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This month’s blog comes from our partner, Double A Paper.  At Double A, sustainability isn’t a trend, it’s a responsibility. With more than three decades of dedication to sustainable innovation, they have created paper that doesn’t just perform beautifully but also gives back to the planet. Under their “Go Green Together” philosophy, Double A continues to lead the industry with paper that’s world-class in quality and world-conscious in impact.

Building a Legacy of Sustainability

Over 30 years ago, Double A began working hand-in-hand with Thai farmers to transform unused land into something powerful. The result? Paper-Tree initiative—a sustainable farming model where fast growing trees are cultivated on Khan-Na—the empty spaces between rice paddies. This not only generates a new income stream for farming communities but also enriches the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.

Unlike traditional forestry, Paper-Trees require no deforestation, grow quickly, and are constantly replenished—delivering a paper with minimal environmental impact and maximum benefit to people and planet.

A Mill That Thinks Green

The heart of the Double A operation is its fully integrated, state-of-the-art paper mill—a facility built with sustainability at its core. They have engineered an eco-smart production system that minimizes waste, recycles water, and produces clean energy.

A 35-million-cubic-meter reservoir captures rainwater, ensuring a steady water supply while protecting local river ecosystems. And by converting bark and unusable wood chips into biomass fuel, Double A is able to generate renewable energy that powers the mill and supports surrounding communities.

At the same time, they are also investing in solar energy, electric vehicles, and digital technologies to reduce emissions and bring their carbon footprint ever closer to net zero.

Innovation Rooted in Responsibility

Great paper starts with great fiber. That’s why Double A tested over 2,500 tree species to find the one perfectly suited to Thailand’s soil and climate. The result is the Paper-Tree, a tree whose unique fiber creates smoother, thicker, sharper Double A paper—delivering crisp, vivid prints without any bleed-through.

But the drive for perfection goes beyond performance. At every stage—from farmers and suppliers to partners and retailers—Double A brings transparency and integrity to the forefront, using technology to promote fairness, traceability, and shared success across the entire supply chain..

Double the quality, Double the environmental commitment

Double A believes in doing more—for their customers, communities, and the planet. Every ream of paper tells a story of better farming, cleaner energy, and smarter resource use. It’s their way of showing that business growth, community impact, and sustainability can go hand in hand.

Double A: Better Paper, Better World.

When you choose Double A, you’re choosing to be part of something bigger—a commitment to quality and sustainability.  You’re choosing to Go Green Together!

Double A Paper is available at Jacobs Gardner.  Shop www.jacobsgardner.com

The Power of Organization

Being organized can transform your quality of life. It’s not just about tidiness—it’s about creating systems that establish a sense of order in daily operations. By organizing your workspace, you enhance efficiency, reduce stress, and ultimately improve results. When you’re organized, you have more control over your time, space, and effort, leading to increased productivity.

Modern Desktop and Under-Desk Solutions

Safco’s Onyx™ Storage Organizers are a collection of high-quality storage options that cater to a variety of needs. These organizers are ideal for maintaining a clutter-free workspace. For example, they offer letter-size file trays that keep important papers within reach. There’s also a magnetic marker basket that attaches to whiteboards, perfect for quick access during meetings. Some units feature drawers for paperclips and other small supplies, as well as compartments for pens and pencils. With options available in sleek black or clean white, these organizers maximize storage with a minimal footprint.

Commercial Office Organization

The Onyx™ collection extends to commercial office spaces with different styles of magazine racks—ideal for waiting areas or reception spaces. These racks can be mounted on walls or used freestanding, effortlessly fitting into any décor. In the breakroom, the collection offers customizable organizers for utensils, napkins, spices, coffee pods, and more. With dividers and labels, you can tailor the storage system to meet your team’s specific needs.

Mobile Filing Storage

Need flexible storage solutions? The Onyx™ collection includes mobile carts with hanging file storage and additional drawers. These carts are designed with a top shelf for extra supplies and documents, and they can be stored under desks when not in use. The four casters, two of which are locking, allow for smooth mobility without sacrificing stability.

Versatile Design & Durability

Onyx™ organizers aren’t just functional—they’re versatile, working well in a variety of settings. Whether in a corporate office, dorm room, home office, or kitchen, these space-saving solutions blend seamlessly into any environment. The sturdy steel wire and mesh construction, paired with a scratch-resistant matte black powder coat, ensures long-lasting durability. With Safco’s Onyx™ Storage Organizers, you can take control of your workspace in style. Whether you need desktop solutions, mobile filing systems, or breakroom organizers, the Onyx™ collection delivers durable, sleek designs that keep your space tidy and efficient. Get organized, reduce clutter, and maximize productivity with Safco Onyx™.

