone who called and to Kim who made it all happen.

I thought the problem was over, but the next day brought new challenges.  We had no heat this time, because the gas company had shut off the gas due to the power outage.  So we had electric, but no heat.  Let me tell you….it was COLD!  Fortunately the new building withstood the challenges with no burst pipes or other major disasters.  Heat was restored around noon and finally we got back to normal.

Thank you to everyone for their patience as we dealt with these utility challenges.  Hopefully this is it for the year!

Our Sincere Thanks

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to our customers for your business in 2007.  You might not know how important your business is to us and to other locally owned companies as well, so I’d like to share a few numbers with you.  These numbers come from a study comparing the impact of purchases at a chain store to the effect of dollars spent with local businesses:

·         More than 25% of the money spent locally stays in the local economy.

·         Every dollar spent is re-churned seven times among other businesses as well. So your dollars have a lasting impact on the region.

Click here to see a Power Point Study by one of our suppliers.

Click here to see just the graphs from the study.

You may not think these numbers are significant, but I do.  Our community can’t afford to send money out of state. I keep hearing about people who have lost, or are about to lose, their homes.  I hear about families with serious illness who can’t afford insurance to pay for treatment.   I hear about people who have lost their jobs.  Yikes!  Just when you start feeling sorry for yourself, you realize just how good you have it.

The income we provide to our employees, and the dollars we distribute in this community, would not be possible without you.  We vow to support and promote other local businesses.  We promise to be a cost-effective supplier to you.  And if there’s any way in which we can make your experience better, please don’t hesitate to let me know. 

Thank you.

Resolutions

If you’ve put “develop mission statement” on your list of goals for 2008, you’re in for a challenge.  I recommend Dilbert’s Mission Statement Generator!

http://dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/games/career/bin/ms.cgi

 

December 28, 2007

A Note From Mike Carr
 

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are now back in the swing of things in this New Year.  I would like to share a story and a perspective that may help you think differently about your experiences in 2008.

I received a “friend-of-a-friend” type email late in the day on December 23, about a family skiing in Colorado that was trapped by an avalanche.  The father was buried in snow up to his waist, and he couldn’t find his eleven-year old son, Max.  It took 30 minutes to find him, and he was unconscious when searchers located him.  It is usually said that people need to be found within 15 minutes if they are to have a hope of surviving.

Imagine how you would feel if this was your son.  I know I hugged my ten-year-old an awful lot that night.  The next day, Max was still in critical condition, and his family was requesting prayers for him.  My family decided to say the Rosary for Max on Christmas Eve, asking God to heal him.  We arrived home well past midnight, and I checked for any last email updates.  Joy surged through me as I saw that Max had regained consciousness and appeared to be fine!  Our family experienced a moment of awe at the grace of God and the power of prayer.

Now here’s how this ties to perspective for 2008.  We humans tend to write things off as coincidence.  We take credit when things go well, and blame others (or God) when things are difficult.  I, for one, am vowing to be more observant in 2008.   I will give thanks for the many ways God takes care of us, and  I will glance in the mirror when I’m looking for someone to blame.  May this be a year of blessing for you and your family.

(If you would like to learn more about Max’s story, click here for a report on ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=4060278&page=2  Look on the right side to see an interview on the Today Show.  I’ll warn you in advance: it’s tough to listen to the 911 call.)

December 05, 2007

A Note From Mike Carr

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Our family went to South Carolina to meet up with the Carr relatives for the holiday. The entire clan seems to suffer from the same game obsession...and competitive spirit!  Unfortunately, the Mike Carr family fared about as well as the Lions in the Thanksgiving Day football game, losing 49-21.  However, we regained our honor in volleyball, bocce, euchre, pegs and jokers, and one round of golf.  (Yes I’m still sore!)

My spirit of gratitude received an unexpected sharpening before I left for South Carolina.  Two different people talked to me about the fact that they might lose their house to foreclosure. One of them is 80 years old; he just got out of the hospital after a 10-week stay and now he has to fight to keep his house. It reminds me of Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. I also received several emails from people in the industry who have lost their jobs or are looking to make a move.  Talk about giving me something to ponder during a 15-hour van ride. 

