Desk Essentials Guide: Notebooks, Pens and Tech Accessories for New Starters

Desk essentials rarely get the spotlight in a starter kit. They're not as exciting as a branded hoodie or as photogenic as a tote bag, but they're what a new starter actually reaches for during their first week: something to take notes with in onboarding sessions, somewhere to keep a charging cable from disappearing into a bag, something to keep a desk from turning into a pile of loose cords.

This guide covers the three categories worth getting right: notebooks and pens, tech accessories, and the small organisers that tie a desk together. If you're building a broader kit, it pairs well with our manager's checklist for new starter packs.

Notebooks and pens

A proper A5 notebook is still the most reliably used item on any desk, corporate or otherwise. Look past the branding for a moment and check the basics: page count, paper quality, and whether the cover holds up to being thrown in a bag daily.

Our writing and notes range covers a spread of materials, from the A5 Cotton Linen Notebook for a softer, premium feel, to the A5 Cork Notebook and A5 Coffee Grounds Notebook for teams that want a sustainability story attached to the item, through to the A5 Tyvek Cover Notebook for something genuinely durable and water-resistant.

If you'd rather hand over a single item that covers notebook and pen in one, the A5 Cotton Linen Notebook and Bamboo Pen Desk Kit and A5 Tyvek Notebook and Pen Desk Kit both pair the two in one order line, which simplifies kitting for HR or office managers assembling multiple packs.

Tech accessories

This is the category that solves small, real annoyances in a new starter's first week: a laptop charger with nowhere to sit, a phone cable that goes missing, headphones with no case.

A cable organiser is one of the highest-value, lowest-cost items you can add to a desk kit. The Cable Organiser Bag and Silicone Round Cable Pouch both solve this cheaply. For something that pairs a notebook with a charging solution in a single kit, the Bamboo Tech Cable and Pen Kit, A5 Bamboo Notebook and 3-in-1 Charging Cable Desk Kit, and A5 Cotton Notebook and 3-in-1 Charging Cable Desk Set are worth a look.

For hybrid or remote staff who move a laptop between locations, a Recycled Felt Laptop Sleeve protects the device without the bulk of a full bag. The 3-Card PU Leather MagSafe Wallet Stand and Earphone Case round out the category for teams that want a slightly more premium tech accessory in the mix. Browse the full tech accessories collection to compare options.

Small organisers that tie it together

The unsung items on this list are the small pouches and cases that keep everything else from becoming clutter. The EVA Mesh Zipper Pouch, Bamboo Lid Pencil Case, RPET Felt Pen Sleeve and Silicone Wristlet Pouch are all low-cost additions that make a desk kit feel complete rather than assembled from a few disconnected items.

What to look for before you order

Material and durability. Desk items get handled daily, so check for solid stitching on cases and pouches, and a notebook cover that won't fray after a few weeks in a bag.

Branding placement. A logo on the cover of a notebook or the front of a pouch reads more premium than one stamped across the whole product. Ask for a mock-up before production if you're ordering in volume.

Bundling versus buying separately. A pre-built desk kit is almost always more cost-effective and easier to order than sourcing a notebook, pen and cable organiser as three separate line items, and it keeps every new starter's kit consistent.

Sustainability, if it matters to your business. Cork, bamboo, cotton linen, Tyvek and coffee-ground-based materials are all available across the notebook range at a similar price point to standard options, so choosing a more sustainable material usually isn't a real budget trade-off.

Minimum order quantities. Most desk essentials and desk kits have accessible MOQs, generally in the 50-unit range, so this category works well for both a full-company rollout and a smaller batch for one team.

FAQs

What desk essentials should be included in a new starter kit? At minimum, a notebook and pen, and ideally a small tech accessory like a cable organiser or laptop sleeve. These are the items new starters use daily in their first weeks, regardless of role or department.

Are desk kits better value than buying items separately? Usually, yes. A bundled desk kit combines two or three items under one product line, which is typically more cost-effective and far easier to order consistently across a group of new starters than sourcing each item on its own.

Do sustainable materials cost more for notebooks and desk accessories? Not significantly. Materials like cork, bamboo, cotton linen and Tyvek sit at a similar price point to standard notebook covers, so sustainability doesn't have to come with a real cost trade-off.

What's the minimum order quantity for desk essentials? It varies by product, but most notebooks, pens and desk kits in this range have MOQs around 50 units, making them accessible for both company-wide rollouts and smaller team orders.

Final thought

Desk essentials aren't the flashiest part of a new starter kit, but they're what actually gets used every single day. Start with a solid notebook and pen, add a cable organiser or laptop sleeve to solve a real first-week annoyance, and the rest of the kit tends to feel like a bonus rather than the main event.

Browse the full range in Writing & Notes and Tech Accessories to build a desk kit that fits your team.