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    How to Throw a Shredding Party

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    destroyit-2270cc-sm1You 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

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    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.

    Are You HIPPA-Compliant?

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    There are many reasons to have paper shredders in the workplace. For one thing, they make disposing of unwanted documents easy and convenient. They can also prevent bank account numbers and other financial information from being stolen. Also, if you deal with any type of health-related information, a shredder can help you become compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 – otherwise known as HIPAA.

    HIPAA is a federal set of rules and regulations pertaining to health insurance and patient privacy. When someone talks about how paper shredders related to HIPAA, they’re most likely talking about the section of the act regarding the handling and disposal of patient documents. Mishandling these documents or disposing of them incorrectly can be disastrous for an organization or business that deals with health-related matters. For example, throwing a patient’s file in the trash can result in civil lawsuits or even criminal charges. Civil penalties can cost you thousands or even millions of dollars depending on the severity of the violation. In the worst case scenario, arrest and even incarceration are possible. (You’ll also be subject to a lot of bad publicity.)  Because of these stiff penalties, HIPAA compliance needs to be a top priority.

    Luckily, compliance is easy thanks to paper shredders. Any health-related documents that you no longer need should be shredded instead of thrown in the recycling bin or garage. These include but are definitely not limited to:

    • Patient charts and medical histories;
    • Test results and lab reports;
    • Psychotherapy session notes;
    • Prescription information;
    • Documents pertaining to substance abuse treatment;
    • Immunization and surgical histories; and
    • Any records or information stored on multimedia devices such as CD’s and floppy disks.

    While it’s definitely helpful to have one larger shredde in a centralized area (such as a copy room), it wouldn’t hurt to let each person have a small shredder at his/her desk so that people can shred unneeded documents immediately. The shredders used to take care of these types of documents should be cross-cut devices so that the paper can’t be reassembled.

    There are some excellent cross-cut shredders on the market including ones manufactured by such big names as Fellowes, Formax, Dahle, and Standard. For example, the Dahle 20514 can shred up to 15 sheets at once and due to its 16-gallon waste bin, several people could share it. And if your office needs to get rid of multimedia items in addition to paper, something like the GBC Shredmaster GLX2030 is a great choice because it can handle CD’s and shred 20 sheets at a time. There’s also the Martin Yale UC5550 ScriptStroyer which can pulverize pill bottles, giving you another tool with which to make yourself HIPAA-compliant.

    It’s extremely important to comply with HIPAA regulations and the best way to do that is by religiously destroying health-related documents. Shredders are what you need to use to avoid civil lawsuits, criminal charges, and a damaged reputation. Start shredding today so you can become HIPAA-compliant.

    Office Devices to Be Careful Around

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    It’s hard to imagine life without some of our most utilized office products such as scissors,005-Dahle-Vantage-Scissors2-ma laminators, and paper shredders. However, as helpful as these devices are, they can also be dangerous. Here are the office devices you should be careful around along with suggestions regarding their safe usage.

    1.)    Any type of cutting device. Without a doubt, cutting tools can be some of the most dangerous office devices. This includes scissors/shears, rotary trimmers, and stack and guillotine cutters. One false move with one of these items could easily cause an injury so you need to be very careful when you’re using them. A lot of it boils down to common sense. (Such as, “don’t run with scissors.”) Also, there are so many cutting tools that have safety features to help you prevent injuries. For example, rotary trimmers often have blades that are encased in plastic so that you won’t accidentally run your fingers over the blade. The best guillotine cutters have a spring-loaded blade and a latch hook to keep the blade in place. And stack cutters often require you to use both hands when cutting so that your hands without them getting them trapped near the blade. Most of all, common sense is often the most important component in staying safe when cutting.  As long as you have that, you should be able to cut without any issues.

    2.)    Laminators. Of all the document finishing methods to choose from, laminating is one of the most popular. It’s not too difficult, it’s pretty speedy, and it’s something the whole family can get involved in. However, you need to be careful when laminating, especially when you’re working with a roll laminator. Not only can these devices become extremely warm to the touch, they can also pose a  problem due to their rollers. Hands and fingers can get stuck between the rollers and children in particular are at risk for this. Luckily, you can prevent disaster from occurring by staying mindful of the situation and keeping at eye on everyone (including yourself) using the machine. Some laminators do have safety shields so you should choose a device with this feature if you’ll be laminating around kids.

    3.)    Paper and multimedia shredders. It’s probably no surprise to see paper and multimedia shredders on this list. The shredder is one of the most dangerous office devices invented since it’s basically just a machine designed to chew things up. Depending on the device, you’ll be able to shred paper, CD’s, credit cards, and so on, so you can imagine how powerful shredders are. These machines can really do damage if you’re not careful. The best way to ensure a safe shredding experience is follow the manufacturer’s directions and keep the machine away from kids and even pets. Most shredders have some sort of safety feature (such as an interlock switch), so be sure the machine you choose has one with which you’re comfortable.

    All of these office devices are helpful but you need to be careful when using them. Good luck with your work and stay safe!

    Federal Privacy Laws: Are You Compliant?

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    34360lg-150x150In the past several years, the federal government has passed new laws regarding the disposal of certain documents. These laws include the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA). Following these laws entails properly disposing of documents containing information regarding credit, health, and so on. Just about every business in the country needs to follow the regulations in at least one of these pieces of legislation or else you risk being sued and/or fined. You could even possibly be charged with a crime.

    The best way to comply with these strict laws is by shredding your documents. MyBinding.com is having an incredible shredder sale right now so you can get the right machine for your needs. We have great prices on shredders from some of the biggest names in the business including Fellowes and Martin Yale. (We’re also offering a 12% off coupon in case you need to stock up on document finishing devices and supplies.) This sale will end on Friday, December 17, so check out MyBinding.com now. With so much at stake, you owe it to yourself and your business to get a paper shredder. Get one today so you can get compliant with federal privacy laws.