 

Onyx Organizers are available at Jacobs Gardner, www.jacobsgardner.com

As flu season is upon us, now is a great time to review your office’s preparedness plan. With millions of workdays lost each year due to the flu, proactive measures can help minimize its impact on employees, clients and communities. Flu season typically begins in October and can last until May. Since flu viruses are highly contagious, it’s essential for public facilities to have an action plan in place with effective products, procedures and educational materials to reduce the spread and prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) from occurring.

Regardless of strain, being proactive can help minimize the spread of the flu virus. To help prevent infections from spreading across your facility, consider the following tips:

Prepare As Soon As Possible
The flu is a community-based infection and can spread rapidly, so it’s best not to wait until it arrives to start prevention tactics. Review your plan and check inventory to ensure you’re properly stocked with efficacious handwash, hand sanitizer, cleaning products and personal protection equipment (PPE) to help stop the spread of the virus. Review cleaning product labels, check expiration dates and store enough products to maintain a robust, frequent cleaning schedule. Ensure disinfectants are proven to kill viruses, including influenza, norovirus and SARS-CoV-2. In addition, regularly monitor flu activity in your local area.

Enforce Hand Hygiene Compliance
Hand hygiene is a first line of defense to help stop the spread of the flu. Place signage to remind staff and visitors how to correctly wash hands in all handwashing areas. Make sure to place easily accessible handwash and sanitizer dispensers containing effective products throughout the facility. Consider foam formats with built-in moisturizers to help protect the skin from dryness.

Increase Cleaning Frequency
If flu activity ramps up in your area or an outbreak does occur in the facility, increase daytime cleaning frequency. The flu virus can live on some surfaces for 48 hours, so tackling common touchpoints more often with higher cleaning frequency can help reduce HAIs. Review cleaning procedures with environmental services (EVS) staff and ensure they understand application instructions for every product used. Kill claims vary, and most products require a specific dwell time to kill influenza.

Educate Staff and Visitors
Clear communication is essential to fostering flu prevention. Post signs to remind staff and visitors of flu prevention tips, handwashing protocols and steps to take if they feel unwell. Use a mix of visual cues, posters and email reminders to reinforce the importance of hygiene and PPE use.

Encourage Employee Wellness Initiatives
Consider offering flu vaccinations on-site or encouraging employees to get vaccinated. Facilities can also adopt policies that allow employees to stay home when sick without penalty, reducing the likelihood of flu spread in the workplace. Promoting wellness programs and healthy habits throughout flu season can help mitigate the virus’ impact.

Enhance Facility Ventilation
Improving indoor air quality can also reduce flu transmission. Increase ventilation and consider using HEPA filters in areas with higher occupancy. This can help reduce airborne particles, complementing other surface-level cleaning efforts and creating a healthier indoor environment.

While the flu season can feel overwhelming, having a solid plan, effective products, educational resources and detailed procedures in place can ease the burden and reduce the risk of an outbreak.

This content was provided by our partners at SC Johnson Professional

These products and more can be purchased from Jacobs Gardner at www.jacobsgardner.com or by calling 1-800-638-0983.

This month’s blog comes to us from our Vendor of the Month, Double A Paper.

We are proud to partner with Double A, as they join the Fight Against Breast Cancer.

Double A Paper is proud to donate to the City of Hope Breast Cancer Program this month.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been observed every October since 1985. It can have different meanings for different groups of people. For some, it brings up memories of a tough moment in their lives. Others view it as a chance to show their support for the over 2 million women worldwide who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is also known best for its pink theme color as people around the world adopt the pink color and display a pink ribbon to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and routine screening for the early diagnosis of breast cancer. This October, Double A is proud to “Think Pink” by reflecting on the impact of this disease and continuing our dedication to make meaningful contributions to this important cause through financial donations to the City of Hope Breast Cancer Program.

Breast cancer is among the most common cancers affecting women in the United States. It accounts for 30% of all new cancer cases in women each year. While often viewed as a women’s disease, it’s important to remember that breast cancer has no gender. Men are also at risk. In 2024, more than 360,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer.  Approximately 2,800 will be men, who carry a 19% higher mortality rate than women, largely due to lower awareness, which leads to delayed treatment. Early detection and proper treatment significantly improve survival rates and quality of life for those affected. We encourage everyone to remind your loved ones, to get regular screenings and self-examination for early detection of breast cancer.

