Complete with a protective outer covering, a padfolio offers users a writing pad, pen, handle and potential other features to assist in the organization and security of documents, notes and items. These options and features lend themselves to multiple applications and uses for padfolio options in the workplace.

Many businesses can benefit from the applications and uses for padfolio products. Some of the most common uses of a padfolio include the ability for businesses and their employees to:

1. Increase organization among your business people by implementing the use of a padfolio.

2. Have all necessary items easily at your disposal by keeping them safe and structured in a padfolio.

3. Use your padfolio to keep documents safe and secure.

4. Increase awareness of your business through the use and implementation of promotional padfolios.

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Organize your business' notes and paperwork in an advantageous padfolio

Many businesses may benefit from the organizational applications and uses for padfolio products. Whether appreciated primarily for their protective covers, folder space or item holders, a padfolio can help keep a number of items and documents safely and securely situated in one single and easily accessible place.

I recommend: RealSimple.com goes into detail discussing the organizational benefits made possible through the use of a padfolio. For example, whether a padfolio is being used for personal or professional purposes, they make great travel organizers. However, the organizational capabilities of a padfolio are limited only by the creativity and ingenuity of the users. About.com discusses the benefits, drawbacks and capabilities of padfolios when it comes to organizational tactics. Jacques-Brunhes.org also comments on the benefits of corporate padfolios, including their organizational capabilities.

Retrieve items and paperwork quickly and easily by keeping it on hand in a padfolio

With so many business items and forms situated in one place, businesspersons know they are not far from the accessories they need. A padfolio helps keep business items within reach, making the most of employees' time and energy.

I recommend: SaveOnLuggageTags.com discusses the benefits of padfolios, including what types of items can be kept in a padfolio and the convenience offered to the owners of these items. Brookstone.com offers user reviews of padfolios, which discuss the benefits of these creations.

Ensure the safety and security of paperwork and items by utilizing a padfolio for these items

Padfolios are designed in very specific manners. A padfolio may feature a hard or a soft cover; regardless, they are designed to keep a businessperson's items and documents safe and secure.

I recommend: Ad Industries discusses how a padfolio works to keep papers and important documents safe and secure. In addition to keeping papers safe from coffee spills and other mishaps, a padfolio can be used in order to keep documents secure and out of the view of others despite being on hand for the padfolio owners. This is illustrated at Levenger.com with the stash pocket in their padfolio

Improve awareness of a business through the implementation of an appropriately designed padfolio

A padfolio can also make a great promotional tool. For businesses who enjoy combining functionality with promotions, a padfolio allows them the organization and safety of the item with the promotional capabilities through designs and customizations.

I recommend: In addition to offering prices on their customizable padfolios, PromotionalItemsInc go into great detail regarding what designs are possible with their different padfolio options. EmpirePromos offers a number of compelling reasons to utilize promotional padfolios, including the usefulness and functionality of such items. By including information about your business on these items, clients, employees and observers will have no choice but to associate your business with convenience and effectiveness.

A padfolio is a writing tablet attached to an outer covering, usually with a handle and pen for ease of use. Not only can a padfolio be a great place to jot down notes and share ideas, it can also promote your business and motivate your employees.

Make a padfolio list for all the ways your business can use and benefit from ordering padfolios. This should include using them as incentives, gifts for clients or staff members and as a tool in your conference materials box to use and hand out at conferences. To find custom, wholesale and promotional padfolios, you should:

1. Find custom padfolio providers for engraving, leather and other special features.

2. Buy from a wholesale padfolio distributor to save money on purchases for the whole office.

3. Order promotional padfolios as incentives, gifts or conference materials.

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Buy from a custom padfolio provider for high-quality materials and features

Order custom padfolios from a reputable padfolio provider for special materials and choices like leather, engraving, specialty colors and other exclusive features. These may cost a little more, but the value will be in the quality of the padfolio.

I recommend: The Leather Tree offers exquisite leather padfolios in many rich colors. They are made of top quality cowhide leather with high quality hardware. Spiral Binding carries custom zippered padfolios made to protect your notes and ideas from the weather, wind and other mishaps.

Find padfolio wholesalers to save money on bulk orders

Purchase from a padfolio wholesaler when placing bulk orders. This is the perfect way to order padfolios to supply your entire staff, to stock up for conference materials without customization and to save money.

I recommend: Dufflebags Corporate offers wholesale prices on padfolios in a variety of styles, colors, sizes, features and screen printing options. TS Bag Store is an online wholesale source for office carry-all's, bags and padfolios. They offer a padfolio for every budget and style.

Order from a promotional padfolio provider for conference materials

Consider offering a promotional padfolio to potential clients, vendors and others at conferences, job fairs and other networking events you attend. These generally offer low to moderate quality and durability, but do have the option of printing your company name and logo on the cover.

