Vol 99 issue 05 2015

MAY 2015 R50. inc vat THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE STATIONERY, HOME AND OFFICE PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION

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LIGHTING SOLUTIONS FOR THE OFFICE

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

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My Office Magazine is the official magazine of

the Southern African Association for Stationery,

Home and Office Products. It is read by over

25 000 buyers and sellers of stationery and office

products each month.

PUBLISHER

Rob Mathews - [email protected]

Kathy Gibson - [email protected]

EDITOR

Leigh Richter - [email protected]

SUB-EDITOR

Kathy Gibson - [email protected]

ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND MARKETING

Wendy Dancer - [email protected]

EXECUTIVE SALES MANAGER

Kim Kotze - [email protected]

NATIONAL OFFICE

Design and Layout: Vanessa Bentley

New Membership: Rachel Skink

Reception: Ruth Montsho

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Contents Vol 99 | May 2015www.myofficemagazine.co.za | www.facebook.com/shopsa.za

NEWS10 | INDUSTRY NEWS Industry-related news and trade business announcements36 | ECO NEWSA green sustainability update

SALES SAVVY06 | THE POWER OF A COMPLIMENT Aki Kalliatakis looks at how few understand the true value of a few kind words14 | HOW TO SELL: WHITEBOARDS AND PROJECTORS Whiteboards and projectors are key for presenting and conveying information24 | WHITEBOARD ACCESSORIES Markers, erasers and whiteboard cleaning solutions 28 | ARTS AND CRAFTS The art of stained glass is not as difficult as it may seem

RETAIL SAVVY30 | MOTHER’S DAY Anna Jarvis: the mother of Mother’s Day

BUSINESS SAVVY04 | YOU WON’T INHABIT THE OFFICE OF THE FUTURE The future is not arriving as quickly as one might expect, says Brian Holmes05 | LIFTING YOUR GAZE South African companies need to look to the future, says Anton Herbst08 | LABOUR LAW: LATE WARNINGS EXCUSE LATE EMPLOYEES Dr Ivan Israelstam looks at written and verbal warnings in the workplace 09 | CALLING IN A CONSULTANT How do you know when you need a consultant? Gavin Moffat investigates

SPECIAL FEATURES12 | ONLINE SCHOOLS: A LEARNING CURVE We look at the advantages of online learning23 | WIN THIS Win a Tower hamper31 | COUNTING THE COST Offset fuel price hikes with these tips 32 | LIGHTING SOLUTIONS Lighting is an important aspect of any workspace 47 | THE REAL STUFF Move past the marketing fluff with Theo Denton of Denton Office Solutions

IN EVERY ISSUE02 | EDITOR’S LETTER27 | DIARISE THIS 38 | CRIME ALERT39 | WEB BUTTONS39 | PRODUCT SHOWCASE 40 | BUYERS’ GUIDE48 | PUNCHLINE

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As South Africa heads inexorably towards winter, we bring a little brightness into your life by examining the positive and negative effects lighting can have in the office space. Lighting can have a significant impact on the well-being of employees, and it is vital that the workplace adequately caters for this. We speak to industry experts about

different types of lighting, including energy-efficient bulbs and LEDs, and we look at the function of lighting in different areas of the workspace. See page 32 for more details.

As many as 600-million people across the African continent live without access to electricity. In South Africa, approximately 11% of households have no power, resulting in people having to use dangerous methods of lighting in order to complete housework and homework. Open fires inside dwellings are not only a fire hazard but they also create high levels of indoor air pollution. In homes with poor ventilation, indoor smoke can be 100 times higher than acceptable levels for small particles. Often, small soot particles penetrate deep into the lungs, resulting in a greater incidence of diseases such as pneumonia. In keeping with the theme of light, our Eco News (page 36) takes a look at some of the ways in which businesses in South Africa are doing

their bit by not only saving but also gifting light to those who do without.

Our Crime Alert on page 38 deals with the theft of light in the form of illegal power connections, and looks at the impact it has on both community safety and the economy.

This month, our How to Sell on page 14 focuses on the staples of any good presentation: the projector and the whiteboard. The different types and their various uses are important to know when selling solutions to your customers. Our Stationery feature on page 24 covers all the accessories you will need to keep your whiteboards in perfect working order.

And finally, on page 30 we look at the history and significance of the annual Mother’s Day celebration.

A very happy Mother’s Day from all of us here at My Office.

Until next month

Leigh

m y o f f i c e m a g a z i n e2

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e d i t o r ’ s l e t t e r

In last month’s issue of My Office, we mentioned that some exciting changes were afoot. This month we introduce you to the new-look My Office team: some familiar faces and some fresh ones too. We’d love to hear from you. Do you like the new look and feel? What topics do you think should be covered in My Office? Let us know by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Meet our team

Wendy DancerAssociate editor and

marketing manager

Rachel SkinkNew membership

Ruth MontshoReceptionist

Vanessa BentleyDesign and layout Kim Kotze

Executive sales manager

Leigh RichterEditor


You won’t inhabit the office of

the future

Our offices will change. In future we’ll visit the stationer to buy staplers, rulers and drones. More than just drones; we’ll also buy holograms, virtual reality goggles,

augmented reality whatsits, smart desks, shrewd clothing and astute offices.

Perhaps I can pick up a quick-witted desk for Kakar, our new intern, who seems a little dim. Also, his name sounds a remarkably like the annoying call of the hadeda that’s taken to nicking my dogs’ food in the morning.

When I first came across bright people suggesting that our offices would, in future, contain drones and holograms I was amused. It would be great to buzz Michelle with a drone as she ticked through her to-do list. It could also prove useful for retrieving espresso from the machine on the far side of the office. Imagine the morale boost that would bring. My mind continued along this train of thought and before long we were hosting Friday afternoon drone wars as the pub opened, paintball cannons firing, betting a tequila dance our favourite drone would win, being harassed by a bookie who looks suspiciously like Jabba the Hutt … my plan required some tinkering.

None of what I imagined led to what technology has always promised: more productivity. There’s a story on the Internet by some guy gabbing on about a cotton gin and how it allowed a man to do in a day what previously took a woman two months. Clearly absolute drivel. I prefer the steam engine analogy. Or the water wheel before it. Or the plain old wheel before that. Or nagging before that.

Technology has always been a productivity booster or it has been summarily ditched. Think of the machinegun: it revolutionised our ability to win wars. Intercontinental ballistic missiles took that a step further. Tequila turns entire pubs full of ugly people into supermodels. None of these technologies have been retired.

So how will drones, holograms, augmented reality, virtual reality, savvy desks, perceptive staplers and brainy rulers make us more productive? I feel that I’m already a talented deadline dodger so perhaps these augmented office colleagues will take me to the next level: superseding deadlines altogether. Being paid by the word may make that a tricky proposition though.

Apparently drones may actually deliver coffee to our offices. They have already proved highly effective at combatting rhino poachers, but not all of us get to work in a bushveld office. Autonomous vehicles send a shiver down my spine. As a committed petrolhead nothing frightens me more than the possibility I may not be able to gobble up a road on the bike at faster than 200kmph or dodge

acacia trees and anthills on the off-road bike. Holograms will, apparently, make it possible for us to work in collaboration with other people without actually having to smell them. Smell is one of the final techno-sensory frontiers. It remains impossible to transmit smell digitally.

Other advanced technologies that may activate productivity in the future include embedded chips. That whole Internet of Things (IoT) is nothing compared with implanting a processor inside your head. Apparently we may use them to control equipment just by thinking about it. We’ll actually become part of the IoT. I will admit that the thought of infecting some company’s big data plot to upsell, cross sell, increase wallet share and achieve fiscal advances of plague-like proportions appeals to my sense of mischief.

But surely all of this techno-wizardry is beyond the scope of my lifetime. Apparently not. Today’s tech wizards expect this stuff to start appearing in our offices as soon as 2020. That’s just five years away. I have sometimes found though, as an irregular reader of Popular Mechanics, that the maestros occasionally get it wrong.

I think that I need not worry about how to cope with a Jabba the Hutt bookie and office drone war shenanigans. Because all of this future office nonsense will come to nought. Particularly in the next five years. I believe this because, unlike many other countries that have achieved progress that boggles the mind, South Africa went from electricity to candles. n

BRIAN HOLMES

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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b u s i n e s s s a v v y


Lifting our gaze

Volumes have been written about the lacklustre performance of the South African economy and, until we have significant structural change,

the growth prospects remain subdued. The consequences of slow economic growth are felt throughout society, but in business it has turned our gaze to the here and now. Our focus is on survival, and our discussions centre on words like efficiency and productivity.

There is nothing wrong with an intense focus on operational costs and optimising our businesses, and in times of low sales growth it is critical for sustainability. It does, however, increasingly turn our gaze to our own feet as we look internally for this month’s profits or this year’s budget. The fact that many businesses survive in times like this is a clear indication of how inefficient and unproductive businesses

become when times are good – and just how much unnecessary cost we accumulate when the market grows and our business grow with it.

In this mode we all strive for greater economies of scale and greater standardisation of processes and, in an effort to reach this, more and more companies merge or are acquired. In the process we become more vanilla, with very little to differentiate us from our competitors. Price plays an increasingly important role when customers decide where they want to buy because we all look and act the same. As the saying goes: “If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.”

Now overlay this with the unprecedented change we face, both in scope and in speed. As humans we are not very good at predicting what the future holds, and if we are standing on the flat part of an exponential curve it might even look as if we can continue to do what we have always done. We suddenly become the recipients of change rather than being the change agents and the innovators. Customers

are asking us for more customisation and yet we bring more commoditised products – they want exotic flavoured ice-cream with sprinkles and syrup, and we offer vanilla. And they have all the power now because technology is making it possible for them.

The challenge to become relevant again requires us to expand our time horizons for the business beyond this quarter and this year. We need to analyse the environment we are operating in and see what future changes will affect our sustainability. It will require the leaders of businesses to once again project an exciting vision of the future and to have the change management skills to lead their people to it. It will require the talent of the youth and wisdom of the old, and all of us would have to strive for excellence to lift us from this suffocating mediocrity. We can also not do it alone and in our silos – we will have to collaborate internally and externally like we have never done before.

It all starts with us lifting our gaze from the here and looking to the future and the possible. n

ANTON HERBST

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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AKI KALLIATAKIS

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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m a r k e t i n g s a v v y

The power of a compliment

Few understand the true value of a few kind words

One of the most neglected skills in both business and customer care is paying a compliment – be it to employees, colleagues, customers, children or

spouses. We should never neglect to do so because it has such a powerful effect on people. Who of you reading this doesn’t like receiving a compliment? Perhaps only the most cynical 1% of the world’s population.

I know why we tend not to do enough complimenting. We often think that people will assume we want something, especially when it comes out of the blue. Sometimes we are aware that it may cause offence or be seen as sexual harassment. Occasionally we may judge positive behaviour or actions as pretty trivial compared to where we are in our lives – even though for the receiver it was quite a challenge. Often we are just too busy to remember.

But paying people compliments is one of the most important ways of improving people’s output. It encourages desirable behaviour and leads to better performance. It creates warmth and breaks down barriers – or at least breaks the ice between strangers. It displays how kind and generous you are, and it boosts individual self-esteem and team morale. In a business context, research reported by Emily Murray proves that paying compliments can be just as powerful as cash rewards.

But when it comes to customers, paying compliments helps them to re-inforce what a great choice they made choosing your business, and encourages them to buy more, more often, and bring their friends.

It makes them feel more intelligent, and more willing to share their opinions with you and their connections. One of the biggest benefits is that it creates an obligation to repay the compliment in some way – often with more than the original act. But it’s easy for studies to look good on paper. It’s real-life examples such as these that bring compliments to life.

At one SPAR branch near Harrismith, a little old lady who always struggles with her money broke her walking stick in the store. This was exactly what the manager had been looking for to show his caring, and he immediately bought an expensive and sturdy brand new walking stick for her, telling her she was one of his favourite customers. She was grateful – and months later told her big-deal son who had come to visit for Christmas about her experiences at the store.

The son came in to thank the manager for taking care of his mother, and spent more than R10 000 in one morning to stock up on groceries for his family.

In a classic experiment recorded by Perdue University, two psychology students spent time every Wednesday for a few years paying compliments to passers-by. They would say simple things to students like “I love your T-shirt” and “I wish I had hair like yours”. When they saw staff from the university they would say things like “thanks for all the hard work you do here” and “I loved your lecture last week”.

There was tremendous positive impact. People smiled a lot more at each other, and felt better about themselves and others every Wednesday. The students moving between lectures would actually re-route themselves between classes just so that they could hear the compliments. Lecturers reported less negativity and more compliance.

And it doesn’t even have to be live: A young high school student, Jeremiah Anthony, decided to use Twitter and created

a Twitter handle @WestHighBros where he could tweet positive messages and compliments about his school, friends and classmates. After encountering a story about bullies torturing their victims via social media, Anthony decided to strike back by creating a Twitter account for which the sole purpose was spreading positivity to his classmates. He decided he had to change the message.

So far, there have been 4 642 tweets, (including 106 photos and videos) and there are 5 079 followers from everyone involved with the school. Messages are sent to people who are having a bad day and need a pick-me-up, and to show encouragement and a small act of kindness to people experiencing challenges. They use the platform to share inspiring quotations and to motivate people to do better. They send messages to staff that have gone out of their way to support the students. Students are happier. Teachers are happier. The world is a better place.

