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Behind every meeting, brilliant idea or project, there's a silent accomplice you might take for granted. It doesn't have a LinkedIn profile or demand a corner office, but without it, chaos ensues. It relies not on artificial intelligence or power sources, and it doesn’t need coffee despite being on hand around the clock. That hero? Business stationery.
Stationery: commercially manufactured writing materials, including cut paper, envelopes, writing implements, continuous-form paper, and other office supplies.
Back in the Middle Ages, "stationery" wasn’t about fancy pens and notebooks. It was the catch-all term for anything you could buy from a "stationer" – a bookseller with a brick-and-mortar shop, usually found near a seat of learning. These guys were the OGs of the book trade. Stationers were more than just booksellers, though. Their shops were hubs where books were bound, copied, and even published. They were like the local libraries, loaning out books section by section to eager students who couldn't afford to buy the whole thing.
Eventually, as a sideline, these stationers began creating and importing useful materials that could assist all folk in a seat of learning. Fast forward a couple of centuries and you have what is now a multi-million-pound market in all manner of office-based assistive products, or office stationery as we know it today.
But for this article, we want to focus solely on some of the options available to you that will make your business cards, letterheads, compliment slips and more be at their absolute best and why you should invest more money and time toward creating business stationery that grabs attention. So, what would a complete suite of business stationery look like? Let’s get down to business…
Business Cards
Business cards are without doubt one of the most important personalized stationery items that any individual or company can possess. Acting as a first impression, it presents your brand and contains all the information a potential client would need. We’ve highlighted just how important business cards are in other articles, but suffice to say, a business card needs some very careful consideration for materials used and the design intended.
From independent artists, charity workers, salespeople or practically anyone who needs to advertise themselves or a service they offer, a business card is vital.
Letterheads
Second in line is the addition of letterheads to your arsenal. Again, the quality of the paper that you choose is every bit as important as the branding. Your letterhead paper is a home for all your correspondence internally and externally, so again, it’s vital that it offers the best first impression. The simple texture and thickness of your complement slips can say a lot about your business.
Careful consideration must be paid to the design of your letterhead to get the right balance for spacing of your design whilst leaving a clear area for your correspondence. Letterheads are a must for any established business and a huge bonus for anyone who wants to reinforce their branding via any written communication, which is never a bad thing right?
Continuation Sheets
The continuation sheet is the most professional way to follow your letterhead. Rather than using a header-based design, a continuation sheet employs a footer, which signifies a clear end to the page. It’s good practice to ensure that your continuation sheets meet the quality of your letterhead, this just goes to prove how consistent your communications are which is a subconscious positive on the recipient.
You can play a little with texture here as well, for instance, you can use a textured letterhead and then smooth continuation sheets, this gives your correspondence a ‘book-like’ feel to it.
Complement Slips
The humble compliment slip, often adorned with a company logo and the literal words "With Compliments," is a charming way to add a personal touch to otherwise formal correspondence. Whether you're thanking a client for their business, congratulating a colleague on a promotion, or just wishing someone well, a with compliments slip is the perfect canvas for a brief, personal message.
Every time someone sees your logo on a compliment slip, it reinforces your company's image in their mind. So, ditch the emojis and auto-signatures for a moment, and give the tried and tested method of pen and paper a go. Your intended will appreciate the gesture, and you might make their day a little brighter along the way.
Envelopes
Ever received a bog-standard white envelope with nothing on it but your name and address? Instantly forgettable and sometimes not even opened. Left to rot behind the biscuit tin with all the other junk mail. Well, using custom envelopes with a bit of branded personality can make them much more appealing to the recipients. If you’re sending out promotions, offer up a bit of personality, something that will make the recipient want to open it.
Envelopes are vital to just about anybody who needs to send out written correspondence, the humble envelope is more than just a vessel, it can be an extension of your branding, and it also plays an important part in keeping information hidden from the world until it’s received, quite the stationery hero.
Desk Pads
A custom printed desk pad can be a great gift to your customers and acts as a reminder of your business. Every time a note is made on your pad, there’s a glimpse of your branding and contact details. So apart from being a great gift, the desk pad (or notepad) acts as a mini billboard for your business on the desktop of your clients. You could of course add some extra garnish by creating a matching pen.
