?Business cards are a necessity for any business. ?They are especially important when your advertising budget is limited or you are in business for yourself. ?When I decided to promote gourmet candles, I knew I wanted business cards that would stand out. ?Since I am just starting out, my budget is limited. ?You have to take risks to get started (yes, you do have to spend money to make money), but I was not looking forward to spending upwards of $60.00 on business cards. ?
The person who got me hooked on the products (whom I try and thank every day!) suggested I try Vista Print. ?They have some great deals and you can even get things for free. ?I purchased 250 custom business cards. ?They had an image, my email and my website address on the front (I prefer to do business in person or by email) and information about the products on the back. ?They came with a free silver-colored case. ?They cost me a little under $25.00 and came with credit toward my next purchase.?
When I got them I was slightly disappointed to realize they were card-stock, non-laminated and not glossy. ?I must of stared at them for half an hour with a sideways frown on my face, trying to see what I could do with?them to make them be more than just pretty card-stock. ?Then I had one of those moments where youalmost expect a light bulb to appear over your head and go ding! ?The down fall of the cards was actually perfect! ?
Have you ever had one of those fancy stationary sets that smelled like flowers? ?Unglossed card stock paper is a porous paper surface. ?Porous paper surfaces can absorb smells! ?Scented business cards for Scented Candle products! ?
I cheered out loud and Nat, my boyfriend, jumped up startled. ?
How did I do it?
Our candles are amazingly fragrant. ?They have natural oils and ingredients that hold in the fragrances really well. ?So, I took some left over candle wax from a jar candle I had burned down to the bottom of the jar (these things burn for like 100 hours and the jar still smells yummy after). ?I scraped out what was left and crushed it. ?I didn’t want the cards to get greasy or colored from the wax (a waxy card is not exactly the best way to greet some one), so I had to come up with a way to get the scent on the card without getting the candle on the card. ?
Tulle is a wondrous fabric. ?
I took the crushed candle chunks, wrapped it in cling plastic wrap and then wrapped that bundle in tulle. ?With a sewing needle, I poked tiny holes through the tulle and into the plastic wrap. ?I poked and poked until I could really smell the fragrance (apple cinnamon, by the way). ?I then took a ziplock sandwich back, put about 30 of my cards (I want to try other scents later) and the fragrance tulle pouch and zipped it up. ?About 3 days later, I had apple-cinnamon scented business cards! ?And the longer you leave it in the bag, the stronger the scent on the cards.?
Give it a try and tell me how it works out for you! ?Remember, you must use un-glossed or laminated card-stock business cards.?
Archive for February 28, 2011
Scented Business Cards
Weirdest Business Card Printing Ideas – Grab Sights Instantly
Unusual business card printing is the best way of producing array of instant inquisitive prospects for your business. Convention has a natural way of grabbing acceptance, but it is the unconventional idea that has power to start a trend and spark interest and grab attention sooner. Unique cards can easily create a presence in their clients’ minds and in the competition. If you are yet to print a unique set of cards, catch up with these nifty ideas on them -
1. Magnet business card printing – This printing will give your competitors an edge as magnet cards can ‘magnet’ more people to your business. Use of magnet in place of paper will lessen risks of your cards getting lost or being thrown to trash or crashed. Apart from a place in your clients’ wallet, these cards also find a place on the bulletin board, refrigerator.
2. Photo business cards – This printing increases credibility and familiarity by giving a face to your business. People can easily remember a face clearer than names or textual information. Therefore, they will remember and relate your name and company to your face. That’s how a photo card serves the purpose of cards better. You can also create a cartoon character of your photo as Internet offers such online applications for free. Undoubtedly, your cards will flicker quicker responses.
3. Frosted business cards – This printing hardly fails to entice targeted audience with the sophisticated and elegant look that it creates. These cards look absolutely distinct than their paper based counterparts and are also collected by people due to stylish and chic appearance.
4. Embossed business cards – This printing ideas add not only a classy look to cards, but they are fine to touch too. Moreover, embossed characters make your name and other details stand out and turn your cards look a cut above.
Finally, attempt to break out of the norm of stereotyped rectangular cards by reshaping cards in unusual shaped business card printing strategies. Think of the shape of the object that complements to your business optimally. For example, think of a shape of mike if you are a singer or a radio presenter. You can keep your cards within a small envelope from which your card will peep in with a slight view to generate maximum attraction to intrigue people know ‘what lies inside’.
Business Card Templates – Obtain Them For Free
It is not very hard to find various printing firms that offer templates for free of cost on their websites. Some basic templates are offered right away by major printing companies on their sites which could be easily altered or customized as per your needs. More often than not, graphics are also available which could be used if you think they go well with the themes you need to use along with other components. When you are in the process of creating business cards, it is best to start with sketches of the design and layout you desire seeing. The main idea is to come up with a pattern that can leave an impression upon others within split seconds. Consider the information that your prospective clients would expect from you and then try using those ideas well into the design which would ultimately work as a strong factor in attracting a good level of people. If you put too much of information on it then it wouldn’t be a very good thing to do since in that case it might confuse or irritate people in various ways. When you are downloading templates from a site there are a few things which you might need paying attention to. The one drawback relating this is that you might need a picture editing tool so that you can personalize or edit the card the way you want. In order to use the program, you’d need gathering knowledge concerning its usage. Counting that, it seems not worth and also is quite time consuming. Given that you have some idea relating using photo editing tool, you could find a blank template that could be used or inserted with the graphics of your choice.
On the Net, the business card templates that you get for free should be chosen carefully. Since they can be customized, you could place company logo in order to make them appear more personal. For the printing of the cards, you could either buy personal computer for the printings however they look somewhat unprofessional. Consider a professional printer rather.