In a world where, if the media is to be believed, humanity is in a downward spiral that is so fast that we aren’t sure where to begin – or how to get back to a world that evokes feelings of happiness and safety instead of shock and sadness – it is a near certainty that the best way to fight negativity is with positive messages and kindness. For every adverse and hostile act that is committed, there are many acts of kindness that are possible – and may go unnoticed.

We are the only ones able to change the world we live in, one compliment at a time; one act of kindness at a time. I’m sure many of you think I am naïve, but please try it just once today. Just give someone important one small compliment, and highlight one small or wonderful thing that was done by someone. This magazine has thousands of readers. Imagine the impact that it would have on your world. And then tomorrow, do just one more. n


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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

DR IVAN ISRAELSTAM

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Late warnings excuse late employees

Most late-coming problems experienced by employers are due to the employer’s own fault. Both the principles of sound

management and the Labour Relations Act (LRA) require that employers use firm, swift, fair and graduated disciplinary measures to deal with late-coming and other employee misconduct before dismissing the offenders.

In other words, every employer faced with late-coming should start giving warnings as soon as the problem arises, and give a series of more and more serious warnings where the late-coming is repeated.

After the employee has received a series of warnings followed by a final warning and the employee comes late again, the employer should convene a formal disciplinary hearing. The hearing should decide whether the employee is indeed guilty of the most recent alleged late-coming and whether dismissal or some other corrective measure is appropriate.

The employer should not:• Turn a blind eye to repeated acts of

late-coming; • Give warnings and then fail to act on

them; and• When the employer finally loses

patience, lose their cool and fire the employee.

In the case of NCP versus SACWU (1998, 6 BALR 769) the employee

was a locomotive driver who arrived late on a number of occasions. He eventually received a final warning for lateness. Thereafter he was again, on several occasions, very late (by many hours). Despite this, he was only mildly reprimanded or warned, or not disciplined at all. Later, he was late yet again and was dismissed. The arbitrator found the dismissal to be unfair. It appears that the reasons for this startling decision were:• The employee had initially not been

strongly disciplined for lateness after having received a final warning. This led the employee to believe that the final warning had no effect;

• Under these circumstances it was wrong to fire the employee who had been led to believe, by the employer’s inconsistent and confusing conduct, that lateness and repeated late-coming were not serious offences;

• The employer had abdicated its duty to take appropriate corrective steps in respect of the employee’s late-coming problem; and

• The employer had therefore waived its right to dismiss the employee.

Unless there are compelling mitigating circumstances, the next logical step after issuing a final warning is normally dismissal – but employers are too scared to take this final step because they have heard of employees winning cases at the CCMA in similar cases.

For example, in the case of Transwerk versus SATAWU (2000, 8 BALR 993), the employee had received a final warning for late coming. He arrived late

for work again and was dismissed on the grounds of his final warning. The arbitrator found the dismissal to be too harsh and re-instated the employee.

This means that, even if an employee has already received a final warning, the employer may still not be entitled to dismiss him for being absent again depending on the circumstances of the case. However, the LRA does not state under which circumstances it is acceptable to dismiss employees who repeat offences after receiving final warnings.

These conflicting case decisions place employers in a quandary. On the one hand, if they do not dismiss latecomers who have received final warnings they could lose their right to dismiss them at a later stage. On the other hand, if they do dismiss latecomers after having issued a final warning, the arbitrator might find this to be too harsh.

Employers often lose CCMA cases because they are fearful of these contradictory legal decisions. That is, because the employer cannot trust the system they try to circumvent it by, for example, coercing the employee to leave instead of holding a disciplinary hearing.

While employers will be excused for feeling despondent due to the legal cards being stacked against them, they cannot allow this to derail them from following due process. Instead they should:• Receive training so as to be able to

understand the vagaries and dangers of the law; and

• Contact a reputable labour law expert as soon as problems with misconduct arise. n


ACKNOWLEDGMENT

GAVIN MOFFAT

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Calling in a consultantHow do you know when you need the services of a consultant?

When you hit a wall with your business – be it a shortage of resources, a lack of ideas, or issues with staff and customers

– what do you do? Do you soldier on? Look for solutions internally? Have you thought of going the route of an outside consultant?

A number of people I have met over the years decry consultants and the “millions they cost for the little value they produce”. I must say that in my experience (as a consultant) there are great stories … and then there are horrendous stories of profligate waste and ineffectual individuals, combined with 110-slide PowerPoint presentations that have little to do with either the actual problem or an actionable solution.

As in every situation there are a great number of truths. Notwithstanding the few grim consulting outcomes that I have witnessed, I have generally seen the beneficial side of using an outsourced-solutions approach. Sometimes you really don’t have the answer – or worse, you don’t even know the correct question.

So how do you know when you need to look elsewhere for a solution? Most

often it’s when you reach the point of exhaustion, or the point of having exhausted all other options. Or maybe we should refer to that as the very last point at which you should be looking for help.

It would be wiser to be in touch with your business in such a way that you are able to notice when issues are arising that you’re not sorting out in an efficient way. That’s what a consultant should do. They should look at your challenges and give you actionable suggestions as to what can be done to decrease costs, improve profits or invigorate your company with new business models or innovations.

What should a consultant bring to the party? Well firstly, how about something you don’t already have or know? They should have some understanding of your industry – although on occasion industry outsiders have been known to solve large problems merely because they don’t carry industry baggage. You may be experiencing sudden growth and need more hands on deck. Consultants can be used to augment your team by adding a much needed short-term warm body to get the job done.

They should be able to get to grips with your vision and challenges in a relatively short space of time, and be able to immerse themselves in potential solutions to these challenges. Remember their output will only ever be as good as your

input, so you need to invest a good deal of time to improve your outcome.

They should have knowledge of what best practice means across a number of industries so that they have a check-point for how your company does things. Brain power is a must for most businesses, but sometimes your organisation just doesn’t have any more and you need to scale-up your mental computing power. Depending on the circumstance, its probably more cost effective to lease brain power than it is to employ it. It’s like upping the number of processors you are renting from Amazon Web Services on a moment’s notice, and then scaling down when they are no longer needed. Brain power on demand.

A wider skill set is also important in a consultant. They should have worked across a number of organisations in the same sector as your business, and be able to bring that skill set into play for you.

Finally, a fresh perspective is required. Sometimes that’s all that’s needed. Someone who can walk in and ask what may seem to be silly questions because they have a perspective that is different from yours.

I have been doing consulting in some form or other for over 20 years, and the good I have seen outweighs the bad. Consultants are generally worth engaging with. n


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i n d u s t r y n e w s

Load-shedding has become a constant reality in South Africa. In order to mitigate the effects of an unreliable power supply, Pyrotec has made the decision to purchase a standby generator which will be installed by the end April 2015.

“Our goal is to ensure that business goes on as usual and that we continue to meet our customers’ expected delivery dates, no matter what happens.

“After engaging a consultant to advise us, we have selected a John Deere driven generator due to its high level of reliability

and CSA tested safety credentials. It also has an easily serviceable motor, which drives a 350kw alternator.

“With this new generator, we will be able to keep the whole plant and office running during power cuts, including the night shift,” explains Pyrotec works manager Robbie Doidge.

While planning for blackouts is vitally important in the industry, we are also mindful about the way we use power when load-shedding is not in effect.

At Pyrotec, we believe that South African businesses should work together to minimise the huge demand for electricity that is currently being placed on our struggling national power grid.

To this end, Pyrotec has numerous energy efficiency initiatives in place to cut our overall power consumption. We have converted the entire factory lighting to energy saving electronic technology and all our office lights are operated on zone switches. Additionally, our outside flood lighting has been converted to power efficient and long-lasting LED lighting.

With these measures in place, Pyrotec is well prepared for the energy constraints that are yet to come. We are also part of the long-term solution – which is to change the way that we consume electricity in this country.

Farewell to a legend

On 3 April 2015 Charlie Gough, the Highlands Park Captain of the legendary 1966 soccer team, passed away in Cape Town at the age of 75. Charlie arrived from Glasgow in 1964 to play for Highlands, having made a name for himself at Charlton Athletic F.C. He was instantly recognised by Highlands as a leader, and was appointed captain of what was unquestionably the best South African team ever assembled. He was recognised as an exceptionally reliable, hardworking player who led by example and raised the standard of the game to levels the South African soccer world had never seen.

In those days, South African soccer was semi-professional. In 1968, Charlie

joined Avalon Stationers which was bought by Waltons soon thereafter.

For 25 years, Charlie led the Transvaal sales team and played a strategic role in Waltons ultimately being recognised by the JSE as a top-listed SA company for two consecutive years. He maintained the position of sales director until 1993 when he left Waltons to start his own business, Online Stationers.

On 7 April, friends and colleagues gathered in Johannesburg to pay tribute to Charlie and to commiserate with his two sons, Richard and Jamie, and his ex-wife Janet. Story after story was told about Charlie: his tough, uncompromising

attitude; his relentless discipline; his lovely dry humour; his competitive nature; and his years as a paratrooper in the British armed forces. In the work place, Charlie was demanding, but was fair and highly ethical. He loved his long daily walks and maintained his exceptionally strong physique until the day he passed. He was quiet, until he played his bagpipes, but had a phenomenal presence about him that will never be forgotten. He profoundly influenced the lives of so many, including myself, and will be sorely missed. Our sincere condolences to Lisa, Richard, Jamie, Nina and Janet. Rest in peace, Charlie.

– Eugene Kleynhans

Obituary: Charlie Gough

Pyrotec maximises uptime with new 350kw generator


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i n d u s t r y n e w s

Walmart shareholders should brace themselves for some heavy spending in the next 18 to 24 months as the company invests in inventory management, in-store pick-up infrastructure for online orders, pricing on its private label lines and salary hikes for its previously-beleaguered workforce. This is in order to grow

market share and improve sales: the big drivers for its turnaround plan. Although shares declined 3,2% on the day the news broke about the wage increases, analysts believe that investments in wages and training are going to put Walmart stores on a better footing in the long run.

Source: www.tradeintelligence.co.za

Panasonic has relaunched its brand in South Africa at an event held at Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg.

The company will offer a range of consumer and enterprise products in South Africa, including TVs, home theatre systems, home audio systems, portable audio systems and cameras, home appliances such as washing machines, fridges and beauty care products; and a full range of business-to-business equipment and air conditioners.

Panasonic’s new tagline, “you deserve better”, is specific to the South African market. The company plans to spend $5-million (about R60-million) per year on marketing alone as it seeks to use South Africa as a launch pad for its strategic expansion into the rest of Africa.

Daizo Ito, regional head of Panasonic for India, South Asia, Middle East and Africa, says: “Attention to detail and refined Japanese craftsmanship are inherent in all Panasonic products, from easy-to-use consumer products such as our range of audio-visual systems, cameras, home appliances, to reliable and precise business solutions including air conditioning units.”

In the consumer space, Panasonic will not offer experience stores as their competitors do; instead, they will focus on discount stores (such as Game and Marko), chains (such as Shoprite) and independent dealers (to offer top-end goods).

In the business-to-business space, Panasonic plans to use partners to expand their market share.

“South Africa has the priority at the moment, but the next targets for Panasonic will be Nigeria and Egypt,” Ito says.

Source: IT-Online

Panasonic stages SA comeback

Our own Wendy Dancer was the winner of a Panasonic Lumix TZ55 camera

Walmart forges ahead with turnaround plan

Send your latest Industry news to [email protected] for possible inclusion in My Office magazine.


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I T f o c u s

A learning curveThere are a number of advantages to online learning

All around the globe there are increasing numbers of people who wish to further their education but don’t have the time or money to dedicate to a course

at a traditional learning institution.

According to a 2013 report by the Babson Survey Research Group, 1,6-million students were enrolled in at least one online class in 2002, compared to 6,7-million in 2011. In 2002, only about 72% of the surveyed schools offered some form of online learning, but that number has steadily increased to nearly 87% in 2012.

Since then, the creation of fully online degree programmes have become a priority for education institutions around the world.

There are a number of advantages when it comes to online education:

FlexibilityOnline courses offer a great degree of flexibility. Students can access their course at any time, from anywhere with an Internet connection. This makes it ideal for parents, working students and full-time professionals, who can attend classes no matter what their work schedule. Those enrolled in the course only need a PC and connectivity.

AccessibilityOnline courses are easily accessible at any time, and students can easily review lectures, discussions, explanations and

comments. Participants can also create groups and share notes with each other, which facilitates community learning.

Greater varietyBecause online schools are not based in a physical building, they are often able to offer a wide variety of short-course and degree programmes. There may be courses available online that only a select few institutions in the country have on offer.

Time savingsTime is of the essence in any business environment. People who work full-time often can’t afford to attend rigidly-structured on-campus courses. Night classes pose their own set of problems for professionals who are parents or who have other commitments. One of the benefits of online education is that students do not have to sit for long periods of time during work hours. Instead, lessons can be paused when needed, and notes read at a time that suits them. This gives students adequate time to absorb the course material. Studies have found online learners tend to spend more time on tasks than students in on-campus, face-to-face environments.

