This week we have upgraded our Adobe Creative Suite CS3 to version CS4 which includes brand new versions of photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver and indesign.

There are lots of exciting new features within CS4, especially within photoshop.

Our design team now have even more power at their finger tips to create stunning plastic card designs for our valued customers. Also, the way the CS4 applications work ensure a smoother, faster, sleeker workflow enabling us to either open customers artwork and process it quicker than before or to create a design from scratch.

Over the last few weeks we have been receiving more requests for small quantities of cards (around 100 or so). This is because lots of smaller companies are looking to implement loyalty card schemes to assist them in these difficult financial times to win customers.

Some of the loyalty cards are very simple, and say nothing more than 10% discount when shown at time of purchase. It just goes to show that you don’t necessarily need a barcode or magnetic strip card type system for it to be successful.

We have found an increase in plastic card sales over the last few weeks, despite the current economic climate.

A lot of the current card sales have been for loyalty cards as our customers are hoping to gain more increased customer loyalty in these difficult financial times.

Loyalty cards can reward loyal customers who, at the moment, will be less likely to spend what money they have, with special offers or discounts.

Without a loyalty card incentive the customer, especially within the current economic climate will shop around more for a better deal.

On 1st January 2009 plastic cards (loyalty cards) will assist people in the Manchester Area with weight loss.

Residents who goto keep-fit classes or weight loss clubs or go for a jog in the local park will be eligible to receive rewards.

The rewards will be given as points added to a plastic loyalty card (similar to a plastic video store card or a supermarket loyalty card). The points can then be redeemed against healthy food, sports equipment or sessions in a gym.

If the scheme is successful in Manchester it will be extended across the UK.

Even walking children to the bus stop or train station is awarded with points.

In this present climate of carbon awareness, it is all too easy to overlook the green credentials of the plastic card. It would be easy to consider that plastic as a product degrades slowly and should therefore be avoided, but no, that is not so with plastic cards.

The initial use for the card is to pass on information. A simple messenger fulfils it’s duty as hired, then what? A plastic card will carry it’s message through rain and snow without losing meaning. A plastic card is durable and long lasting. A plastic card impresses when the message is delivered.

Once the initial purpose of a plastic card is done, what next? The possibilities for using discarded plastic cards are endless, only limited by the imagination. As a simple applicator of wall filler, plastic cards are ideal, with their size, smooth edges and flexibility combining to produce an extremely useful tool.

Consideration of further uses for plastic cards will appear later.

Feel free to contribute your own ideas for plastic cards and sticky back plastic tape.

With plastic cards, especially loyalty and membership cards becoming increasing popular, companies are ordering thinner (420 microns thick) plastic cards so their customer can more easily carry them in their wallets.

The thinner plastic cards are just as durable as the thicker 760 or 680 microns thick cards but are around the same thickness as a good quality normal card based business card.

The only downside the the thinner cards is it is not possible to emboss or to add a magnetic strip to the 420 microns thick cards.

Why get loyalty cards printed?

Most of the major retailers in this country operate a loyalty scheme. Typically, this involves the customer signing up for a loyalty card. This is usually done by giving a certain amount of personal information to the retailer in question in exchange for the card.

Having received the loyalty card, the customer can either take advantage of discounted prices on items in the shop or they can build up ‘reward points’ through their spending. When a certain number of reward points have been acquired, they can be exchanged for goods or vouchers.

There are two benefits for retailers. Firstly, it encourages the customer to return to their shop in search of discounts or reward points. Secondly, the data recorded through the use of the card can give an insight into customer buying habits, telling the retailer what products are popular with what customers.

You might think that these loyalty card schemes are limited to major retailers, but that’s not the case. Loyalty card printing is available for everyone. Cards can be made in relatively small numbers with signature panels and account numbers on them. They can also be produced with magnetic strips for use with swipe card readers or even with bar codes.

If you feel your business could benefit from a loyalty card scheme, get some printed today.

Dazzle prospective customers with Gold foiled plastic cards. Metallic Gold foil shines with style that no other printing process can match. In the present economic climate you need extra help to stand out from the crowd. When you attend that breakfast meeting and hand out your lavishly crafted plastic card who could fail to be impressed. You won’t just stand out from the crowd, you will tower head and shoulders above it. The exceptionally high quality of your plastic card will reflect the quality of your own product or service, drawing customers towards you like ball bearings to a neomydium magnet.

Contact us today and let us help you to succeed where others are falling to make the right impression. We can suggest combinations of plastic card and printed foil which best reflects your business and which will undoubtedly help you to be remembered.

Browse our website for an insight into how effective Gold foiled plastic cards appear.

Why get plastic business cards?

Business cards are often exchanged during meetings or trade shows. They are a means of easily passing on business information, such as the person’s role, the company they work for and any contact information.

Having spoken to the person in question, the receiver of the business card has an address, a phone number or an email address if they do decide to follow up on anything that may have come up during conversation.

While you are a representative of your company, the business card effectively represents you. If you have a cheap, thin, cardboard business card that falls apart, this will he how you are remembered – if you’re remembered at all. However, if you have a professionally made, personalised plastic business card, you can maintain the good impression you’ve hopefully made in person.

You can get full colour plastic business cards in a gloss or matt finish. These cards will have rounded corners and are available in a variety of thicknesses, from credit card thickness down to a lighter, flexible thickness, which is slightly cheaper. You can also get cards with a satin black background or with a metallic look. Finally, there are frosted plastic business cards, which are semi-transparent.