While this sad news made me grateful for my personal situation, it also stirred up my determination once again.  All of us who own businesses, and live in work in Detroit need to stick together and support each other!  

I know Office Express isn’t as big as our national competitors, but we compete with the best of them.  We conduct our business in a fair and ethical manner. We do our best to support and recommend other area businesses. And so I ask you to continue to give us a chance.  If we’re not where we need to be, let us know!  We’ll match or beat any price and you’ll be helping a local business that supports local people, local business and local charities. We’re using this same spirit of cooperation and reason to guide our purchasing choices too.  Let's all stick together and help each other.  We can make a difference! 

November 16, 2007

A Note From Mike Carr

For any of you that might be keeping track…yes, the newsletter is late this month!  In all honesty, though, we do have a good reason.  We moved our warehouse and offices over the last two weekends. There are still a lot of boxes to sort through and things to organize, but we are at least functional.   Our new address is 1280 East Big Beaver Road, Suite A, Troy, MI  48083.  Phone and fax remain the same.

There is no doubt that moving is one of the larger pains in life. There always seem to be surprise  expenses, more things to do than you thought, and of course the “Wouldn’t it be nice if we…….” But it’s also true that the thinking is worse than the actual doing.  It seems so overwhelming when you first begin, but as you start chipping away at it things go pretty quickly.

Our new facility offers a full furniture showroom, featuring systems furniture from Holland MI manufacturer Trendway. The Trendway portion of the showroom is complete, and other products will be coming in shortly. If you’re considering furniture or moving in the next year, please let us know. We know what you’re in for and I know we can help.

Speaking of furniture…don’t underestimate the impact of surroundings on employee morale.  That’s a good lesson for all of us to remember.  If we want our employees to feel valued and worthwhile, then the physical space should reinforce that message. Some things go beyond dollars and cents.   What’s good for your employees is usually good for your company too.

One last thing: I can’t believe it’s almost Thanksgiving. I know it’s early this year, but I’ve still got employees going golfing in this weird warm weather! Something just doesn’t feel right.   I know it’s been a tough year for a lot of people in Detroit, but I believe that the great majority still have a lot to be thankful for. I’m grateful for your support. I’m grateful to have survived another year. I’m grateful for a terrific staff and I’m grateful for the prospects of a great future in a great country in a great city. Happy Thanksgiving!

 October 2007 (2nd Edition)

A Note From Mike Carr

The moving plan and the related bumps in the road are in full motion.  We need this!  We need that!  Wouldn't it be nice if we did the other thing!  This, that and the other thing all cost money.  It's tempting to be cheap and say no, but in the long run, most of these things have either been an Achilles heel or will become one if we don't make the right decision now, which usually means spending the money.

I know I'm partial, but one of the most important things is making sure the office layout is properly done and that the furniture fits how your employees interact with each other and your customers or clients. Over the next month we will show you how our move has progressed and how our design team has used various types of furniture to accomplish specific needs.

You can count on us for sound advice if you’re planning on moving. The time may never be better to lock in an attractive lease rate or to purchase a new building. Yes, moving is a hassle as it costs money. But the money you save on your lease or purchase can far out weigh the short term expense and hassle of moving.  See the local business spotlight about real estate help and call us to maximize your space and minimize those moving hassles.

October 2007

A Note From Mike Carr

Those of you who have read our 20th Anniversary Book or who have been customers for a long time know that from time to time we have changed locations.  I honestly think this is one of the most stressful things a business owner can do.  But stress notwithstanding…we’re going to do it again!

Our current facility was always intended to be a temporary resting spot.  I sold our previous building rather quickly and had to find a new home fast.  I’ve been looking at new space for quite a while and have finally found the right location.  We’re going to be moving to 1280 E. Big Beaver in Troy in November.  We’ll be sure to communicate more details as soon as we have them! 

Our new facility will feature a furniture showroom that puts the spotlight on our capabilities in a whole new way.  I’m excited about that opportunity.

But I think what I’m most excited about is the reaction of our employees.  Who knew that a change in scenery could cause so much enthusiasm!  I know our current space isn’t exactly the Taj Mahal, but I didn’t think it was that bad!  I guess I underestimated the impact of surroundings on employee morale.  That’s a good lesson for all of us to remember.  If we want our employees to feel valued and worthwhile, then the physical space should reinforce that message.

