Survey Reveals Nearly 8 in 10 of America’s Office Managers Doing More with Fewer Resources

According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses create 60-80 percent of all new jobs in the country and more than half of Americans now either own or work for a small business. During National Small Business Week (May 16 – 20), government officials are gathering in Washington, D.C., to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions that small businesses and the entrepreneurs who run them make to the economic well-being of America.

In conjunction with Small Business Week and as part of its continuing efforts to support small businesses, Cartridge World has announced the results of a first-of-its-kind office managers survey. The survey of office managers nationwide revealed that a majority are enduring increased stress in the workplace. Indicating the need to accomplish more with less time and fewer resources, 79 percent of office managers told Cartridge World that in the past two years their job responsibilities have increased. Meanwhile, a third (34 percent) of respondents said they are working with decreased budgets compared to two years ago.

“We are an ally of small business and our goal is to gain a better understanding of the stress points that these office managers deal with every day,” says Tom Fricke, Cartridge World’s chief executive officer. “We conducted our survey to gain insight into the needs, challenges and concerns of small business office managers. They told us they are dealing with tighter budgets, greater responsibilities and more stress on the job.”

With the vast majority of office managers, over 86 percent responsible for office supply purchasing decisions, Cartridge World aims to help them operate more cost-effectively and to relieve their workplace stress. But beyond simply saving money on the products they use most, the survey revealed additional pressures that impact the office manager on the job.

“There never seems to be enough time to get everything done,” says Janell Dirkson, office manager at the Larkspur Hotel Union Square in San Francisco. “Many decisions need to be made quickly and often last minute. We often have last-minute needs which require quick turnaround, but many vendors can’t respond in the needed timeframe and won’t deliver on last-minute requests. We’ve also become highly budget-conscious – really drilling down to what’s truly needed and affordable.”

The survey also revealed an increased focus on the bottom line, with 62 percent of respondents citing the need to find the best supplies at the lowest price among their top job concerns. Of this group, 73 percent of respondents stated that they would switch to remanufactured cartridges if they saved money while 71 percent of respondents cited cost savings as the number one benefit to using remanufactured cartridges.

“Simple steps like switching to remanufactured ink and toner can have an enormous impact on the bottom line,” says Fricke. “Annual savings can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the size and type of business.”

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

During the week of March 21, nearly 400 office managers responded to an online survey of managers nationwide. Commissioned by Cartridge World, the survey asked office managers about their job responsibilities and office supply buying behaviors.

Original Source: Survey Reveals Nearly 8 in 10 of America’s Office Managers Doing More with Fewer Resources

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