We Also Offer Litho Printing for Business Cards
If your organisation requires business cards for many individuals, it may well be worth considering having them all printed lithographically and at the same time. By employing this method, the printing plate can accommodate all the names and print them in one run, therefore reducing the cost per card. These are also offered in the most popular size of 85 x 55mm. Adding a matt lamination is also recommended on litho cards. Alternatively, if only one or two names are required, and in various quantities, then digital printing makes more sense. Small quantities can be run economically on digital equipment – almost instantly.
Apparently, business cards first appeared in China during the 15th century, and introduced into Europe during the 17th century, originally being a calling card, eventually evolving into a business card. These early cards were printed by letterpress, woodcut or even handwritten. In the days before telephones and the internet, most organisations and companies employed salesmen/saleswomen that were referred to as representatives, or 'reps'. It was vitally important that they had ample stocks of business cards as very often, the information contained on the card was the only vehicle to advertise the representative's contact details. Nowadays, if one forgets the contact details it can often be obtained by visiting the website. But, to conclude, there is nothing quite like obtaining a person's business card, particularly a well-produced card, to impress that person's identity on the recipient.
Additional Information
During the 17th century business cards (calling card) emerged in England as a promotional tool for owners to easily advertise their trade and provide a simple map to their specific place of business. Today, business cards are still a solid investment as a promotional tool.
Quality business cards are a fantastic form of advertising, and they organically build on the word-of-mouth promotion that helps to build many local businesses. A well-designed card should stand out among the crowd, and represent your business in both design and words. If applicable, it is always wise to include your logo.
A quality business card may also signify reliability and trustworthiness, as a company's reputation - not to mention their credibility - is at stake when a card is used to interest a prospective customer. That said, having business cards on hand always opens you up to a potential networking opportunity. The most popular card size is 85 x 55mm.
Type of Business Cards
There are a number of different types of business cards available. What is commonly referred to as the "Classic Card" is probably what comes to mind when you hear the term business card. Typically these are 85 x 55mm. The format is usually pretty standard, and the card contains all necessary information, including point of contact names, phone number, and title and business location. The classic, and unfussy, design tends to work well for non-creative industries such as the medical, consulting, or sales field. Naturally, photographers in London, artists and graphic designers will want to utilise a flashier design. If you are looking for luxury business cards, then we recommend adding soft touch lamination or matt lamination, to give the cards a nicer feel.
An innovative new printing method, often called "wild format," is a technique that can completely change the look and feel of your business card, as it introduces new shapes and folding techniques. You may elect to print with a large, folded format that essentially turns your card into a small, informational brochure or perhaps you'd like cards half the size of classic printing. You may even decide to have your cards printed in the shape of a lightning bolt or unconventional circle design. Either way, it certainly makes you stand out from the crowd.
In recent years using useful items as business cards has emerged as a popular trend. As an example, many restaurants or high end bars use matchbooks instead of the traditional business card format. Hand fans for heating and air conditioning businesses have also been used, and even large combs printed with salon information. Having business cards printed is truly an open-ended market that is able to cater to the most creative of ideas.
After investing in getting your business cards printed, you'll certainly want to protect that investment. Enter the business card holder or container. Just like the cards themselves these come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Holders can be stationary or portable, and can be made of plastic, leather, paper or metal - in a myriad of bold colors and designs. To browse and purchase, a wide selection of holders are available at most big box retailers and office supply chains. You may also want to check out online retailers, who often provide a virtually limitless selection.
