Products sold in Europe must fulfil the requirements of relevant European product directives and bear the CE marking which proves that the product meets the requirements of the applicable standard. It is critical for safety that schools should always look for the CE marking, especially on many stationery products such as paint and glue where chemicals are often used.
Schools where possible, should buy in bulk to get the best unit price. Consideration must be given to the shelf life of each product, but items such as paint and glue have a long shelf life and will keep for some time in a cool location.
The affect that the total cost of ownership of a product can have on budgets is significant. Buying cheap products of inferior quality, from low grade suppliers offering poor customer service, is a mistake that schools must avoid.
One thing recommended by our members is regular stock-checks for schools. Rather than continue to purchase the same resources month after month, schools should really understand their stationery usage, and know what their needs are, as they might be surprised how much stock they have already, and where they might be lacking.
BESA
www.besa.org.uk/besa/suppliers
