Card products are versatile tools that can make a big impact on personal and organizational branding. Brand Chain community members Emily Myers (Business Card Service, Inc.) and Jeff Howicz (Team Concept Printing) shared five reasons to consider adding cards to your product mix.

1. They’re a great foundation for client relationships.

The classic business card is one of the most foundational products of the print world — you would be hard-pressed to find a supplier who hasn’t created them! But business cards are only the first step into the wide world of print products, Myers shares:

“Business cards are many times one of the first print items that a distributor may sell to a new print customer. When distributors lead with business cards, specifically cards with specialty print enhancements, it’s a great introductory product and door-opener to an entire print program!”

2. They showcase your customization capabilities.

With a lower cost of production than products like booklets or merchandise, cards can be a fantastic medium for enticing clients to experiment with specialty customizations. Howicz and Myers share some of their favorite custom card features:

“We offer a ton of different applications to help a card stand out. Anything from different types of laminations like soft touch, to die cutting. Foil stamping and embossing is always a favorite, but most of all our MGI LUXFX foil and raised UV embellishments never fail to impress.” (Howicz)

“My favorite card style is a double-thick stock with soft touch laminate and spot gloss on the back-only, uncoated stock on the front and painted edges. We also offer unique foil colors, including iridescent, rose gold, red, blue, green — and of course silver and gold.” (Myers)

3. Cards are simple but effective direct marketing tools.

Cards can be easily transported and shared to broaden a client’s network. With interactive components such as QR codes, scratch offs or even accessories, recipients can continue connecting with a client’s brand, Howicz says:

“Having a piece of your brand that you can leave behind helps keep you on the minds of your client longer and helps build sales.”

4. They’re a versatile solution to any client need.

Card products have infinite uses. From networking to information sharing, they can be incorporated into any client project. Myers shares some unique uses for business card-sized products:

“Business card-sized cards have so many uses, including coupons, drink tickets for events, towel cards for hotel pools, inspirational messages, loyalty punch cards, recipe cards, wallet sized measuring tools (e.g. tire tread depth), carriers for pins and even fever-check cards during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

5. Cards are a fun way to showcase a brand’s personality.

There’s something to be said about products that are simply fun to make and receive. Card products can be used to showcase an organization’s personality and branding, Myers and Howicz shared:

“Uniquely printed flat and foldover cards have been increasingly incorporated into employee appreciation mailings and kits recently, including kits for new hires, birthdays and anniversaries. BCSI has even created ’gag’ cards to help distributors share production features with their prospective clients in a unique and creative way.” (Myers)

“Personalized notecards, as well as a variety of key cards, are big right now. The equipment we have, coupled with clients’ creativity, gives some extremely unique printed material. One project we created was a foiled scratch-off, much like a lottery ticket. It was a unique and fun twist to your basic postcard-type item.” (Howicz)

By Bethany Larrañaga