You have choices here depending on your style or budget, there are the standard desk pads that really serve the purpose, but if you want to go for something with a bit more character, you could look into wire bound notebooks which generally last longer.
Legal Corners
Let's face it, paperwork isn't the most thrilling thing in the world. But it's a necessary evil in the legal business and many others. That's when a customized legal corner comes in, adding a touch of pizzazz and professionalism to your otherwise bland documents. It’s a great way to keep busy paperwork structured and in the right order.
let's not forget the branding opportunities! Legal corners are the perfect canvas for your logo, adding a subtle touch of marketing to every document that leaves your office. It's like having a small space for your brand, without being too in-your-face.
Business Stickers
Stickers are another quirky way in which you can pop your brand onto just about anything! They can add color and character onto whatever you choose, whilst serving as a reminder of you and your services. Plain packaging can be transformed solely by using an imaginative sticker. It’s also a great way for you to keep costs down on your packaging.
If you really want to grab some attention, you could use our awesome foil logo printed stickers to add some sparkle.
Corporate Greeting Cards
Finally, taking the compliments slip to new levels, a corporate greeting card can be used to convey a personal message of thanks to a company or sole recipient. Not just for Christmas, these cards can be used for saying thank you for custom, offering a discount on a purchase or any other personal message you wish to convey.
Paper & Finishes Part 1: Choosing the Perfect Combination
Have you ever considered that your choice of paper could speak volumes about your company, even before a single word is read? It's true. The quality of a business card, the subtle texture of a letterhead – these details leave a lasting impression, subconsciously influencing how people perceive your brand. That's why we at Aura Print have curated a diverse range of paper stocks, each designed to complement your communications and reinforce the unique identity of your business.
For some time now, stationery has been treated a bit… well… clinical. I guess you might say it’s been denied of luxury and been brandished with the bland. This is a huge mistake if you want to stand out.
Paper & Finishes Part 2: Deep Dive into Our Paper Stocks
We’re hugely proud to say that we offer some of the best quality, sustainable paper stocks available, and whilst you need to feel them to really get a sense of the quality, we can give you a sense of the different characteristics you will get from our available stocks for business stationery.
Uncoated and Recycled
There’s not much explaining to do here, but if you want to keep costs down and be as environmentally friendly as possible, then the standard paper types such as these will do you just fine. But that’s not why you’re reading this, you want something much more lavish, so let’s move on.
Rag
Velvety soft and with a very subtle texture, Rag paper stock is ideal for your company letterheads, compliment slips and corporate cards. Rag is very environmentally friendly and works perfectly for print as well as being beautiful to write on. Rag is much like cotton and has very rare speckling which only adds to the character of this luxurious paper stock.
Wheat
With its soft rippled texture, cream shade and with occasional speckling, Wheat is a paper that emanates organic energy. Ideal to make business cards, letters and card, wheat really lends itself to Earth-focussed companies that want to convey warmth and environmental affection whilst using a stock that is pure luxury on the senses.
Pearlescent
Sporting a subtle silver shimmer against a natural white finish, our pearlescent immediately grabs the senses. If you want to add a little layer of magic to your stationery arsenal, then this is the best fit for you. Ideal for letterheads, compliment slips, cards and legal corners.
Zeta
Zeta comes with varying degrees of texture such as linen, laid and hammer (linen being the most subtle and hammer the most impressionable). These are papers that lend themselves to absolutely anything you could need for your office stationery. Very elegant, this is a great stock to use should you want to appear modest with a touch of class.
Tintoretto Gesso
Gesso is the most textured paper that we offer. Opulent and brimming with character, it’s not uncommon to find this stock in law firms, 5-star hotels and mega-corporations around the world. It’s been a hugely popular stock for wedding stationery, but now that same league of class can be applied to your office stationery.
Make Your Stationery Sing
In conclusion, the often-overlooked matter of business stationery is a treasure trove of untapped potential. From the tactile luxury of Gesso through to the subtle shimmer of majestic pearlescent, the right paper and finish can elevate your brand's image and leave a first impression that lasts.
It's time to ban the bland from your brand and embrace the extraordinary. Don't just communicate, captivate your customers. Invest in business stationery that speaks volumes about your company's commitment to quality and attention to detail. Remember, it's the silent accomplice that can make all the difference in your business success.
