Clearance – Machines – Supplies – Everything 11% OFF

August 23, 2016 by Jeff McRitchie

Save 11% OFF our entire site!

Valid only on new orders through MyBinding.com. Discount is good up to a maximum amount of $50 per order. Cannot be combined with other offers, deals, or coupons and does not apply to shipping costs, additional warranties, or taxes. Free Shipping, where applicable, excludes truck and International shipping, applies to economy shipping, and only towards Continental USA orders. Coupons must be applied at time of purchase. Quantities subject to stock on hand. We reserve the rights to limit quantities. Customer is responsible for postage/shipping, where applicable.

Expires 09/05/2016

Keeping Your Resume Out of the Shredder (Part Two!)

August 14, 2012 by Jeff McRitchie Leave a Comment

paper-shredder-2 A couple weeks ago I gave some advice about crafting a good resume from my perspective as an employer (read the first post here). Today, I want to take my advice one step further to help you get that extra edge.

Okay, so let’s say you’ve taken the time to really work out your resume. It’s been proofed, well-organized, and tailored to fit the job to which you’re applying. You can bet that this will definitely separate you from the majority of resumes coming in. Still, with the sheer volume of people looking for jobs these days, you’re probably not the only one who has taken the time to put together a stellar resume. So, how do move your resume to the top of that short stack? Presentation.

Think about it. After you just spent all this time perfecting your resume on the computer, what’s the very last thing you did? Hit print. And if you’re thinking like everyone else, that’s it. You’re done. The thing is, you can’t afford to think like everyone else.

Paper
The first thing you need to do is get some thicker paper. Don’t use the cheap copier paper everyone has in their printer. You want to stand out, remember? You want your potential employer to hold your resume and physically feel a difference between the others he or she has sorted through. Believe it or not, a sturdy resume communicates that you’re confident, serious about the position, and take pride in who you are. This automatically makes you a strong candidate.

Color
You don’t want to go overboard with color. In fact, less is more. White paper is going to do the trick, but if you wanted to use a very subtle colored paper, it would be okay. Just use caution–anything too extravagant can hurt you by distracting from the content of your resume. The same can be said about colored ink. Straight-up black ink will get the job done. Colored ink should be used sparingly, if at all. At most, I’d consider only using colors for titles, headings, and possibly any minimal border or decoration. Again, less is more here.

Presentation Folders
Once you’ve printed your cover letter and resume, consider placing them in a pocket folder or presentation cover. This additional housing for your materials will not only protect them but give them a immensely professional look while, again, communicating your strength as a candidate.

The Digital Age
There’s just one problem with all this advice, right? In this highly technological culture, most resumes and covers letters are sent via email. So, what’s the point? Consider this: Many job postings still include a mailing address. Unless the application instructions explicitly say to use email, why not drop your resume and cover letter in the mail? Better yet, if the job you’re interested in is local, make a trip to drop off your resume in person–this might be an excellent opportunity to meet your future employer and schedule an interview! I can tell you from personal experience that I generally have a slightly stronger connection to the candidates who give me physical resumes than the ones I simply read in my inbox. Their extra effort is undeniably impressive.

Finally, even if you can’t get your prospective employer a physical copy of your resume initially, you’ll have the chance when you’re invited to interview. As an employer, I can tell you that the first thing I’m going to ask for is a copy of your resume, so be prepared! And remember, these strategies aren’t a substitute for quality content in your materials–they can only highlight what’s already there.

Good luck!

Nine Easy Things You Can Do to Protect Your Identity

April 12, 2012 by Jeff McRitchie

Identity theft is frequently in the news these days and with good reason. It’s become one of the most common crimes and anyone can become a victim of it. This is unfortunate because identity theft can be devastating. It can destroy your credit, drain your finances, and affect your reputation. However, you can fight back. Here are nine easy things you can do to protect your identity:

One of the best ways to protect your identity is by using a paper shredder. You should shred any document that contains personal information: canceled checks, bank statements, old credit reports, and so on. Cross-cut shredders offer much more security than strip-cut models and there are some devices that can shred items like credit cards and CD’s. Shredders are available in a variety of sizes so it’s easy to find one that’s perfect for your needs and budget.
Whenever you’re at an ATM or making a purchase with your debit card, make sure that no one can see which numbers you’re pressing as you enter your PIN. Likewise, give people space when they’re paying for something or banking. It’s all about common courtesy.
Take care when creating passwords for websites. It’s a good idea to use different passwords for different sites and to change your passwords on a regular basis. If you have trouble remembering your passwords, use a program like Password Safe that will keep them under wraps but still allow you to cut and paste them into web forms.
Make sure you pick up your mail daily and to mail your items at the post office. It’s very easy for someone to break into your personal mailbox and if there’s mail in it, he or she will have access to a wealth of personal information.
Take the time to read your bank and credit card statements every month so you can detect any fraud that may have occurred. You should also check your credit report on a regular basis and alert the credit bureaus if you notice any suspicious activity. You can get your credit report for free once a year, so be sure to take advantage of the opportunity.

