January 2013

A new way to tackle under-age, drinking due to using other peoples identity.

From February 8th the new type of plastic ID card which has been describe as the answer to an ongoing problem will be launched and rolled out in London. The new type of plastic card which costs £30 will provide a convenient way for people to prove identity and age. Over the last 3 years a sharp increase in both lost and stolen passports belong to people under the age of 30 due to people using them on a night out.

This is all related to the national clampdown on under-age drinking, the new plastic ID card is deemed to be the new universal proof of age id. The plastic cards will just be like any other card similar size to a driving licence, debt or credit card.

It’s already been mentioned that over 16,000 people have already registered and expressed interest in the new card. From next month to the 30 June you will be able to apply for the new  plastic ID card on the Directgov website. https://idsmart.direct.gov.uk/index.html

With stores having to compete ever harder to retain customers, plastic loyalty cards could help maintain loyalty and increase spending.

With the current fragile economy, consumers are becoming ever more cautious as to how and where they spend their money. They tend to shop around, searching out the best deal. Therefore, it’s important that you try to retain as many loyal customers as you can. A good loyalty scheme could be the best way to keep them shopping in your store.

Customers today are used to carrying around plastic business cards, which offer them rewards in a variety of outlets. Plastic loyalty cards have been around for over 30 years and 88% of customers now own at least one, with 29% having five or more in their purses and wallets. Research has shown that customers feel greater loyalty to a specific brand if they have a loyalty card and this characteristic is more prevalent in the younger generation.

Encouraging Loyalty

Advertising to attract new customers is an expensive proposition. It is considerably cheaper to retain customers and to encourage them to increase their spending. They are more likely to do so if they feel they are being suitably rewarded for their custom. A good loyalty scheme can offer customers rewards or discounts on services and goods, either in store or through partner agencies. If the rewards you offer are strong enough, they could encourage consumers to shop more frequently in order to save up enough points.

Targeted Marketing

The plastic loyalty cards that you hand to your customers can offer you an insight into their purchasing habits, which will improve the effectiveness of marketing spend. As consumers buy goods in your store and save up points on their loyalty cards, you can then see exactly what they’re buying and how often. Once you have built up a picture, you can accurately target your marketing towards the products they actually use. This will encourage them to shop in your store and will make them feel that you understand them and what they’re looking for, increasing their feeling of loyalty towards the store.

Offering your customers plastic loyalty cards is an excellent way of developing long lasting relationships with them. At Company Cards we offer a market-leading plastic card printing service, with a range of styles for different businesses. If you have any questions about our products, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team.

If you want your business to stand out from the crowd then invest in plastic business cards. They offer better value than paper alternatives.

In today’s highly competitive business environment, anything that helps your company stand out from the crowd is worth investing in. At Company Cards, we specialise in plastic business cards that enable you to present a professional and memorable image to potential customers in a better way than traditional paper cards ever could. The initial outlay may be a little higher, but as plastic cards will help increase sales they will be worth the investment.

Increased Durability

Paper cards can often become damaged over time and once they are ripped or torn your contact may simply throw them away. Plastic business cards are extremely durable and stay in perfect condition. They can be sent in the mail, handed out at trade shows or displayed on stands without any detrimental effects. This means that they are more likely to be kept over the longer term and contacts will remember you because of this. Plastic cards are also a good investment for professions where you’re outside for long periods of time, as they won’t become damaged by wet or windy weather.

Something Different

Manufacturing your cards from plastic will set your business apart from the competition and will serve to create a lasting first impression with new customers. There are so many more ways in which you can design your card, enabling you to create something that is truly unique. For example, you can use a frosted effect, have embossed text or utilise them as plastic loyalty cards in addition, incorporating a barcode. Using plastic creates a more professional image. When colours are printed, they tend to appear more vibrant than on traditional card alternatives.

A Perceived Value

Once you hand over your business card to a new client and they see the quality of it they will instantly perceive that you are selling a high quality product. The look and feel of your card will showcase your entire business within a pocket sized piece of plastic. Customers will see that you value them and that you are looking to build long-term relationships with them, all through your business card.

For an innovative range of plastic business cards, please continue to browse through our website. If you require more information on a specific product or have any questions, just click on the contact us page.

Plastic cards have become an essential part of business. They can help to build the brand and develop essential customer relationships.

Plastic loyalty cards are a vital tool that can provide your company with a variety of important benefits. Indeed, tailor made plastic loyalty cards are proving to be increasingly popular and are now used by many different types of businesses. These cards are ideal for helping you to win new customers, retain their business and promote your services and products.

One of their greatest benefits is in allowing you to collect important information about your customers such as the types of products they have bought, how much they spend and how often they buy from you. This vital marketing information is easily obtained using data storage loyalty cards.

