November 2012

With tough economic times affecting the way that people are choosing to spend their money could plastic loyalty cards benefit your business?

Plastic loyalty cards are becoming increasingly popular with reports that the majority of people belong to at least one loyalty scheme and many belonging to more than one. If you are wondering whether or not plastic loyalty cards could benefit your business then read on to find out more.

There has been an increase in use of plastic loyalty cards since the recession has deepened and people have been facing tougher financial times; some reports have suggested that up to 90% of people now make use of loyalty cards. When money is tight consumers have to look for ways to be economical, and taking advantage of the benefits that come with a plastic loyalty card is one way of being frugal.

One of the most popular reasons for people to repeat their custom somewhere is because the company offers personalised rewards. Plastic loyalty cards can be used as an excellent data collection tool when it comes to what products are being purchased, allowing you to offer personalised rewards. These link into the sentiment of the previous point insofar as they allow consumers to shop more frugally; therefore customers may well link plastic loyalty cards to shopping prudently.

There has been research which indicates that consumers are more likely to recommend a company if they have a loyalty card. One reason for this could be that a plastic loyalty card is likely to be a permanent feature in a customer’s purse or wallet reminding them of the value and service that they receive from you.

A plastic loyalty card is long lasting which could help to reinforce the importance that you as a company place on your most loyal customers. On a more practical note, a plastic loyalty card will last a long time meaning that if a customer accidentally puts it in the washing machine it won’t be destroyed; this might sound like a small fact to consider but it makes your card that bit more convenient for your customers.

So if you’re looking for a new incentive to encourage repeat custom from consumers then plastic loyalty cards could be the perfect solution.

Exploring the history of the plastic Identity card in Great Britain.

Here at Company Cards we sell a large range of plastic cards tailored to meet the needs of any business; small or large. We also sell plastic ID cards and in this article we are exploring the history of the plastic ID card in Great Britain.

The identity card dates back to the 1930’s during World War Two. It was at this time, between the years 1939 to 1952, that people were required by law to carry proof of identity. If someone was found not to have proof of identity on them, then they had two days to produce it at the local police station. Initially they were introduced as a security measure but soon proved useful during food rationing.

This law came to an end following a case involving a Clarence Henry Willcock. He refused to show proof of identity after a motor offence and appealed against his conviction on the grounds that the law was passed for security reasons and as the war was over it was no longer being used for those purposes. That was the end (for the time being) of the obligatory identity card in Great Britain.

The ID card has increased in popularity since 1952 and the function of the ID card has also diversified. Throughout the European Union, 11 nations have some form of identity card, even if they are not compulsory. It is increasingly the case that 18 year olds want to own an identity card as proof of age, especially considering the recent requirement for bar staff and store workers to request ID of anyone who looks below the age of 25. In France, 90% of the population carries an identity card.

The ID card, of course, looks very different today and now comes in the form of a plastic ID card. Here, security functions can be implemented such as a barcode and magnetic strip and the latest digital technology to help store and transfer a wealth of data.

Plastic Gift Cards are ideal for shoppers and retailers alike – read on to find out why.

It’s the same every Christmas; there is always one family member or friend who is difficult to buy for: you spend inordinate amounts of time hunting for the perfect gift which will either be returned to the store for credit or sneakily recycled and passed on to someone else next Christmas! With this in mind, retailers across the UK are now stocking up on plastic gift cards, ready for the Christmas shopping rush.

With plastic gift cards not only does the receiver have the freedom to select their own gift but the consumer is relieved from hours of searching the High Street for that perfect gift. This is the reason why they are the most popular gift item sold across the world to date.

Not only do people love plastic gift cards but retails love them too. According to recent reports an estimated 25% of gift cards go un-redeemed for at least 12 months following their purchase and at least 7% do not get used at all. All these unused gifts represent free money to the retailers which sell them!

