Differences between office supplies and consumables

Are you wondering if there is a difference between office supplies and consumables? The answer is yes! Supplies are reusable tools (pens, notebooks, scissors, etc.), while consumables are items that need frequent replacement (ink cartridges, paper, etc.).

Complete guide to office supplies

At first glance, one might think that office supplies are just simple consumables. In fact, without these items, a business would struggle to function effectively. Imagine a desk without pens, binders and highlighters of all colours. Unimaginable!

Writing utensils and instruments (pens, pencils, scissors, etc.).

It is a fact that writing instruments (pen, pencil, criterion, highlighter, proofreader, etc.) are the pillars of written communication within a company.

Within the pen family, there are numerous options: from ballpoint pens with different tips (fine, medium) to gel pens known for their fluidity and precision, not to mention Bic 4-colour ballpoint pens (blue, black, red, green, and more!). Ballpoint pens are mainly used for their reliability and practical use in everyday tasks.

In case of typos or small spelling mistakes, it might be a good idea to add a liquid corrector (the famous "blank") or a correction mouse to your pen bag.

Another writing and drawing tool found in every office pencil case is, of course, the pencil! Made of wood, paper, lead or grey, the pencil allows you to scribble, draw and sketch ideas on paper, and it can be corrected with a stroke of the eraser. Also in the pencil category is the timeless mechanical pencil or criterion, which is lighter than a traditional pencil and provides fluid, well-marked writing that is neither too thick nor too thin.

Markers and highlighters - check out our palette of 23 Stabilo Boss markers in all colours - also have a good place at work. They allow you to highlight the important parts of a text, making it much easier to read and remember.

When we talk about office tools, we usually mean a variety of tools and equipment that help perform various office tasks. Think of staplers, scissors, cutters, binders, calculators, rulers or tapes.

Organisational accessories (organisers, staplers, etc.)

A poorly organised company is doomed to fail! To ensure top efficiency and productivity, organisational accessories and equipment are essential.

Let's start with lever folders. They are essential to bring order to your office life and help you prioritise, tidy and archive your documents. In our online shop, you will find (lever) folders in all the sizes and colours you need, for all your professional needs and requirements, such as our folders with elastic to keep all your valuable documents in order.

To keep your workplace neat and tidy, you can also choose storage units with drawers that you can also use as computer storage, or desk storage units with metal compartments to efficiently store small items. These storage supplies are just perfect for storing the items you buy on our site, such as Post-it self-adhesive and repositionable bookmarks, a magnetic planner so you never forget important dates or a portable labeller ideal for marking and identifying different items (boxes, files, folders, etc.).

Overview of office supplies

Consumables are all office items that by definition are "consumed" quickly and therefore need to be replaced frequently (paper, envelopes, kraft bags, labels, ink and toner cartridges, to name but a few).

Stationery

Paper and envelopes are indispensable in every office! Whether you are writing letters and contracts or sending documents, paper and envelopes go hand in hand. Make sure you always have different paper sizes on hand, from standard A4 sheets to large A3 sheets, and papers of different grammages to meet the needs of everyone in the company.

The same goes for envelopes and letters. There are many models to choose from: self-adhesive or gummed flaps, recycled paper, kraft, with side fold, with window, rectangular or square format, etc. So you have a wide choice to send invoices, administrative mail or invitations to your events.

Finally, in the vast world of office supplies, notebooks with small or large squares, with or without spiral binding, microperforated notebooks, removable squared sheets and sticky notes (also known as post-its) are indispensable. You use them to take notes during meetings, draw up your to-do list for the day, capture ideas or structure your ongoing activities.

Printing solutions

One of the most common consumables in the office are, of course, ink cartridges and toners, which are used to power printers and copiers. Without these consumables, these machines are - let's face it - useless. We recommend always having a small stock of spare cartridges or toners in case a problem arises, to avoid interruptions to your daily printing work.