In addition to loyalty cards, there are a range of other plastic cards. Photo identification cards are ideal for staff or contractors and help in running a more secure business, as can access control cards. These plastic cards can be swiped to allow access to buildings or car parks, for example. They can also help to restrict access within the confines of a building, controlling entry to locations with expensive equipment or hazardous substances.

Event passes can be made in distinctive sizes and shapes, helping to reinforce the image you are projecting whilst giving guests a feeling of exclusivity.

If you want to demonstrate your green credentials and impress eco aware customers, it is possible to produce a biodegradable card that will break down harmlessly but is still tough enough for the job and made to the highest quality.

Plastic gift cards are increasingly replacing the paper versions. They fit neatly into a wallet or purse and come in a range of styles to suit individual businesses.

All of the various card types can be customised to address specific requirements. Experienced graphic designers, press operators and technical advisers can provide a complete service from design right through to production. At Company cards, we also provide a fulfilment service wherein we can post your plastic cards directly out to your customers attached to a personalised letter, or insert the cards into a brochure.

To view the full range of plastic card options why not explore the site? We’re confident you’ll be surprised as to the variety of options available in helping your business reach, retain and impress its customers.

What makes a loyalty programme a success?

Companies and organisations across the world are adopting loyalty schemes to sustain customer loyalty. We ask ourselves what makes some loyalty programmes successful while others never seem to get off the ground? If you are looking to implement a loyalty scheme this year then take some time to consider the following:

1. Firstly, don’t overcomplicate subscription to your loyalty programme. The sign up process should be quick and simple. All you really need are the basic details for signing up a new member to your loyalty programme; name and postal address, email address, date of birth and an option for them to disclose how they came to hear about your loyalty programme. If you are looking for responses to a more detailed questionnaire this can be done at a later time and will make a perfect reason for you to contact your client to see what feedback they have on your loyalty scheme.

2. Give the client real benefits to being part of your loyalty programme! If the purpose of your programme is simply to capture data then it will never be the success that you wish it to. For a client to truly value your brand and loyalty scheme there needs to be a benefit to taking part, perhaps previews to exclusive or new products, collection of points which can be converted into pounds, monthly prize draws etc. Listen to your clients and see what benefits they truly appreciate.

3. Provide your clients with a plastic loyalty cards. There are many types of plastic loyalty cards available from simple colour print cards to plastic cards with additional features such as barcode or magnetic stripes for use in collecting points and data capture. Plastic loyalty cards will be retained by your clients and presented when they wish to action their loyalty benefits, such as collecting points during a purchase etc.

4. Monitor your loyalty programme and the response that you get to promotions or marketing exercises. Don’t do the same old thing because ‘that’s what you have always done’. If something is not providing the return on investments that you require try something new.

5. Don’t sit on the customer data that you have collected. Keep it up to date, analyse it and use it to your advantage. Many successful loyalty programmes sustain customer loyalty my implementing email or postal newsletters, posting seasonal vouchers with extra discounts or even a birthday or Christmas card. With each of these marketing ideas you are once again reminding the client of your brand and all the benefits that come with been a member of your Loyalty Programme.

6. Keep it personal! When possible personalise all your marketing material with the clients’ name. Email marketing is far more successful when the receiver is personally addressed in the email, this helps to distinguish your mail from unwanted spam.
It’s also a good idea to have the clients name on their plastic loyalty card. This gives the client a sense of ownership and creates extra value with their mind. Plastic cards can be personalised with a printed name or number or could even be embossed like a traditional bank card.

7. Update your plastic loyalty cards each year, a change of colour or design of your plastic card keeps your brand fresh and is once again another opportunity for you to make contact with your clients.

Company Cards have been producing plastic loyalty cards for a number of years and we have seen the hard work that our clients put into making their programme succeed. A successful loyalty programme takes time, patience and hard work, however, when well executed can see great returns on investment.

New Access Control modernizes onsite security.

Over the past 12 months Company Cards have seen a steady increase within the number of Security and Access Control passes that we have been producing on behalf of our clients. These include plastic photo ID cards, magnetic swipe cards and RFID cards. We have also been involved in manufacturing access passes for a number of high profile events. We therefore made the decision to modernize our onsite security by installing a top of the range RFID Access Control system. The new Paxton Access system prevents any none staff member from freely entering the premises, ensuring both the security and confidentiality of our work and the safety of our workforce in general.

Each staff member has been equipped with their own personalised plastic RFID card which they are to keep with them at all times for access in and out of the premises. The plastic cards are each uniquely encoded which enables us to monitor who is in the building at any one time.

This additional security feature will prove a great benefit for both Company Cards and our clients and complies with the ISO 27001 certification (Information and Security Management) which Company Cards has held now for several years.

Plastic loyalty cards are a great way to start a loyalty scheme this New Year.