The benefits of a well-stocked breakroom are often more significant than some businesses may realize. Having the right supplies on hand enhances employee morale, encourages worker socialization and collaboration, and provides employees quick access to the items they need, reducing the amount of time they spend out of the office.

Here are some tips on how to effectively stock your breakroom to get the most out of your employees, while reducing costs.

1. Consolidate your spend

Ordering breakroom supplies from a variety of different vendors is time-consuming, expensive and can lead to more frequent stock-outs. Getting most of your breakroom supplies from a single vendor streamlines the ordering and restocking processes and offers opportunities for reduced pricing.

Six Tips for Keeping Your Breakroom Well Stocked.

The Better Breakroom Series

2. Buy in bulk

Buying in bulk makes sense for some products, but not all. High-use items such as cleaning supplies, dish detergent, disinfectants and paper products don’t expire — buy them in bulk and combine the shipments into as few as possible. For items with an expiration date, like coffee creamers and snacks, smaller, more frequent orders are the best way to keep stocked.

3. Free and frequent delivery

When an office manager is responsible for buying the breakroom products, leaving the office and transporting goods back becomes time-consuming. Working with a supplier that offers free and scheduled delivery can ensure that breakroom supplies are consistently replenished with less wasted time for employees.

4. Use versatile products

Instead of buying multiple cleaning products, it can be more efficient to find one product that does the job of several. For instance, to keep all your breakroom surfaces clean, consider an all-purpose cleaner or wipes. But, one cleaner does not fit all — working with an account manager can help identify the right multi-use products for the job.

5. Minimize waste, reduce order frequency

Certain breakroom products require more frequent restocking than others. Making some basic changes in the breakroom can reduce consumption of some materials. For example, buying or encouraging the use of reusable glasses, mugs and plates instead of disposable equivalents is not only good for the environment but also cost-effective.

6. Measure use to stay well stocked

A common mistake when it comes to stocking the breakroom is not planning ahead. Make a plan to keep track of inventory and how often items are reordered. Working with a supplier that does this for you will help reduce costs, avoid last-minute, higher-dollar buys and will indicate the best timing for shipments.

In today’s economy there’s no room for waste — implementing these simple tips can help keep your breakroom well stocked while reducing costs.

To learn more about how Staples

Business Advantage® can help you keep

your breakroom stocked, please visit

StaplesAdvantage.com/breakroom.

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