As you study party supplies news and trends, you'll find that parties aren’t just for children any more. More and more party supply wholesalers are adding business party decorations to their inventory. While some of the more popular celebrations remain birthday and retirement parties, many offices are finding other reasons to take a break from the ordinary.

As you look at parties for your office, you want to keep a number of items in mind. Cost is always a concern. You can always buy basic tableware from a big box store and add to it with special party decorations for the occasion. By shopping at party supply stores and wholesale party supplies websites days before or immediately after a holiday, you can often find deeply discounted items.

Even as you plan an office party with the latest and greatest party supplies, you need to keep the following points in mind:

1. The party supplies need to be appropriate for the office.

2. Keep the party decorations as inoffensive as possible. For example, your Christmas party may need to reflect other religious holidays of the season as well.

3. You must stay within your budget.

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

Sign up for newsletters to stay on top of party supplies news and trends

Many of the leading party suppliers offer free newsletters. You can also find newsletters from professional party planners.

I recommend: Sign up for the free newsletter from Party Depot, a supplier of party equipment as well as a birthday party supply store. Celebrate Express also offers a free newsletter to keep you informed the latest party supplies news and trends. This party supply newsletter also comes with discount coupons you can use to purchase party items.

Read blogs about party supplies news and trends

In many cases you can sign up for RSS feeds that notify you when the latest news is online.

I recommend: Sign up for the ShindigZ Party Ideas and Party Decorating Tips blog. It’s full of party supplies news and trends from a leading wholesale party supply provider. Reason to Party offers a blog with ideas for party supplies, party favors and party decorations.

Choose eco-friendly party supplies for your next party

These party supplies don't have to cost a fortune. As more party suppliers go green, the prices are going to drop on green party supplies even more. In many cases you can't even tell the difference from traditional party supplies.

I recommend: Throw a green party with help from Epicurious. Celebrate with Style also offers ways you can throw a green party. The article even includes links to green business party favors.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  One trend that is prevalent everywhere is conscious use and re-use of materials. Party supplies are no different. Buy basic centerpiece components that you can use for more than one party. For example, keep a large bowl in your party closet for a centerpiece. Put different contents into the bowl each time you have a party. In this way you can re-use, re-combine and re-structure older party favors and party supplies in a totally new way.

Your task: Plan a knock-out party for your staff or maybe an elegant dinner honoring company notables. You may be wondering how you'll ever pull it off, especially with deadlines looming on your other projects. Who has time to plan a party, right?

But planning a party has never been easier. Whether you're short on time or have months to plan your event, the Internet is the best place to help you brainstorm ideas, order party supplies and get a party delivered to your door.

When buying business party decorations, remember to:

1. Accurately estimate the number attending the party.
2. Figure out your budget for the event.
3. Allow enough time for shipping before the event.

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

Decide on the tone of the event

Will it be fun or formal? Before you go wild ordering party decorations, make sure you know what the goals are for the festivities. The party decorations will help set the mood for the event.

I recommend:

• If you're organizing a fun event for the company's annual meeting, check out Shindigz, one of the best-known sources for business party supplies.
• Plan a Mardi Gras night. You can purchase the French Quarter Soiree Kit and decorate the hotel ballroom to the hilt, complete with giant stand-ups.
• You can wow your coworkers with a Parisian theme for your next affair, complete with Eiffel Tower.
• Or try your hand at a Casino Night or Hollywood theme for a night they'll remember.

Buy wholesale party supplies in bulk

You can find fabulous deals on tableware, skirting and cutlery by purchasing bulk party supplies. Ordering bulk party decorations can save you money that you can then spend on entertainment or food. If you're on a tight budget, purchase bulk items in standard colors or styles that you're most likely to use again.

I recommend:

• Party Secret is a site that offers savings from 50 percent to 70 percent off retail prices.
• After you decide on your color scheme for the event, purchase large items such as table coverings or skirting in solid colors (scroll down to view table coverings and skirting), and then add splashes of color with contrasting napkins or cutlery.
• Pick up business party favors or a gross of helium-quality balloons in a variety of colors at Oriental Trading Company.

Factor in shipping costs and delivery time

You know you can find just about anything on the Internet, but make sure you know how much lead time the supplier requires to ship the party decorations to you in time for your event.

I recommend:

• You can find just about any wholesale party supplies that you need at Party Celebration. But be sure to read their shipping charges and times, as well as their no-return policy. Like many sites selling party supplies, Party Celebration has a $50 order minimum.
• Celebrate Express is a well-known children's birthday party supplier but also carries "everyday" partyware. Plan on about 10 days to receive your order, which includes processing time and shipping time.

