Networking Now

OK, this is one i feel strongly about :) I feel a poll coming on!

Personally i use a local; national coverage print house who offer 3 grades of business card and I choose depending on the application, for my business cards I always opt for the Laminated Business Cards, good quality and proffessional in appearance yet without the price tag £45 double sided ex vat & del for 500

I would stretch to the expense of the more durable and bespoke Plastic and metal but only for a specific reason.

After all how many of us look to add a little note or a quick quote on the reverse of a business card, I know i do.

For example sake I am looking to launch an Engineering Website in the next few months, and the Metal Business Cards would appeal for this application but other wise no unless my name is richard branson and have money to Throw away (Fly into space with).

I use a company in Germany at the moment to do my cards, will need to find a new supplier when I come back to blighty next year. The front contains the usual info with some white space to write on and the back is laminated with my company logo and strap line on it. I did this because if like me you have one of those dodgy card holders with the see through pockets the logo shines through nicely.

I design my own cards and have an excellent print contact up the road for me who produces fantastic work on same day turnaround. Just got myself some beautiful die cut ones to match my logo for very special occassions and they are too shiny for words!

haha excellent!

I am lucky to have a close relationship with my printers too, the first job they did for they ballsed up, on telling them, I was in the back with them sleeves up and solving the issue, never have i had such good service!

Its now an extension of our office, I doubt another printer will ever drag me away from such a great outfit, on the things they cannot do, I reluctantly use other sources.

Thankfully.

A small artwork studio is a necssary requirement for Digital Stationery. We don't print by the way...conflict of interests. We also don't do business card design.

My advice is get good artwork and use a good print supplier. I can say, if you are using print...make sure it's good design on good quality stock.

Nothing worse than a poor image on the wrong size piece of card. Use the back also.

Question is, Should you go to a print company? Or a design company? Pro's and Con's

We used (and still use) GoodPrint, who despite being pretty cheap, produced a really good quality product - I got a local quote, but sadly it was so much higher that it would have been really silly to use them, as much as I like to support local business!

They were designed by my shadow (some of you will know who I mean!), who despite working with us is technically an external resource - and very good at what he does.

They're semi-fancy - laminated on the printed side. The back is kept blank deliberately so that it can be written on - leaving a pertinent note to the person it is being given to, or for them to jot something down on themselves.

Question is, Should you go to a print company? Or a design company? Pro's and Con's[/quote]

As ever, I think the answer is all about people and relationships. Kip has hit the nail on the head - having built a strong bond with his existing supplier, now knows he can rely on his printer to meet his requirements.

Whether your source is a printer or a designer - as long as you make sure they're solid - and will deal with any problems that may arise - you're off to a good start.

Try 'What happens if anything goes wrong with my order?' when you're dealing with print. If anyone tells you nothing can go wrong with their company - move on and find someones else. Anyone worth his salt will explain what procedures he has in place to rectify things.

Just my two pence worth.

Now that's a truely honest answer...

MichaelG wrote:Try 'What happens if anything goes wrong with my order?' when you're dealing with print. If anyone tells you nothing can go wrong with their company - move on and find someones else. Anyone worth his salt will explain what procedures he has in place to rectify things.

Just my two pence worth.

Worth far more than tuppence, though!

Anyone who denies that they ever get things wrong has obviously not done many things! ;)