Welcome to www.OnlineOrganizing.com -- A World Of Organizing Solutions Your Order Your Shopping Cart About Us Contact Us Site Map
Do You Need Help Getting Organized?Shop For Organizing And Business Development ProductsProfessional Organizing ServicesFind A Seminar, Workshop, Or Keynote SpeakerRead Our Two Free Monthly NewslettersFree Organizing Tips And AdviceResources For Professional OrganizersLearn How To Become A Professional OrganizerUseful Organizing Website LinksUseful Organizing Website Links


Search for:

Category:

You Are Here: Home - Blogs

NEW! - Keywords For This Page:   Paper - Filing

Blog: Paper Doll, Tackling The Stacks And Piles
NAPO Expo 2011 Recap (Part 3): Sharing Some Hang-Ups, or Cool Vertical Storage



Hanging around this year's NAPO expo, I noticed a decided theme: hanging around!

HANGING CHADS

Who voted for annoying plastic hanging folder tabs? Heat, direct sunlight and age discolor them and make the tabs brittle. The "paper" cuts they yield are on par with those from a file folder. (Ouch!) They're awkward to put in place, and every time you want to change the label, you must remove the old one and find the set of spare perforated labels.

Recently, there's been a move towards built-in hanging-file tabs. Pendaflex came up with Ready-Tab Reinforced Hanging File Folders with pre-attached


reinforced polylaminate clear tabs. The tabs are build-in to the folders and pre-set in three or five tabbing positions for letter-sized hanging folders and six positions in legal sized. The tabs merely fold up into view and snap into place, so there's no searching for lost plastic tabs, nor any struggling to position tabs into place. It's an elegant solution that eliminates those annoying hard plastic tabs everyone hates. However, if you've got sausage fingers like Paper Doll's, you'll still struggle to label and insert the tiny perforated papers into the little sleeves.

Pendaflex's ReadyTab Reinforced Hanging Folders come in boxes of 25 olive green, blue, yellow, orange, red, bright green and violet and assorted colors (all of the previous except olive and violet) and in boxes of 20 in pink in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Meanwhile, Smead created FasTab Hanging Folders with 1/3 cut oversized, reinforced labeling surfaces that look like jumbo manila folder tabs--they're 20% larger than standard non-hanging folder label tabs. You can't lose the tab because it's all part of the folder, there's no plastic involved, and there's no struggling with those flimsy inserts.

However, there's a limit to how many times the tab can be relabeled without losing aesthetic appeal, particularly if you tend to hand-write labels, whether with a pencil, pen or Sharpie. Plus, if you prefer using a label maker and affixing label tape, one imagines the structural integrity of the tab will have an only slightly longer life than that of a typical internal folder, unless you plan to layer label upon label as categories change.

FasTab Hanging Folders come in boxes of 20 moss, red, yellow, green, or blue and in boxes of 18 assorted colors. For those who prefer uniformity, they also come in boxes of 20 right-tab-only folders, in moss.

Both of the Big Guys' solutions seek to reinvent the hanging folder, but a newcomer to this year's expo reinvented the filing tab, itself.


Filertek Dry Erase Hanging File Tab, from Australia's The Pencil Grip, Inc., is a new plastic hanging file tab with its own patented built-in writing surface. It obviates any need to keep track of those little perforated labels onto which it can be so hard to write.

With Filertek, you write directly on the tab with a dry erase pen, flip down the little visor-like cover (available in clear or assorted colors) and click it closed. Then, attach to hanging folders as normal. To reuse, simply flip the cover up, wipe the tab clean and create a new label. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Paper Doll likes the fact that the tabs aren't made of that sharp, awkward stuff used for traditional plastic tabs. However, it is still plastic, so for those of you trying to answer the paper vs. plastic question for yourself, I can only suggest that these tabs will remain both aesthetically and functionally pleasing for longer than the traditional tabs. Of course, those icky tabs are free with the purchase of traditional hanging folders, while Filertek involves an additional purchase.

Filertek comes in packages of five color tabs, as well as packages of one dozen tabs and 50 tabs (white or assorted colors), each with a special odor-free, black Filertek dry erase pen.

HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE

The Get It Together Life In a Box was created by Hallie Hawkins, an attorney, and Shay Prosser, a financial planner. In the past, vendors have displayed numerous boxed hanging file systems at the NAPO conference. The main difference with this system is the expertise of the two women who have created a company centered around providing independent legal and financial education.