Once again, thanks to all of you who make our business possible.  We look forward to welcoming you to our new facility in November!

September 13, 2007

Back to School

Fall makes me feel like a little kid. When my kids go back to school, I’m almost as upset as they are.  Another summer is done.  We have to suffer through another long winter before we can have fun again.  No more vacations. L 

Chaos reigns in our house every morning as we’re trying to pack the kids and their stuff together and hustle them out the door.  Lunches, projects, homework, sports gear…it’s like we’re moving every morning!  I’ve never been a morning person in the first place and my kids inherited those genes.  Everyone is crabby in the morning!

Okay, so now I’ve got that out of my system.  It’s time to think about some other traits that I share with people besides morning crabbiness.  For me, and perhaps for many of you, September seems to be one of those “new year” kinds of months.  Now that the kids are back in school, it’s time for us to get back to work in a serious way as we seek to advance our businesses, our jobs and our careers.

September is a good time for self evaluation.  Review your New Year’s Resolutions.  Hmmmmm…that’s painful!   But it’s not too late.  You still have four months left in the year.

I actually could really use your help in achieving one of my goals for this year.  My goal was to increase sales by 10%.  That’s really not very much.  So if you could, please look at your buying habits.  How could we help simplify your business?  If you’re buying from multiple vendors, give us a shot.  At least, let us know what we have to do to compete! 

We can save you time, effort and hassle.  We can also make you feel good about your purchasing decisions.  When you order from Office Express, you will be supporting a company that supports other local businesses and charities.  When you order from Office Express, you are buying from a company that competes and wins in a field filled with giants.  When you order from Office Express, you are ordering from your neighbors…people who grew up here and have lived in the area almost all their lives.

We have to stick together if we are going to survive.  Let us know how we can gain your business and let’s talk about how we can save you time and money.

  

August 15, 2007

Vacations

I actually heard someone say recently that he hated vacations.  Thought they were a waste of time and money.  I was floored.  You see, I LOVE vacations!  They’re one of the reasons I work.

I remember attending a seminar put on by Dan Smith of The Strategic Coach.  His basic premise about vacation was simple.  People who take regular time off get re-energized and renewed.  They are actually more productive than the people who don’t take vacations.  He reminded us that while “freedom” is one reason why entrepreneurs go into business for themselves, it’s rarely something they enjoy once they have the option.  Many entrepreneurs think that running hard all the time is just part of “paying their dues” for being self-employed.  (Check out his article on life balance.)

While I didn’t like to admit it, I realized I had fallen into that trap.  So now…I take vacations.  And I don’t apologize for them either.  As a matter of fact, I’m writing this article while overlooking the ocean in South Carolina!  I’m enjoying this place and this time with my family.  Sure, it takes me a few days to unwind and become lazy.  But we have an excellent team at Office Express and they give me the peace of mind that allows me to refresh my mind in this way.
 

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Mike Carr

June 29, 2007

 Happy 50th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

This past Friday, our family celebrated my Mom and Dad’s 50^th wedding anniversary. According to the US Census Bureau ( http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-19.html) only five percent (5%) of couples make it that far.  In fact, only 52% made it to their 15^th anniversary.  So that’s a pretty amazing accomplishment.

 

We threw a party to celebrate the occasion and relive some of the memories of the last 50 years with friends and relatives.  Everyone had a great time. We planned the party for months and held it outdoors at my house.  My wife started watching movies like Father of the Bride to see how to decorate the tent.  She was driving me crazy…stop, rewind, pause, “what do you think of those flowers?   Or what about those candles?”   I’m not big on the details, but in the end those details helped make a special occasion even more memorable.

 

Being married seems to be good for you, according to research by the Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-marriage/MH00108) and others (http://www.city-journal.org/html/10_4_why_marriage_is.html).  The benefits of being married include better health, more money and – of course - happiness.

 

As someone who got married a little later in life (30), I have to say I agree with those studies.  I am far happier and more fulfilled than when I was single.  I’m not so sure I have more money.  I know we have a lot more payments!  I guess it did say for richer or for poorer.  Many traditional wedding ceremonies talk about how in marriage, “the two become one flesh.”   In looking back at my Mom and Dad’s marriage, I can see this clearly.  Although they retain their individuality, they are better and happier together.   They always look for unselfish ways to show their love.  My brothers and sister and I have all observed this and learned the art of a happier life from them.  Thank you for everything, Mom and Dad!

