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Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice

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2steps

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey

Posted: Mon May 28, 07 8:26 pm Post subject: Business Cards

What do you guys think to the idea of shaped business cards? would it look gimmicky?

this is the design

i could cut them as normal round the black line so there would be white outside of the grey or I could cut them with the grey as the edge. I though it would make them stand out, something a little different or will it just look pants

Last edited by 2steps on Tue May 29, 07 1:49 pm; edited 2 times in total

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46243
Location: yes

Posted: Mon May 28, 07 8:50 pm Post subject:
is a curved cut going to be expensive ? i think they may look good to the grey

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Mon May 28, 07 9:16 pm Post subject:
I think it depends on how good the cut is - but I agree with dpack, I think cut to the grey will look good, especially if they're on very stiff card. One thing though - make sure that they are small enough to fit in to people's wallets/business card holders - I've collected a few over the years that are really pretty, but too large to file happily, and they end up getting chucked.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Mon May 28, 07 10:52 pm Post subject:

Chez wrote:

I think it depends on how good the cut is - but I agree with dpack, I think cut to the grey will look good, especially if they're on very stiff card.

One thing though - make sure that they are small enough to fit in to people's wallets/business card holders - I've collected a few over the years that are really pretty, but too large to file happily, and they end up getting chucked.

I agree absolutely with Chez's comments. Especially that it must fit within a standard card outline.
Die cutting like that would be unreasonably expensive - so its going to declare 'hand made' instantly.
Have you seen those mini-cd 'business card/portfolio/catalogue' things that were popular a few years back (and which kept getting stuck in laptop drives)? They were that sort of round-ended rectangular shape (and designed to fit into standard card wallets/files/etc.

And BTW, I think you should make clear that the address and contact details shown are, of course, not your own, or even real...

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 5:10 am Post subject:
Die-cutting is expensive on short runs. You would need to be looking at 1000s+ to make it worthwhile. If you want free business cards try Vistaprint. I have used them for short runs. You have to use their pre-set templates but some of them are pretty good. You just pay postage (about �3).

Samantha

Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 187
Location: In a field, North Yorkshire

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 5:24 am Post subject:
Think the cards are beautiful and agree with all the comments above. Also another vote for Vistaprint here - used them for business cards, postcards, notepads, magnets, brochures and spent less than a tenner!!!

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 10:03 am Post subject:
I like the design and the colour scheme but don't bother cutting them. They simply aren't going to fit snugly into peoples wallets and purses. The odd shape may irritate folk and lead to the cards having a shortened retention life.

2steps

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 12:33 pm Post subject:
I hadn't thought that much about cutting them I'd have to cut them myself. I did once see a tool that cuts circles but it's properly too much trouble. oh well, they'll just have to be normal shaped. thanks anyway

Barefoot Andrew
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 21 Mar 2007
Posts: 22780
Location: In the 17th century

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 12:44 pm Post subject:

Just a query - why did you choose a '.com' domain? IMHO a .co.uk domain gives a better "feel" for want of a better expression - especially for the small-scale downsizer type business.

And I would suggest having just the one URL on the card - your main https://www.phoenix-moon.com/ one. The Ebay one can be linked to from your website - but need not be specifically mentioned on your business card.

dougal wrote:

And BTW, I think you should make clear that the address and contact details shown are, of course, not your own, or even real

I would suggest that when this thread has run its course, you get a mod to delete the business card image.

A.

2steps

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 1:51 pm Post subject:
I chose.com because I thought it's the first domain that comes to peoples minds. I can see what you mean now though

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 5:49 pm Post subject:

I don't think it matters too much whether you are .com or .co.uk - after all, you are selling online, so presumably you're prepared to post abroad? In which case, it might even be an advantage.

If you are just going to put the one URL on the card (and I think Andrew has a point), you probably don't need to put the https:// bit in - your address starts with www, so people will work it out. It looks less cluttered with forward slashes then

.

I really like them - and when you've made a packet, you can pay someone to die-cut the circles out for you!

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 6:36 pm Post subject:
I agree fully with leaving the https:// off. It is not necessary nowadays as most (if not all current) web browsers will automatically sort it out. It looks better just as a www.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 6:56 pm Post subject:

Chez wrote:

I don't think it matters too much whether you are .com or .co.uk - after all, you are selling online, so presumably you're prepared to post abroad? In which case, it might even be an advantage.

I find that, I sell a fair bit to the US so being a .com 'seems' to help, not sure if I'd show up so easily to them as a .co.uk, though I do plan to make my next domain name a .co.uk as it will be pitched to a more UK market

2steps

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 8:43 pm Post subject:
yes, I'm hapy to send anywhere I did think about leavign te https:// off so think I will. and just use the one address

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