In this digital era, it is all too easy for companies to underestimate the impact that a well-designed stationery set can have on their clientele. Printed stationery is an important advertising tool that can project your company’s image in a positive light.

Giving the right impression

Put yourself in the customer’s shoes. If you’re handed a cheap looking business card or receive a poorly designed letter through the door, chances are you will be left with a negative opinion of that business and question whether you can trust them or not.

Customers need to be able to make a clear connection between your brand and the validity of the communication you’ve sent them. With each printed material the design should stay consistent throughout, using the same colours, fonts and approach that is used in your branding.

Using premium paper stocks, that are professionally printed, can highlight your stationery as coming from a credible company. There are also different printing techniques that can be used which can add extra interest to your finished product.

Some examples of these are:

Spot UV – A creative way to add depth and contrast through varying levels of sheen and texture.

Foil stamping – Foil stamping uses foil rather than ink to create coloured designs on stationery. Foil is transferred onto the paper or card using a die that presses the foil into the design with the help of heat and pressure.

Letterpress – The process involves using moulds of letters and designs along with ink to press the designs into thick paper, leaving the paper indented.

So what business stationery do you need?

Of course, needs may vary from business to business, but here are some of the most common categories for essential business stationery

  • Letterheads
    A letterhead, or letterheaded paper, is the heading at the top of a sheet of letter paper. That heading usually consists of a name and an address, and a logo or corporate design, and sometimes a background pattern. In addition to a strong design, there are some things you need to include by law. These differ depending on your type of business. The general list of requirements are as follows:
    1. The name of your company.
    2. The location where your company is registered.
    3. The company registration number.
    4. The registered address.
    5. The address of any other company location unless it is living accommodation.
    For a full breakdown of what you need to include click here 

 

  • Envelopes
    Creating a strong branded envelope can really make an impact when it lands on a customer’s doorstep. Not only does it show professionalism but it stands out amongst other generic mailings.

 

  • Compliment slips
    A compliment slip is a small piece of paper on which a company’s name, address, and logo are printed and which is sent out with goods or information, typically in place of a covering letter. Compliment slips give the opportunity for a genuine connection between you and a client, as they allow you the space to add a handwritten note

 

  • Business cards
    There are a couple of ‘standard’ sizes for business cards, with one of the most popular being 55 x 85mm. Our main advice when it comes to designing business cards is to keep them simple. Usually this consists of the company logo on the front and the key information on the back – typically a name, phone number, email, web address and social handles. Most business cards are printed on card stock as this is the most cost-effective. If you’re willing to get a little more creative, you can print onto all sorts of different materials including transparent plastics, metals or even wood. Think carefully about the quantities you’re likely to use before any of your business details change – such as your address or telephone number. We can organise printing as little as 50x units, however a more standard and sometimes cost effective quantity is 250-500x or 500x plus. Printing larger volumes is cheaper – but you don’t want to be left with old stock with outdated information.

 

  • Other
    Corporate stationery does not start and finish with letterheads and business cards, but covers plenty of other products that can play a role in setting the right tone for your business. These can range from notepads, pens, USB sticks, labels, stickers, cards, diaries, calendars, highlighter pens, postcards…the list is endless. There’s no need to go crazy and buy lots of business stationary you won’t use, instead be selective and choose the right stationery for your marketing purpose.

 

Whether your just starting out in your business or it has been going a while, business stationery is something you are going to need at your disposal as a marketing asset to build your brand. Taking the time to get it looking right is sure to benefit you greatly in the long run.