The Business Card has long been the traditional way to exchange contact information in the business world. They date back as far as the 15th Century in China and first made their way to England, via Europe, around the 17th Century. These ‘trade cards’ usually contained directions to the locations of merchants. A more social calling card or ‘visiting card’ was introduced around the same time and a strict code of etiquette was used when exchanging these cards. As time has gone on, the Business card has gone from strength to strength whereas the visiting card has gradually faded into obscurity.
Nowadays there are several ways to get yourself kitted out with a shiny new set of Business Cards: For starters, you can design them yourself at home. This easy to use DECAdry business card software lets you pick from a range of templates or, if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, create your own and either print them out or send them via the internet. We also give you the opportunity to design your own Business card on our website. Again, there are plenty of templates to choose from or you can upload your own image or company logo if you’d prefer. Once designed, submitted and paid for, your cards will be with you within 3-5 days in the standard 85x55 size printed on high quality 350gsm silk card which is guaranteed to have come from sustainable sources.
Now that you’ve got your cards and have started building a collection of other peoples, you’ll need somewhere to keep them.
We sell a huge range of Business card Holders from acrylic stands to books and binders. My personal recommendation would be to get yourself a Rotadex desktop card holder. They have a variety of sizes, all have A-Z index's so your cards are easy to find. The one pictured hold up to 200 cards, others will hold 500 cards.
There are a few rules and regulations that it’s worth knowing when it comes to exchanging Business cards. This varies from country to country but there is a standard code of etiquette that is handy to know. Here are a few pointers:
• Always make sure that your Business Cards are in pristine condition and aren’t creased or dog-eared.
• Make sure you present your card face up so the recipient is able to read it without turning it over.
• Never write on a Business Card you’ve received without the permission of the recipient.
• Always take a moment to study a Business Card that you have received before putting it away.
• Finally, never, under any circumstances exchange your Business Card with this man!
