When you take a look around your office, what do you see? There is a good chance you’ll find papers. Maybe even folders or a file cabinet. From students to business owners, everyone has paperwork and they need a way to keep it all organized!
Although they weren’t always known by this name, Pendaflex is just one part of a 100+ year legacy in the organizing business. From the original hanging folder to their My Stuff Label Bandz™, they are the brand to consider the next time you try to reorganize your office.
Sharon Mann is an Organizational Expert and the President of the I Hate Filing Club for Pendaflex. I recently got the opportunity to ask her about the origins of Pendaflex and for a few tips to help keep our lives a little neater.
What is Pendaflex and what are some of the products available on your website?
Pendaflex is one of the world’s premier manufacturers of organizational and filing solutions, bringing innovation, efficiency and style to workplace and home settings. Committed to simplifying consumers’ lives, Pendaflex produces a broad range of filing and organizational products, as well as providing solutions and resources through the I Hate Filing Club and the Pendaflex Learning Center. Located in Melville, NY, Pendaflex is the principal U.S. brand of Esselte Corporation, with distribution in more than 120 countries. More information about Pendaflex can be found at www.Pendaflex.com.We are the originator of the hanging folder, but we are not just folders today. We make a broad line of filing and organizational products that include expanding files, report covers, presentation folders and index cards under the Oxford brand. We also offer high quality staplers under the Leitz brand.
Currently offer about 100 of the 2000 products we make on our website. The website has some of our newer and innovative products.
What was the inspiration behind starting this business?
The business has evolved over the last 100 years. It started under the brand Oxford and was a card filing company. The Pendaflex hanging folder was invented in the 1930’s which changed the way people have filed since. From there we kept adding more filing and organizational products. Making some acquisitions along the way we evolved into a company that now produces a wide range of organizational solutions.
Which products are some of your best selling? What do you think attracts customers to that product?
Pendaflex products are considered to be the gold standard for quality and durability, that is why we can offer a lifetime guarantee to products that bear the Pendaflex brand. If a product fails under normal use we will replace it.The hanging folders is the staple for the company and our new innovative Pendaflex PileSmart® line of products has been a big hit.The PileSmart products include specially designed folders that help manage the piles on your desk as well as our organizer tray and our write and erase lable clips. We offer a very broad range of products that help people get organized. Some other innovative products are our Pendaflex ReadyTab® hanging folders. These are folders that have the tab already attached. We also have a On the Go Desk Top File and Get A Grip Expanding file. People are drawn to our products, not just for style but they know the brand is reliable.
What are the new My Stuff Label Bandz? How do they work and what colors do they come in?
My Stuff Label Bandz™ is an innovative product that will help people manage not only files and piles but many different items in their office and home. Currently the band is available if two colors. Turquoise blue and a strawberry red. It is available in a 4 pack 2 of each color on our website for $10. We expect to be adding additional colors sometime this year. The band has a write and erase label area so they can be reused over and over again. The large band will hold up to 2000 sheets of paper. The band is also available in a smaller size which comes with 50 index cards and it is available at Office Max as well as on our site. When you think of many uses for the bands you can just think of it as “Claim it, Tame it, Name it. It is an excellent product for identifying almost anything. The uses are endless.
Why do you fell being organized is so important for students, and teachers? What do you feel it is about this niche category that makes it so profitable for a business like this one?
Just like in the office and at home, students and teachers are inundated with work and paper. Giving teachers tools to be organized not only for themselves but for the students frees up time to spend teaching and working with students. The same for students, if they are organized they can spend more quality time studying and learning and also have more free time. Teaching students to be organized at an early age helps set up with life skills that will take them not only through their school years but into the workplace as well.
What is the I Hate Filing Club? How does someone join and what are some of the benefits of becoming a member?
The I Hate Filing Club is a free online club. It was started in 1986 to help office professionals with the task of filing. Filing has been and continues to be the least liked task. We new we couldn’t make it go away but we could make it better. The club originally was a direct mail communication, which included sending informative newsletters and product samples. By 1995 we had almost 100,000 members. The club transitioned to an online club in the late 1990’s. Members receive a monthly newsletter filled with organizational solutions, new product ideas and sampling offers. We also have free premiums that can be redeemed with box flaps of Pendaflex branded product. Some of the premiums include a stuffed bear, travel wallet, tote bag and 1 jewelry item. You can join the club at www.pendaflex.com just click on the I Hate Filing Club tab.
How long has Pendaflex been in business? What kind of growth has it seen since it began?
The company has been in business for more than 100 years and has changed names a few times. From a small card filing business it has grown to be a worldwide company. Esselte annually sells enough suspension files to store 200 billion pages of information.
What has this business taught you that you’ve found applicable in other areas of your life (or any other businesses you might be involved in)?
I have learned the value of organization and how it can change the quality of not only your work life but you personal life as well. Being organized helps you to be more productive and reduces stress.
As the president of the I Hate Filing Club, what are some of the most common questions you’ve been asked?
I get many questions on how to set up and maintain a filing system. Those are the most common, but I also get questions on how to resolve issues in the office with co-workers and bosses.
What would you advise a business to do if they’re just starting out and looking for the best possible way to organize all of their important papers?
The most important thing when starting a business is to have a plan and the proper tools. Use a daily planner to organize tasks, meetings etc. And make sure you use that planner everyday. Your files should be organized accordingly to the business you are in. So you need to plan your headings carefully. I always suggest, at the end of the day, take 10-15 minutes to organize papers and folders on your desk and set up a plan for the next day.
cassy on September 22nd, 2008 at 8:50 pm
My one friend told me about this folders, the Pendaflex folder brand. She said that they really have a good quality and you can use it for a long time.
They really good!