Staple usage is common in offices, and office staples come in many shapes and sizes. You can find large hand-operated staplers that use heavy-duty staples to fasten thick stacks of papers together. Some copy machines have stapling mechanisms that also utilize heavy-duty stapler staples, but even heavy-duty staplers can't handle all paper fastening tasks. Print shops and publishing companies use saddle-stitching staplers to bind books and other printed materials. When determining your needs in staples consider the following:

1. Do you need color-coordinated staples?

2. Are you interested in discount staples?

3. Do you know a dependable supplier for office staples?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use colored staples for special projects

Although standard office staples are fine for most stapling tasks, other projects need something special. Colored staples may give just the right touch to scrapbooking projects, homemade greeting cards, paper ornaments, kids' crafts and many other handicraft items.

I recommend: If you need a #10 colored staple refill pack, you can get one containing an assortment of colors at Raymond Geddes and Company. The staple colors include metallic gold, blue, red, silver or green. The pack contains 24 boxes, with 1000 staples per box. You can also get colored refill staples that fit a standard-size stapler at Gelstuff.com. These staples feature a special coating to prevent rusting.

Buy discount staples to save cash

Staples may seem low priority, but any business working within a tight budget can use all the help it can get. A few dollars savings here and there can make a big difference in reducing costs. Discount office supplies, including staples, may be your ticket to greater profits.

I recommend: A great place to shop for discount staples is Shoplet.com. There you get up to 84% off list price. You may qualify for free shipping, a credit account and you may not even have to pay sales tax. Another provider of affordable staples is Discount Office Supplies. Buy your office copy machine stapler staples at Precision Roller.

Order a staple refill from a business you can trust

Staples come in several sizes, so make sure you get refill staples to match the stapler. You can find staples in 1/2', 3/8', 1/4', 5/16' and other sizes. Standard staples for most office staplers are 1/4'. They come in strips of 210, with 5000 staples in a typical box.

I recommend: Get office staples from Office Depot. You can also purchase them at Staples. Both businesses are two of the largest and most trusted office supply businesses on the planet.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you try to fasten two pieces of cloth together with a stapler, such as for a bulletin board, regular staples may pinch too tightly. Put an extra piece of stiff cloth or card stock between the two pieces you are fastening together to prevent them from bunching up.