Blogs - The Binding and Laminating Supermarkethttp://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/en-gbCopyright: (C) The Binding and Laminating Supermarket, see http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/privacy.aspx for terms and conditions of reusehttp://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/images/thebindingandlaminating_web_logo.jpghttp://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Introducing…The_Invincible_Document!_249.aspx To transform your defenseless documents into waterproof, tamper-proof and cleanable documents, all you have to do is LAMINATE them. They look much more professional too. You can laminate almost anything- signs, membership cards, menus and even recipes! We’ve got a super range of laminators in store for you. http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_You’re_‘bound’_to_find_a_great_deal!_237.aspx Before reading this article, I didn’t have a clue about binding. I always thought that there was only one way to bind documents. Now not only am I aware of which options are the best for my office, but I can also get huge savings on the best quality binding machines. For those who prefer to bind documents manually, there is a vast range of binding accessories and binding covers. Binding is such a quick and effective way of turning a few loose printouts into a professional and easy-to-use document. With such great savings available, you can bind documents all day to your heart’s content! http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Even_Chris_Evans_talks_about_stationery!_223.aspxYou know you’ve probably spent too much time in the world of Office Products when you get excited about mentions of stationery on air… while listening to Chris Evans this morning on his Radio 2 breakfast show, I got quite excited when they were discussing the new laminating pouches they have in their studio, apparently they are no longer using their gloss finish ones and have moved onto pouches with a matt finish!  If it’s exciting enough to talk about on-air it’s definitely exciting enough to talk about in our blog! Be like the Chris Evans show and click here for a range of matt-finish pouches.Check out our 4 Top Reasons for Switchinghttp://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Laminating_problems_200.aspxLaminating machines are great and trust me when you have one in the office you’ll never see an un-laminated piece of paper again – they are that addictive; rumour has it some people even laminate name badges to affix to their milk in the communal work fridge … but you didn’t hear that from us! Much as they are great machines to have, if you don’t use the correct pouches with the correct amount of content, you can occasionally have problems. We wouldn’t want anything to disturb your laminating marathon, that’s why we’ve put together a Troubleshooting Guide, which should sort out any problems you’re having in a jiffy. Click here for the article …For all your laminating machines and accessories check out the www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.comhttp://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Trouble_with_your_Binding_Machine_191.aspxTearing your hair out!  . . . well take a look at our Troubleshooting Guide from Fellowes it gives you the solutions to a lot of problems and may just get your day back on track! For all your binding machines, accessories and covers check out: www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.comhttp://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Would_you_like_to_win_the_‘Trip_of_a_Lifetime’_176.aspxWell make a ‘QuickStart’ and do so . . .  with the GBC QuickStart laminators.There’s 2 x Golden Tickets each giving the opportunity for 2 people to visit New York, Boston and Miami complete with air travel, hotels, transfers and $750 US dollars to spend. And 20 x Silver Tickets which give you the chance to win a lifetime experience  . . .  drive a Ferrari, go up in a hot air balloon, make a parachute jump or fly a glider. How it works just click here for all the details. Related products: 225965 GBC Quickstart H320 A3 Laminator @ £138.00 225973 GBC Quickstart H420 A3 Laminator @ £152.00 for all your binding and laminating requirements just check out our website: www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.comhttp://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Binding_Supplies_167.aspxFor that perfect finishing touch give your document the edge by using GBC spines and covers. GBC binding covers are available in a wide variety of materials, colours and textures; Match your binding covers to your spine for a high quality presentation.   Check out the range at: www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com for Surebind, VeloBind, GBC binding combs, Rexel wire binding and GBC ColorCoils binding combs. Don't forget the fantastic range of covers; PVC, leather look, polypropylene, recyclable in clear and a range of colours . . . everything you could need to make sure you have that perfect finished document.http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_You_only_get_one_chance_to_make_a_first_impression_165.aspxGive your ideas the competitive edge. Grab your audience's attention and make a great impression with a professionally bound document. GBC® binding machines and supplies will help your reports and proposals look sharper and more impressive than ever before. Make sure you impress with our simple step by step guide  Take a look at: www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com for all your machines, accessories; covers, spines in fact everything you need to make that all important impression.http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Binding_Supplies_from_GBC_151.aspxGBC spines and covers give your document that perfect finishing touch for all applications. The GBC binding covers are available in a wide variety of materials, colours and textures; Match your binding covers to your spine for a high quality presentation. Spine