How to Throw a Shredding Party

August 29, 2011 by Jeff McRitchie Leave a Comment

destroyit-2270cc-sm1 You may have seen signs around advertising a “Shred Party” and thought to yourself, what is that? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like, a place for people to come together and shred their unwanted items. These are often organized by a bank, post office, or school. But there is no reason why a business can’t throw one as well. Here is a road map to hosting your very own shred party.

First, you’ll want to define your purpose. The reasoning behind organizing any event is vital; knowing your purpose helps you plan your function. If your goal is brand awareness, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of business cards on hand and maybe a few brochures for your company as well. Employees available to help and discuss your business will guide people in connecting to your brand. Maybe your goal is to get involved in your community. Then you might consider making this a monthly or quarterly event hosted to help people. Or maybe you’re just looking to sell your products. Hosting a shredding party is a great way to give people hands-on experience while helping them. Whatever road you choose, knowing why you’re hosting this function will help to guide your actions as well as tell your employees how to act.
Once you know your purpose, you’ll need to figure out which machines to use. If you expect a large number of people, having an industrial shredder on-hand will speed up the process tremendously. However, this will take away from the time you have to spend with potential customers. If you’re looking to sell, supply several different makes and models to encourage people to do some hands-on research. You may even offer a discount on the units used during the party or on any machines purchased that day. But overall, you’ll want to at least have one cross-cut and one strip-cut device to accommodate varying shredding needs. You may even provide a high security or micro-cut shredder, though this isn’t absolutely necessary. Another optional but nice addition to your selection would be a digital media shredder. Whatever you choose, be sure at least one shredder has a continuous duty motor to keep up with a heavy duty workload.
After you’ve planned the basics, get the word out. With so many media options available, there are several different ways to advertise. A newspaper ad gives people something tangible to remind them. A Facebook event on your company’s page (and maybe even on your city’s page, depending on how big of an event you wish to have) encourages customers to return to your business. An email message or snail mail postcard to your subscribers is another way to get the word out. And finally, you can always use a good old-fashioned sign on the side of the road.

Finally, you’re ready! For a community event, consider providing a snack and a beverage to facilitate relationship building. If you’re looking to make a few sales, have product information ready as well as business cards and brochures. You may even host a drawing. Or turn it into a fundraiser for a charity by charging a small fee and donating the proceeds. The possibilities are endless. And if you need a new shredder for your event, MyBinding.com sells a wide selection of them and offers free shipping on all orders over $75.

What do you think? Did I miss any key points? Have any suggestions for throwing a shredding party? I’d love to hear them!

Office Tools and Supplies You Should Have at Home

March 20, 2011 by Jeff McRitchie Leave a Comment

DSM07-13-sm1

Even if you don’t have a home office, there are several office tools and supplies you should have at home. These items can help you protect documents, get organized, and even help shield you from identity theft. Let’s take a look at what they are….

1.) A supply of self-sealing laminating pouches. At some point in your life, you may need to laminate something important. It could be a birth certificate, a memento, or even a special photograph. While you could purchase a laminator to protect you item, it’s more cost-effective to use self-sealing laminating pouches. Just buy a package and keep them in your desk so you can laminate your documents in minutes. Some of the best ones are made by GBC, so be sure to look for them.

2.) A good stapler. You should have a stapler at home because chances are good you’ll need to use it at some point. (For example, you may need to staple documentation to your tax returns.) You don’t need to purchase an exceptionally fancy one – a good, basic Swingline stapler will be just fine. A Swingline stapler will last for years so you’ll always be able to use it when you need to.

3.) A well-made paper shredder. If you’re like most people, you’re probably somewhat worried about fraud and identity theft. The best way to protect yourself is by shredding your private papers. There is a terrific selection of personal-sized machines and they’re made by great manufacturers such as Fellowes. (Swingline is also now making shredders.) You can use the shredder to shred items like old tax returns, canceled checks, and anything else you want to safely dispose of. This will help keep your personal information secure.

4.) A good pair of scissors. Like the stapler, you should have a good pair of scissors because you’ll need them at some point for various activities (i.e. sewing, wrapping gifts, crafts, etc.). A lot of different companies make scissors but you really can’t go wrong with a pair made by Dahle, a German manufacturer. They make a variety of scissors and they feature Solingen steel blades, so they’re very durable. Their scissors also feature sturdy plastic handles and they’re available in different lengths so there’s definitely a pair that’s right for you.

5.) Three-ring binders and a durable hole-punch. Three-ring binders are terrific supplies that can help you stay organized. You can use them to store schoolwork, recipes, trading card collections, photographs, and more. It doesn’t hurt to have a couple on-hand so you have them if you need them. Companies like Wilson Jones make particularly good binders. You should also have a three-hole punch so you can get your paper ready to go in the binders. Swingline makes some of the most durable punches, so you can be confident you’re getting a great product.

These are all office tools and supplies you should have at home. They’ll be helpful for a variety of different tasks and they can also help you keep things organized. A paper shredder will definitely help you protect yourself against fraud, as well. Get these tools and supplies today so you have them when you need them.

Clearance – Machines – Supplies – Everything 11% OFF

Save 11% OFF our entire site!

Keeping Your Resume Out of the Shredder (Part Two!)

Nine Easy Things You Can Do to Protect Your Identity

How to Throw a Shredding Party

Office Tools and Supplies You Should Have at Home

Customer Service

About Us

Resources