ApproachabilityStudies have found that online courses appear less intimidating to students than the traditional bricks-and-mortar classroom setting. This is especially true for people who have not been a student for a long time and are “out of practice”. Student interaction is boosted by online interactions where everyone has a voice and can share ideas. Students are also able to consider

their opinions before speaking, whereas the conversation may have moved on in a more traditional setting.

CommunicationCourse instructors are often more approachable in the online setting and, as a result, students feel more comfortable talking with their teachers through online chats, e-mails and group discussions rather than face-to-face. Online correspondence erases the problem of making appointments in office hours, which is often inconvenient.

Cost-efficacyBy participating in an online course, students are able to save money by eliminating costs such as transportation or babysitting. Aside from this, students often don’t have to purchase expensive textbooks. Course material is generally posted online, in partnership with e-libraries and other digital publishers. E-textbooks offer substantial savings for students. n

Did you know?www.getsmarter.co.za offers short courses in arts and design, business and management, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality and events, law, marketing, real estate, systems and technology, talent management (HR) and writing.

The University of South Africa (Unisa) offers a number of distance learning courses that can be accessed online. Visit www.unisa.ac.za for more.

edX offers short courses and modules from prestigious universities such as Stanford, Harvard and MIT. Visit www.edx.org to find out more.

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WhiteboardsWhiteboards – also known as dry-erase boards – are made of hard plastic with a clear topcoat writing surface, bonded to a thin backing material. They are ideal for use in environments where chalk dust could prove to be an issue, such as in an area with sensitive electrical equipment.

Surface typeDifferent whiteboard surfaces are designed for different uses, and it is important to ensure your customer chooses the right one for their needs. The less porous the whiteboard surface is, the better the performance will be.

Melamine whiteboards are the cheapest type of board and will inevitably stain. Although daily cleanings will prolong the life of melamine boards, this surface will not last very long as it is highly porous. Melamine boards are meant for light usage, such as in a home or home office.

Porcelain whiteboards are higher quality and therefore less porous than melamine. They are most commonly found in classroom settings. Porcelain whiteboards vary significantly in quality because there are so many different ways to manufacture porcelain. A

glossy board will have fewer surface pores than a board with a matte finish, and therefore will last longer without staining.

Hardcoat laminate is completely nonporous and does not allow marker ink to penetrate the surface. This means the boards do not need to be cleaned often to prevent staining. The downside of a hardcoat laminate surface is that it is more susceptible to scratching, so it should be cleaned with a soft microfibre cloth.

Perfect presentationWhiteboards, interactive whiteboards and projectors are key for presenting and conveying information

Did you know?Staining occurs if marker residue is left on the board without daily cleanings. Many whiteboard surfaces retain marker pigments which penetrate the surface of the board and never come clean. This leaves behind a discoloured look known as “ghosting”, creating an unsightly whiteboard with remnants of writing from the past. This can make it difficult for people to read what is on the board.


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LifespanAll whiteboards have a limited lifespan – in fact, many whiteboards are replaced within five years simply due to staining. When selling a whiteboard to a customer, it is important to take maintenance and replacement into account. While high-quality whiteboards cost more up front, they last a lot longer. The lifespan of one porcelain-surfaced whiteboard is approximately six times that of a melamine-surfaced board.

Size and mountingTwo key factors for your customers to consider with regards to the whiteboard are size and mounting. When choosing a whiteboard, they will need to measure the wall space available, and be sure to note the dimensions of the board.

They will also need to consider the type of mounting hardware included with the board. Some whiteboards allow for both vertical and horizontal mounting.

Form versus functionWhen selling whiteboards to your customers, it is important to get some idea of where it will be placed. Whiteboards can be aesthetically pleasing as well as useful.

Whiteboards with magnetic surfaces make great presentation boards, and allow the whiteboard to double as a bulletin board for hanging of charts and images.

Other whiteboards come with pre-drawn markings on them, such as grid patterns, planners or calendars. This is ideal for scheduling teams and drawing graphs.

Whiteboards are also available with different types of frames, such as wood or graphite, to match office decor.

Interactive whiteboardsAn interactive whiteboard (IWB) consists of a smart display screen that is connected to a computer and projector via a USB port, and allows for viewing, input and collaboration by multiple users.

Projection types and throwThere are two types of interactive whiteboards: front projection and rear projection. Front projection whiteboards use a projector that is situated in front of the whiteboard surface. This can cast a shadow if the presenter is standing in front of the board.

A rear projection whiteboard does not cast shadows because the projector is positioned behind the whiteboard surface. This is better for the presenter, as they do not have to face the projector light when addressing an audience.

In terms of distance, there are two types your clients must consider: a standard projector or a short throw. A standard projector is a unit that mounts further back into the room (such as on the ceiling or on a desk). A short-throw projector mounts directly above

the whiteboard, projecting from a short distance. Because it is close to the projection surface, shadowing is eliminated.

Technology typesThere is a wide variety of interactive whiteboard technology available, allowing for integration of interactive elements such as touch technology, writing instruments and lasers. Different technology types will be more or less appropriate for your customers.

A whiteboard that contains a resistive membrane has a surface that consists of two panels of resistive materials separated by a space. The space creates a membrane that is touch-sensitive, responding to the pressure of a finger gesture or stylus pen movement. This technology is cost-effective but not very durable, as the surface is easily marked or damaged.

IWBs that use ultrasonic technologies are designed with ultrasonic transmitters and receivers at each corner of the whiteboard. Signals are transmitted and any gestures on the edges of the whiteboard create ultrasonic waves that are detected by the transmitters. The waves are subdued when the surface of the whiteboard is pressed, and information is communicated by the ultrasonic receiver to the controller.

Electromagnetic whiteboards have a hard surface backed with a grid of electronic wires that interact with the coil on a stylus pen. The coil helps the grid wires to identify the X and Y co-ordinates on the pen. This type of technology

Other key features for your customers to consider: • Durability – the durability of

interactive whiteboards is variable. It is wise to choose one that can withstand punctures, permanent marker or water.

• Warranty – a longer warranty is better for your customers.

• Dry-erase friendly – some IWBs have a surface you can write on with dry-erase markers.

• Video conferencing capabilities – IWBs can be used for video conferencing.

• Handwriting recognition – some IWBs come with handwriting and shape recognition.

TipAlways recommend your customer buy a whiteboard with a surface type that is a level up from the type they think they will need. Once the board is mounted and accessible, there is a good chance it will be used more often than originally estimated.


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Epson’s new ultra-short-throw projector offers the ultimate level of interactivity by combining fi nger-touch with dual pen capability. Featuring a brightness level of 3,300 lumens and WXGA resolution, the EB-595Wi’s ultra-short-throw design allows you to present large images from a very short distance with minimised shadows and glare.

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is not suitable for touch gestures, as configuration is incapable of sensing touch gestures and pointing devices.

An infrared whiteboard uses infrared optical technology which tracks the touch gestures or stylus pen movements on the surface. When the whiteboard surface is pressed, information is processed by the on-board software.

A laser scanner whiteboard uses laser light which is distributed near the edges of the whiteboard. The laser scanners are located on the frame of the whiteboard and integrate with a felt stylus pen which reflects the laser light back on the frame to track movement.

A digital interactive whiteboard requires a digital pen equipped with infrared cameras. When the digital pen is used on the whiteboard surface, the pattern of the pen movements is accurately tracked, allowing for pinpoint accuracy.

Screen sizeThe size of your customer’s audience will determine what size screen they will need to consider. For small gatherings of between two and 10 people, screens should be 50 inches diagonally. For 10 to 25 people, the screen should be in the 60-inch to 80-inch range. For an audience of 50 or

more, the large 80- to 105-inch screens are needed.

ResolutionScreen resolution is also a key selling point. A high resolution (like 1080p or 4K) is more expensive and is only really necessary for demanding applications that require the utmost clarity. Interactive LCD or LED screens are best for a high-resolution application.

Screens are usually available in regular format (known as XGA) or widescreen (known as WXGA). Widescreen formats will cost slightly more, but they are becoming widely available. It is a good idea for your customers to match the interactive whiteboard resolution to that of their computers. This will ensure optimal picture quality.

Connectivity and compatibilityThe way an interactive whiteboard connects to the Internet and other devices is of paramount importance for your customers. Many whiteboards are connected through cables, usually via a USB port. Wireless connectivity, where no physical connection is present between the whiteboard and the Internet or other device, means more mobility and less clutter for customers. Many interactive whiteboards are

Bluetooth compatible. Some IWBs are both iOS and Android compatible, allowing your customer to use the whiteboard from an app on their smartphone. Direct, wireless printing from the whiteboard is another key feature.

Mobility, adjustability and versatility The ability to move and adjust an interactive whiteboard is another selling point. Some IWBs can be placed on a rolling stand and moved from room to room. The type of cart needed will depend on the type of project your customer has. A standard unit needs a stand that holds only the board, but a short-throw projector needs a cart that holds both the board and projector.

The ability to adjust the height of the IWB is a feature that customers may require. This can be done by adjusting a wall mount or a rolling stand.

The number of people that will be using the IWB at any one time must be taken into consideration. Some IWB screens are dual touch or multi touch, meaning that more than one person can use the whiteboard at the same time. Another useful feature is multi-force input, where the board senses how hard the user is pressing and adjusts the line thickness accordingly.


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ProjectorsProjectors are primarily used in office and educational settings as a means to share information. There are a number of factors that your client will need to consider to choose a projector with the right features and performance to best suit their needs.

Media typeThe very first thing to do is to ask your customer what the projector will be used for. There are basically four kinds of images that can be shown on a projector: data; video; photos; and games. Although any projector can show any kind of image, it is important to choose one based on what your customer will use most. Projectors are generally sold as business projectors (for data, such as presentations, spreadsheets and PDFs) or home entertainment projectors (for photos and video files such as movies). A growing number of projectors are sold as game-playing devices, which require some of the capabilities needed for data images and some needed for videos.

Portability Another important question to ask your customers is how often the projector will need to be moved from one venue to another. Projectors come in many different shapes and sizes, ranging from those small and light enough to fit in the palm of your hand to those that are suitable for permanent installation only. It is important to let your customers know that an increase in portability can mean a decrease in projection quality.

Resolution, screen format and throwThe resolution your customer will use most often should determine the projector’s native resolution (that is, the number of physical pixels in the projector’s display). Projectors can scale images up or down to their native resolutions, but they lose image quality in the process. SVGA (800 by 600 pixels) will suffice for data, but for video 1080p is necessary to project the best image.

For video and games a widescreen format will be a must for your customers.

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Native widescreen resolutions have become common even for data.

Finally, you will need to ask your client whether or not they will need a short-throw projector. Throw is the ability to cast an image at a certain distance from the screen. A short-throw projector will allow users to throw a large image in a tight space, which minimises the risk of people getting in front of the projector and blocking part of the image. Most projectors can throw a 1,8m-wide image from 3,5m to 4,5m away; most short-throw projectors need 0,9m to 1,8m; and ultra-short-throw projectors need only a few centimetres. On the opposite end of the spectrum, long-throw projectors are ideal for large conference rooms and small auditoriums.

Brightness and contrastThe level of brightness your customer will need hinges on what they will use the projector for. Brightness is measured in lumens, or the amount of light emitted by an object per second. For a home theatre projector to be used in a dark room, 1 000 to 1 200 lumens will provide a large, bright image. In this instance, a 2 000-lumen projector may be too bright and hard on the eyes. For a portable data projector your customer plans to use in well-lit locations, 2 000 to 3 000 lumens will suffice. Generally speaking, the larger and lighter the room, the greater the brightness the user will need. Small, incremental changes in lumens

aren’t usually significant. For the user to perceive twice the amount of brightness, twice the number of lumens must exist.

Contrast ratio is the ratio between the brightness of the brightest and darkest areas a projector can produce. A higher contrast ratio will mean more vibrant, eye-catching colours, with greater detail showing in dark areas on the screen.

Connectivity The way in which the projector interacts with other equipment will be important to your customers. Most projectors offer an analogue or VGA (video graphics array) connector, allowing connection to a computer or video equipment. An HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) connection is preferable for adigital connection, as it preserves quality and mitigates issues such as jitter. Some projectors are now adding mobile high-definition link (MHL)-enabled HDMI ports, allowing projection from Android devices.

Most newer-model projectors offer WiFi connectivity via a wireless dongle that fits in a USB port.

Imaging technologies Today’s projectors are based on one of four imaging technologies: digital light processing (DLP), liquid crystal display (LCD), liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) and laser raster.

DLP technology is usually used in inexpensive projectors. It projects primary colours sequentially rather

than simultaneously, which often leads to a rainbow effect. Light areas on the screen break up into little rainbows when viewers shift their gaze or something moves on-screen. LCD projectors don’t suffer from the rainbow effect, but they tend to be bigger and heavier for equivalent projectors.

Standard-sized LCOS projectors offer the best-quality images, but they tend to be bigger and heavier than DLP or LCD projectors, and therefore more expensive.

Laser raster projectors are uncommon, but one advantage of using a laser is that the image doesn’t need focusing.

AudioProjectors that are needed for videos and audio clips will require built-in audio. In general, highly portable projectors have poor audio quality. The larger the machine, the better the built-in audio usually is. If your customer needs a highly portable device, they should consider using a separate sound system.