Accessories:CombsWireCoilsVelobindCovers:MultipurposeThermal For a simple step by step guide on how to choose the best solution for your binding click herehttp://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Binding_and_laminating_equipment_at_low_prices_with_local_service_139.aspxYou probably already know that we have a massive range of binding and laminating machines at great prices - but did you know that we have depots all over the country (Liverpool, North Wales, Birmingham, Norfolk and Devon to name just five at random) So what ever your binding and laminating requirements you can be sure that buying them here you'll checkout happy every time!http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Top_Ten_Popular_Binding_and_Laminating_products_for_all_your_presentation_needs_130.aspxWe strive to get you the best deals on all the equipment you need to make sure your presentations look as good as possible - including binding machines, laminating machines, AND all the consumables you'll need to keep on producing the goods and winning those customers. You can browse and search the site to find what you need and also see this article on our top ten most popular binding and laminating products to make finding the ideal office equipment even easier for you.  http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Even_more_secure_site_to_buy_binding_and_laminating_products_115.aspxSymantec have just audited our web site and certified www.Thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com as safe and secure with their Norton SafeWeb certificate.  Click the link to read more about our Internet Security.http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Payment_options_now_include_Purchasing_and_Procurement_Cards_for_Police,_Government_and_Healthcare_95.aspxWe have now increased the number of payment options available at checkout to include purchasing and procurement cards in addition to all debit cards and credit cards including American Express (Amex). Specifically the payment options have been extended to include : Police Purchasing Cards Police Procurement Cards Government Purchasing Cards Government Procurement Cards Civil Service Purchasing Cards Civil Service Procurement Cards Healthcare Purchasing Cards Healthcare Procurement Cards If there are queries on any payment option please contact us on 0113 391 1107.http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_New_lower_prices_85.aspxWe've just lowered many prices on our website and the best "new deal" is on self-sealable plastic pouch cards which are brilliant for do-it-yourself plastic identity cards or to protect season tickets, identity cards, business cards, club membership cards, etc etc Browse the site for great deals on binging and laminating equipment especially the 3L Pouches Self-Laminating Cards which you can see here and save 41%!!http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Binding_machines__not_just_for_boring_old_work_64.aspxBinding Machines can come in pretty handy when you want to produce a special project. For instance, the use of binding machines and scrapbooks go hand in hand. If you have ever wondered, what you could do with all those precious scrap-booking pages that will make them not, only more impressive in appearance but longer lasting, you should consider binding your scrapbooks with binding machines. Binding machines work well for any assortment of printed documents or photos. For instance, you can use them not, only for your scrap-booking needs but also for your printed digital scrapbook pages, your family photo album or even your own printed and bound handmade journals. You can create all sorts of interesting gifts for those on your gift-giving list while using binding machines. Binding machines are great for any type of personal binding project you may have in mind. They are also great for any type of documents you want to highlight or showcase for professional reasons or business reasons as well. When you have and use binding machines your only limit in creativity is your imagination. Try your hand at creating all sorts of bound documents whether for fun and relaxation or business requirements.http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Binding_for_your_presentations_A_great_way_to_keep_everything_in_one_place_62.aspxYou normally happen across life changing things when you least expect it and such a thing happened to me the other day when I was at a conference. Actually, full disclosure : it wasn’t life changing at all, but it did make me think about how to present things in a really quite exciting way. Conferences are normally pretty dull (unless the speaker is astounding), but at this one (a conference about the effects of retail on the environment) had a big outsized, hard backed folder for each delegate.  The cover of the folder was made from recycled card and deliberately looked quite ‘rustic’ and the insides were a mixture of more recycled paper, oversized cardboard and a surprise – laminated presentations. The effect was stunning. The content could have been extremely dull, but instead of simply providing lots of stats and dry information on boring old paper, they actually spent time in the presentation. The graphs were in 3d, easy to do, but the paper used was outstanding and it made them jump from the page.Laminated pages weren’t just there because they could be, they were useful pages that you would actually like to take out of the folder and put somewhere to be seen. Information on simple ways to save energy were presented in a way that made you actually want to do it. These ideas had been stolen, wholesale, from the US. These were simple scrapbook techniques and they worked superbly, the difference was, a big company was doing this. They were being a bit brave and letting the creative side of the business take over for a bit. Don’t you wish more companies would do that? http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Using_that_dull_office_equipment_creativily_56.aspxChristmas isn’t that far away now and I guess some of you will be panicking