The power of business cards

[NC Scroller]

This post is NOT intended as a brag but to help others.

 

I do two shows in November.  In the last week I have sold $145 in post show sales and have another possible sale (need to complete the design) all because someone picked up a business card or saw one of my cards attached to the back of a project they have.  I glue a card to any project that the design allows.

 

I get my cards through Vista print when they run specials.  Wherever you buy them they are worth their weight in gold.  They cost pennies but reap big rewards.

[Phantom Scroller]

Scott I do the same I put the work piece in a bag and drop a card in, also I have a few scattered around the table. Guess what they're from Vista as well.    Roly

[kmmcrafts]

I sell online only.. I package a card in every shipment. I also write on every piece that allows.. my web site address in a fine point Sharpe pen.. before I put the finish on so the ink soaks down into the wood grain some.. such as the bottom of the bases for my clocks etc.. not much of anyplace to do this on ornaments but I do package the ornaments in cleartop jewelry gift boxes with a card.. 

 

Also a added tip would be if you choose to sell online.. get a domain name first.. I started my first couple months online at etsy.. got business cards with the etsy addy on it.. only to move to a site called artfire for a few years.. then kind of back to etsy in the last couple years due to issues with artfire.. I have 4 online venues I sell on but I plan to put together my own site and drop some of those venues... So anyway... had I did the domain addy first.. I could have save money replacing cards that no longer was good due to the moving around.. and loosing those potential repeat customers as they was unable to find me on which ever site that was on the card I passed out to them.. Now for the last two years I have a domain and been getting many repeat customers due to those cards. Plus it will be directed to my own site once it's in place and can follow me where ever I choose to sell online....

 

Kevin

[Scrolling Steve]

Sounds like it works !.....Great Idea !

[terrylee]

Yes,I use then in all my show and is a way of getting craft show also 

[WayneMahler]

When I do a show  I keep plenty of business cards at the ready. I have gotten many an order from doing this. All custom work. Every sale gets a card in the bag, and it keeps a fresh reminder for more work. A happy customer will pass he card to a new prospect which always helps.

[ChelCass]

Has anyone considered printing their own business cards?  We bought a cd called Print Shop, you can make business cards, flyers, birthday cards, Christmas card, envelopes, letterhead. etc.  I believe Larry got it off of amazon.  It was 9 dollars and change.   Just a thought!

[kmmcrafts]

Has anyone considered printing their own business cards?  We bought a cd called Print Shop, you can make business cards, flyers, birthday cards, Christmas card, envelopes, letterhead. etc.  I believe Larry got it off of amazon.  It was 9 dollars and change.   Just a thought!

It is really hard to beat the deals that vistaprint offers ( quite often they run sale deals ). This way you get a professional made card... and by the time you buy actual card stock for business cards and the expensive ink cartridges for the printer the vista print deals look even better.. No need to ask how I know this been there done that.. I think it's actually cheaper to use vistaprint...JMO

 

Kevin 

[EarltheScroller]

I used to own a print shop and can say that professionally printed cards almost always look and feel better than the ones you make yourself. Unless you really know design and layout you can almost always tell that a card is printed off your own printer. It's just one of those subtle sales techniques that communicate that you are serious and mean business. I attach one to every item I sell and use it as the price tag...usually with the kinds of wood, or other materials included in the item. JMHO

[amazingkevin]

This post is NOT intended as a brag but to help others.

 

I do two shows in November.  In the last week I have sold $145 in post show sales and have another possible sale (need to complete the design) all because someone picked up a business card or saw one of my cards attached to the back of a project they have.  I glue a card to any project that the design allows.

 

I get my cards through Vista print when they run specials.  Wherever you buy them they are worth their weight in gold.  They cost pennies but reap big rewards.

I refill my ink cartridges for pennies and print out my cards on card stock paper.

[Kepy]

This is all great advice for me NOT to follow.  I don't want any more business and have gotten afraid to show anything I have done locally as someone else will for sure want one or some.  I am RETIRED and am surely not looking to go into business.  I was tired yesterday and am retired today so just want to work on projects that I want to try and have actually gotten a chance to do some things for me.

[ike]

I print my own cards. I use Microsoft office  words the have several templates( free)  to use. I print on card stock. I probably get about 1% action on them.

[Jim Finn]

I get a moderate amount of business from my business cards.   I also try to include one with each sale.  Either glued to the back and/or inside a box.

[LarryEA]

I get none but I'll keep trying........

[trailfndr]

My main focus is Intarsia, and I glue a business card onto the back of each and every piece I make.  If a full card won't fit, I print a smaller version on quality paper and glue that one.  When I ship anything, I include a couple of cards to be passed to friends of my customers,  I have had some success with this, and will continue to follow this practice.  I also use Vista-Print, as the cost of card stock is more than the cost of the finished cards.  And I can't get the professional looking results from even a high quality home printer.

 

200 perforated Avery Card stock  is 18.00 at Staples.  I just got 500 cards from Vista-print on sale for 34.00

[ike]

I have handed out about 400 cards this year, and I had one comeback at my last sale she ask where I would be and she bought a nativity for $25. at that return i will keep printing my own . i get my template off microsoft words. I figure my cards cost about $7. ink and card stock.

[oneleggimp]

Just go  some cards printed in October and Print Now had a special which beat vista print and Print Now had a format (layout) that I liked.  Anyway - it was considerably cheaper than buying business cards for the computer printer and paying for toner or ink and the feel of the commercially printed cards is so much better than the computer cards.  It just presents you better.

It is really hard to beat the deals that vistaprint offers ( quite often they run sale deals ). This way you get a professional made card... and by the time you buy actual card stock for business cards and the expensive ink cartridges for the printer the vista print deals look even better.. No need to ask how I know this been there done that.. I think it's actually cheaper to use vistaprint...JMO

 

Kevin 

[edward]

I just reordered my business cards from vista print, got them the other day. I also hand out my cards, and put them in the bag when people by.  edward

[Clayton717]

I use Vista print for my cards as well. With the deal they were running I just got 500 business cards, 500 loyalty cards and gift certificates I give out once in awhile all for less than $25 including shipping. I couldn't print them myself for that, and the quality of the cards.for the back of my projects I use an address label from Vista print made to look like a smaller version of my business card. Works well and have got several customers this way.