SoHo Efficient - Industry Trend or Event

Home Office Computing, March, 2001 by Lisa Kanarek

MANUFACTURERS HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT HOME OFFICE PROFESSIONALS are pressed for time and desk space, so they've introduced products they hope home-based workers find appealing. "The SOHO market is growing and manufacturers are paying attention to it," says Steve Jacober, President of Dayton, Ohio-based SHOPA (School and Home Office Products Association).

An array of products introduced at the recent Miami SHOPA show have finally veered away from the antiquated smoke-gray and beige look of previous desk accessories, and have instead turned to vibrant colors. Aisles of iMac-influenced fluorescent and candy-colored pencil holders, paper trays, CD holders, and a sundry of other office accessories filled the exhibit hall.

Technology is playing a larger role in the styles of products being introduced. "There is a marriage between supplies and technology," says Jacober. "While we may correspond via e-mail, we still print e-mails and need to organize paper information."

Are these products worthy of a home-based worker's time and money? You decide--here's a list of products designed with the SOHO professional in mind.

Desk Managers If you need to keep better track of important documents, try laminating them. The YOU2 Cool-Seal Laminator ($35; 800-645-6051), is a safer cold (versus heat) system for laminating small business cams, photos or standard letters.

Have you ever spilled a drink on your keyboard? Then check out the Mega-Space Organizer ($16; 323-939-9059). The item attaches to any type of surface with non-damaging rubber jaws, and includes a clip-on beverage holder that solves the problem of tipped glasses and cans.

If the first thing you see when you walk into your home office is a sea of colored stickies stuck all over your computer monitor, consolidate your messages. The Monitor Wing from ET Industries Inc. ($15; 888-801-0700) saves you space by doubling as a dry erase board, corkboard, and document holder.

Reaching for the phone or supplies can be, quite literally, a pain in your neck. The Fellowes Standard Phone Stand ($13; 800-955-3344) keeps your phone within reach and stores office supplies beneath it to free up space on your desk.

High Design While most vendors strive for efficient products, a few manufacturers targeted stylishly designed items, says Jacober. "Home-based workers still want products to reflect their diverse lifestyles," she says.

Even ordinary desk accessories are designed using modern--and affordable --wire-mesh material. And, if you thought wicker in the office was exotic, you'll like the looks of items from Organize It All, Inc. (various prices; 201-226-9100). The company has a wide range of contemporary accessories designed with steel, wood, leather, glass, and bamboo.

Tech Clutter Where is the market heading? According to Mark Naidoff, vice president of Fellowes' computer and electronic accessories division, located in Itasca, Ill., "As new (hardware) is introduced, consumers will want to accessorize. And as pricing of hardware drops, consumers will be able to spend more money on accessories."