Just a few short decades ago, the term “office supplies" referred to any generic supplies used on a regular basis in an office/business environment, such as paperclips, pens and staples. Maybe you’d be able to find a few desks and chairs hanging around to catch the eye of discerning customers. You could walk down the block to your neighborhood shop and pick up some packing tape and a few rolls of paper for your adding machine. But now, “office supplies" refers to an entire genre of products including a wide assortment of desks, fax machines and personal computers, including any and all well-known accessories, plus dozens that you’ve probably never even heard of.

Office supply stores have also taken on the role of meeting supply stores, offering visual and audible devices such as CD and DVD players, plasma and LCD televisions, as well as combinations of any of the above. Multi-media projectors and dry erase boards make it easy to show your assembled group your plans and ideas for the future while integrating their ideas into the mix.

So what exactly caused the expansion of the office supply industry? Superstores began popping up around the globe, offering a variety of products never seen in the neighborhood shops, but were seriously lacking the personalized customer service that the smaller stores became known for. In order for the neighborhood stores to keep up, they had to venture into the unknown waters of the extended office supply industry, including software, printers and fax machines.

Next came the Internet revolution, making the biggest impact to date on the entire office supply industry. Not only can you purchase every possible office supply, both in the traditional and modern genres, but also you can do it without ever having to leave your home or office. Personal service also came back into the limelight.

Of course, with the many positives that the World Wide Web has brought with it, there are just as many negatives. First and foremost are the threats of identity theft and other security issues, like someone gaining access to your credit card or bank accounts. In order to protect yourself and your finances, be sure that your online office supply shop is a secure site, proudly displaying a security seal for potential customers to see and feel safe while shopping.

Another negative of e-commerce websites are the shipping and handling charges that can significantly add to the cost of your office supplies. While the shipping charges will usually reflect a nominal fee, the handling fees can be outrageous for doing nothing more than sending a package through the post. Free shipping for a minimum purchase, typically no more than £40.00, will assure you that your internet shopping purchase remains the great deal that you originally found.