3DOne of the newest features available on projectors today is 3D. However, due to the fact that a variety of 3D schemes are available, just because a projector is 3D-ready doesn’t mean it will work with the 3D source you want to use. If the customer wants to use a projector for 3D content, you will need to ascertain that it will work with the specific 3D image source they plan to use. n


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Whiteboard accessories

Despite the changing times, markers, erasers and white board cleaning solutions still feature prominently in many businesses

Dry-erase markers are also known as white board markers or non-permanent markers. They are made using erasable ink, for use on a slick, non-porous

writing surface such as whiteboards and overhead projectors.

The ink in a dry-erase marker is made from colour pigments, a chemical solvent and a polymer (or “release agent”). The kind of polymer that is used determines whether the marker is permanent or non-permanent. Dry-erase markers use an oily silicone polymer which makes the ink slippery, preventing it from coming into direct contact with a surface. The solvent in the marker (usually an alcohol) helps the ink to dry quickly. The ink attaches to the surface rather than being absorbed by it.

They are often used by children because the marks they make are easy to clean and the ink is non-toxic. Before using dry-erase markers, it is a good idea to test them on the surface you want to mark. Some surfaces don’t erase well, and the marker will leave permanent or semi-permanent marks behind.

Wet-wipe or wet-erase markers are similar to dry-erase markers but use a quick-drying liquid paste as their medium. The markings are semi-permanent as the base is not alcoholic in nature, and will not be wiped away by a whiteboard eraser. The paste-based medium is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. These markers are usually made of water, resin and titanium dioxide.

Wet-wipe markers are often used to draw a template, especially in school classrooms or on calendars. Dry-erase markers are then usually applied on top of the wet-wipe marker, and erased without touching the wet-wipe marks.

Uses for wet-wipe markers include overhead projector transparencies, tablets at restaurants, office calendars, signboards, whiteboards, writing on mirrors, chalkboards, plastics, ceramics, glass windows and other non-porous surfaces. They are available in an assortment of colours, and can then be cleaned off non-porous surfaces with a damp cloth.

Whiteboard erasersWhiteboard erasers are used in schools and offices all around the world. When choosing a whiteboard eraser, it is important to take note of the following characteristics.


w w w . s h o p - s a . c o . z a 25


Size and grip is important when choosing a whiteboard eraser. Consider who will be using it the most. The eraser should conform to the shape of the hand, otherwise users risk dropping it or straining their fingers with ink. Some models are designed especially for smaller hands. A variety of shapes exist to make erasing easier. There is even a whiteboard eraser glove available.

Erasers are available in a range of different colours and fabrics. This is useful when it comes to organising stationery, especially in learning environments.

Choosing the type of duster that your whiteboard eraser is fitted with will not only benefit your whiteboard, but your health too. Traditionally, the duster part of a whiteboard eraser is made of felt. Those with allergies and asthma should consider using microfibre dusters, as these trap dust and tend to be hypoallergenic. Washable dusters ensure that there is as little ink dust being released into the air as possible, as cleaner dusters tend to retain dust better.

Whiteboard eraser holders make having one within reach easy. While most come equipped with their own holder, it is also possible to buy them separately. Magnetic holders are popular as they can be placed anywhere on the board.

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Some unusual uses for dry-erase markers

1. Label frozen foods – use a dry-erase marker to write the date and contents on the lid of storage containers you want to put in the freezer.

2. Make notes on your bathroom mirror – the bathroom mirror is usually one of the first things you see in the morning, so it’s a great place to write reminders or jot down quick notes. Dry-erase markers write beautifully on glass.

3. Make a dry-erase card – cover an index card with clear packing tape to create a pocket-sized whiteboard. Brainstorm on the go, erase, and use it again.

4. Mind mapping – place a sheet of paper in a plastic file sleeve and write on it over and over again. The paper can contain templates for mind-mapping or brainstorming.

5. Label file drawers or shelves – file drawers and shelves with smooth finishes, such as metal or Formica, can be labelled with dry-erase markers and re-labelled with ease.

6. Learn while you shower – if you have a glass shower, you can write lists of words or other information you want to learn on the outside and read it while you bathe.

7. Mark the next service date inside your car’s windscreen – use a fine-tip dry-erase marker to write a reminder in an out-of-direct-sight corner of your windscreen.

8. Write on your desk – get a glass or acrylic desk pad (you may have to put a sheet of poster board underneath if your desk isn’t light-coloured) and write notes, to-do lists, phone numbers, or anything else directly on the top of your desk. As you finish tasks, simply wipe them away.

Source - www.lifehack.org

Whiteboard cleaning solutionsWhiteboards are popular in schools, offices and in homes. They are a convenient replacement for chalkboards and bulletin boards. What’s more, they are very easy to clean and maintain. There are dozens of commercial cleaning products available for use on whiteboards. Most contain bleach or alcohol, which erase ink and other stains.

Clean the board thoroughly with a formulated board cleaner by simply spraying the surface with the cleaner and wiping with a clean soft cloth. It is suggested that the board be periodically cleaned. Many whiteboard solutions actually re-condition the surface of the whiteboard, meaning that it is easier to wipe clean with just a dry cloth between full cleanings. Ultimately this means that you will use less cleaner.

Look out for whiteboard cleaners that are non-toxic and biodegradable. You can get them scented, or completely scent-free.

Whiteboard cleaning wipes are also available. They are usually made of three-ply material and are pre-moistened with a cleaning solution. They are often non-toxic and safe to use on skin.

In order to reduce the amount of time spent cleaning whiteboards, consider these helpful tips that will decrease the wear and tear on your board: • Erase frequently – don’t wait days

before erasing large amounts of writing. Instead, erase notes as soon as you are done with them. Also, when erasing a whiteboard, don’t just clean off the areas with the markings. Rather, clean the entire board thoroughly after each use.

If ink is left on the board for several days, the ink will set and it may be difficult to erase.

• Soap and water – rather than wait until your dry erase board full of leftover markings, consider cleaning it with mild soap and water on a weekly basis. Dip a sponge into a mixture of soapy water and gently scrub the board. Dry with a soft towel.

• Never use coins or other hard, sharp objects to scratch off stubborn marks from a whiteboard. Doing so will damage the surface of the whiteboard and decrease your writing space. n


i n d u s t r y e v e n t s

The Southern African Solar Energy Coference is organised by the University of Pretoria and will cover areas like fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, heat exchangers, fluids, nanofluids, materials, weather, resources, solar irradiance and luminance, and solar storage systems, solar physics, solar applications and policy.

Diarise thisA list of industry-specific events and exhibitions to mark on your calendar

11 - 13 May SOUTHERN AFRICAN SOLAR ENERGY CONFERENCE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA

Securex is Africa’s leading security and fire exhibition for industry professionals. This one-stop exhibition offers visitors the unrivalled opportunity to interact with exhibitors eager to showcase their products and services. Visit www.securex.co.za for more information.

12 - 14 May SECUREXGALLAGHER CONVENTION CENTRE, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

African Utility Week Forum highlights different aspects of the African utilities sector. Attendees will get the opportunity to meet industry leaders and share their business. The conference will focus on topics such as metering, billing, renewable energy, water, industry and investment, the smart grid and waste management. An exhibit will showcase the latest products and services.

12 - 14 MayAFRICAN UTILITY WEEK FORUM CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

This event aims to inspire and assist the marketing and communication industry. The conference promises to inform both the professional marketer as well as those keen to get fresh ideas on marketing their products and services. Delegates will get the opportunity to listen to more than 16 industry leaders and speakers covering most aspects of the marketing discipline.

14 - 15 MayMARKETING INDABACAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

This event will showcase the entire digital printing process, from sheet-fed A3 machines to commercial litho and digital printers, finishing equipment, software, and media and consumables in the printing and publishing, paper and paper products industries.

13 May COMMERCIAL AND DIGITAL PRINT EXHIBITION BLOEMFONTEIN SHOWGROUNDS, BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA

This international trade show will make the leading experts related to industrial houses aware of the latest and advanced techniques. Professional and technical experts will have the ability to improve and enhance their knowledge by attending this expo.

20 - 22 May SA INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY FAIRGALLAGHER CONVENTION CENTRE, MIDRAND, SOUTH AFRICA

Through the pretty glass

The art of stained glass is not as difficult or intimidating as it may seem

Stained glass refers to coloured glass and the works created from it. Once the preserve of significant buildings like churches, stained glass is now something that crafters of all ages can all enjoy.

Traditionally made in flat panels to use in window panes, modern stained glass techniques allow for 3D sculpture.

ToolsAlthough stained glass-making requires a special set of tools, it is easier than it seems.

There are a few essentials to get you started:

Glass – there are different types of glass available to use when making stained glass. These include textured and streaky glass.

Glass cutter – available in variety of styles, including wheel cutters and pistol grip, glass cutters often come with an oil reservoir in the handle for improved cutting.

Cutting oil – this lubricant will aid with scoring the glass, prolonging the glass cutter’s life.

Pliers – there are two types of pliers used in stained glass. Grozer pliers are designed for breaking glass and trimming little edges. Running pliers are used to snap long cuts in the glass. Standard household pliers are not suitable for stained glass work.

Copper foil or lead came – lead came is a channel used to hold pieces of glass together. Copper foil has an adhesive on one side to hold the glass pieces together. Copper foil can be silver backed, in order to match the solder.

Soldering iron – this needs to be one designed for stained glass. They come with a variety of tips, ranging from wide to narrow.

Solder – this is a mixture of tin and lead. A higher tin content has a lower melting point and will flow more quickly, with a more silvery finish. Lead-free solder is also available.

Flux – this is used to assist the solder to flow between the copper-taped pieces. It is available in liquid or gel form. For the best results, brush every copper-foiled surface with flux before soldering.

Grinder – an electric glass grinder will help smooth sharp edges and work the glass into shapes that are otherwise difficult to cut. If you do not have a grinder, a carborundum stone can be used to file any edges.

Safety glasses – this is to prevent flecks of glass from entering the eyes when cutting or grinding.

Safety gloves – these well help prevent cuts when working with glass.

Lightbox – this will help you to transfer your design from paper to the glass. Alternatively, cut the pattern out of paper and trace it on to the glass.

Vlad G / Shutterstock.com

The Sainte-Chapelle in Paris

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DesignThe first step in creating a stained glass piece is to choose a design. It is important that the design is both practical for the size of the piece of glass you have and suitable for your skill level.

The next step is to trace the outline of the chosen design on to the glass. The best way to do this is to use a lightbox or tracing paper. Trace the pattern on to the glass using an ordinary black marker.

Using a piece of graph paper will help you to scale the drawing accurately. If you have a lot of similar pieces, it helps to number them so you remember where each piece goes.

Once you have traced your pattern onto the glass, use a ruler to align your glass cutter correctly.

Start scoring at the edge of the glass and score in a single movement all the way across the line you want to cut. Don’t stop and start the score in the middle of a piece of glass, as the glass will always break all the way across. By scoring the glass you control where that break happens. If you are using a textured glass, remember to create the score on the smooth side.

You can break your glass along the scored line by snapping it apart with your hands, or you can use your running pliers. Line up the middle of the pliers with the line you are trying to break and squeeze gently. You can also use the handle of your glass cutters to help fracture the glass. Do so by tapping gently

on the score line.Curved lines are trickier to cut, and

sometimes the glass breaks in its own direction. Score the curve from one edge to the other, following the line of your curve. Use pliers to break the glass along the score line. Keep your curves gentle, and you should have no problem. If you do have to cut deeper curves, make a series of shallow curves and use your grinder to deepen the curve.

Once you have cut out the pieces, you need to put them back on the pattern to see if any corrective lines are needed.

Take the individual pieces to the grinding wheel and gently grind away rough edges and fine-tune the shapes. Cleaning up the edges will ensure that the pieces of glass fit together.

Once all the pieces have been smoothed, build a simple frame around them to keep the pattern in place.

Now you can foil all the pieces. This is easy but very time-consuming; however, the more time you spend on foiling your pieces, the better the final soldered result will be.

Choose the correct thickness of foil for the job, peel the protective backing off, centre your glass on the tape and press it securely along all the cut edges. Press the foiled edges firmly. Use something stiff to ensure that the tape is very securely adhered and even.

To tack solder the pieces in place, apply dots of flux to desired areas, and melt a small blob of solder on top.

Once all of the pieces are tacked

together, you can “tin” the seams by applying a thin, flat amount of solder to all of the seams, completely coating all of the copper foil. Use bead soldering (which involves making a small ball of lead solder and then placing it on the joint) to create an aesthetically pleasing finish.

Finally, clean your piece well with a mild detergent or glass cleaner, and display in a well-lit environment. n

Did you know?The art of stained glass is approximately 1 000 years old. Many window pieces have survived largely intact since the late Middle Ages in areas like Western Europe. Stained glass is described as “illuminated wall decoration”, and was used primarily as a way to control light.

CHEN

HEN

G KO

NG

/ Shutterstock.com

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Anna Jarvis: the mother of Mother’s DayAlthough celebrated annually across the globe, not many are aware of the history of Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is currently celebrated across 46 countries on a Sunday in the month of March or May.

Although the concept of honouring the mother goes as far back as the ancient Greeks and Romans, and, more recently, Mothering Sunday in the United Kingdom (observed on the fourth Sunday after Lent, to celebrate and honour the Virgin Mary), Mother’s Day as we know it is less than 100 years old. Millions of people across the globe take the day as an opportunity to honour their mothers, and thank them for their efforts in giving them life, raising them and supporting them.

