Hot Picks - Summer 1997

We review organizing products on a regular basis that can make Getting Organized more FUN and your life a lot easier!
Check this area regularly to find what's new and innovative in organizing tools. .

Each review includes a:

picture

how to use the product

product specifications

suggested retail prices

where you can find the product

Product Reviews

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We receive many products from vendors for our online review purposes. After reviewing these products we then donate them back into our respective communities or make donations in their name and ours for fundraising events. Many of these events are hosted by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO).

EZ POCKET

So ...what do you do with all those bills after you have opened the mail? Do you find yourself missing appointments? Special days? Celebrations? Birthdays? Anniversaries? (Uh-ohh -- big trouble! )

Are you losing track of what is due and when? Constantly misplacing your To Do list? How do you keep track of places the kids need you to be or when they need you to play taxi driver? Are you overloading you life with so many "stickies" they all blend into the environment?

Well this is definitely a great month for finding truly innovative organizing tools and EZ POCKET heads the list with exciting possibilities to help you get organized, reduce clutter, assist you in being punctual as well as help keep track of the kids summer social schedule!

EZ POCKET is designed for those feeling far more comfort with their itinerary mapped out in front of them. This innovative calendar contains pockets for every day of the month. Just stash your bills, appointment cards, broadway tickets, special occasion cards -- whatever -- directly into the pocket when the item is due to be mailed out.

The system keeps everything intact for you -- so you won't forget! EZ POCKET works extremely well for:

very visual or right brain dominant people
anyone attempting to reclaim their desktop surface
anyone running short of space for important reminders
people who have a tendency to misplace "important" things
assisting kids in being more responsible with timely reminders for their need of ride service, games or events

EZ POCKET is a synch to install -- all you need is 3 pushpins to position it directly on a door or wall ...plus EZ POCKET flaunts:

31 pockets that hold a standard size envelope
5 colorful cards to use as reminder flags
convenient 27"(w) x 36"(l) measurements
100% cotton canvas to last a lifetime!
4 brilliant color choices: natural, forest green, rich red and powder blue.
reasonably priced at $24.95
30 day money back guarantee

What more can you ask for? This is truly an organization "survival tool!" EZ POCKET can be reached by clicking onto the hotlink above or by calling 800-681-8681 Make your life easier with EZ POCKET

Vertiflex Steel Sorting Racks
by Buddy

Do you abhor file cabinets? Are you stacking horizontally and memorizing "what is where?" Are you plagued with your Ph.D (Piles Higher and Deeper)??

Never fear -- this is a very common approach to handling papers for right brain dominant people ...and it doesn't mean you don't want an organized desktop surface ...it just means you may not like the tools created for left brain dominant people! Good for you for maintaining your own individuality -- yet I need to be frank here -- we still need to address those Ph.D's! *Smile*

With tons of experience in working with right brain dominant people the common complaint is: "...if I don't have my papers in front of me -- I'll forget what I have to do!" I hear you loud and clear ...and do we have the tool for you!!

Sorting racks of all styles have made common sense for companies of all sizes in their mailrooms for ease of sorting and visibility. Did you realize that there are "personalized" models for the desktop too?? "Cubby systems" have been the life saving tool for many a desktop plagued with horizontal PhD's.

Buddy makes my all time favorite for composition, dependability, aesthetics and pricing. The Buddy "cubby system" is great because it can be expanded upon as your needs change. The systems come in 4, 7, 12, 24, 32 & 72+ cubbys to meet your every need. Systems may be "stacked" together right on your desktop too!

Buddy's Vertiflex Steel Sorting Rack, is made from recyclable steel, has a textured finish, adjustable shelves (extra shelves optional) and stacks securely. Each unit has protective adhesives that are affixed to the bottom to protect your work area surface. Note: when dealing with the some of the larger units -- they are placed directly on the floor adjacent to your desk.

Buddy's Vertiflex Steel Sorting Racks may be found at your local Office Max, Staples, Office Depot or local office supply store. Please note that larger systems are usually special order items. Approximate price ranges for selected units are:

$50 for a 4 section unit
$55 for a 6 section unit
$52 for a 7 section unit (see photo)
$115 for a 12 section unit

6-Drawer School Chest

"Here Mommy, you can have all my art work ...and pictures ...and diploma ...and awards to save forever and ever!"

Okay moms, school is out and your kids have now brought home "everything" they have ever created during the school year. What do you do? You want to keep some of their treasures yet your space is limited -- what's a mom to do?

Well for starters, you need to teach kids at an early age that space is a limited commodity (unless you want them to graduate from college ...still leaving their valued treasures at home in your space!) Kids can start being responsible for many of their own treasures far sooner than most parents can imagine. They just need the appropriate "organizing tools for kids."

Viola! Feast your eyes on this 6-Drawer School Chest for storing school day memories! These are heavy duty corrugated chests which are extremely colorful and aesthetically appealing. The outer encasement even boasts kid's art work. Now you can have your child store their own treasures from school. The beauty is that they learn the principles of limited space quite easily when they have a limited space to work with -- ( of course you can still keep some of their treasures for yourself too!)

The chest hosts six drawers and stands 15.5x17x13.5 - approximate cost is $20. To date I have only found this item through Lillian Vernon and kids ages 3-10 simply love handling and storing their important papers and documents --" just like big people."

Create-A-Spacer
Multitech by Ideal Creations

Are you still using the kitchen table as your desk? Do you keep telling yourself you have no room for a desk of any kind? Would you like to put an end to that excuse now and forever? If so, here comes the Create-A-Spacer desk to the rescue!