Breast cancer affects more than just the individual that is diagnosed, touching families, friends, communities, and businesses. When someone is diagnosed with breast cancer, families often become caregivers, taking on both the emotional and physical burden of supporting their loved ones through treatment and recovery. Listening and providing emotional support can make a big difference for both patients and caregivers. Even though some patients may not survive the battle, their resilience inspires us to support their journey toward recovery and well-being. It’s not just the patients who fight, but also their families and caregivers who walk alongside them. There is no shame in losing the fight. Expressing condolences and offering ongoing support to the grieving family is also valuable in the healing process. They need to know that they are not alone.

At Double A, a leading manufacturer of premium copy paper, we believe in creating Better paper, Better world. Supporting this cause aligns with our mission of making meaningful contributions to society. The City of Hope is one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S. Together, we stand in solidarity with the millions of patients, survivors, caregivers, and ALL who are touched by this disease. You have the power in your hands to make the world a better place! Join Double A in the fight against breast cancer. Learn more about the City of Hope Breast Cancer Program here (linked to https://www.cityofhope.org/clinical-program/breast-cancer).

Source:

• https://www.cityofhope.org/about-city-of-hope
• https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html
• https://www.verywellhealth.com/facts-about-breast-cancer-5410217
• https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-myths/men-do-not-get-breast-cancer-it-affects-women-only/
• https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month/

Double A Paper is available from Jacobs Gardner Office Supply, www.jacobsgardner.com

Author: Julie Morgenstern
This month’s blog comes to us from Organizing Expert, Julie Morgenstern, Best Selling Author of “Organizing From the Inside Out”.  If you’re feeling overwhelmed this fall, this blog is for you!

Do you struggle with your never-ending to-do list? Before long, the whole thing becomes so overwhelming that you stop actually looking at it. You might default to doing whatever is flying at you or what is screaming the loudest. This is a very common phenomenon. Because we have so much to do in our lives, it’s really easy to be overwhelmed.

Whether it’s paper or digital, there are a few principles I recommend to structure your to-do’s so your list becomes approachable. The great unlock is to remember that a to-do is not connected to a when rarely gets done. Each to-do has to get assigned a day or a time. Otherwise, you’re just hoping to do it when you remember it or when you have a free moment (which doesn’t ever seem to happen). Instead, with just a few actionable tips, your to-do list can transform into a realistic game plan to get your most important tasks done.

Integrate To-Do’s Into Your Calendar

A master to-do list can go on for 3+ pages and become so overwhelming you avoid looking at it altogether. I’ll never be able to finish everything on this list, we think to ourselves, so why bother trying? On the other hand, your calendar represents all the time you have to get things done. For every to-do, ask yourself,  “When am I going to do it?” and then schedule it into your calendar, just like a meeting. You’re creating a “Do date” (as opposed to a Due date) for yourself. Your calendar becomes a sort of silent assistant, planning and protecting the time, motivation, and accountability to get things done.

Categorize to Track your Balance

It’s very hard for people to switch their mental gears between very different types of tasks. When your to-do’s are captured in a chronological list, you can feel fragmented as you toggle between work tasks and home tasks or deep thinking and admin tasks. Instead, take time to clearly define the various categories you need to allocate your time between. Define the categories that make sense to you–it can be as simple as Work, Home, and Personal, or more specific within your workday–e.g.Client, Team, Admin. If you capture your to-do’s by category, you’ll be able to keep an eye on the balance across your various roles and responsibilities. And, if any category gets too heavy and is using too much time, you can quickly see what is getting short shrift and come up with an action plan to get back in balance.

Use Action Verbs

A to-do needs to be concrete, actionable, and clear. Start all to-do’s with an action verb. Vague notations, such as “Board report” or “Blog”, burden you with having to remember what you meant and will slow you down as you take the time to remember,” What am I supposed to do with that blog?” Instead, try “Write the first draft of blog.”, or “Polish final draft of blog.” Then add time estimates next to each to-do, especially if you tend to overbook your days. Jotting down a time estimate for each task keeps you very conscious and realistic about how much you can realistically get done in a day. And if you end up with any free time, like a 60-minute meeting gets canceled, you can easily scan your list. You are ready to grab a 60-minute task from your to-do list that fits right into that new opening.

Ultimately, structuring your to-dos on your calendar, in categories, with action verbs and a time estimate, takes the pressure off. You’ll no longer avoid the long ambiguous scroll of to-dos. Your plan becomes realistic yet flexible. Your time is properly allocated to the most important tasks — and when more things feel do-able, more things get done.

Schedule your To-Do list in Planners, Calendars or Notebooks, available from

Jacobs Gardner Supply Company, 1-800-638-0983, www.jacobsgardner.com

The new school year will be here in the blink of an eye (don’t tell the kids!) and your classrooms, computer labs and offices will need new gear. We’ve got you covered with .some of the popular items found here.