Although it may seem like gift cards have only really been around for the past few years, the history of the gift card, or gift voucher as they were originally known, goes back to the early 1930s. The paper based gift certificates were created by a number of large department stores and were initially very rare to come across. Over the years the gift certificates became more popular with brands such as Boots adopting the idea and launching their version of the gift voucher in 1936.

As the gift card market developed traditional gift certificates were replaced with plastic alternatives, enabling transaction of funds electronically. Mobil Oil were the first company to produce a plastic gift card with a magnetic stripe in 1995 quick followed by Blockbuster the same year who were the first retailer to openly display their plastic gift cards on their store counters for shoppers to buy.

Now the plastic gift card is the most purchased gift item worldwide with racks of different types of gift cards to be seen in supermarkets across the country.

At Company Cards we have worked with many types of companies assisting them with their plastic Gift Card requirements. The most popular form of gift cards may have a barcode or magnetic strip, which is read by an electronic credit card machine. In the majority of cases, they hold no monetary value until the point they are sold, at which time the cashier enters the amount which the customer wishes to put on the card. This amount is usually recorded on the store’s database as opposed to on the plastic card itself.

No longer is this type of product only available for the big brand names. Here at Company Cards we offer a short run solution for smaller companies wishing to offer their clients gift card solutions. With plastic card orders as small as 100 units every company can now reap he benefits that plastic gift cards have to offer.

Business cards are ubiquitous but there always room for improvement – Company Cards discuss plastic business cards.

Every business needs them and every professional carries a handful with them at all times – company business cards!

Regardless of the type of business or organisation that you are involved in, you will have a need for a business card. Take a moment to think about what your business card says about your company? Usually this is the first piece of branded material which you hand over to a new contact, does it give them the impression that you want it to?

Plastic business cards are becoming more and more popular. The quality of material and resemblance to a plastic credit card gives the card a sense of value. At Company Cards we supply a number of plastic business cards options in various weights and finishes – from a full colour standard glossy plastic card to a silk-finish frosted plastic business card. With a plastic card, you can guarantee durability and quality.

Naturally at Company Cards we have been using plastic for our own business cards since the company began and the feedback we receive when presenting our plastic business cards is always positive.

Over the years we have incorporated other features on to our business cards including an annual calendar printed on the reverse, a list of products and services which we provide and a profile photograph. Recently we all really embarrassed ourselves by having one of our own baby photographs printed on our cards (glad we don’t do that anymore)! Although some of these ideas are a little quirky, they invariably prompt a reaction when you hand them over. This is invaluable for occasions such as trade fairs when your new contacts will meet new people and exchange business cards with many times during the day.

Our plastic business cards can also be produced with a Braille option, QR code which links to your company website or can even be cut to a bespoke shape.

Browse our website today to find the right solution for you and get in touch to discuss our fantastic offers.

Plastic ID cards can incorporate extra benefits such as Braille for the blind and partially sighted – Company Cards takes a look at how they can help.

Since investing in the technology to offer a Braille option with our plastic cards several years ago, here at Company Cards we have seen more and more organisations now incorporating Braille on to our plastic cards, particularly plastic id cards.

Braille is a writing system used by the blind and the visually impaired which was created by Louis Braille in 1824. It can be found in books and, more commonly in the modern world, on signs, menus, elevator buttons; indeed anywhere that public information is shared. It has proven to be an invaluable tool of learning and communication for the blind and a key factor in equal opportunities.

Braille characters are small rectangular blocks called cells that contain tiny palpable bumps called raised dots. The number and arrangement of these dots distinguish one character from another.

Company Cards began to offer Braille services several years ago after a surge of companies requested this as a feature on plastic cards. We found that a number of organisations which require representatives to visit people within their homes were seeking to incorporate Braille on their plastic id cards; in this way, when making home visits, they could confirm their identify to reassure those that they are visiting of their authenticity.

Other Braille incorporating plastic cards that Company Cards have produced include plastic information cards and plastic business cards. If you have a requirement for Braille or plastic id cards, please contact our sales team on 01744 815475 to discuss further.