No matter what you do, how big your office is, how many people you employ, and how high your monthly expenses are, you could probably be able to save some money on it if you try. Cutting costs is never easy, and it takes a lot of hard work, time, and dedication, from planning this process to carrying it out day after day. That’s why you need to think ahead and include all your employees into this project, coming up with a few sustainable strategies that will bring results. So, if you too are thinking about reducing costs in your own office, here are four strategies that might help you the most.
Store your supplies properly
Even though this might not seem like the biggest problem in your office, you’d be surprised to learn how much we actually waste on supplies we don’t really need in the first place. And the reason why we purchase them so frequently is that we don’t know what have and don’t have anymore – all thanks to improper storage options.
That’s why rethinking your storage strategy is something you need to do right away. Instead of scattering your supplies in different closets and cabinets all around the office, you should keep them all together in one massive storage space. This way, you’ll always know when it’s time to purchase new supplies, especially if you come up with a new inventory system that will allow you to do that more easily.
Talk to your employees
Most office managers think their employees are unable to affect their supplies budget in a negative way, but the truth is quite the opposite. Unless you pay attention to this problem, you could end up wasting thousands on paper, printing ink, and other unnecessary costs. These can be easily avoided, so don’t be afraid to talk to your employees as soon as possible.
Start by explaining all the costs your company has and pointing out that unwanted costs like these aren’t just bad for your budget, but for the environment as well. After that, ask them not to print any documents that aren’t absolutely necessary, and encourage them to use e-mail and cloud services more than before. In the end, tell them that all of these unnecessary costs hurt them as well because it prevents you from introducing positive changes into the office space as often as you’d like to.
Rethink your purchases
Instead of purchasing your supplies at any random supply store, you should look into those professional warehouses where you can buy things in bulk. This way, you’ll get the same things, but for a fraction of the cost and without compromising on the quality of your supplies. Certain suppliers, as Winc Australia, for example, even provide you with additional discounts and allow you to use vouchers and coupons, thus making your purchase even more affordable. This is a great way to get all the supplies you need without breaking the bank and spending your entire budget, so keep that in mind when it’s time to purchase some new supplies for your office.
Second-hand furniture
This is another amazing way to save a ton of money, especially when you’re opening a new office and need lots of desks and chairs, as well as filing cabinets and bookcases. Opting for second-hand resources might not always look like the best idea in the world, but the fact is that this idea comes with a number of benefits. Besides saving you a ton of cash and providing you with proper office furniture, opting for used solutions also protects the environment and gives you more models to choose from, and that’s always a good thing. However, before you bring this second-hand furniture into your office, make sure you clean it thoroughly, refurbish it if necessary, as well as check if it’s working properly so that you don’t risk your employees’ health.
In addition to these ideas, you can also reduce costs in your office by purchasing your supplies on sales and during off-peak times, investing money in accounting software that will minimize your printing needs, as well as refill your printer ink cartridges at your local office supply store, which is much cheaper than purchasing new cartridges every time you run out of printer ink.