The Board of Education

Whiteboards are essential for both teaching and planning, but not all can hold up to the heavy use of busy classrooms. They can scratch and dent easily. And the ghosting and staining from dry erase markers make the board frustrating for teachers and students to write on and read.

If you want to be named the value valedictorian, invest in the Quartet® Porcelain Magnetic Whiteboard for your classrooms and offices. The porcelain surface gets an A+ when it comes to smooth writing, clean erasing and extreme durability. No ghosting, staining, scratching or denting either. It’s backed by a 50-year surface guarantee, too, so you can be confident it’ll be around for a long time.

Trusted Tech

Computer labs, classrooms, administrative offices…they all rely on tech. And with the number of people using that equipment every day, it can take a beating.

“This keyboard won’t type the letter ‘E’, the spacebar sticks on that one, and that mouse doesn’t connect to any computer.”

You can’t afford to have equipment malfunction when teachers need to teach, students need to learn and administrators need to, well, administrate. The Kensington® Pro Fit Wireless Desktop Set is a desktop duo you can count on.

The keyboard has a thin membrane that protects the electronics from liquids, so accidental spills from coffee, soda and water can be wiped away without worry. The two-button mouse is ambidextrous — no need to swap it out for lefties and righties. Everyone can click and scroll without missing a beat.

Listen Up

Headsets are a staple for computer labs, language labs and office work. They help keep students focused (as much as kids can be) and give staff hands-free flexibility to multitask comfortably. But many headsets in the market fall short of daily school needs. They may be incompatible with applications or operating systems, fail to filter out distracting sounds, or simply be uncomfortable.

The Kensington® H3000 Bluetooth® Over-Ear Headset checks all the boxes. It has multipoint Bluetooth® 5.2 technology and universal device compatibility, so you can rely on it to work seamlessly with popular calling applications, operating systems, mobile devices and voice assistants like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Siri, Google Assistant, Windows, macOS and Chrome OS. Passive noise cancellation technology blocks out surrounding noise, while environmental noise-canceling microphones suppress distracting sounds. Adjustable, ergonomic earphones deliver all-day comfort with their cooling-gel earpads and swivel earcups. Plus, the industry-leading battery life helps ensure the headset won’t stop working halfway through a lesson or call.

A Cut Above

Paper trimmers are workhorses in shared workspaces, cutting countless flyers, photos, artwork and documents with precision. If yours just aren’t making the cut anymore (figuratively AND literally), replace them with a trusted Swingline® ClassicCut® Ingento™ Guillotine Trimmer. It’s designed to handle high-volume creative projects. The strong die-cast metal arm with 24″ self-sharpening guillotine blade slices through up to 15 sheets of paper with ease. The solid maple base with grid lines creates a beautiful and durable surface that lasts. And the trimmer comes with a 10-year limited warranty, so you know you can count on it semester after semester.

Protect & Preserve

Bulletin board projects, hallway signage and classroom materials take a lot of time and effort, but students going class to class can quickly take a toll. There’s a simple way to protect all that hard work — and save teachers and school staff the precious time and cost of redoing them again and again —lamination. It puts a clear layer of protection between your documents and students, helping to prevent tearing, bending and staining.

The GBC® Ultima 65™ Laminator is a go-to for busy educators because of its incredible versatility. It can handle everything from bus tags and handouts to signage and posters. Plus, user-friendly features and EZLoad™ film loading system of the Ultima 65™ are intuitive, making operation and reloading as simple as possible.

To learn more about these and other Quartet® , Kensington®, Swingline® and GBC® products and help you gear up for the new school year, contact Jacobs Gardner, 1-800-638-0983, email: customercare@jacobsgardner.com

 

 

 

In the modern workplace, efficiency and productivity are key elements for success. To achieve these goals, businesses are constantly on the lookout for innovative tools that streamline processes and save valuable time. ACCO Brands’ GBC Foton 30 Automated Pouch-Free Laminator is a perfect example of that. This cutting-edge device has revolutionized the way offices handle laminating tasks, offering a plethora of benefits that make it a must-have tool for any office environment.

 

Streamlined Operation

Traditional laminating processes can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. The GBC Foton 30 eliminates these hassles by automating the entire lamination process. With its innovative design, this pouch-free laminator allows users to load up to 30 letter-sized documents at once, significantly reducing time spent on individual feeding and increasing overall productivity.

Rapid Lamination Speed

Time is of the essence in a fast-paced office environment. The GBC Foton 30 understands this need and excels in delivering exceptional lamination speed. It can laminate up to 30 documents in just one minute, ensuring that even high-volume projects can be completed efficiently.

