Comments on: Percent of Red Swingline Staplers Sold http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/ Explaining music, songs and pop culture in charts and graphs. AKA music/song chart memes and funny graphs. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:20:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: shoroty http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-58444 shoroty Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:03:12 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-58444 I'll be sure you get a copy of that memo. I’ll be sure you get a copy of that memo.

]]> By: Eric Watson http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-14589 Eric Watson Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:08:08 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-14589 The Myth - During the production of the movie Office Space the production designer Edward T. McAvoy had to solve a problem. How to make a stapler that was so special that the film's character Milton would absolutely not allow his stinking boss Bill Lumberg to steal it from him and keep it. How would one said production designer do so? Well, by giving Milton a fire engine red Swingline stapler of course! With this idea in head, he called up Swingline and asked if they made such a stapler. They unfortunately did not. McAvoy then asked: "Well, do you mind if I use your logo on the side of a stapler I'm going to paint red?". Swingline did not mind. So McAvoy took 4 staplers down to a local auto-body shop and told them to make them perfectly painted, just like you'd paint a car." Their handy work can be seen changing hands throughout the movie. Office Space was released in 1999 and it was not until 2002 that after many requests from movie fans, Swingline decided to create and sell a red stapler. It was in July of that year the company began started selling the Rio Red 747 Business Stapler (SWI74740/SWI74736). Since then, the stapler has begun popping up on desks in offices around the world. When someone see's a red Swingline on your desk, and they are quote unquote, "In the know", it really says something about you. The only thing bad about having one, is keeping people from stealing it. Source: http://www.RedSwinglineStapler.com The Myth – During the production of the movie Office Space the production designer Edward T. McAvoy had to solve a problem. How to make a stapler that was so special that the film’s character Milton would absolutely not allow his stinking boss Bill Lumberg to steal it from him and keep it. How would one said production designer do so? Well, by giving Milton a fire engine red Swingline stapler of course! With this idea in head, he called up Swingline and asked if they made such a stapler. They unfortunately did not. McAvoy then asked: “Well, do you mind if I use your logo on the side of a stapler I’m going to paint red?”. Swingline did not mind. So McAvoy took 4 staplers down to a local auto-body shop and told them to make them perfectly painted, just like you’d paint a car.” Their handy work can be seen changing hands throughout the movie.

Office Space was released in 1999 and it was not until 2002 that after many requests from movie fans, Swingline decided to create and sell a red stapler. It was in July of that year the company began started selling the Rio Red 747 Business Stapler (SWI74740/SWI74736). Since then, the stapler has begun popping up on desks in offices around the world. When someone see’s a red Swingline on your desk, and they are quote unquote, “In the know”, it really says something about you. The only thing bad about having one, is keeping people from stealing it.

Source: http://www.RedSwinglineStapler.com

]]> By: Steve http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6819 Steve Sun, 27 Jul 2008 05:41:01 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6819 Costco has them, at least in the Cincinnati/Tri-County store off Kemper Rd. They are in the office supply section at eye level. They have all sorts of colors so you may have to dig for it in the box. They are around $10. And they are not exactly like the one in the movie. The one in the movie has Swingline written in black on the side, not the golden badge with the name on the top like the retail version have. It is a small difference, but it is close enough for fans I guess. Costco has them, at least in the Cincinnati/Tri-County store off Kemper Rd. They are in the office supply section at eye level. They have all sorts of colors so you may have to dig for it in the box. They are around $10.

And they are not exactly like the one in the movie. The one in the movie has Swingline written in black on the side, not the golden badge with the name on the top like the retail version have. It is a small difference, but it is close enough for fans I guess.

]]> By: ie http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6655 ie Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:30:13 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6655 I bought one for a manager when he left our company (it was about 2001)--they did not have red available at the office supply store, but they had maroon. It was close enough--we all cracked up over it at his going away party. I bought one for a manager when he left our company (it was about 2001)–they did not have red available at the office supply store, but they had maroon. It was close enough–we all cracked up over it at his going away party.

]]> By: Sorcha http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6482 Sorcha Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:49:23 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6482 Sure they do. My husband and son bought me one when I got my current office job. Sure they do. My husband and son bought me one when I got my current office job.

]]> By: djfasd http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6474 djfasd Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:24:39 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6474 the real problem with the graph is that it is in percentage. percentage of what? of total swinglines sold? total staplers? what you are actually measuring is the number of red swinglines sold not the percentage! or the percent change in the number of staplers sold. either way its no funny because it just states a fact. making it a graph does not make it funny. it has to be funny or cleaver first then the graph can make it better. oi the real problem with the graph is that it is in percentage. percentage of what? of total swinglines sold? total staplers? what you are actually measuring is the number of red swinglines sold not the percentage! or the percent change in the number of staplers sold. either way its no funny because it just states a fact. making it a graph does not make it funny. it has to be funny or cleaver first then the graph can make it better.

oi

]]> By: Kurt http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6473 Kurt Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:32:17 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6473 The thing that ammuses me is the fact that this site reffers to the comments as TPS reports, yet this is the first graph, to my knowledge, that makes a refference to Office Space. Link me if I'm mistaken on that please. The thing that ammuses me is the fact that this site reffers to the comments as TPS reports, yet this is the first graph, to my knowledge, that makes a refference to Office Space.

Link me if I’m mistaken on that please.

]]> By: Gasweasel http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6468 Gasweasel Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:10:42 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6468 http://www.acco.com/swingline/productdetail.aspx?sku=S7074740&cat=1003 FACE! http://www.acco.com/swingline/productdetail.aspx?sku=S7074740&cat=1003

FACE!

