Edge-painted business cards aren’t new, but we’ve started seeing a lot more requests. It’s a nice touch that’s more affordable than letterpress or other specialty printing additions.
This week, we painted business cards for GS&F that we think look especially awesome. The card is effective on its own — it’s simple, has lots of white space (which studies show make people feel more safe) and has the most critical information front and center. However, the red side really gives the card that extra pop that transforms it from good to great.
To produce the red sides, we use an Irwin Quick Grip to hold the cards in place. Once the tool is locked, we can paint the edges. Customers do have to purchase the paint, but it’s only about $30 and will cover ten sets of business cards.
According to studies conducted by CNN, BusinesscardABC and Freelance Folder, there are 10 billion business cards printed in the U.S. every year. That’s billion with a B.
Even more worrisome for marketers, 88% of business cards handed out will be thrown away in less than a week. Granted, some of this is due to recipients adding the business card’s information to a digital contact list.
So how do you stand out among the billions? Well, for starters, having some color. Prospective clients hold on to color cards 10x longer than black-and-white cards. Once you’ve added some color, incorporating a specialty technique (like edge-painting) increases a card’s lifespan even more.