Versatile Document Compatibility

Office settings often involve laminating a wide variety of documents, ranging from ID cards and business cards to important presentation materials. The GBC Foton 30 handles this diversity effortlessly. It accommodates documents up to 12 inches wide and offers versatile lamination options, including standard, matte, and glossy finishes. This versatility ensures that you can achieve the desired results for any document, regardless of its size or purpose.

Invest in the GBC Foton 30 and transform your office operations, saving time, enhancing efficiency, and producing outstanding laminated documents.

Available at www.jacobsgardner.com

Sponsored by:

This month’s blog post comes to us from our friends at ECI. We found their suggestions for a safe and healthy workplace very helpful, and believe you will too.

As of September 14, 2020, there have been 6.7 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and nearly 200,000 deaths. A recent poll shows that 54% of U.S. employees say they are worried about exposure to the virus at their job. But, the good news is that 71% of employees have confidence their employers can manage workplace environments safely. Fortunately, there are several ways to minimize the threat of spread in your workplace.

1. Keep employees, customers, and visitors informed

Stay in constant communication with your employees, customers, and visitors to inform them about your risk mitigation plans. Use snail mail, email, loudspeaker messaging, and signage to provide information about these measures and enforce mask-wearing, frequent hand washing, and proper 6-feet distancing. Ensure that employees understand the importance of mask-wearing; masks help to prevent a person who is sick from spreading the virus to others by keeping respiratory droplets contained and from reaching other people. COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), so the use of masks is particularly important in settings where people are close to each other or where social distancing is difficult to maintain, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Provide training for putting on and taking off masks properly, and even for fully washing hands, caution employees against touching their faces or their masks, and install hand sanitizer stations to further minimize the risk of spread through touching objects. You should also keep a supply of either surgical or N-95 masks if employees’ mask straps break.

Continually keep employees apprised of all new developments. Inform them that risk assessments are taking place, and instruct on what they should do if they are feeling symptoms or if they notice other employees that are exhibiting symptoms.

Disseminate your sick policy digitally and in paper form concerning a possible outbreak to your employees, along with resources from the CDC for learning more about what they can do to protect themselves (see step 3 below).

2. Have a work-from-home Plan B in case of a local outbreak

Hot spots continue to pop up all over the country, and your region may be affected sooner or later.

Should this occur in your area, you’ll need a contingency plan allowing as many workers as possible to work from home. Make sure there are enough laptops, VPN devices, printers, and any other role-specific technologies (such as phone systems for receptionists and customer support staff) to support work for all of your units that must remain operational. Account for your “bring your own device” (BYOD) policy and the handling of sensitive data, so that an outbreak doesn’t lead to a data security disaster.

3. Mandate that symptomatic employees stay home

Once employees show symptoms of fever or acute respiratory illness, the CDC recommends that they should know your company wants them to stay home until they are free of symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever and symptom-reducing medicines.

If an employee presents symptoms at work, such as shortness of breath, nasal drip, muscle aches, chills, sore throat, or coughing, they should be separated and sent home immediately.

If an employee is not sick or showing symptoms, but has a family member at home diagnosed with COVID-19, notify their supervisor and refer to CDC guidance for conducting a risk assessment of their potential exposure.

Finally, if an employee tests positive, employers should inform employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace while maintaining the confidentiality required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Employees exposed to a co-worker with confirmed COVID-19 should refer to CDC guidance on conducting a risk assessment of their potential exposure.

4. Keep the facilities clean

The CDC recommends routine cleaning of all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace. If your cleaning staff cleans bathrooms and common areas, but workers maintain their workstations, communicate that they should sanitize their areas (including doorknobs, keyboards, and desks) frequently, and provide disposable wipes for the purpose. The CDC offers a comprehensive set of instructions for cleaning and disinfecting your facility.

5. Avoid workers coming in for financial reasons

Given many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, a scenario to avoid is sick workers evading testing or coming in for fear of not getting paid. Just one employee making an ill-advised decision could be catastrophic for other employees and the organization. Employers are not legally obligated to pay self-isolating workers who may not be sick or, in some cases, sick. But it makes sense to reward conscientious hourly employees by offering to keep their paychecks coming if they need to take time off because of illness or exposure.

Places of employment, as well as schools, have a significant role to play in the prevention of COVID-19 spread. Following these measures is the social (and in some cases, legal) obligation of every employer until the end of the pandemic.

Jacobs Gardner Office Products offers a large selection of PPE and cleaning products to keep your office safe and healthy.

Content comes from them: https://www.ecisolutions.com/blog/how-to-minimize-the-threat-of-covid-19-spread-in-your-workplace