Anna Jarvis is recognised by many as the founder of Mother’s Day in the United States. Although she never married and was not a mother herself, she worked hard to see that the day was instituted. Jarvis was inspired to fight for a day honouring mothers by her own mother, Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis. An activist and social worker, Anna Marie often expressed her desire that someday someone should honour all mothers, living and dead, and pay tribute to the contributions made by them.

As a loving daughter, Jarvis never forgot her mother’s words and, when she died in 1905, Jarvis resolved to fulfil her wishes. She was spurred on by the growing blasé attitude towards mothers in America.

To commemorate the death of her mother, Jarvis had 500 white carnations delivered to St Andrew’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia – the church where her mother taught Sunday school for over 20 years – and requested that each mother in the congregation receive one. They were Anna Marie’s favourite flowers, and Jarvis felt that they symbolised a mother’s pure love.

The following year, the church repeated the event and it became a tradition.

Later she and her supporters wrote letters to people in positions of power, lobbying for the official declaration of a Mother’s Day holiday. Their hard work paid off. By 1911, Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state in the Union, and on 8 May 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated in a number of countries, including the US, UK, India, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, Belgium and South Africa. It has become hugely popular, and gifts of flowers and

cards are common. Mother’s Day has become widely commercialised, and businesses such as stationers and florists see increased revenues around the day. n

Don’t forget!This year Mother’s Day falls on 10 May.

Did you know?Some historians attribute the advent of Mother’s Day to Julia Ward Howe. She was an activist, writer and poet who became famous for the Civil War song, Battle Hymn of the Republic. She suggested that 2 June should be an annual celebration of mothers. She wrote an impassioned appeal to women, urging them to rise up against war in her Mother’s Day Proclamation, which was written in Boston in 1870. She also initiated a Mothers’ Peace Day observance on the second Sunday in June in Boston, and held the meeting for a number of years. She tirelessly championed the cause of an official celebration of Mothers Day and the declaration of an official holiday on the day.

The colour of carnationsAccording to Jarvis: “The white carnation is preferred because it may be thought to typify some of the virtues of motherhood; ... whiteness stands for purity; its lasting qualities, faithfulness; its fragrance, love; its wide field of growth, charity; its form, beauty ...”

In modern times, white carnations are considered a symbol of remembrance, while red and pink carnations are to honour those mothers who are still living.


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The steady increase in the fuel price in South Africa means that logistics transport costs for companies continue to skyrocket. These on-going increases will put pressure on

companies – particularly those that make a lot of deliveries or customer visits – to find cheaper ways of doing business.

For any business to remain competitive, the effects of increased fuel costs need to be off-set – and the best way to save between 10% to 25% on logistics costs is to ensure efficiency.

Here are six tips for those looking to reduce their logistic costs immediately, and negate a substantial portion of the fuel price increase:

Examine your networkIn order to apply smarter strategy, it’s critical to periodically engage in a network modelling exercise. This process enables companies to determine the most efficient way of doing business. Factors to examine include: determining the best possible geographic location for warehouses; comparing supply chain costs; determining the impact on transport costs when using company’s vehicles for inter-warehouse transfers; and comparing the supply chain CO2 footprint.

Optimise routesThe simplest way to ensure route optimisation is to make sure that the least number of vehicles drive the least amount of kilometres. This can be achieved by feeding data – what needs to be delivered, to where and by when – into a system that generates the shortest possible routes. These smart tools are available for both SMEs and larger companies, and ensure that the load is spread evenly across available delivery days.

Ensure proper executionArmed with a set of efficient routes, next a company needs to ensure they’re being

used. This is achieved by combining data from each vehicle’s tracking device and comparing it to the routes generated by the route optimisation tool. Essentially, the system enables you to see on a map and Gantt chart where your vehicle is versus where it should be.

Automate processesWhilst automating processes doesn’t directly decrease fuel costs, it does remove inefficiencies which results in cost and time-savings. For example, most delivery processes are manual, which wastes time. But, by integrating data from a company’s ordering system with a driver’s smartphone, acceptance of goods can be automated and an electronic proof of delivery sent immediately, enabling invoicing to take place that much faster. By automating these basic business processes – of which invoicing is just one example – companies can get more from their resources like their people and their trucks.

Integrate systems and reportingA company’s reporting is typically based

on data from a single system and, in cases where a company combines data from multiple systems, this is typically done manually – and often inefficiently. By integrating systems, companies can transfer data seamlessly, enabling more effective reporting that gives complete visibility of the entire supply chain in realtime.

The outcome of this integration is knowledge, such as the profitability of routes or the root cause of overtime, which can lead to savings.

Mobile technologyWith the price of hardware and cellular communication decreasing, mobile technology can now be used as an effective, cheaper alternative to provide a company with functionality such as GPS navigation, process flow management and electronic proof of delivery.

The typical savings when effectively adopting the above tips are between 10% and 25%, and most of these solutions can be implemented quickly. This leads to quick wins for companies. n

Counting the costTop tips to help businesses offset fuel price hikes

MORNE JANSE VAN RENSBURG, CEO OF VSC SOLUTIONS

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

IMAG

E: Cars.co.za


Eco-friendly or LED lighting is very energy efficient when compared to traditional lighting methods. This is because it uses less

energy to produce similar light output. The lifespan of an LED bulb is up to 10 times longer than that of a traditional bulb.

The only prerequisites required for moving to an eco-friendly lighting solution is to make sure that the electrical properties are the same. Ensure that base type (bayonet or screw in), required light output (in terms of wattage), the colour temperature and the transformer requirements are the same for the replacement energy-efficient bulbs.

The wattage of LED bulbs vary, and depend largely on lamp size, application and technology used. When looking to replace old bulbs with LED bulbs, a conversion table applies. A 13W to 15W LED bulb is equivalent to an old 60W bulb, and 23W to 30W is equivalent to an old 100W bulb.

Energy-efficient bulbs are usually available in two colours: warm white and cool (incandescent) white. Some ranges have a spectrum of warmer and cooler whites.

LED lighting is so energy efficient because it uses less energy and can be powered by other energy sources, such as solar, and can also be dimmable, depending on the switch used.

LED bubs are not yet at the stage of replacing fluorescent strip lighting. However, some manufacturers offer LED luminaires (complete electric light units) that are able to meet strip light requirements. LEDS are therefore not suitable for all requirements.

The price differential between energy efficient bulbs and normal bulbs depends on many factors. This includes the lifetime of the said LED bulb, light output, colour rendering properties and so on. The pricing of LED lamps is coming down as their prevalence increases.

There is currently no regulation for LED lamps (such as SABS), but for LED luminaires an LOA is required.

There is currently no standard in place for the disposal of LED bulbs. Companies such as Woolworths and Pick n Pay have collection bins for spent LED bulbs.

Rolling out eco-friendly lighting solutions will translate into significant cost- and energy savings. LED products offer you peace of mind, reducing the frequency with which you replace bulbs.

Get the green light

MARK GREENHILL, PRODUCT MANAGER LED AND LAMPS AT PHILIPS SA

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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l i g h t i n g s o l u t i o n s


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Taking the time to implement the optimal office lighting system helps create a workplace that influences mood, boosts vitality, promotes well-being and improves performance.

Light has a profound effect on how we feel, and plays a vital role in creating a healthy workplace. Daylight controls natural biorhythms, influences moods and creates a sense of wellbeing. But daylight alone is not sufficient: in most offices, artificial light is also needed to produce the right light levels. Inadequate lighting can result in eye strain, fatigue and poor performance, particularly in roles involving problem solving and concentration.

Reception areasThe office reception is the place to impress the visitors who will make decisions about your company based on their initial reaction. It goes without saying that the atmosphere should be welcoming, but it should also reflect the way business is done. Lighting can help set the mood perfectly – from fun and funky to cool and corporate, enhancing the expectations of clients and customers. It also creates the right welcome for staff. From the moment visitors walk into reception, you can create appeal with attractive, dynamic lighting. This can include dramatic, vibrant schemes that reflect corporate colours, as well as soft ambience lighting designed to soothe the senses.

Meeting roomsLighting has an impact on people’s moods. Tailor the lighting to suit the agenda, and meeting rooms become far more effective spaces. Light can create excitement or provide an air of concentration. No two meetings are ever the same, so lighting in meeting rooms should be designed for maximum flexibility and visual comfort. A high output with no glare works best for collaborative sessions that need to stay productive.

Open plan officesOpen plan offices are dynamic spaces where people need to carry out a wide variety of different tasks. Lighting can create a comfortable ambience by combining functional lighting with inspiring effects. Individual controls and the light itself can be personalised at each desk. Lighting that’s tailored to individual tasks helps staff to work more effectively during the day. Informal presentations are best delivered in a softer ambience that relaxes and calms. LEDs can create a crisp, sparkling and warm white light that will energise the whole room. Alcove lighting allows you to adjust the lighting to suit the mood.

Light up your lifePHILIPS

ACKNOWLEDGMENT


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The desk is the place where most work is done, and adequate lighting is paramount for productivity and comfort. Desk lamps use warm white light to

make this possible.

When choosing a desk lamp for your workspace, chose one that faithfully renders colours as if in natural daylight. This will allow you to get truly immersed as you work. It is also important to ensure that the is designed to allow you to focus light when and where you need it with precision. Adjustable luminare heads and a 40° beam angle will ensure that light reaches every corner of your work space, and you are able to direct it exactly where you want it with fewer shadows. Also look for on/off switches that are ergonomically positioned and within easy reach.

Some lamps even come with an infrared sensor which turns the light off when it’s not in use, to avoid unnecessary energy use and extend lamp life.

Linda Trim, Sales and Marketing director at Giant Leap Workspace

Specialists, says: “Lighting plays a vital part in office design. If your workspace does not have windows or proper lighting, it will negatively impact both productivity and employee well-being. Workplace surroundings have a definite effect on employee well-being.

“Employees are attracted and feel better in well-designed offices. Providing natural light and views of the outdoors to employees is a fundamental design principle which Giant Leap practise.

“Clients are using more glass to allow natural light to flow through, and are very cognisant about lighting, especially energy efficient solutions. We want to reduce eyestrain and improve worker comfort. Lighting allows employees

individual control over their workstations and how they like to work.

“Not only does it look great, but it allows a company to invest in their people without having to invest more into their building.

“A key feature, the optional integrated lighting, provides light where employees need it to overcome one of the biggest complaints in modern offices – poor lighting. If you work in an office setting, think about talking to your employer about improving lighting conditions.”

Here are some tips for proper desk lighting:• Bright lighting overhead should be kept

to a minimum. Use a combination of indirect lights and task lights for an optimum lighting solution.

Desk lighting

GIANT LEAP WORKSPACE SPECIALISTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Linda Trim, Sales and Marketing director at Giant Leap Workspace Specialists


Top tips to prevent eyestrain• Blink – because people looking at

computer screens or smartphones typically blink two to three times less than normal, make a conscious effort to blink and avoid dry eye.

• Look down – your computer screen must be about 10cm below eye level and 70cm from your face.

• Take a break – take five-minute mini-breaks throughout your day to boost productivity.

• Use the 20-20-20 rule – continual focusing on a computer screen means your eye can “lock up”. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes spent staring at a screen, look away at a distant object (20 feet or six metres away) for at least 20 seconds.


• If you have a desk lamp, make sure it is 40cm above the desk’s surface. Whether your light is wall-mounted or sitting on the desk, the 40cm rule stands.

• Try to avoid glare from overhead lights and windows by strategically positioning your computer screen. It’s best for windows to be to the side of your monitor (rather than to the front or back).

• For those with wall-mounted shelves directly above the desk,

the best way to provide proper illumination is to install a task light on the underside of the shelf. This will evenly light up the surface and will eliminate eyestrain from harsh overhead lighting.

• Consider choosing xenon task lights for your desk lighting. They’re dimmable, so you can choose the exact light level you need at any given time.

• A wall-mounted reading light (40cm above the desk) is another option. n

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Giving the gift of light

Philips is inviting the South African public to partner with its recently launched Gift of Light campaign, as it moves to enrich the lives of others living

on the African continent and support the much-needed development of the region.

The Gift of Light initiative enables the general public to light up the lives of families living without access to electricity, through a contribution of any amount towards a product from a range of Philips innovations specifically developed to create a safer and healthier household for semi-urban and

rural communities. “Philips would like to encourage all

South Africans to partner with us in 2015 in our Gift of Light initiative by providing one of our innovations to people who lack basic infrastructure. Even a very small contribution by an individual or a corporate can make a meaningful difference by improving the lives of others in southern and eastern Africa,” says Christoph Castellaz, head of Strategy and New Business Development, Philips Africa.

The Philips Foundation (a registered charity created to help enable lasting social change in disadvantaged communities) has committed to matching donations up to a total value of €50 000 to ensure an even greater

impact on these remote communities in Africa.

“We aim to improve the lives of 3-billion people a year by 2025, and the Gift of Light initiative brings us a step closer to achieving this goal. By partnering with local NGOs, like Afrika Tikkun (in South Africa), we are ensuring that our innovative products make a difference in the lives of those who need it most,” says Castellaz.

A simple solar lamp or a fan-driven cook stove can provide a family living off-grid with more family time and study time, and reduce the health risks of indoor cooking.

