There are hidden depths to paper procurement. It's not necessarily as straightforward as some might have you believe. Talk to a professional stationery supply company and apply the benefit of their experience to make sure that you end up with the right printing paper. They should also be able to offer a quick delivery and pricing that knocks the spots off the sorts of figures banded about the high streets by the usual stationery suspects.

You need to take a step back. Before you rush out and grab the first ream of paper you see, in some sort of Supermarket Sweep approach to restocking your stationery cupboard, take a time out. We're talking objectives-driven decision-making here and you need to think clearly what you want to achieve with the paper, what is its purpose? The role your printing paper is intended to perform and the printing applied to it will play a large hand in determining the optimum paper for the job in hand.

Also ask yourself, what sort of printer do you plan on using - an inkjet, a laser, a matrix? Maybe you just want to do some simple photocopying, bog standard, run of the mill photocopying. No frills, no Oscar nominations just good old-fashioned functional photocopying. But then again maybe the plan is to print the most ornate wedding invites this side of Posh and Becks. Wedding Invitations suggests a relatively small print run but what about a mail-shot or promotional fliers, a newsletter perhaps? You could be talking in the multiple thousands and would certainly need a decent amount of paper in those examples even if you were to guillotine A4s to A5.

Size matters too, especially when you have a specific requirement in mind. Whilst the vast majority of printer paper sold is A4 size, again the options vary widely depending on the objective. Maybe A5 fliers made from guillotined A4 originals as mentioned or A3 posters, folded A3 making A4 brochures the final requirements dictating a suitable size and also weight ? from flimsy thin 70 and 80 gsm (grams per square metre) paper through to thick 160 gsm presentation card. There's tracing paper, graph paper or drawing pad paper. There's listing paper too ? 60gsm to 80 gsm perforated, out of the box single or multi part. Finish and colour also need to be carefully considered. Do you have to only use white? What about pink? What about blue? Maybe it's colourful art paper you need for a display or presentation. Do you need paper to print photographs onto, gloss, matt, high gloss, semi glossy or maybe you're running out of fax or till rolls and need to get hold of some replacements. You need might though be as simple as a few sheets of high quality executive writing paper. Is there a brand you prefer? Ambassador, Berger, 5 Star, Avery, Bright Ideas perhaps.

Choices, choices, choices. As complicated as all the above might sound don't let the options leave you confused, scratching your head wondering whether a career in astrophysics might be a less stress option. The solution is simple. Select an established and well-known stationery supplier, and simply explain your requirements to one of their advisors then let him or her guide you into making the right choices. Choosing your printing paper is as easy as you let them make it be.