]]> By: tristara http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6461 tristara Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:56:31 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6461 yeah they do, I have one! :) yeah they do, I have one! :)

]]> By: slythwolf http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6457 slythwolf Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:05:45 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6457 Didn't you get that memo? Didn’t you get that memo?

]]> By: Emperor Faubulus http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6447 Emperor Faubulus Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:44:52 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6447 i ordered this margarita with no salt. NO SALT! i ordered this margarita with no salt.
NO SALT!

]]> By: Erin http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6442 Erin Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:30:40 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6442 Actually, I used to work with a woman who had a red Swingline stapler, and it was not painted red. Coincidentally, she also had a TPS Report Coversheet stapled to the inside of her cubicle, and an Initech mousepad. She shared my name, and absolutely HATED the movie Office Space. Can't you tell? Actually, I used to work with a woman who had a red Swingline stapler, and it was not painted red.

Coincidentally, she also had a TPS Report Coversheet stapled to the inside of her cubicle, and an Initech mousepad.

She shared my name, and absolutely HATED the movie Office Space. Can’t you tell?

]]> By: Daryn B http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6440 Daryn B Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:36:13 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6440 ThinkGeek sells ’em too. And I have one! (That’s what inspired me to make the graph.) ThinkGeek sells ’em too. And I have one! (That’s what inspired me to make the graph.)

]]> By: Kieran http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6433 Kieran Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:58:28 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6433 Uh, I have a red Swingline stapler on my desk. It is not a stage prop and I ordered it from an office supply catalog. The funny part? The packaging of the stapler makes a funny subtle reference to the movie: Inside the clear plastic packaging case the color is listed as "rio red" and it is listed as a "collector's edition", 747 Stapler, with two bulleted attributes below the stapler name: "- The star of any office space" "- Legendary performance and durability - Bold design" I haven't been able to throw the package away just in case someone would call into question its authenticity. Uh, I have a red Swingline stapler on my desk. It is not a stage prop and I ordered it from an office supply catalog. The funny part? The packaging of the stapler makes a funny subtle reference to the movie:
Inside the clear plastic packaging case the color is listed as “rio red” and it is listed as a “collector’s edition”, 747 Stapler, with two bulleted attributes below the stapler name:
“- The star of any office space”
“- Legendary performance and durability – Bold design”

I haven’t been able to throw the package away just in case someone would call into question its authenticity.

]]> By: Robert http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6420 Robert Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:53:46 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6420 They still don't. Since the iconic red stapler was a stage prop, someone else's stapler painted red, they have not, do not, and never will make Milton's stapler. Which upsets me. We just had this conversation at work the other day. They still don’t. Since the iconic red stapler was a stage prop, someone else’s stapler painted red, they have not, do not, and never will make Milton’s stapler. Which upsets me. We just had this conversation at work the other day.

]]> By: Daryn B http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6419 Daryn B Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:45:11 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6419 Hold the phone! According to IMDB: “The iconic red stapler coveted by Milton was created for the film by the prop department. They needed a bright enough color to be seen on film and chose red. After the film was released, Swingline began to receive requests from customers for red staplers. Having stopped offering red a number of years before, they made the decision to start offering the color once more.” So my graph *is* accurate! Hold the phone!

According to IMDB:

“The iconic red stapler coveted by Milton was created for the film by the prop department. They needed a bright enough color to be seen on film and chose red. After the film was released, Swingline began to receive requests from customers for red staplers. Having stopped offering red a number of years before, they made the decision to start offering the color once more.”

So my graph *is* accurate!

]]> By: Daryn B http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6418 Daryn B Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:42:38 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6418 Damn, really? I did not know that. I’m gonna redo it to leave out the “Red” bit then. (If an admin reads this can you delete my graph? Sorry for the trouble but we must strive for accuracy!) Damn, really? I did not know that.

I’m gonna redo it to leave out the “Red” bit then.

(If an admin reads this can you delete my graph? Sorry for the trouble but we must strive for accuracy!)

]]> By: Matt http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6417 Matt Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:41:33 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6417 Actually that should be 0 sold before the movie. They didn't even exist. Actually that should be 0 sold before the movie. They didn’t even exist.

]]> By: Marco http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6416 Marco Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:41:20 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6416 Man, you beat me to it... I guess I got nothing to say now. Man, you beat me to it… I guess I got nothing to say now.

]]> By: tristara http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6406 tristara Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:23:08 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6406 Yep, that's what I was gonna say! Before Office Space, Swingline did not even MAKE red staplers. The props dept just painted one for the movie. Now, we can all own one in red Swingy goodnesss! Yep, that’s what I was gonna say!
Before Office Space, Swingline did not even MAKE red staplers. The props dept just painted one for the movie. Now, we can all own one in red Swingy goodnesss!

]]> By: Herb http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6404 Herb Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:12:33 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6404 [Funny thing is, the pre-Office Space sales should be at 0] [Funny thing is, the pre-Office Space sales should be at 0]

]]> By: Phil Shearer http://graphjam.com/2008/07/22/song-chart-memes-percent-of-red-swingline-staplers-sold/comment-page-1/#comment-6398 Phil Shearer Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:59:01 +0000 http://graphjam.wordpress.com/?p=2958#comment-6398 yeah, I'm going to need you to re-submit your graph. It's just we're putting new coversheets on all the graphajm submissions before they go out now. So if you could go ahead and try to remember to do that from now on, that'd be great. All right! yeah, I’m going to need you to re-submit your graph.

It’s just we’re putting new coversheets on all the graphajm submissions before they go out now. So if you could go ahead and try to remember to do that from now on, that’d be great. All right!

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