Ask the Office Doc

Admit it…you save the advice column for last when you read the Sunday Detroit News.   After all…it’s pretty entertaining to read about someone else’s gullible personality or annoying boyfriend…as long as it’s not your problem!

So in the spirit of constant entertainment (and occasionally helpful hints), Office Express is pleased to introduce The Office Doc.   Your notes and comments will be kept in strict confidence.  From the sublime to the ridiculous…we invite you to submit your questions.  Who knows?  Your question may be just what someone else might need to see.  (Or you might be the reason that hundreds of people are entertained…which in of itself is a good thing.)

What’s on your mind?     Ask the Office Doc

 

June 11, 2007
 
Local disc jockey, Rhonda Hart dies

I’m 49 years old, and I grew up in an era where rock and roll was king. I listened to WRIF and felt a certain kinship to Ken Calvert and Arthur “Baby” Penhallow.  However, as the years passed, particularly after I got married and had kids, the message of rock and roll didn’t hold the same meaning in my life.

I started listening to a Christian station, WMUZ 103.5, when one of our employees went to work there.  We did some business with each other and as I listened to the station, I found it had the musical power of rock, but with messages that mirrored my own experiences.

In the same manner, I began relate to the disc jockeys on this station.  They chatted about things in their own lives that frequently sounded like mine.  The morning team, John and Rhonda, struck a chord with me when I learned that Rhonda had worked at my old favorite station WRIF.  I also learned she attended Warren Woods Tower, graduating three years after me.  Although Rhonda didn’t have any kids, I could definitely relate to many of the things she talked about.  She came from the same humble East side neighborhood that I did and from an old life she wasn’t exactly proud of.

Last Monday night she unexpectedly passed away. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070606/UPDATE/706060429/1032   All of her fans were shocked on Tuesday morning.   The same person who was on the air Monday, who went to lunch and dinner with friends, was found dead on the kitchen floor by her husband at 10:00 that evening.

What followed on the air the next few days was utterly amazing.  Her on-air partner John Culbert, who of course loved Rhonda, decided to do the show the next morning.  Although he was deeply upset, he found the courage to talk about Rhonda… her life, her death, and the Christian message of eternal life for those who have faith in Jesus Christ.  This message continued throughout the week, with John and the other personalities on the station sharing stories about this great woman.  Her husband even went on the air the day before the funeral to share some of the things that Rhonda wrote in her journal.  The message was of joy not sorrow.

I felt drawn to listen at every opportunity and I learned a lot about Rhonda.  She was a staunch advocate for children in need and for the homeless.  She also was bold and unafraid in her faith, even in the face of many dangerous situations.  She would bring food and eat it with homeless people living under the 8 Mile and I-75 overpass.  She would put these same people in a hotel room for Christmas.  She invited a group of skinheads to church at Wal-Mart – and they came!   She stopped for a man in a bad neighborhood, and when he asked, “Where are we going now baby” she took him to church!  She walked the talk. 

We are all going to die.  While it’s not pleasant to consider, it’s a fact.  The other fact is that we don’t know the day or the hour.  We have to make the most of every minute.  Rhonda was a great example of how a changed person can live her life for God’s glory.  The station manager gave a message centered on Matthew 25:21, which says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  I think that sums it up nicely.  I will miss her and a lot of other people will too.

At Office Express, we share Rhonda’s passion for living a Christ-centered life (Vision Statement).  It’s not easy to live up to, but if we can affect even one life, it will be worth it to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

 

June 1, 2007

A Note From Mike Carr

It seems like we just sent it out, but it’s already been over 6 months. I hope that you received and enjoyed our 20^th anniversary book. I think it is absolutely impossible to say thank you too often, so let me say it again: THANK YOU! I hope you feel our appreciation for the way in which your business has helped us reach this milestone. (Click here if you'd like us to send you your own personal copy)

And since I now have a book under my belt, I figured that a newsletter had to be pretty simple! I hope to share information that will help you do more, with less stress and less cost. I also hope that through these brief pages, you will get to know us a little better.