Philips’ innovative solar lighting solutions provide communities the ability to stay active and economically viable after sunset, whilst the Philips fan-driven cook stove delivers a healthy, environmentally-friendly and fuel-efficient manner to prepare meals. n

Would you like to help make a difference?

If you or your company is interested in participating in the Gift of Light initiative, log on to www.yourgiftoflight.com to browse the gifting options and provide sustainable solutions to those that need them most.

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PHILIPS


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Tshwane wins Earth Hour challenge

On Saturday 28 March, people were encouraged to turn off lights for Earth Hour to raise awareness about climate change.

According to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), a panel of international experts was impressed by Tshwane’s Sustainability Unit.

The Green Buildings by-law (the only one in the country), along with energy-efficient municipal buildings, bus rapid transport, construction of bicycle lanes, introduction of low-carbon vehicles and greener fuel for the municipal fleet, impressed judges.

Also noted was the city’s fitting of energy-saving bulbs for street lights, solar water heating, the Food and Energy Centre, and air quality monitoring stations.

WWF-SA CEO, Morné du Plessis, lauded Tshwane for its commitment to emissions-reduction.

“The city’s green building by-law reflects strong policy leadership, as do the impressive actions the city has taken to improve energy efficiency in its municipal buildings.”

Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa says there was no other option but to switch to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and climate-resilient city.

“I am humbled by the panel’s decision to select Tshwane as the South African Earth Hour Capital. It is indeed encouraging to see that our efforts are being recognised and I take this as motivation for us to further enhance our current sustainability efforts.”

To celebrate, the municipality hosted a race in which teams of Tshwane University of Technology students, WWF and municipal officials had to navigate the city using public transport and non-motorised transport, competing for the lowest carbon footprint.

It is not over for the City of Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay though, as they still get a chance to join Tshwane and 41 other international cities vying for the global title to be announced in Seoul, South Korea, in April. The three metros will be competing against cities such as Paris, Vancouver, Seattle and Rio de Janeiro. n

Source: www.timeslive.co.za

Clean tech company Pavegen has installed six people-powered kinetic energy tiles in the middle of a corridor in SNCF’s Innovation & Research office in Paris in order to illuminate the corridor’s LED strip lighting.

Now, they are going slightly bigger by placing a 68-tile walkway in Sandton City shopping mall in Johannesburg, as part of Samsung’s What If I Can campaign.

The kinetic energy system not only powers an interactive data screen, displaying realtime footfall data and providing an immediate visual payback, but the energy collected will be used to provide deprived communities in South Africa with lighting, heating and basic everyday amenities.

It’s a great location: Sandton City’s main passage receives a monthly footfall rate of over 2-million footsteps, allowing the shopping centre to generate an enormous amount of power. The scheme is supported by Samsung, who is committed to boosting its green credentials, both through product manufacturing and community initiatives.

The company’s What If I Can campaign focuses on shifting ideals and mind-sets towards a more optimistic, proactive way of thinking.

By providing shoppers with the means to generate renewable energy through a simple act of movement, it is hoped that the campaign will emphasise the fact that one person can impact the lives of others.

Ntutule Tshenye, director of Public Affairs and Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics Africa, says: “We feel that a consumer-facing campaign such as ‘What If I Can’ is both complementary and even gives credit to our innovate solutions such as Solar Powered Internet Schools and Solar Powered Digital Villages. Both initiatives work to empower people by delivering revolutionary solutions designed to overcome local challenges and take communities into the future, impacting the lives of people around the world.”

CEO and founder of Pavegen, Laurence Kemball-Cook, says: “Whenever someone takes a step on our tiles, it’s enough energy to light a bulb for a few seconds. This movement, multiplied by the thousands that walk through Sandton City on a daily basis, can definitely change the future of energy generation within our smart cities – as well as energy usage within developing areas of the world.” n

Source: www.inhabitat.com

Kinetic walkways light up rural villages

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Samsung

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w.hypresslive.com


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c r i m e a l e r t

Illegal power connectionsIllegal power connections are dangerous – and they put strain on the national grid

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Keeping shop-sa members abreast of criminal and fraudulent activity in the stationery and office products industry. To sponsor the Crime Alert page contact (011) 781 0370.

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Renew your Crime Alert sponsorship today! Call Wendy Dancer on (011) 781 0370 to book your logo placement on the Crime Alert page as an industry leader in transparency, information sharing and anti-crime business ethics.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

An illegal power connection is defined as one where a person makes a connection to Eskom’s electrical grid without Eskom’s permission.

This includes connecting to a mini-substation, someone else’s meter or a neighbour’s electricity board. Illegal connections are made by running a cable from an Eskom pylon to a home, office or unsanctioned distribution point.

“We have identified that the biggest contributors to electrical accidents, injuries and fatalities in South Africa are contact with low-hanging, unsafe connections; vandalism; illegal power connections; and cable theft,” says Eskom Corporate Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) operational manager Alex Stramrood.

Many businesses and residential are connected illegally – often in informal settlements where service delivery is a problem.

Residents commenting on the recent death of Bafana Mtshali, a 13-year-old from Shallcross, Durban, said that no one sold paraffin nearby and candles were too dangerous to use – and therefore many relied on illegal electrical connections to supply power to their homes.

“Not only is this dangerous for the individual making the connection, but it also puts the rest of the community at risk,” says Stramrood.

Illegal connections are dangerous for several reasons; the most common of which is the lack of safety features associated with the connections.

When electrical connections are made by amateurs, the cables often lack protective insulation and are not suspended at a safe overhead height. People and animals often touch the wires accidentally, resulting in electrocution.

In addition, these illegal connections also represent a portion of Eskom’s so-called “non-technical losses”. These also include non-payment, fraud, pre-paid electricity vouchers from stolen vending machines, and illegal electrification schemes.

According to electricity expert and director of EE Publishers Chris Yelland, approximately 32% of all electricity delivered by City Power Johannesburg is lost to theft and non-payment. Given Eskom’s current crisis, curbing non-technical losses would have a significant impact on the need for load-shedding.

Eskom believes that the only way to truly eradicate electricity theft is through a co-ordinated effort between the electricity supplier and communities.

The power parastatal educates the public on the safe use of electricity, as well as

informing them on the risks associated with the practice of illegal connections.

This is done through initiatives such as Operation Khanyisa and National Electricity Safety Week, which runs from 11 to 17 August. During National Electricity Safety Week, the country’s power utility educates communities about the basics of safe electricity usage and the risks of electricity theft, including meter tampering, bypassing and illegal connections. n

Did you know? • Report unsafe electricity connections

by phoning 08600 37566 or 0800 112 722.

• Illegal connections can also be reported anonymously by sending a detailed SMS to Primedia Crime Line at 32211, at the cost of R1 per SMS.

• Tip-offs can also be submitted online at www.crimeline.co.za.

• Visit www.operationkhanyisa.co.za for more information.

Protect your children by ensuring that they:

• Avoid playing near power lines or substations;

• Do not fly kites near power lines;• Do not try to retrieve a kite that is

stuck in a power line; • Never climb trees or other structures

near power lines; and • Report any illegal connection

immediately, and avoid playing in the area.


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BOSTIK FINE & WIDE SCHOOL GLUE is a dual tip applicator in one ergonomic design. This clear drying stationery glue is perfect for art and crafts, school projects and scrapbooking. The fine applicator flows in a clear line which is ideal for intricate work, while the wide applicator provides a smooth, even coverage on large areas. It is non-toxic, washable and safe to use on photos, paper and cardboards. So versatile it can even be used as a temporary hold for fabric!

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ANTI-GLARE & PRIVACY FILTERS

Whether you are battling with glossy LCD screen glare of worrying about prying eyes staring at your confidential financial data, 3M screen filters have the solution for you. Both the Anti-Glare and Privacy filters come in a variety of screen sizes for any type of notebook or desktop display. the filters are very eassy to apply with bubble free application, can be reapplied multiple times and it doubles as a screen protector, protecting your display from dirt and scratches. the filter adhesive is optically clear, which means it will not affect your display clarity, and it comes with a convenient storage folder. To clean the product, simply use the enclosed cloth with water.

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Custom schoolbags ,tracksuits

Kolok - Kenton

Topmark - School Bags, Laptop Bags, Pencil

Cases, Sports Bags, Luggage

BATTERIESNikki Distributors - Duracell Batteries

Nikki Distributors - Energizer Batteries

BIN RANGEKrost Office Products

BINDING ACCESSORIESAZ Trading - Plastic Comb, Wire, Thermal &

Covers

CTP Donau - Donau files and slide binders,

A4 poster board

Parrot Products - Parrot Comb Binding

Machines

Press Products - wire, combs, coil, covers

Rexel Office Products - Rexel and GBC

BINDING MACHINESAZ Trading - DSB, Neorel

D.O.S - Prima, DSB

Parrot Products - Parrot Comb Binding

Machines

Press Products - Bindquip

Rexel Office Products - GBC and Rexel

ranges

BOARDSBIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - BIC Velleda

School Whiteboards

CTP Stationery - Flip Chart Pads

Hortors Stationery - Legal Notices i.e. Basic

Conditions & OSH Act and Leave and Absence

Chart


Max Frank - Artline Flipchart Markers, Artline,

Maxi whiteboard markers


Parrot Products - Full range of boards and

accessories. Custom boards printed to your

specification

Rexel Office Products - NOBO whiteboards,

pinboards, easels and accessories. Quartet

magnetic white/cork boards

BOOK COVERSCTP Stationery - Poly Prop Donau heavy duty

covers

Empire Toy & Stationery - Butterfly paper

Freedom Stationery

Gordon’s Productions - contact paper

woodgrain, marble, pattern designs. Magic

cover back to school clear and coloured self

adhesive paper. (4M rolls, A4 and lever arch).

Plastic coated brownkraft rolls and pre-cut

polythene covers.

Grafton Paper Products

Palm Stationery Manufacturers - brown paper

rolls, poly rolls, gift-wrap

RBE - Papersmart

BOOKS AND PADSBSC Stationery - Treeline

CTP Stationery - Impala and premier books

and pads

Freedom Stationery - Manufacturers

Hortors Stationery - Legal registers

Impala Vuwa Stationery Manufacturers

Palm Stationery Manufacturers

Power Stationery - Powerstar

RBE - NCR Business Books

Rexel Office Products - Colourhide notebooks

BOXES AND CARTONSCTP Stationery - Archiving Systems

Rexel Office Products

Specialised Filing Systems - Archive and

Off-Site

Tidy Files - Acid free archiving products

CCALCULATORSKolok - HP

Nikki Distributors - Truly calculators



Rexel Office Products - IBICO

CALENDARSCTP Stationery - Diaries assorted sizes

CALLIGRAPHYMax Frank - Artline

CANTEENKolok - Tea, Coffee, milk etc, Sunbeam

(appliances), Cleansui (water filters and refills)

CARBON PAPER AND FILMSRBE - NCR Business Books

CD’S, DVD’S AND DISKETTESKolok - Verbatim, Kenton

CLIP BOARDSCTP Stationery - DONAU brand

Parrot Products - Masonite and whiteboard

CLIPS, FASTENERS AND PINSFreedom Stationery - Marlin

Grip Binders - Essentials, Stephens, Penguin

Tidy Files - Filing solution

40

SOURCE PRODUCTS HERE

CombBind 100 WireBind W20 ThermaBind T400CombBind 110 CombBind C200

Effortless binding

with perfect results

MultiBind 230Comb & WireCombBind C210 CombBind C250 Pro

www.rexelsa.co.za

COLOURING BOOKSEmpire Toy & Stationery - Empire books



COMPUTER ACCESSORIESKolok - Verbatim, Kenton

Krost Office Products

Pyrotec - Tower Inkjet-laser labels, business

cards and photo paper

COMPUTER CLEANINGKolok - ComputerCare

Pyrotec - Tower computer cleaning range

COMPUTER CONSUMABLESCTP Stationery - Full range of DONAU files

KMP - for computer consumables

Kolok Unlimited - Penguin (Ribbons, Toners,

Inkjets,) ,Till and fax rolls

Redfern Print Services - Redfern inkjet/laser/

copier labels and a full range of stationery labels

COMPUTER HARDWAREKolok Unlimited - Blazer UPS systems, Geha

(Interactive white boards)

CORPORATE STATIONERY & GIFTINGStar Stationers and Printers

CRAYONS AND CHALKSFreedom Stationery - Marlin

Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Chalks and

Crayons


DDESK SETS AND ACCESSORIESBIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Desk Set Solo

Delux



Rexel Office Products - Rexel Eco Range

DIARIES, PLANNERS AND ORGANISERSCTP Stationery - CTP Brand

Hortors Stationery - Legal diaries

Rexel Office Products - NOBO planners,

refills and T-card kits, Quartet Monthly/

Weekly planner

South African Diaries - For all your diary

needs

DICTATION - TRANSCRIPTION

Olympus Audio S.A - Digital Voice Recorders,

Transcription Kits and Accessories.