The Create-A-Spacer foldup desk can be used in a multitude of ways:

kids rooms
college dorms
small kitchen spaces
sewing or craft centers
paperwork and bill paying centers
CEO's of Home/Life management (aka: housewives)

We have seen the quality of the Create-A-Spacer foldup desk and it is:

affordably priced
nicely designed
well constructed

Made with a thick thermofused melamine particle board top and leaf, the Create-A-Spacer desk fully extended, measures 23 1/2 x 44 1/2". When folded down, it's a compact 16 5/8 x 23 1/2". It includes a surprising amount of ample storage space with 5 boastfully roomy drawers (which can be assembled on the left or the right) and a unique H-leg support system that provides superior strength without sacrificing legroom!

The Create-A-Spacer foldup desk has been spotted through Spiegel and Lillian Vernon. The approximate cost is $150 -- such a deal!! -- And you even get to reclaim your kitchen table! Still want to find another distributor? Contact Multitech by Ideal Creations at (800) 209-2253

Paperboard Products by Anderson Marshall
"Quality paperboard products for home and office"

Are you challenged with the appropriate space to store your "stuff" ? Do you find yourself stuffing your "stuff" wherever you find room? Did you forget which box you stuffed your "stuff" into?

Well in our travels we found some sturdy and attractive solutions to storing and organizing your treasures. From utility boxes to sweater boxes. to linen storage boxes. to underbed boxes. to a 4-drawer box chest. to stationary boxes, to Christmas ornament boxes specially designed for decorations, bulbs, wreaths, gift wrap and even keeping lights tangle free!

All storage boxes are durable and long-lasting with a quick-set bottom that makes constructing them simple as pie! These boxes are in a class of their own when it comes to their decorative style, design and wide selection of colors to match any decor.

Anderson Marshall is a division of Inland Paperboard and Packaging and has been the leading innovator in the corrugated industry for over 70 years. Contact customer service at (888) 677-2367 for your nearest distributor.

EZ Tote

It's summer time! How many trips have you made back and forth between the garage or garden shed to retrieve those necessary garden tools? Up and down, up and down. Well, we have a solution for you avid gardeners. It's the EZ Tote for all those necessary tools.

It has a variety of cubby holes, 4 removable bins and a comfortable handle. It even has multiple uses! For example, you could also use it for cleaning supplies or workshop tools. It's made from strong and durable plastic that is scratch, crush, dent and rust proof. Dirty? Just clean it with soap and water. The dimensions are 11 1/2" high X 13 1/4" wide X 12 5/8" deep.

Let me "plant" this final seed. You can find this nifty item at K-Mart or Wal-Mart and you can expect to pay approximately $9.99. (See...we can even help you get organized out-doors!)

Mechanical Tool Briefcase

When it comes to classy storage, it doesn't get any better than this! When you start adding up the costs of all those fine mechanical tools, you have quite an investment. Take a look at this innovative and modern storage case.

Tim the Tool-Man never had it so good! This case is durable, weather resistant and secure. Manufactured by T.Z. Case International Corp., the materials that go into making them are 80% recyclable. It's "environmentally friendly" and we appreciate that! Just look at the picture to see how you can apply organization in this example. This slick aluminum tool case measures 18" wide X 13" deep X 6" high.

This unit is available through mail order at (818) 964-4821 (Walnut, CA, USA). The retail price is $49.00, plus shipping and handling. If you really want to see a full range of products, visit this web site - www.tz-case.com. The site is graphic intensive, yet the pictures are worth looking at.

Now, do you have a tape-measure I can borrow? I can't seem to find mine...

Wilson Jones Hanging Binder

Are you tired of getting up out of that chair to go over to the shelf and get that binder you need? Does this happen every day? You probably know that you can store information in file folders, yet you prefer binders. If only they could be housed in your file drawer, you say. Well, they can!

Check out these binders by Wilson Jones. They help you store information and necessary back-up tools such as diskettes right in a binder that in turn, features a retractable hanging mechanism. It's innovative, it's sleek and it hangs right in your desk file drawer. Save the mileage on those tired puppies! Be more productive as you continue to organize information in a binder and save time from getting up and down.

Notice these features too: it stores information for 8 1/2" X 11" documents, provides 2 inside pockets, is made of heavy-gauge, suede-grain vinyl and it provides a label holder on the spine for easy identification and re-use. Excellent!

Quill catalog ((800) 789-1331) carries this organizational tool and you can expect to pay $3.32 - 2.99, depending on quantity. Check you other local office supply stores as well.

Wesystem Display Products

Tired of push pins and cork boards? How about those post-its? You know, the psychedelic colors arranged on the back of your door? Or perhaps you're still stuck on scotch tape?! It's time for another alternative.

Let me introduce you to the Wesystem Display Product. Of all the innovative tools I see, this one is a favorite. It's nothing fancy, I assure you. It's really quite basic as a tool goes. Yet, the way it is designed has fascinated me from day one. This tools uses a unique technique utilizing gripping rollers and gravity to hold documents in place. The result is a secure document, neatly placed and organized. Use it as a holder to display pictures, calendars, messages, announcements or even as a copy holder on an acrylic stand (like I did)!

It comes in a range of sizes, 6", 9", 12" +. You have a choice of plastic or aluminum and a typical 6" size costs $4.68 plus shipping and handling. Now, they are hard to find. However, you can order them direct from D.L. West Manufacturing Company, Inc. - (800) 888-0350.

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