I attended a trade show this week where the exhibitors were offering a range of products and services, including flowers, leadership development coaching, clothing, gift baskets, catering, magazines, and jewelry, but for me the most interesting vendor was Avery, with all their exciting new office products, some of which are pictured above.

Avery TouchGuard Binders have antimicrobial protection, which inhibits the growth of odor and stain causing bacteria, mold and mildew. These binders would be ideal for frequently used reference material, especially in corporate offices where the information is accessed by large numbers of people.

Another innovative binding option is available in the Avery Recyclable binder. At the end of their life cycle, these binders can be taken apart with a dime so that the cover can be placed in the paper recycling bin, and the rings in the metals recycling bin. They are quite attractive and available in a wide variety of colors and sizes, making them suitable for many different applications.

I was also impressed with Avery’s new Removable Label Pads, which were designed to make getting organized quick and easy. Simply write on the label, grab the nonstick tab to peel and apply. I can see using them for organizing paperwork into categories before making up the final labels with your computer or label maker. Unlike regular sticky notes, which have only a strip of adhesive along the edge, these are fully adhesive, so the labels will stay on until you’re ready to remove them. They’re available in a wide range of formats so you can choose whichever one best suits your taste or the project you’re working on.

Avery’s NoteTabs are equally versatile. They function like index tabs, but include a see-through section which sticks to the page with removable adhesive, allowing you to mark or highlight the text without marking the actual page – perfect for when you’re using books you’ve borrowed from the library or a colleague, or if you prefer not to mark up your own books. You can also write on the tab itself to easily identify why that particular page has been flagged.

The last new item I learned about was Double-Column Ready Index Dividers. The double-column table of contents has more space for text, and the double-layer tabs are easier to view and access because they don’t overlap each other.

The Avery rep told me that they will have a booth at this year’s POC Conference in Montreal, so you too can have a chance to see the latest products.