Open Mike

Happy Administrative Professionals Week!

2011-04-25T13:42:00Z

Another Administrative Professionals Week is upon us wherein we celebrate the hard work and efforts of administrative professionals. Due to the recession and downsizing throughout offices across the country, everyone has had to work harder. That's why this year the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) is expanding their celebration to include all office professionals. To recognize everyone's hard work during this difficult time, the theme for the 2011 IAAP Administrative...(read more)

Read Across America Day

2011-03-02T15:21:00Z

Every year, the National Education Association (NEA) celebrates Dr. Seuss's birthday on March 2 with an event they call Read Across America. This event encourages communities and people of all ages to celebrate the importance of reading and promote literacy by taking time to read their favorite books or to reading to others in classrooms or libraries. Some communities even have large Dr. Seuss-themed parties. All of this reminded me of my favorite Dr. Seuss book. As a young boy, I was fascinated...(read more)

New year, new goals

2011-01-26T21:43:00Z

I'm a big believer in setting goals. When she first met me, my wife laughed at all my lists and especially the list of my life goals. I had goals such as skydiving, running a marathon, getting a quality job (I made this list in college) and of course meeting the woman of my dreams. I have actually accomplished all of these life goals and this August will be 25 years since I met that woman! Starting a new year is a great time to re-evaluate some of our goals and set new ones. It is a new beginning...(read more)

Season's Greetings

2010-12-02T20:48:00Z

It's hard to believe that the holidays have already come around again. We've had some unseasonably warm days in the Chicago area and sometimes only the bare trees outside remind me that winter is on its way. Another sign of the season is that holiday preparations around the building are in full swing and our facilities team has started decorating the stairways and main entrances. We've also started filling jars with change for our annual "Change Wars" fundraiser which raises...(read more)

Problem Found. Problem Solved!

2010-07-23T19:42:00Z

Sometimes, it seems, problems can arise in the most unexpected of places. The other day, I was online reading an article at msnbc.com about just how dirty our keyboards at work can get. One cause is that people eat lunch at their desks and then type with sticky and saucy fingers...another is that our natural skin oils rub onto the keys and allow germs to fester and grow. The result of all this stickiness, sauciness and oiliness? A keyboard can actually be up to 5 times dirtier than a toilet seat...(read more)

Hope your Father's Day was great!

2010-06-22T19:01:00Z

Last month, I wished all the moms out there a Happy Mother’s Day. Today it only seems right to do the same for all the dads -- Happy Father’s Day! My day was great: I slept in a bit, took a break from the usual chores and relaxed throughout the afternoon. What made the day the most special to me, however, was the fact that my oldest son just came back from his first year away at college. For the first time in more than 3 months, the entire family was together under one roof! Of course...(read more)

To all of the Moms out there -- I hope your Mother’s Day was great!

2010-05-10T17:56:00Z

Whether you went out for a fancy brunch or just took a day off from chores around the house, I hope that everyone in your family made you feel extra-pampered and appreciated. You truly deserve this special day for all that you do—we all know you’re the one that keeps everything (and everyone) running like clockwork. I also know that as an administrative assistant or office manager, you’re the go-to person who works long and hard to keep your whole office running right. And while...(read more)

Spring has sprung!

2010-04-15T20:28:00Z

After years of living in the Northeast and Midwest, I've come to think of Spring as a great time of the year. Gone are the days of walking to your car in the dark and freezing cold after a long day of work. Outdoor activities begin to start up again. Some are good (like golfing and baseball--go Red Sox!), some not so good (like spring cleaning the garage). If it's spring cleaning time in your office, I invite you to visit Quill.com and take a look at all the smart solutions we have to help...(read more)

Happy holidays to all of you from all of us at Quill.com!

2009-12-01T15:14:00Z

To me, this time of year means many things. Family and friends gather together for special celebrations. Time-honored traditions are upheld, and brand new ones are started. And while it’s sometimes easy to become caught up in the hustle and bustle of finding just the right gift for someone special, I think it’s important to remember that there are people in this world who are a lot less fortunate than we are…people who need our help. As one of America’s leading office products...(read more)

A Little Creativity and Innovation Goes a Long Way...

2009-08-25T18:05:00Z

Well, I just got back from taking our firstborn off to his freshman year in college. And we only went through one box of tissues! (Quill brand, of course). Actually I am quite proud of my son. For the past four years he has worked very hard in his high school academics, hockey team and various bands, and is well prepared for college. In fact, I was a little jealous while walking the campus with him after helping set up his dorm. Speaking of dorms, one thing I had forgotten from my own days in college...(read more)

Looking for a new way to save?

2009-06-09T22:40:00Z

The economy is tough--no question. We get it! That’s why we offer you a line of our own Quill Brand supplies. These products aren’t seconds or generics—they’re quality supplies that we develop and design to do the exact same job as the national brands. Even better, you’ll find that they cost a whole lot less than the better-known brands you’re now using. If you haven’t already, I urge you to give one of our 3,200 Quill Brand products a try. You’ll put...(read more)

Getting back to the basics

2009-04-01T05:02:00Z

In tough times like these, I think it’s vital for companies to keep things simple and focus their efforts on whatever made them a success in the past. I firmly believe it’s a mistake when a company tries to do too many “new” things to overcome economic challenges...or, worse yet, tries to reinvent themselves into something they’ve never been before. Here at Quill, we’re going to be focusing on two very basic things throughout 2009: making sure you get an outstanding...(read more)

What office supply store closings mean to you

2009-01-06T19:56:00Z

You might have heard that a major office supply company has announced that they're closing select stores across America. Some of these closings might, unfortunately, affect you. Undoubtedly these are difficult times, but I want to tell you this with confidence: Quill is the office supply company you can count on today—and tomorrow, too! There are two main reasons why we’re succeeding when other office supply companies are falling short. First is our service. It’s been the best...(read more)

Thanks for being such a great audience!

2008-09-05T13:25:00Z

Hi—I'm Mike Patriarca, the new President of Quill. I’m writing to you today while looking out my office window at the turning leaves on a beautiful autumn afternoon. The scene reminds me very much of where I grew up in New England. While I still miss the beaches of Rhode Island, I’ve also come to really appreciate the Midwest. There are great people here and the suburbs of Chicago are an ideal place to live and work. Since this is my first attempt at “blogging”,...(read more)