Powerhouse Dictation for Philips - Dictation,

transcription, meeting recording, mini-tapes,

foot pedals, accessories

DRAUGHTING AND DRAWING OFFICE SUPPLIES

CTP Stationery - A4 Poster Boards

EEMBOSSERS AND ENGRAVING

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Ideal

& Trodat Embossers (pocket, desk and

electronic), Trotec

ENVELOPES AND MAILING

BSC Stationery - Leo Envelopes

CTP Stationery - Commercial envelopes

Global Envelopes - CelloWrapped, peel+seal

and FullGum

Grafton/Star

KZN Envelopes - Manufactures of Printed and

Plain Envelopes

Merpak Envelopes - Complete range of quality

envelopes

Narayan Wholesaler - Wholesaler of Quality

Envelopes, Peel and Seal

PaperGeni

RBE - Papersmart

ERASERS & ERASING / CORRECTION FLUIDS

BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Tippex tape,

bottle and Pen


Max Frank - Uni

Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Tape/Erasers

Pentel S.A (PTY) LTD - Hi-Polymer and Ain

eraser, correction tape and pens


FFAX ROLL MANUFACTURERSRotunda

FILES AND FILINGAfrican Filing Systems - Top retrieval filing

and arching products

BSC Stationery - Treeline, Mobifile

CTP Stationery - Full range of quality DONAU

brand

Flip File - Executive display files, expanding

files, Document folders, dividers

Freedom Stationery - Edo / Unifile

Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Lever arch,

Ringbinder files, Manilla flat folders

Grafton/Star

Kolok - Geha (Binding machines)

Palm Stationery Manufacturers - leaver arch,

ring binder files, manilla flat folders.

Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd. - Display book Vivid,

document file, clip file and presentation file

Rexel Office Products - Prima and Rexel

ranges

Specialised Filing Systems - Top Retrieval,

Archive and Off-Site

Tidy Files - Filing solutions

FILES MECHANISMSPress Products - Lever arch, Ring binders

FOLDERSCTP Stationery - DONAU Brand


Palm Stationery Manufacturers - View files,

polypropylene & board folders

Tidy Files - Specialised

FORMS - LEGAL AND MISCELLANEOUSHortors Stationery - complete range of custom,

company, miscellaneous, magisterial, etc.

FURNITURE - OFFICE & SCHOLASTICKrost Office Products - accessories

New Era Office cc - Specialising in all office

furniture desks, chairs, credenzas, boardroom

tables, etc

Reboni Furniture Group - Manufacturing and

distribution of educational and office furniture

Specialised Filing Systems - Cabinets,

Shelving and Hi-Density

41

b u y e r s ’ g u i d e S e e p a g e 4 6 f o r c o n t a c t d e t a i l s

CombBind 100 WireBind W20 ThermaBind T400CombBind 110 CombBind C200

Effortless binding

with perfect results

MultiBind 230Comb & WireCombBind C210 CombBind C250 Pro

www.rexelsa.co.za

GGUILLOTINES AND TRIMMERSAZ Trading - DSB, Kobra

Beswick Office Products - Fellowes, Vivid

Maynards Office Technology - IDEAL

Shredders & Guillotines – SA Distributors

Press Products - BindQuip

Rexel Office Products - SmartCut and

ClassicCut

IINDEX TABBING AND DIVIDERSCTP Stationery - DONAU Brand board and P.P

Flip File - Index Tabs, Flip tabs


Grip Binders


Rexel Office Products - Rexel, Mylar and

Prima board

INKSKMP - for computer consumables.

Max Frank - Shachihata, Artline

Rexel Office Products - Numbering machine

ink

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Trodat,

Noris fastdry, security, numbering, franking.

Laundry.

JJANITORIALKolok - Goldenmarc (Cleaning products),

Brooms, Mops and equipment.

LLABELSFreedom Stationery - Marlin

Nor Paper

Pyrotec - Tower stationery, inkjet-laser labels

Redfern Print Services - Redfern Inkjet/laser/

copier labels and a full range of stationery labels

Specialised Filing Systems - Filing


LABELLING MACHINESKemtek Imaging Systems - Distributor of

Brother P-Touch Labelling System

LAMINATING MACHINESAZ Trading - DSB, Speedlam, Lamiace

Kolok - GEHA and Galaxy

Parrot Products - Parrot A4 and A3

Laminators

Press Products - GMP

Rexel Office Products - GBC and Rexel ranges

LAMINATING POUCHES AND MATERIALSAZ Trading - A0 to ID card size

Kolok - GEHA, Penguin laminating pouches

and rolls

Parrot Products

Press Products - GMP

Rexel Office Products - GBC

LEGAL STATIONERYHortors Stationery - All legal registers, forms,

diaries etc

LETTER TRAYSKrost Office Products

MMAILING TUBES

CTP Stationery

MARKERSBIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Permanent

Markers, Highlighters, whiteboard


Interstat Agencies - Edding

Max Frank - Artline , Maxi, Uni

Parrot Products - White board, permanent

and OHP markers. Wide range of

highlighters

Penflex - White board, flipchart, permanent

markers, highlighters

Pentel (Pty) Ltd. - Maxiflo, white board

marker and paint marker


MATHEMATICAL GEOMETRY SETS & ACCESSORIESFreedom Stationery - Marlin



MINUTE AND GUARD BOOKSHortors Stationery - Company registers,

minute books and other legal registers

NNUMBERING MACHINESRexel Office Products

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Reiner

Dater/Numberer (manual/electronic), Trodat

OOFFICE ERGONOMICSRexel Office Products - Kensington

copyholders, risers, footrests, Rexel range of

electric staplers and punches which reduces

chances of RSI (repetitive strain injury)

OFFICE FURNITUREIXAXA Office Furniture - Office furniture

(Desks and Chairs) from reception to CEO’S

office

42


Fusion 1000L Fusion 1100L Fusion 3000L Fusion 3100L Fusion 5000L Fusion 5100L

www.rexelsa.co.za

Simply faster to the finish...Introducing the new line of Fusion

TM Laminators

OVERHEAD PROJECTION AND ACCESSORIESKolok - Penguin Transparencies

Max Frank - Artline

Parrot Products - Data Projectors, OHPs,

screens and rear projection film

Penflex - Penflex Overhead projector pens

Rexel Office Products - NOBO

PPACKAGINGMerpak Envelopes - Postsafe packaging range

PAPER AND BOARDAntalis South Africa - Office paper and

packaging solutions

CTP Stationery - DONAU A4 poster boards

Empire Toy & Stationery - Butterfly paper

Freedom Stationery

Grafton/Star

Kolok Unlimited - Geha (paper media),

EPSON, HP, CANON,

Nor Paper

Palm Stationery Manufacturers - Cubes and

board

Paper World Handmade Paper, Embossed

Paper, Specialty Papers, Scented Paper Board,

Paper Products

Peters Papers - Rotatrim, Typek and Smart

Copy


RBE - Papersmart

Rexel Office Products - Prima Paper & Board

TRIBE - TRIBE Inkjet Paper and Film

PAPER FOLDING MACHINESMaynards Office Technology - IDEAL


PENCILSBIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - BIC Evolution

Graphite, BIC Matic Clutch ,Velocity Clutch,

Atlantis Clutch, BU4 Clutch

Freedom Stationery - Marlin / Edo

Max Frank - Uni


Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd - Hotshot, Mechanical

Pencil, Techniclick Pencil.


Rexel Office Products - Rexel HB & Derwent

Staedtler SA (Pty) Ltd - Tradition, Wopex,

Technical, Clutch Pencils and lead

PENCIL LEADSBIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Criterium 0.5mm

leads


Max Frank - Uni

Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd - Ain lead, standard lead

- various grades

PENCIL SHARPENERSFreedom Stationery



PENSBIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Clic, Crystal,

Orange and Prismo

Freedom Stationery - Marlin and Edo

Max Frank - Artline, Maxi, Uni


Penflex - Penflex ballpoints and rollerballs

Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd - Superb Ballpoint,

Energel Pen


Staedtler SA (Pty) Ltd - Ball point, Fineliner,

Gel and Pigment liner pens

PEN CARBON BOOKSFreedom Stationery - Marlin


RBE - NCR Business Books

PERSONAL STATIONERYCTP Stationery - Home office and personal

filing system, diaries

Grafton/Star

PLANNING BOARDS AND ACCESSORIESParrot Products - Range of year planners,

term planners, maps and in/out boards.

custom printed boards designed to

specification.

Rexel Office Products - NOBO planners

POINT OF SALE PRINTER ROLLSPaperGeni

Rotunda

PRINTINGOlivetti Imports - Distributors of

Multifunctional Printers / Copiers

Star Stationers and Printers

Kolok - Epson, Lexmark (Hardware), Hp

Printers, Oki (Hardware)

PRINTER CONSUMABLESImpression Management - Prinart, Logic,

Q-Ink, Sanchi, Oliser and ATIKMP - For

computer consumables.

Ink Spot Suppliers - Suppliers of all brands of

inkjet and LaserJet cartridges

Kolok - EPSON (inkjet, large format etc),

LEXMARK, HP, Brother (Toners and Inks),

Oki (Toners, inks and Ribbons), Tally

Genicom (Ribbons), Seikosha (Ribbons),

Panasonic (Toners and Ribbons), Kyocera

(Toners), Printronix (Ribbons), IBM

(Ribbons), Ricoh (Toners), Fujitsu (Ribbons)

Nor Paper

PaperGeni

Royce Imaging Industries - Remanufacturers

and suppliers of inkjet and laser cartridges

Technical Systems Engineering - Suppliers

of quality compatible cartridges and bulk

inks for Epson, Canon, Lexmark, HP and

Samsung

PUNCHES AND PERFORATORSFreedom Stationery - Marlin


Parrot Products - Parrot range of punches


Rexel Office Products - Rexel

RRUBBER STAMPSMax Frank - Schachihata X Stampers

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co. - Trodat

RUBBER STAMP MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENTRubber Stamp & Engraving Co - AZ Liquid

polymer, TROTEC laser engraver, flash

system

43


Fusion 1000L Fusion 1100L Fusion 3000L Fusion 3100L Fusion 5000L Fusion 5100L

www.rexelsa.co.za

Simply faster to the finish...Introducing the new line of Fusion

TM Laminators

RULERSFreedom Stationery - Marlin



Penflex - PENFLEX rulers

SSCHOLASTIC SUPPLIESBSC Stationery Sales - Treeline

CTP Stationery

Empire Toy & Stationery - Butterfly

Flip File - Flip File display books A5, A4, A2, A3

Freedom Stationery - Marlin and Edo

Gordon’s Productions - contact paper

woodgrain, marble, pattern designs. Magic

cover back to school clear and coloured

self adhesive paper. (4M rolls, A4 and lever

arch). Plastic coated brownkraft rolls and

pre-cut polythene covers.

Grafton Paper Products

Impala Vuwa Stationery Manufacturers

Max Frank - Artline, Maxi, Uni


Parrot Products - chalk boards/slates


Pyrotec - Tower Adhesive Book Cover 45cm

x 2m

SCISSORS AND CUTTERSFreedom Stationery - Marlin



Rexel Office Products

SCRAPBOOKINGRexel Office Products - Trimmers and

guillotines

Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Making

memories, Clearsnap, Marvy, Ranger, Bazzill,

Carl

SHREDDERS AND ACCESSORIESAZ Trading - DSB, Kobra, Roto, Repairs to all

makes

D.O.S - Kobra

Kolok - GEHA entry level and high-end

shredders

Nikki Distributors - Nikki shredders

Parrot Products - Parrot range of value

shredders

Rexel Office Products - Rexel range

Maynards Office Technology - IDEAL


SLATESFreedom Stationery - Marlin

Parrot Products - Whiteboard and chalk

board

SPIKE FILESGrip Binders

STAMPS, STAMP PADS AND INKSRubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Trodat,

pre-inked stamps, stamp and fingerprint

pads

STAPLING MACHINES AND STAPLESFreedom Stationery - Marlin

Interstat Agencies - Genmes


Parrot Products - Parrot range of staplers

Rexel Office Products - Rexel range

STATIONERY SUNDRIES - SCHOLASTICCTP Stationery - DONAU Scissors and cutting

knives

Freedom Stationery - Marlin, Edo and Unifile



STENCILSFreedom Stationery

STORAGE SYSTEMSCTP Stationery - Archiving Systems -

Suspension Files

Kolok - VERBATIM (hard drives, USB sticks

etc), HP

Rexel Office Products - Storage boxes

Specialised Filing Systems - Filing


TTABLET AND ACCESSORIESD.O.S - Clarys, iStay

TAPESFreedom Stationery


TELECOMMUNICATIONSNikki Distributors - Siemens office phones

TELEX ROLLS AND TELETEX PAPERRotunda

THERMAL ROLLSRotunda

TONERS AND CARTRIDGESKMP - Computer consumables

Kolok - PENGUIN (Inkjets and Laser toners),

EPSON, LEXMARK, HP.

PaperGeni

TOP RETRIEVAL FILINGOptiplan a div of Waltons - Paper based top

retrieval filing systems

Specialised Filing Systems - Total Solution

and more

Tidy Files - Complete onsite and offsite filing

solutions

TOYS, HOBBIES AND GAMESFreedom Stationery

Pyrotec - Toby Tower Stickers and Activities

TRANSFER LETTERING AND SIGNSParrot Products - Vinyl lettering

TRANSPARENCIESKolok - Penguin transparencies for inkjet and

laser OEM, Penguin and HP Transparencies

Rexel Office Products - NOBO range

44


www.rexelsa.co.zaAuto+ 60X Auto+ 80X Auto+ 200X Auto+ 300X | 300M Auto+ 500X | 500M Auto+ 750X | 750MAuto+ 100X | 100M

The World Leader in Auto Feed Shredding

STACKSHUTDONE

45


• The Buyers’ Guide is an affordable way of highlighting your brands while also

introducing up and coming new stockists to the trade.