I recommend: Branders touts itself as the "world's largest online seller of promotional items." They carry over 70 different styles and sizes of promotional padfolios. ADCO Marketing is a leader in promotional items and carries a large variety of promotional padfolios with screen printing options and discounts for bulk orders.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take time to read the enclosed padfolio information to know the proper way to clean and care for the outer covering, especially those made from leather.

If you're looking for a way to present your best image at the next business meeting, consider a padfolio. A padfolio is simply a sturdy folder you can carry under your arm that has a spot for a writing pad (usually, a legal pad). A padfolio can help present a professional image for those who struggle with organization, giving at least a first impression of having it all together. Quality Logo Products explains the difference between a padfolio and a portfolio.

Padfolio types and styles vary, but most have conservative pricing. Most padfolios come in sturdy materials such as leather, cloth, or other durable man-made materials. Many do not have closure devices, while others have a zipper, snap, or buckle closure for securing secure loose items. You can find padfolios with storage for a calculator, and most have pen loops and pockets for other small items.

When shopping for padfolios, evaluate all the padfolio types and styles before you place an order, as there is much variety.

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Choose customizable padfolios for a gift that people will appreciate

A padfolio makes a great gift for your employees or favorite customers, one that will likely see more actual use rather than the ubiquitous desk calendar. You can add an embossed, debossed, or stamped logo to a padfolio for instant business recognition and a memorable corporate gift. For the best price on promotional gifts, look for padfolios from promotional marketing companies.

I recommend: Promo Managers features a padfolio made from recycled materials that you can customize with your company logo. Adco Marketing offers a large choice in padfolio styles, including the smaller junior size; any of the company's styles can be enhanced with a logo.

Choose real instead of imitation leather padfolio styles

Leather is the cream of the crop in padfolio materials, with options that include smooth leather, nubuck, and tinted leather. Watch out for imitation leather padfolios, which may look very similar to the real thing, or for material described as 'faux.' If it doesn't say genuine leather, it isn't.

I recommend: Daytimer is a trusted name in organization and has several styles of leather padfolios, with the exception of their more economical Shadow and Lights padfolio, which has what the firm calls a "leather-like" cover. The Royce Leather Executive Zip-around Padfolio includes pockets for a PDA or cell phone, all in leather.

Look for innovations in padfolio types and styles

Padfolio manufacturers offer a variety of features, such as pockets to hold CDs and calculators, as well as designs intended to make the padfolio function as a sales tool. Look for sturdy construction of the inside features, such as elastic and stitching of seams.

I recommend: Smead makes several kinds of padfolios, including one with a see-through front pocket, so that you can use the padfolio as a presentation device. Check out the calculator padfolios available from Blueberry Ink.

Typically a combination of a portfolio and a writing pad, padfolios are popular with professionals, students and others interested in organizing items such as a calendar, contacts and notes. Generate consistent sales throughout the year by carrying a variety of padfolio styles to appeal to practical, professional or style-conscious customers. Knowing terms such as “ringfolio,” “electronics pockets” and “front slip pocket” will enable you to order portfolio models, refills and related accessories that your clients will demand throughout the year.

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Ringfolio

Students and professionals who want to carry paperwork beyond pads of paper will appreciate a ringfolio. Featuring a three-ring strip in the center of the organizer, the padfolio can also double as a binder for important sheets.

I recommend: Adco Marketing offers ringfolio styles in various sizes with additional features like media pockets, credit card slots and front slip pockets.

Gusseted file pocket

Stock padfolio styles with gusseted pockets in the interior of the folder. The wide pockets provide additional room for larger amounts of paperwork, accessories, identification lanyards and electronics.

I recommend: Check out leather and faux leather padfolio styles featuring gusseted file pockets at the Day-Timer website.

Front slip pocket

Padfoilo users will appreciate a front slip pocket to stash quick notes or business cards. The snug compartment sits on the outside of the folio itself, but is slim enough to remain unobtrusive.

I recommend: Duffelbags Corporate offers padfolio models with front slip pockets and additional features to suit specific applications.

Electronics pockets

Customers who like to carry electronic gadgetry, like calculators or PDA devices, will appreciate padded or gusseted pockets to cradle and protect the items.

I recommend: See padfolio models designed to hold electronic gadgets and media like compact discs on the Spiral Binding website.

Junior size

Customers who don't need to carry a full-sized padfolio may prefer a junior size model for notes, business cards and addresses. Also called a half pint, a junior size portfolio typically measures about 8.5' tall by 6' wide.

I recommend: Get dimensions of junior size padfolios along with letter and legal sized models through the product descriptions on the Leather Tree website.

Zip around

Professionals who typically stuff smaller notes, receipts or business cards into their padfolios can make use of zip around styles. The zipper around the periphery of the padfolio will keep items from falling out and keep smaller gadgets secure.

I recommend: Bags Buy offers assorted padfolios with the zip around feature, as well as additional options like pen loops and file pockets.