If you can find a "dollar store" when traveling, business travelers can find tons of useful supplies at the low, low cost of a buck.
If you forget to bring a wine bottle opener, sunscreen, a stapler or even AA batteries, you can always seek a grocery store or a Wal-Mart, granted. But if you see a dollar store of some kind - like the Dollar Tree - try a visit there first for the best prices and usually a fun assortment of cheap stuff to choose from. Save your receipts for the tax write-offs too. Every deduction helps!
A recent recon to a San Diego dollar store turned up a treasure trove of useful, inexpensive items that could prove handy to the inveterate business traveler. Some things that were found, and some possible road uses:
Hardware Section -
Duct Tape. Why is duct tape like The Force? There is a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. :-) But seriously, there are detailed books published on the insanely limitless uses of duct tape (ie - make wallet, make a tuxedo, add a door to your cubicle). Bringing things home, the business traveler can use duct tape to patch together abused luggage, fix rips in presentation book bindings, patch up your car a la McGuyver, make quick band-aids, emergency moleskin for foot blisters, tie up burglars, etc. Look for the new clear duct tape, or chose one of the available, matte colors if the tacky gray is offputting.
Electrical Tape. Like duct tape in uses but less adhesive overall, and works better for those wet conditions that just makes duct tape peel off. It's also more UV resistant than duct tape. Plus, electrical tape stretches, useful for taping objects together. Color coded electrical tape is a great asset in helping identify your belongings at a glance. Wrap colored tape around pens, luggage handles, sports gear and anything else you want to clearly mark.
Bungie Cords. Bright cords can be wrapped around luggage to both hold it securely and to make your baggage more visible when trundling down the airport carousel. You can use bungies to keep your bags attached to each other when rolling luggage down streets and airport terminals. Bungie cords can hold items securely to car roofs, and the hooks at the ends can have a of ton of options for hanging things in hotel rooms/bathrooms.
Automotive Supplies - Motor oil, car tools, car cleaning supplies. Use as needed on road trips.
Office Supplies Aisle - (these items are self explanatory)
Lined Paper
Computer Paper
Notebooks
Subject Dividers
Sheet Protectors
Calculators
Scissors
Hole Punchers
Last Minute Gifts - (hostess gifts, presents for the kids and wife back home, tourist knick-knacks)
Ziplock Baggies. Like duct tape, Ziplocks are another brilliant multipurpose product. Hold coins, receipts, coupons, pressed and folded clothes, shoes, socks, scarves, jewelry, wet things, pills, toiletries that are capped (sandwich size), business cards collected while networking (snack size), important papers (gallon size).
The copyright of the article Dollar Store Tips for Travelers in Business Travel Tips is owned by Dan Florio. Permission to republish Dollar Store Tips for Travelers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
