Ever since I was little and went with my dad to work, I have LOVED office supplies. I don’t know what it is - maybe the idea of feeling ‘grown up’ when I would look at all the pens and pads in the supply cabinet at my dad’s office (he was an entrepreneur, too). When I went out on my own I remember my first shopping trip to Office Depot to pick out my desk. It was an important milestone - this made it REAL. I was really starting my own business. Stocking up on post-it notes, paper clips, staples and that stupid desktop set with the pencil holder, business card holder, and inbox (which I still use but collect junk in it) made my business somehow feel legitimate. The business card was the next step towards cementing my entrepreneurial fate. I had to make my business successful now or what else would I do with all these supplies?

This was, of course, back in 1995 before the emergence of the bulk office supplies at Costco or Sam’s Club. While I will buy some supplies there, I don’t really need 50 Sharpie pens and it would take me 10 years to get through 20 steno pads. I also buy some products online, but every once in a while I just have to go back to The Mother Ship - the office supply store.

Just this evening I had to run out to pick up some raffle tickets for my daughters and I found myself lingering. While most people likely pour over the electronic devices, I was looking at the new types of organizers, the vast array of pens and pencils, and just about every kind of removable-sticky-paper-thing I could have ever imagined. I even stopped to marvel at the fact that they still sell WHITE OUT! Anyone have any idea what it is still used for? I mean, isn’t that what the backspace key is for?

How about you - do office supplies have that same magical effect on you or is a pen really just a pen?