and wondering what you can get for that last minute gift for auntie Mabel and Uncle Jack. Well, although it might be tempting to pop down to the shops and buy them the latest miniaturised helicopter imported directly from Japan, how about putting some of the feeling back into Christmas and doing something that is not only unique, but is sure to warm the heart. Over the past few years there has been a return to the ‘mend and make do’ attitude as many struggle with the burden of lower salaries (sometimes no salary at all) and spiralling costs. So why bother buying expensive gifts that nobody really wants anyway? For decades, Christmas became the time when you bought the most expensive yet completely useless stuff ever – but now people are realising that we can actually do something that has far more value than monetary. In America they’ve had this stuff sorted for years. Over there they are all into making personalised gifts, usually featuring photos and postcards and they’ve got the hobby industry wrapped up, but again, you don’t need specialist equipment for this. For example, you could make a ‘life history book' for your uncle as he reaches retirement. Now, this might sound difficult, but bear with me! First of all, you need to write down some of the things he’s done during the last few decades you’ve known him. This should be easy, Uncles are always doing crazy things. Write these down in a bit of a timeline but remember, it doesn’t have to be too accurate. Ask your other relatives for help here. Then, get yourself some decent quality printer paper , preferably coloured (adds to the effect) and write down some of the events –leaving space for a photo on each page. Then all you have to do is add other items such as postcards, shells off the beach – you get the idea, until you have a set of 10-20 pages, all outlining certain events in his life. All you need to do then is stick them all together in a book and this is the easy part. A really simple way of doing this is with a binding machine. You could use the one in the office (I’m sure nobody would mind!), or if you work from home anyway, simply invest in a quality one that will serve you for years. So there you go – office equipment doesn’t need to be dull!http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Presentation,_presentation,_presentation_36.aspxI went to a presentation recently by a company that was attempting to sell me something. It's not important what it was, it was more important that it was expensive. It would have taken quite a lot of my time and money and so I was waiting to be impressed. I'd already shelled out £20 to be there and at the end of it I would have been sold a course for £2000. This course would have apparently allowed me to earn a heck of a lot more, in the region of tens of thousands if I did it right (there's always a get out, isn't there?!) and to be fair, the speaker was fantastic. And then it came to the hand-outs. I'd been persuaded to attend by a friend and I was to come away with a book that would explain to me some of the principals involved so I could go away and try it myself. Fantastic, I thought. And then we got the hand-out. It was a hastily photocopied bunch of sheets, held together (just) by some staples. Really quite disappointing. Now, I can understand that they'd want to keep costs low, but why this low? I was impressed by the presentation, I loved the premise, but I just got the idea that the company was cheap! I learned something that day. I learned that if you want to impress your customers, you've got to do a heck of a lot more that just speak well, you need to follow through and if your material doesn't live up to the presentation - you may well lose the sale. Presenting things well need not cost a fortune, either. We sell binding machines and laminating machines that don't cost a packet - they could actually pay for themselves with the first use. So, if you really want your presentation to last in the minds of the clients - make sure the documentation doesn't fall apart as soon as they leave the seminar. http://www.thebindingandlaminatingsupermarket.com/blogs/blog_Supporting_cottage_industry_28.aspxAs we struggle out of this recession (sorry to use the 'R' word!), we see a whole bunch of new businesses spring up that given a stable and non volatile economy probably would never see the light of day.   That's a nice way of saying "people are being made redundant and starting their own business".   So, with all these new people starting up from their bedrooms, I guess they're going to need stuff, and that's where we come in.   I write this blog because I was asked about publishing manuals and books by a small business just starting out and they'd received a whole bunch of quotes from printing companies. They were quite scary quotes too, and it almost put them off fulfilling their ambition of starting a training company.   Until I pointed out that you can do all this stuff yourself. You see, when you start a business you often get caught up in the thought that you need to make everything you do as shiny and new as is absolutely possible and this guy thought his training manuals needed to be perfectly bound, full colour and published like a book - not so.   In the training world you may notice that manuals are designed to be scribbled on, abused and generally thumbed through every day until they fall apart. They also change regularly and having a few thousand books stuck in a cupboard and unusable because they're out of date is a pretty soul-destroying sight (I've been there).   So, I introduced him to the comb binder. Yeah, exciting huh? But he'd got his first training manual finished and prepared in a week, well in time for his training course which paid for it in a morning.   I was having trouble finding a moral to this story but then it dawned on me - we've just emerged from the age of outsourcing where we send everything we do somewhere else to be done. We're now going into an age of 'do it yourself' where you can not only save money but be closer to your product.