Buying office supplies with Amazon Business

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Where to buy office supplies

Whether you’re starting a new business or you’ve been running your business for awhile, buying office furnishings and office supplies can be time consuming. You may spend hours a week visiting stores and comparing suppliers across multiple locations and catalogs. That’s time you don’t have to spare if you are a small business owner or office manager shouldering many responsibilities.

A more convenient way to buy office supplies is through an online office supply store with multiple sellers. This allows businesses to save time and money by consolidating suppliers. Amazon Business, the world’s largest office supply store, brings together hundreds of thousands of sellers in one place to offer a wide selection of everything you need for work, including office supplies, electronics, furnishings, breakroom supplies, and more from top brands. You can take the guesswork out of shopping by easily evaluating alternative products and getting office supply deals on one easy-to-use site.

Another benefit to shopping from an online office supply store is access to a personalized shopping experience and product reviews. Online retailers can offer personalized search and recommendations to help you find what you need faster and discover new products. And reviews can make product research easy so you can choose quality supplies.

Tips to save time and money buying office supplies

1. Buy from a single location - Buy from an online office supply store with multiple sellers.
2. Track your inventory - Buy the right volume of supplies at the right time.
3. Automate frequent purchases - Eliminate the hassle of reordering with recurring delivery.
4. Buy in bulk - Save time and qualify for quantity discounts.
5. Watch what you’re spending - Track your purchases with spend analysis solutions.

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List of essential office supplies

If you’re starting a new business and need some office supplies ideas, click here for a list of the items most businesses will need to get up and running in four major categories:

1. Office furniture

Choosing the right office furniture is important. A comfortable and ergonomic workplace not only contributes to well-being, it also affects office productivity and entices prospective employees. 

2+ Technology

Gear up with office equipment that enables collaboration and efficiency, plus IT accessories that keep everything running smoothly, like power strips, Wi-Fi routers, and backup storage hard drives. 

3. Office essentials

Office essentials are all of the consumable supplies you need day to day. Think of office basics like paper, notebooks, toner, folders, mailing supplies, writing instruments, and anything else you’ll need to get work done and stay organized. 

4. Breakroom

A well-stocked breakroom can help keep your employees happy and engaged. But since breakroom snacks run out fast, it can be a lot of work to keep your breakroom stocked with healthy snacks and beverages, paper products and cleaning supplies. 

How to choose the right suppliers for your business

Now that you’ve got a good idea of the office supplies you’ll need, get the most value out of your office supply budget by choosing the right suppliers who can get you the right products, when you need them, and at the right price. Here are some important criteria to consider.

1. Cost - Look for transparency when it comes to pricing and compare prices with those offered from other vendors. Also choose suppliers who offer a variety of discounts for high-volume orders.
2. Lead times - Savings won’t mean much if items don’t arrive on time. Lead time is the average time between a supplier receiving an order and shipping it. Look for suppliers with reasonable lead time and shipping options.
3. Payment terms - Businesses need flexible payment options to maximize cash flow. Will the vendor accept a company credit card? Do they offer extended payment terms?
4. Consolidate purchasing - The more you can get from one supplier, the less time you’ll have to spend managing purchasing. While being tied to a few suppliers can simplify the purchasing process, traditional suppliers may lock you into long-term contracts that limit your ability to negotiate prices.