Express Business News

Bank statements, credit card applications, work papers, CDs. You name it, Cayton has shredded it.

''It's better to be safe than sorry," says Cayton, the shredder buyer for Staples Inc. the Framingham office supplies giant.

For many consumers, growing concerns over identity theft have made shredders the latest must-have home accessory. But the booming $350 million shredder industry has left shoppers with an overwhelming selection of machines with more features than ever.

Cayton, who uses a $120 heavy-duty InfoGuard 12-sheet cross-cut shredder at home, says there are three questions buyers must ask themselves before purchasing a new shredder.

First, how much do you shred? What kind of security do you want? And what do you shred?

The biggest mistake consumers make, Cayton says, is underestimating the amount of shredding they will do. What matters is not just the number of sheets you shred at one time, but also how often you plan to shred.

Typically, light-duty shredders, such as the $40 Executive cross-cut shredder, can handle up to 25 uses per day, six sheets at a time, and run between five and 10 minutes at a time.

Staples' new $70 medium-duty shredder is recommended for up to 50 uses per day, eight to ten sheets at a time, and they can run for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Consumers planning to shred up to 100 times a day should opt for a heavy-duty shredder....

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