It was a simple request. The customer service representative for my wireless phone wanted me to get a paper clip to restart my Blackberry. It wouldn't have been a problem, except I was all out of paper clips. Fortunately, I had a left over stylus from my Palm Pilot days and I was able to perform the reset.
Paper clips, like staples are part of the business essential category. They are not exactly the sexiest products on the market. And, when you are a one-person shop, your need for purchasing these business essentials is not all that frequent.
In fact, I think the last time I purchased paper clips was before the millennium. And as far as staples go, I think I currently have enough to get me through retirement. I’m not a heavy user of staples or paper clips.
But when I do purchase paperclips I buy the colored variety. Same with staples. Call it making a statement about creativity or individuality, I like using the colored versions of these business essentials more than the standard gray versions. The traditional clips and staples are boring. Boring is something I don’t want associated with my work.
Marketers of these business essentials tell me that the colored products are geared to the juvenile market. As far as market share goes, they only represent 4-8% of their perspective categories. I wasn't sure whether I should be offended or bemused that I am so attached to products intended for the elementary school crowd. But, like the kids, I think its more fun to use colored paper clips and staples.
Maybe that's why more businesses don't use the colored business essentials. They are too much fun and few businesses want to be perceived as being playful. It could also have something to do with the bottom line.
The colored business essentials do cost about twice as much as their more sober counterparts. The pricing strategy works like this. A packet of colored staples costs the same as a package of the regular kind, but you only get half as many. Same with the paper clips. Of course, at the price point for paper clips and staples, you’re not exactly breaking the bank when you indulge. A pack of 500 colored clips costs about $2.59 at Office Max online, while a pack of 100 of the standard kind start at 39¢.
For colored staples, you can purchase 2000 of the colored variety for $1.99 while the regular staples cost $2.69 for a package of 5000.
While the makers of the colored staples don’t even pretend that the color version has a sales benefit – the description says they are great for color coding and crafts, the vinyl colored paper clips are positioned as a better product. The product description copy reads, “Vinyl paper clips protect your paper from snags and tear the regular paper clips do not. The vinyl covering increases the grip on the document, and the assorted vibrant colors give documents more character.”
The desire for adding color doesn’t stop with paper clips and staples, many iPod devotees are turning to Colorware Computer Products to transform their all white MP3 players into one of twenty colors. The custom color job costs about $49. For $99, the company will create a custom look.
Business is booming according to Lars Rasmussen. “We are building a second building and many businesses are now having us put their logos on the iPods and they are giving them away as sales promotion gifts." If this trend continues, just imagine what the next election cycle will be like. Forget the lawn signs, buttons and bumper stickers, you can show your support with a presidential candidate iPod.
Colorware Computer Products got its start because its owners were bored with the then standard white PCs. That was five years ago. About 18 months ago, they decided to offer custom coloring for iPods. Says Rasmussen, “Having a custom color on an iPod is a way for someone to express their individuality.”
At $49 a pop, it’s a bit more expensive than indulging in colored paper clips to express your individuality, but it is less indulgent than a month’s worth of double shot skim lattés.
P.S. Went to Target yesterday and picked up some paper clips. Got 230 colored vinyl ones, should last for a few years. Couldn’t resist the new colored geometric paper clips. I got 48 of purple, green, red and blue, circles, triangles and squares. Didn’t look at the price when I put them in my cart. The receipt says paper clips for $1.99 and paper clips for 99¢. Not sure which is which, but does it really matter? They make me smile.
Image Credit: Flickr member Hoobygroovy
My StumbleUpon Page
