What to do with business cards?

[hipposdream]

I was wondering… I have a shop called Hippo’s Dream and of course I have nice business cards that fit my brand… my big hippo that is shouting Hippo’s Dream.
I include a card with every order.

But I am also a buyer on Etsy and I also receive lots of business cards.
To be honest most of the time I throw them away, I rarely keep them (only when I truly like the shop or the card).

So I was wondering… what are customers doing with my cards?

Did you ever wonder or ….what you do with them in case you are a buyer?

Curious to hear….

[PotteryLodge]

If I really like the shop I will keep their card on my desk for a while, especially if the seller included a coupon code on them.

Honestly regardless of what happens to my business card I would still send one. Business cards look professional and add something extra to the packaging in my opinion.

[Former_Member]

I agree with Casi -- still include one. It's a part of your packaging and your branding and it leaves an impression, even if the card isn't kept.

I actually do hold on to every business card I get.

[Former_Member]

I always include 2 business cards with my products - 1 for the buyer and 1 for a friend. Because if their friend admires something I made and wonders where the buyer got it, they have an extra business card.

[Former_Member]

I would go to my computer trail to re-buy from a seller I like.

As a seller, I usually write a nice thank you note with my URL. Folks really seem to like that, but I don't know if brings in new sales.

[1AEON]

I always send one with every time sold:)

[hipposdream]

Thanks... maybe it is a good idea to include 2 cards... who else does this ?

[Former_Member]

I keep all cards I receive, I'm kind of obsessed with collecting business cards to be honest, I have over 700 last I counted! But I do have two different places I put them - ones because I really like the business, and ones I just keep to look at once in a while. I have forgotten to send business cards before, and actually received an email asking if I could mail some cards so she could share with her friends. ALWAYS include a card. You never know if they are keeping or sharing it! Right now I only include one, but I only have about 50 cards left, and haven't designed new ones yet. Normally I send 2 or 3! My word of mouth referral is pretty high so I would attribute it to that!

[Former_Member]

I don't tend to keep them unless I really liked the item. Most of the time I have them favorited and follow on FB, etc. so I remember who they are.

I always send 2 business cards, even if they are a repeat customer. I figure if they are repeats, they can give the cards to friends. I have had friends ask me for extras because their sister, friend, etc. wants to check out the shop.

[Former_Member]

I always send at least one business card with my order. I've considered making magnets and including those with the orders. I know I'm guilty of slapping random magnets on my fridge just because someone sent/gave it to me. And they usually stay there FOREVER! :)

[Former_Member]

I include one with a discount code on the back for future purchases

[rhodyart]

It depends on the seller. If it's a shop I know I'll want to visit again, I have a box where I keep business cards and other information that I can refer to. Otherwise it does go in the circular file

I do also use my business cards to put discount codes on

[EleanorsVintage]

I include 2 with every order. One gets punched, and serves as a 'gift tag/thank you-note'. The other one the buyer can keep, or give away. I realize most probably get thrown out, but I invested in the recycled paper quality at Vistaprint (they look the same as non-recycled paper), so I don't feel bad about the possible waste.

[ContempoCranes]

I just ordered my first round of business cards. I'm intending to include 2 with every order. I like photography as well so I put nice photos on them hoping that some people will keep it as a bookmark.

[Former_Member]

I used to send several business cards (more than 2) with every order but then I started running low and decided to keep it to two. I agree that they may be thrown away but then again, your buyer cannot save your business card for future reference if you don't send one. It is a pretty inexpensive form of marketing and expanding your brand.

[NakedRatDestash]

I always include 2 business cards when I have a lot so customers can share. Especially for my baby shower items. I stamp thank you on them. I keep all business cards I get when I purchase. I just like my little collection.

[PrairiePrimitives]

I include a business card as well as one of my "Made in the U.S.A." cards (see my shop!) with every order. I hope the customer keeps them around, especially my business card, but it's not a huge expense ... so whatever!

As for keeping business cards I receive or not, it depends on what the item is, whether I think I may be ordering anything else from the same shop/seller in the future, and how cute or charming the card is (if it's a work of art in its own right, I'm much more likely to keep it!).

[StuckOnSilver]

I include a business card with a handwritten note of thanks when I ship an item. I generally don't keep business cards unless they have a discount code on them!

[RadicalWorks]

I put two cards in each package, and I have two sets of cards on either side of my table at shows/conventions. It doesn't matter what they do with them, but it's hopeful that they're out there! :D

[Former_Member]

i always include 1 card and a handwritten thank you note. i think i kept most of the business cards from the shop i ordered from but then i have ordered something maybe 10 times

[Former_Member]

I keep cards from everyone! My rolodex goes back to the early '80s - well before the advent of computer retail .

As for having an 'electronic trail' to track down a purchase, that's fine if you carry a smart phone or have access and can remember which online site you've purchased from.

But for me, its much easier to check out the rolodex.

Besides, many people will ask where I got xxxx and I can always give them the card.

[CSavelsCollectibles]

That's a very good question. Honestly, I end up throwing mine away because I don't have anywhere to store them. I think if they were magnets, I may stick them on the fridge or the radiator in my office. Maybe that's a way to get people to keep your card handy, make it into a magnet.

[hipposdream]

I have magnets now and I will try to include them in the package.
But there are flabby magnets so I am a bit worried that people will not recognize it as a magnet and throw it away.

[Former_Member]

I include a business card with every shipment, along with a coupon for 15% their next order. i hope people at least save the coupon. But I kind of doubt it , because I think about 5 people have used it in 2 years. Honestly, I don't always keep my cards either, unless its another I meet in person at a craft fair, that I might want to network with in the future. I toss them, knowing if I want to come back to their shop I can find them online.
However, if I got sent a coupon that never expired, I would definitely keep it, especially if it was from a shop I liked. I'm thinking about condensing my business cards with the coupon. OR, perhaps using a stamp, and stamping the back of my business card with the coupon code and a message. For environmental factors. People respect that alot too.
In fact before I sent coupons separately, I just stamped them into the thank you card. But no body ever used it. So, maybe I will, like I said above use the stamp on my business card.
These day everyone is so technologically reliant that when I'm looking for the shop i last bought something from, the last thing I want to do is go digging through my junk drawer for their coupon/or card. So thankfully, ebay and etsy save everything.
Also Recently I started offering 20% off coupons to people that come back and leave me positive feedback. Because, I know, from personal experience, i can be lazy about doing it, but having an incentive makes it worth while. So, actually of all the coupons I have given out, that one is the most popular, and it reminds people to come back and leave me feedback.

Also, I hand my cards out regularly to people I meet on the streets that like my jewelry, or bring them to craft shows.

[HartfordAvenueQuilts]

I usually send a business card with an order and write a big Thank You! on it.
I haven't bought too much from Etsy yet. I do shows as well, and I've been using my business cards as price tags. I punch a hole on the edge, run a skinny strip of fabric thru it, tie it off, and pin it to the quilt. Of course I write the item name, price and measurements on the back. I don't know what people do with them when they get home, but at least they know who they just bought from!