The newsletter wasn’t the hard part. However, getting it to you on a regular basis was more challenging than I thought it would be. Just a few months before we did the anniversary book, I started to receive an industry newsletter that was not a standard newsletter telling all of us all the things we are doing wrong in our business. It came on a regular basis via e-mail with bullet points on the subjects. If something caught my interest, I would click on the point of interest and it would take me directly to that point in the newsletter. Beyond that point I could also scan over other items he had written over the past few months. I decided this was a good way to reach all of you.

With my best wishes,

Mike Carr


Joke of the month

I said I would keep it fun and light so here is something to start off with: my joke of the month.

Teaching Math through the Decades

1950: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is four-fifths of the price. What is his profit?

1960: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is four-fifths of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

1970 (new maths): A logger exchanges a set L of lumber for a set M of money. The cardinality of set M is 100, and each element is worth $1.00. Make 100 dots representing the elements of the set M. The set C of the costs of production contains 20 fewer points than set M. Represent the set C as a subset of M, and answer the following question: What is the cardinality of the set P of profits?

1980: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80, and his profit is $20. Your assignment: underline the number 20.

1990: (outcome-based education): By cutting down beautiful forest trees, a logger makes $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? (Topic for class participation: How did the forest birds and squirrels feel?)

2000: By laying off 40% of its loggers, a company improves its stock price from $80 to $100. How much capital gain per share does the CEO make by exercising his stock options at $80? Assume capital gains are no longer taxed because this encourages investment.

Well, I though it was funny. Send me your best jokes for next month.


It’s a BLOG

I like to at least pretend like I know what’s going on in this fast -moving technological world. But I have to admit that I really didn’t know what a blog was until six months ago. So if you’re not quite clear on the whole blog concept – you’re in good company!

A blog is a user generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order. Blogs often provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries.

We’re going to leap onto the blog bandwagon – sort of. Our website will contain not only the current version of our Office Express Press newsletter, but also an archival function that allows you search for past information. And maybe someday we’ll even have the option for you to post comments and additions to it. Our blog will be about business: your business, our community and our employees. I hope it becomes a useful as well as entertaining tool for you.


Stayin’ Alive

As I mentioned in our anniversary book, I bought this business 20 years ago, in the same month and year that Office Depot started their business. The first question everyone always asks after I tell them what kind of business I’m in is, “How can you compete?”

The fact of the matter is we compete well on many levels. But we pay close attention to three things in particular: price, people, and promptness.

Let’s start with price, since that’s a huge issue. It’s quite common for prices in the supplies world to vary wildly from day to day…simply because it’s easy to do. In contrast, we honor our prices for a complete quarter. We also go one step further. With over 25,000 items in our catalog, it’s just not possible to check every one, every day, against every competitor. So we will match any competitor’s published price, anytime. With those two philosophies, competing becomes quite simple on the price front.

Next, let’s talk about people. I don’t know about you, but when I call a business, whether it’s for an order or a complaint, I’m impatient. I don’t like to play the “figure out which button to push” game. I want to talk to a person – preferably a friendly, helpful person – who can either solve my problem or put me in touch with the right person. Knowing that many people feel the same way, we’ve decided to stick with the old-fashioned approach to service. Our phones are always answered by real people whose goal is to help the customer find an answer as quickly as possible.

Last but not least, when I place an order for something, I want all of it, and I want it yesterday….or at the very latest, tomorrow! I also don’t want a shipping charge tacked on to my order. Ninety-eight percent of our orders are delivered complete the next day, with no shipping charge. Prompt and perfect: that’s our goal.

These three elements – price, people and promptness – are a big part of our stay-alive strategy. But the bigger part – the part we can’t control – is our partners in the local economy.

Our state economy is one of the worst in the country. Our jobs are being outsourced; people are moving out of state, people are hurting. We must support one another, or none of us will survive.

We sincerely thank you for partnering with us. And we are just as sincere when we say we’d like to partner back. Share with us what you need, where your business is going, and what you are trying to do. Together, we can invent mutually beneficial solutions. And that way, we’ll all be “stayin’ to thrive.” Want to share some thoughts? Email me: mikecarr@officeexpressnow.com.

March 4, 2009


A Note From Mike Carr

Going Green