Their workshops and mentoring programs focus on subjects like credit report review and cash flow analysis, retirement and estate planning, understanding benefits, avoiding identity theft, and legal planning. From this, they developed a tangible system for handling the essential documents of life: birth and death certificates, wills, emergency information, insurance policies, car titles and property deeds...and all of the other VIP (Very Important Papers) we talk about here on a regular basis.

Life in a Box includes:
  • Life in a Box Guide -- This is a guide to the legal and financial reasoning behind the Life in a Box system, particularly useful for those attempting to organize their personal documents and information for the first time, perhaps without the assistance of a professional organizer.
  • How to Get It Together -- Today!, a 50+ page book of advice on financial and legal issues ranging from handling cash flow to estate planning.
  • 30 labeled hanging file folders for maintaining financial and legal records -- This system is pre-labeled with the specific document types one might forget. Thus, instead of an umbrella folder for legal documents, the system specifies will, Power of Attorney, Health Care Directive, etc. so that users can identify which specific legal or financial documents may be missing.
  • A sturdy box for safely storing the paperwork

(Life in a Box: Basic, Executive, SuperSecure, Fireproof SuperSecure)

Pricing depends largely on the box type or system level selected, with price points ranging from $50 to $175. The basic Life in a Box uses a sturdy plastic file box with a flip-top lid, while the Executive version comes in a brown leatherette box with a velvety interior. For more security, the Life in a Box SuperSecure is housed in a black Vaultz cabinet with a combination lock, while the Fireproof SuperSecure includes a light grey Sentry-brand file box, fireproof up to 1550° Fahrenheit.

There's also an Out of the Box version of Life in the Box for those who want all of the information and pre-defined folder labels but intend to store the information in their own pre-existing filing cabinet or storage system.

The physical system for the Life in a Box is not new, of course. It's a container, file folders and labels -- just like those we've reviewed previously. However, the added elements, including the financial and legal information provided by experts in their fields, are a novel twist.

HANGING OUT IN STYLE


Gear Pockets and Simply Stashed, under the Christy Designs umbrella, don't make products for organizing paper, but last year, after I shared my delight about them with my newsletter readers, I realized they were too good to keep secret. And let's face it, if you're organized, you'll save those little green pieces of paper.

When I first heard about Simply Stashed, it was described to me as being "like an over-the-door shoe organizer, but prettier and kinda cool". To be honest, there's a lot I could (and will) say about this aesthetically-appealing tool for vertical storage, but that description really hits the high points.


Simply Stashed: The Original and Variety versions

The Original Simply Stashed, pictured above (left), feature high quality "over-the-door" hardware hooks that fit firmly and allow doors to shut completely. The hooks run through a durable and solid molded top-piece to keep the Simply Stashed flat against the door. Alternatively, you could run grosgrain ribbon through the three top-placed grommets to hang on a curtain, shower or closet rod.

Each Simply Stashed is fully lined with eco-friendly fabrics for easy cleaning and double-stitched with transparent pockets in a variety of sizes, depending on the model chosen, with a charming selection of colors and patterns, including florals, dots, petals and geometric shapes:
Each plastic pocket has its own outer mini pocket or sleeve. Label tags by hand or label maker and insert them into the pocket for easy-to-view labeling.

The Original Stash is 19" wide by 52" long, running almost the full-length of a door to maximize vertical storage space without using up limited depth of space. All twenty pockets are identically sized and placed in five rows of four clear pockets. It's suitable for storing everything from children's clothes to accessories (belts, hosiery, etc.) to outerwear items (hats, gloves, scarves, etc.). The Variety Stash, pictured above (right), measures similarly, but has 14 differently sized pockets, to enable you to store items of mixed sizes, like school supplies, crafts, and more.

One of my clients installed the Original Stash inside a hall closet and used it to store a cornucopia of modern electronic supplies: chargers for cell phones, cameras, and video cameras, extra chargers and supplies for e-readers, tablet computers, handheld video games and more, plus battery packs for various devices. With each pocket labeled, there's never any question as to whose device is where.

There's also a Mini-Stash, 19" wide by 36" long, suitable for smaller spaces (like dorm rooms, small offices, and bathrooms) that can store jewelry, hair and other beauty accessories, or baby supplies tidily. There are five rows of three pockets, each, with the center column pockets slightly wider than the outer, flanking, pockets.

The Original and Variety run $29.95; the Mini is $26.95.

Gear Pockets, the sturdier "brother" line, is suited for garage, mud room and utility room storage of sports paraphernalia, gardening tools and "tough guy" stuff. Made of heavy duty 600 Denier polyester, with gussetted, industrial strength mesh, the 26" wide by 48" long
Gear Pockets have rust-free stainless steel grommets positioned at 16" and 24" (to align with studs) and come with mounting hardware. Gear Pockets come in three styles -- the Organizer and Sportsman styles, below,


and a nine-pocket Original version.

