Before October gets busy: do this 10-minute supply check
Q4 starts smoother when the basics are already sorted. Walk six zones of your workplace, tick what you have, note what you don't, and turn it into one calm order before the end-of-year rush builds.
Why do it now
Most rush orders start as an ordinary gap nobody noticed
It's rarely the big purchase that causes end-of-year stress. It's the last ream of paper on the morning a report is due, the printer that runs dry before a board pack, the hand towel dispenser that's empty when visitors arrive, or the spine labels nobody reordered until the new year's files were already on the desk.
October is the easiest month to fix that. Workloads are building, but the pressure of November deadlines and December wind-downs hasn't arrived yet. Many suppliers and couriers also run reduced services over the Christmas and New Year period, so orders placed late in December can take longer to land.
A ten-minute walk-through now means your team heads into Q4 with the essentials already on the shelf, and anything you do need can arrive on normal delivery times rather than express.
The 10-minute Q4 supply check
Walk it, tick it, order it
Tap each item as you go. Anything left unticked goes on your order list.
Prefer paper? Print this page (Ctrl + P or ⌘ + P) and only the checklist will print.
Filing & desk essentials
90 secondsRestock: Lever arch binders · Archive boxes · Notebooks · Sticky notes
Breakroom & shared spaces
90 secondsRestock: Catering & hospitality · Coffee · Whiteboard cleaners
Minute ten: turn the gaps into one order
Everything left unticked becomes your shopping list. Order it together in one delivery, then diarise a quick re-check for mid-November.
Ticks are saved only on your screen while this page is open. Print it or screenshot it if you want to share it with the team.
Q4 workplace essentials
Nine reliable restocks, one for each gap
Not a catalogue wall. These are dependable, everyday lines chosen to cover the zones on the checklist, from the paper tray to the breakroom.
Double A A4 Copy Paper 80gsm White Carton of 5 Reams
Five wrapped reams, 2,500 sheets of 80gsm A4. Double A publishes an opacity above 94 per cent for this range, which helps double-sided pages read cleanly.
Why a carton: it's the simplest unit to set a reorder point against.
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Toner cartridges for your printer model
Toner is printer-specific, so start with the model number you noted on the checklist. The range covers Brother, HP, Canon, Kyocera, Lexmark, Fuji Xerox, OKI, Ricoh and more.
Tip: search by the cartridge code printed on the old cartridge for an exact match.
Find your toner
Avery Filing Labels Lever Arch Spine 200 x 60mm 4UP 100 Labels
100 spine labels, four to an A4 sheet, for laser and inkjet printers. A black backing is designed to cover the old label underneath when files are reused.
Q4 use: relabel this year's files before they move to archive.
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Marbig Super Strong Archive Box White Carton of 12
Rated by Marbig to a 35kg maximum load and stacking up to 10 high. Each box holds foolscap folders, up to three lever arch files or six ring binders.
Q4 use: clear the shelves now so next year's files have somewhere to go.
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Cumberland Red and Black Notebook Gloss Cover A4 100 Leaf
The classic casebound red and black notebook: 100 ruled A4 leaves with a gloss cover that stands up to daily desk use.
Q4 use: planning meetings, handovers and next year's to-do list.
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Post-it Notes Canary Yellow 76 x 76mm Pack of 12
Twelve pads of 100 sheets in the original canary yellow. Repositionable, so they move with the task list as priorities change.
Q4 use: one pack keeps the shared stationery drawer covered for a while.
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Vanilla Fresh Anti-Bacterial Multi Purpose Cleaning Wipes Case of 3
Three packs of 100 anti-bacterial wipes with a light vanilla scent, for quick wipe-downs of desks, phones, keyboards and breakroom benches.
Q4 use: keep a pack in each shared space and meeting room.
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Livi Essentials Ultraslim Hand Towel 2 Ply 150 Sheets Carton of 16
Sixteen packs of 150 two-ply ultraslim towels for washrooms, kitchens and staff areas.
Check first: make sure your dispenser takes the ultraslim format. Carton washroom lines ship on bulky freight, so order them together.
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Twinings English Breakfast Tea 500 Pack
500 individually enveloped bags of a full-bodied black tea that suits almost everyone, black or with milk. One carton covers a busy shared kitchen.
Q4 use: covers the daily cuppa plus end-of-year morning teas.
View productOrder smarter in Q4
Three habits that take the rush out of the end of year
Consolidate
One order built from the checklist is easier to track and receive than a string of small top-ups. Free standard delivery applies to eligible orders over $149.95 to most ACT, NSW, QLD and VIC metro areas.*
Group the bulky lines
Cartons of hand towel, toilet paper and similar washroom lines travel on bulky freight. Ordering them together, rather than a carton at a time, keeps freight simple.
Ask for a quote on volume
Stocking up for several sites or a big end-of-year function? Use Add to Quote or Bulk Enquiry on the product page, or talk to our team.
*Bulky items, hardware, regional and remote deliveries are excluded. See shipping and delivery information for full details.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
How often should we run a supply check?
Once a month suits most offices, with an extra check before busy periods like the end of the financial year and Q4. The first check takes the longest. After that, you're mostly confirming reorder points.
Who should own the checklist?
Pick one person, often the office manager or whoever places orders, and give them this page. The walk-through works best when one person counts and the same person orders.
How much should we keep on hand?
Enough to cover normal use until the next delivery arrives, plus a small buffer. For items that stop work when they run out, such as paper and toner, keep at least one spare unit per printer or location.
How do I find the right toner or label tape?
Use the cartridge or tape code printed on the item you're replacing, or the printer or label-maker model number. If you're unsure, send us the model and our team will confirm the match.
When should we place orders before Christmas?
Earlier is safer. Couriers and suppliers get busier through November and December, and many run reduced services over the Christmas and New Year period. Ordering Q4 essentials in October or early November avoids most of that pressure.
Ten minutes now, a calmer December later
Sort the basics before the busy season does it for you
Run the check, tick what's covered, and turn the gaps into one order. Your team walks into Q4 with paper in the tray, toner on the shelf and the breakroom stocked, so the only rush left is the work that matters.
Mega Office Supplies helps Australian workplaces keep the everyday essentials covered, from our Tweed Heads team and our suppliers' warehouse network nationwide.
