Top
tips for designing cards
You
may find this unusual but your first consideration should
be the envelope.
Envelopes:
First choose an envelope size, It's amazing how many people
design or make a range or greeting cards then try to find
an envelope to fit, the only option will be to have them
especially made at significant cost plus of course they
will also require bespoke poly bags!
These
are the standard and most common off the shelve envelope
sizes;
| C5 |
162
x 229 |
 |
| C6 |
114
mm x 162 mm |
6
x 4 Card blank |
|
133
mm x 184 mm |
7
x 5 Card blank |
|
125
mm x 175 mm |
|
|
130
mm x 130 mm |
5
x 5 Card blank |
|
155
mm 155 mm |
6
x 6 Card blank |
| DL
|
110
mm x 220 mm |
|
Types
of envelope:
Banker has diamond shaped flap.
Straight wallet type has straight flap on the long side
Pocket envelope has the flap on the short side.
Be careful
of metallic and dark envelopes as these can be difficult
to write on, metallic envelopes also crease more easily
and are not so robust, a day or two in the postal system
and they can look very sorry for themselves.
Choose an envelope that matches your card blank.
Poly bags, also called cello bags or cello wraps:
If you've chosen an envelope size from above you'll have
no problem getting a good quality Poly bag to fit, Orientated
Polypropylene is the material used to produce the bags and
is now widely used in the greeting card industry, it's crisp,
clear and adds value perception to the product.
Cello
bags is a misused term, cellophane is normally used for
wrapping food and other such products where high quality
and clarity is not essential.
Choosing
your card blank:
Choose
a colour that shows off your design, the most popular is
cream or white, deckle edge looks good and adds value to
the card, choose a card of at least 260 GSM, any less will
look cheap and feel flimsy, a textured finish also adds
to the feel quality and increases value perception.
Try
to stay away from dark colours or you will need an insert
adding to the overall cost.
Don't
forget, spending a few pence more for good quality card
blanks is a good investment adding more profit to the end
product.
Positioning
your design:
As most
cards are displayed in display racks it's important that
your card is not too small, 6x4 is the minimum you should
consider..
Try
to position your design more towards the upper half of the
card, when greetings cards are in racks this is the part
of the card a browsing customer will notice.
If you
have a greeting or occasion position this near the top also.
Obviously
this does not apply if your cards will be displayed in a
spinner.
Add
a label:
Always
add a label or include your logo and contact details on
the rear of your card, not the poly bag, you'll be surprised
how many people phone saying 'I've got one of your cards
here and would like to stock them in my shop'!
Occasions:
When
designing to sell stick with the major occasions and target
your sales.
Major occasions in order of market share:
| Birthdays
|
60% |
| Anniversary |
8% |
| Get
Well |
7% |
| Friendship
|
6% |
| Sympathy |
6% |
If
you stick to these basic guidelines you should have few
problems making and selling your cards.
Copyright
©
kookykards
2002
|
