The Future Is Bright And Bold
Whatever the end use, office products with staying power will embrace the latest trends in style and function—and all suppliers agree that the future of office supplies includes a surge in demand for bright colors.
On today’s executive desktops, technology meets tradition with high-end leather accessories such as this leather mouse pad in classic black, which puts an elegant twist on an otherwise ordinary office accessory. Photo courtesy of Strong Leather |
“During the past eight years, the biggest sellers were always black and silver,” Gower says. “But now distributors and their clients are becoming much more adventurous—bright reds, greens, oranges and yellows. The trend is one of being noticed and getting away from safe and conservative.” Even so, classic black and silver tones, including the stainless steel look, are still popular. In terms of style of office supplies, simplicity as well as smooth, streamlined, curved designs are pushing to the forefront.
“Clean designs and sleek materials are used for desktop accessories because the point is to be functional, not create clutter or distraction,” Hoylman says.
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No office item is too small to convey a big message. Even if it gets stored in a drawer, office supply minutiae can serve as powerful promotional vehicles that get passed around.
“Something as simple as rubber bands can really make a great marketing statement,” says Simons.
And indeed it did in the case of one national marketing association. It wanted a creative way to increase attendance and promote its seminars to marketing executives.
The distributor had the clever idea of using MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) Rubber X-bands, which consist of an assortment of double-strength rubber bands in four sizes and colors. The association’s logo was screen-printed on the container, and the package was mailed to prospective attendees with a note that read: “Learn to Think Outside the Box and Expand Your Creativity.”
Rubber bands can also make a great marketing item for banks and investment firms (“Stretch Your Dollar”) or for many other industries (“Be Flexible,” “Stretch the Limits”). |
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