To receive a 10% discount on Simply Stashed or Gear Pockets, use the coupon code BESTRESULTS at checkout. (In the interest of full disclosure, as a member of the affiliate program, I'll get brownie points if you make a purchase using that code. But hey, you get 10% off just for being a Paper Doll reader!)

Next week, we'll finish our look back at the 2011 NAPO expo with intriguing, creative products that are just what you never knew you wanted!

posted on: 5/3/2011 10:30:00 AM by Julie Bestry
category: Paper


Paper Doll, Tackling The Stacks And Piles: < Previous Post - Next Post >
Blog Central: < Previous Post - Next Post >



Discuss This Post



There are no comments.



Add a comment about this post:
Name:
Comment:
(Note: To reduce blogspam, HTML tags are not permitted in blog comments and will be removed)
Please Enter The Following Code:
In order to cut down on SPAM, we ask that you enter the code exactly as shown in image below. If you can't read the code, simply select "Load New Code" and a different graphic will appear. Cookies must be enabled on your web browser.
Code Image - Please contact webmaster if you have problems seeing this image code Load New Code
Powered by Web Wiz CAPTCHA version 2.01
Copyright ©2005-2006 Web Wiz

 



Paper Doll, Tackling The Stacks And Piles


by Julie Bestry

View This Blog

   Subscribe To This Blog

About Julie:

Julie Bestry, President of Best Results Organizing in Chattanooga, TN, is a Certified Professional Organizer®, speaker and author. Julie helps overwhelmed individuals and businesses save time and money, reduce stress and increase productivity through new organizational skills and systems.

For information on how Julie can turn your chaos into serenity and learn how you can Tickle Yourself Organized visit Best Results Organizing.

Sign up for Julie's newsletter, Best Results For Busy People: Organizing Your Modern World -- and get a BONUS GIFT, Organize Your Way With A Pretend Career Day!

Follow Me on Pinterest

personalblogs.org
personalblogs.org

I
OFFICE
SUPPLIES

Julie's Website:

www.juliebestry.com


Web Wonderland

  • MetaFilter
  • Einstein's Theory of Relativity (Using Tiny Words)
  • Net Manners
  • Amazon
  • Pearls Before Swine
    Is it wrong to root for the zebras?
  • Snopes
  • Out of the Box
    Commentary on the post-digital device market by famed writer and Mac expert Ross Scott Rubin

Doing Well By Doing Good

  • Curing Malnutrition--Plumpy'Nut
  • Heifer International
  • Challah For Hunger
  • Kiva
  • Feeding America
  • The Pencil Project
  • Free Rice
  • Camel Book Drive
  • Habitat For Humanity

Organizing Blogs

  • Your life. Organized.
  • Organizing LA Blog
  • Unclutterer
  • Jeri's Organizing & Decluttering News
  • Neat & Simple Living
  • 43 Folders
  • The Clutter Diet Blog
  • The Home Office Organizer

Running An Organized, Profitable Business

  • Internet Marketing For Solopreneurs
    Everything I learned about marketing online, I learned from Biana Babinksy at Avocado Consulting at her amazing MarketingSalad.com
  • Website Survival Guide
    My pal Krista Garren helps you discover how to create and organize a profit-generating website without the hassles of doing it all yourself. As Krista says, just "plug in and profit!"
  • Tickle Yourself Organized

Affiliate Disclosure Policy

  • Links to books
    ...and other products mentioned in this blog may be affiliate links, for which I will get a small remuneration if you choose to purchase them. If you would prefer that I do not receive an affiliate payment, I encourage you to Google the title of the book or name of the product.

Honors

  • Professional Organizers Blog Carnival Star Blogger
    Star Blogger Status


Add this page to your Bookmarks!

E-mail this page to a friend!







www.OnlineOrganizing.com is a service mark of Bradford, LLC.
Content on this site is © Bradford, LLC, All rights reserved.

If you notice any problems with this site, please contact our webmaster.
And if you don't see what you need you are welcome to "ask the organizer" any question!

To see what people are saying about www.OnlineOrganizing.com, check out our visitor comments.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Calendar Of Organizing Holidays And Events Blog Central Sign Up For Our Free Online Newsletters Join The Conversation At Our Organizing Discussion Board Advertise Your Company On Our Website Be An Affiliate Of www.OnlineOrganizing.com
Check Us Out On FaceBook