Business cards have come a long way since they first appeared in 17th century in Europe. Back then they were used to announce the impending arrival of prosperous or aristocratic people to their local town or even their home. They were shaped and sized in a similar way to a playing card and became a staple of the elite by the middle of the century. In time the cards became engraved with gold and exciting typefaces and by the 19th century the cards were a must have by anyone who was anyone in the middle class circles of the day.
Today, business cards can be much more than the traditional 2 x 3.5” rectangle. Companies who want to instantly differentiate themselves are now turning to shaped business cards to leave a lasting impression on the recipient. The creative possibilities of shaped business cards are virtually endless. They can follow the lines of a company’s logo or be a unique size with rounded edges. They can also outline a product, such as a guitar for a music store, a car for a dealership or a roof line for a Realtor.
“Shaped business cards are a great way stand out,” says Karen O’Brien, co-owner of Tampa-based ThinkShapes Mail. “They often have a much longer shelf life and are shared more than their rectangular cousins due to their uniqueness.”
ThinkShapes Mail often prints shaped cards with special options like QR Codes that direct recipients to everything from video blogs to websites. Shaped business cards can also be folded, so that the shape is revealed when opened for even greater impact.
“When you hand someone a shaped business card, it’s not just the novelty factor of it that gets their attention,” explained O’Brien. “It shows you put a lot of thought into how your present yourself, which leaves people with a positive impression of your company overall.”