By making the most of party supplies you can stretch your office’s party budget even farther. Everybody loves to take a break and have a party. By keeping bulk party supplies on hand, you can not only save on business party decorations, you can also save on the time involved in planning parties.

Don’t feel that all your party supplies have to be color coordinated or match a theme. While it’s a nice touch to have some items coordinated, you can save a lot of money by also incorporating a lot of basic white or clear products that you purchase at the local big box store or from party supply wholesalers. Other simple ways of making the most of party supplies include:

1. Buying party favors and party equipment the next day after a holiday. Often these products are on sale at deep discount.

2. Buying bulk party supplies from wholesale party supply companies that offer free shipping.

3. Buying storage containers specifically for party supplies so they are easily accessible and stay in good shape.

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

Buy bulk party supplies

This is by far the best way to save money on your party budget. Keep a selection of items such as crepe paper streamers and other basic party decorations in your party supply storage box.

I recommend: Buy bulk party supplies from PartyPro.com. Its website contains literally thousands of party items at discounted prices. You can also find a large selection of bulk party supplies from BulkPartySupplies.com.

Keep a supply of dishes in your party supplies storage box

This includes plastic eating utensils as well as paper or plastic plates and cups. With the growing awareness of the environment, it is possible to find 'green' party ware as well.

I recommend: Keep a supply of plastic ware on hand from Discount Party Supplies Warehouse. These party suppliers not only provide basic plastic ware dishes but they also carry party supplies for special occasions as well. Oriental Trading offers wholesale party supplies including plastic cutlery in a large variety of colors, as well as white and clear. GreenPartyGoods offers tableware that is all natural and biodegradable.

Use color-coordinated party supplies for more than one holiday

Buy red tableware after Christmas when it's on sale and use it for Valentine's Day. You can use green Christmas party supplies to celebrate St. Patrick's Day as well as Mardi Gras. The list is endless.

I recommend: Windy City Novelties offers a large selection of colored paper products in a large variety of colors. It also offers a number of color-coordinated business party favors as well. Add to your color coordinated party supply collection with plates, cups and napkins from PartyPail.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Whenever possible, be on hand during clean up time after the party. Salvage any unused party supplies for another party.
• •  If possible, buy storage containers for your party supplies in colors to match your party ware. If your red supplies are all together, when it's time to plan the Christmas party or Valentine's party, everything is all in one place. An alternate way to store your party goods is to keep them stored by season.

When planning an important party for the first time, the task can seem daunting. There are many things to consider, such as the theme, mood, occasion, size and venue. Whether planning a small party for employees or a huge gathering for clients, the party supplies need to work with the purpose of the party and be functional. Before starting the quest for party supplies, first consider the basic party supplies key terms.

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

Party decorations

Decorations of all kinds are used to embellish or adorn an average setting for parties in order to create a certain mood or fun atmosphere.

I recommend: See some examples of the wide variety of options in party decorations at Party Celebration.

Party banners

A banner is a large folding or roll-up sign that is hung from a highly visible point and is usually custom-made for the theme of the party or to celebrate the guest of honor.

I recommend: Learn more about how banners can be used for special occasions by visiting Party Banners.

Party favors

Party favors are small trinkets that are given to party guests to take home as reminders of the party. They usually go along with the theme of the party and may be expensive, inexpensive, functional or only for fun.

I recommend: Have a look at all the creative things that can be given as party favors at Beaucoup.

Tableware

Tableware is used to serve meals, cake, hors d'oeuvres and drinks to guests at a party. Tableware may be inexpensive disposable or fine tableware, and it usually is related to the theme of the party.

I recommend: Look through the supply of tableware at Oriental Trading Company, which includes everything from themed paper plates and plastic table covers to fancy cutlery and toasting glasses.

Gossamer

Gossamer refers to inexpensive, aesthetically pleasing fabrics that are draped as backdrops to transform a party setting or to use as a backdrop for party photos.

I recommend: Explore the various options in dressing up a party with gossamer from Shindigz.

Balloons

Colorful latex balloons filled with either air or helium can be an inexpensive solution for decorations or simply fun for children. There are so many options for shape, size, color and theme when choosing balloons.

I recommend: Click through the gallery at Ballroom Balloons to see how creatively you can decorate with balloons, even for formal occasions.