• The Buyers’ Guide is a valuable sourcing tool to market your business and the brands

that you carry.

• To book space, contact Wendy on [email protected] or (011) 781 0370.

DID YOU KNOW?

www.rexelsa.co.zaAuto+ 60X Auto+ 80X Auto+ 200X Auto+ 300X | 300M Auto+ 500X | 500M Auto+ 750X | 750MAuto+ 100X | 100M

The World Leader in Auto Feed Shredding

STACKSHUTDONE

African Filing Systems( 011 614 9445 www.africanfiling.co.za

7 086 540 6892 [email protected]

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd( 011 688 6000 Box 6893, Johannesburg, 2000


Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Cape Town( 021 959 9600 Box 19231, Tygerberg, 7505

7 021 959 9640

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Durban( 031 714 4000 Box 284, Umhlanga, 4320

7 031 700 9253

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Pretoria( 012 379 0060 Box 4013, Pretoria, 0001

7 012 379 0052

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Bloemfontein( 051 447 8681 Box 1795, Bloemfontein, 9300

7 051 447 6765

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Port Elizabeth( 041 486 2020 Box 9088, Estadeal, 6012

7 041 486 2219

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Pietermaritzburg( 033 386 2078 Box 1425, Pietermaritzburg, 3200

7 033 386 2078

Antalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Botswana( 00267 391 2139 Box 1705, Gaborone

7 00267 397 5459

AZ Trading( 086 111 4407 www.aztradingcc.co.za


BIC South Africa (Pty) Ltd( 011 474 0181 PO BOX 43144, Industria, 2042

7 011 474 6068 16 Maraisburg Road, Industria, 2042

BSC Stationery Sales( 011 086 2940 Box 278, Brakpan, 1540


CTP Stationery( 011 226 5600 Box 43501, Industria, 2042


D.O.S (Denton Office Solutions)( 086 000 7468 [email protected]

7 086 237 4614 www.dosptyltd.biz

Empire Toy & Stationery( 011 614 2243 Box 261524, Excom, 2023


Flip File( 021 638 3105 Box 2190, Clareinch, 7740


Freedom Stationery - Johannesburg( 011 314 0953/4 Box 6459, Halfway House, 1685


Freedom Stationery - Cape Town( 021 557 9152/3 36-38 Silverstone Rd Killarney Gardens


Freedom Stationery KZN (Head Office)( 032 459 2820 Box 478, Mandini, 4490


Freedom Stationery - East London( 043 731 2422 Box 14111 West Bank 5218


Global Bag And Sportswear Manufactures( 031 305 6507 P.O Box 18586, Dalbridge, 4014

7 031 301 6553 www.globalbags.co.za

Global Envelopes( 031 465 5544 [email protected]

7 031 465 5634 www.envelopes.co.za

Gordon’s Productions( 031 705 8713 Suite 69, PvtBag X4, Kloof, 3640


Grafton/Star Paper Products( 011 262 0777 Box 550, Bergvlei, 2012


Grip Binders( 011 421 1300 [email protected]

Hortors Stationery( 011 620 4800 Box 1020, Johannesburg, 2000


Impala Vuwa Stationery Manufacturers( 036 634 1535 Box 389, Ladysmith, 3370


Ink Spot Suppliers( 011 854 3013


Interstat Agencies - Durban( 031 569 6550 Box 201707, Durban North, 4016


Interstat Agencies - Cape Town( 021 551 9555 Box 36696, Chempet, 7442


Interstat Agencies - Port Elizabeth( 041 453 2558 Box 27693, Greenacres, 6057


IXAXA Office Furniture( 011 392 3628 14 Isando Road Isando

[email protected]

Kemtek Imaging Systems( 011 624 8000 Box 86173, City Deep, 2049


Kemtek Imaging Systems - Cape( 021 521 9600 Box 181, Cape Town, 8000


Kemtek Imaging Systems - KZN( 031 700 9363 Box 15685, Westmead, 3608


Kemtek Imaging Systems - PE( 041 582 5222 Box 15685, Westmead, 3608


Kemtek Imaging Systems - PTA( 012 804 1410 PO Box 816, Silverton, 0127


KMP( 021 709 0190 Box 183, Steenberg, 7947


Kolok Unlimited - Head Office( 011 248 0300 Box 4151, Johannesburg, 2000


Kolok Unlimited - Cape Town( 021 597 2700 Box 6385, Roggebaai, 8012


Kolok Unlimited - Durban( 031 570 4900 Box 4206, Riverhorse Valley East, 4017


Kolok Unlimited Polokwane( 015 298 8795 Box 862, Ladanna, 0704


Kolok Unlimited - Port Elizabeth( 041 406 9900 Box 3163, North End, 6056


Kolok Unlimited - Namibia( 00264 (61)370500 Box 40797, Ausspannplatz, Namibia

7 00264 (61)370525 [email protected]

Kolok Unlimited - Nelspruit( 013 758 2233 Box 4338, White River, 1240


Kolok Unlimited - Bloemfontein( 051 433 1876 PvtBag X01, Brandhof, Bloemfontein


Kolok Unlimited - Botswana( 00267 393 2669 PvtBag B0226, Bontleng, Gaborone


Krost Office Products( 011 626 2067 Box 75401, Gardenview, 2047


KZN ENVELOPES( 031 465 3992 P O Box 41259, Rossburgh, 4072


Max Frank( 011 921 1811 Box 200, Isando, 1600


Maynards - Olympus Audio S.A / Olivetti Distributors( 0860 00 1922 [email protected]

www.maynards.co.za

Merpak Envelopes( 011 719 7700 [email protected]

7 011 885 3174 www.merpak.co.za

Narayan Wholesaler( 083 444 0959 [email protected]

7 011 869 7243

New Era Office cc( 011 334 2013 Box 10383, Lenasia, 1821


Nikki - Cape Town( 0860 006731 [email protected]

7 0800 204868 www.nikki.co.za

Nikki - Durban( 0860 006731 [email protected]


Nikki - Johannesburg( 0860 006731 [email protected]


Nikki - Pretoria( 0860 006731 [email protected]


Nor Paper( 011 011 3900


Optiplan a division of Waltons( 011 620 4000 Pencil Park, Croxley Close, Herriotdale


Palm Stationery( 031 507 7051 [email protected]

7 031 507 7053 www.palmstat.co.za

PaperGeni( 011 011 3900 [email protected]

7 011 011 4099 www.papergeni.co.za

Paper World( 012 250 1477/8 [email protected].

7 012 250 0322 www.paperworldsa.com

Parrot Products( 011 607 7600 [email protected]

7 011 615 2502 www.parrotproducts.biz

Penflex( 021 521 2400 Box 36964, Chempet, 7442

7 021 521 2402/3 [email protected]

Pentel S.A (Pty) Ltd( 011 474 1427/8 Box 202, Crown Mines, 2025

7 011 474 5563 www.pentel.co.za

Peters Papers( 011 677 9000 [email protected]

7 011 622 6646 www.peterspapers.co.za

Powerhouse Dictation( 011 887 1056 [email protected]

7 086 555 3833 www.speech.co.za

Power Stationery( 032 533 4003 Box 1305, Verulam, 4340


Press Products( 011 493 6332 [email protected]

7 011 499 1019 www.pressproducts.co.za

Pyrotec( 021 787 9600 PvtBag X1, Capricorn Square, 7948


RBE Stationery Manufacturers (Pty) Limited( 011 793 7321 [email protected]

7 011 793 7348 www.rbe.co.za

Reboni Furniture Group( 086 173 2664 www.reboni.co.za


Redfern Print Services - Cape Town( 021 552 9680 Box 403, Milnerton, 7435


Redfern Print Services - Durban( 031 205 9598 [email protected]

7 031 205 7092 www.redfern.co.za

Redfern Print Services - Johannesburg( 011 837 4119 Box 1445, Crown Mines, 2025


Rexel Office Products( 011 226 3300 www.rexelsa.co.za


Rotunda( 021 552 5135 Box 189, Maitland, 7404


Royce Imaging Industries( 011 792 9530 www.royceimaging.co.za


Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Head Office( 011 262 1400 Box 931, Wendywood, 2144


Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Cape Town( 021 448 7008 Box 931, Wendywood, 2144


Rubber Stamp & Engraving Co - Durban( 083 377 4109 Box 931, Wendywood, 2144


South African Diaries( 021 442 2340 Box 4862, Cape Town, 8000


Staedtler SA (Pty) Ltd( 011 579 1600 www.staedtler.co.za


Specialised Filing Systems( 011 477 0640 www.specfiling.co.za

7 011 477 3528

Star Stationers and Printers( 031 569 1061 [email protected]

7 031 569 1094 www.starstat.co.za

Technical Systems Engineering( 011 708 2304 Box 1532, Northriding, 2162


Tidy Files( 011 943 4210 www.tidyfiles.co.za

Topmark( 011 837 8045 [email protected]

7 011 837 7442

Tower (Division of Pyrotec) - Cape Town( 021 787 9600 PvtBag X1, Capricorn Square, 7948

7 021 787 9791

Tower (Division of Pyrotec) - Johannesburg( 011 611 1820 59 Lepus Rd, Crown Mines, 2025


Tower (Division of Pyrotec) Durban( 031 701 0192 Box 594, Pinetown, 3600


Tribe( 011 314 4746 (Jhb) Box 6280, Halfway House, 1685

7 021 386 4261 (Cpt) [email protected]

Versafile( 011 226 5600 Box 43501, Industria, 2042


CONTACT DETAILS HERE

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The real stuffNot marketing fluff

What’s the highlight of your working career?There are so many, but the one that stands out would be coming into the office every day, hearing and seeing just how happy everyone that works for Denton Office Solutions is, and knowing that they enjoy what they do

If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be?I would want the industry to be more open to new ideas. After working in various industries, I have seen that this industry is often opposed to anything new

What do you like best about the office products industry?Training new staff or dealers and seeing their faces when they find out just how much goes into knowing what a shredder, binder or laminator is

What’s your greatest personal achievement?I have been able to travel all over the world for work and fun, resulting in me visiting all seven continents

Describe yourself in three words?Adventurous, ambitious, honest

Where did you grow up?All around the world, but most of my life was spent in Johannesburg and Grahamstown

What was your first CD?I really cannot remember

What’s your favourite gadget?My tablet

What’s your favourite movie?Gladiator, or on the fun side most movies with Adam Sandler

What’s your favourite meal?A good steak or pizza wins most times

Do you have a hobby?Cycling, MMA, swimming, motor sports (watching) and squash

What music did you listen to in the car this morning?I had 5 FM on the radio, so whatever was playing

Do you have any pets?Two dogs and a cat

What was your first car?A green Mazda Etude 1.6

Theo Denton, GM at Denton Office Solutions (D.O.S)

GR

AHA M S T O W N

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Send us your funniest caption for the photograph below and you stand a chance to win a Rexel Laminator GBC Fusion 1100 A4 valued at R2 000. Send your Punchline and contact details to [email protected] with Punchline in the subject line

WinThe Rexel Laminator is 33% faster than competitor machines, taking just 45 seconds to laminate a standard A4 pouch or 80 pouches per hour, with an additional cold setting for heat sensitive documents. Other features include:• Automatic switch off after 30 minutes of inactivity.• Exit tray keeps pouches straight as they come

through the heated rollers for a perfect, warp-free finish

• Incorporates SureFlow™ Technology that reduces jamming significantly for stress-free laminating and maximum productivity

• Laminates up to A4 size including ID cards, notices and certificates

• Modern, compact design is easy to move around and suits most office and home environments

• Single touch button interface: simple to use, no previous experience required

• Three heat settings • Accepts 2 x 75 micron (150 in total) pouches, 2 x

100 micron (200 in total) and 2 x 125 micron (250 in total).

Caption this!

WINME

WINNING CAPTION APRIL ISSUEWinning Caption: “So this is how you become a redhead?” – Dougie, Van’s Office Supplies

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My Office is the official publication of the Stationery, Home & Office Products Association of Southern Africa (shop-sa).

It is the only accredited publication for the office and home products industry.In My Office magazine we cover:

• Cutting-edge office technologies; • Best business practices;• The latest industry news, events and

promotions; • Human capital management issues;• The hottest trends in interiors,

furniture and workplace ergonomics;• Advice on how to sell products; and• Advice on how to do business with

accredited industry suppliers.

Join this expanding community of office professionals, managers, procurement buyers and business owners by registering for your free subscription on www.myofficemagazine.co.za.

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A division of CTP Stationery

F E E L T H E Q U A L I T Y

Quality you can trust.

PO Box 43501, Industria 2042, Rep of South Africa 1 Blumberg Street, Industria West, Johannesburg, Rep of South Africa, 2093Tel: +27 (0)11 226 5600 • Fax: +27 (0)11 474 9242 Email: [email protected] www.ctpstationery.co.za

Suspension Files Complete with Flexi-Tabs & Blank Inserts for Multi-positioning •

Powder coated rails for smoother action •Wrap-around construction for added strength •

4 Exciting colours. •

Home Office Filing System

Versaflex Suspension Files

Documents

Vol 99 issue 05 2015