What would interest you in a carbon fiber business card?
We're considering starting a new product offering, carbon fiber business cards (not the plastic and paper versions with carbon fiber images, the real thing). I was hoping to gauge the interest in such a product, and so ask:
1) Would you be interested in such a thing? I've looked online and could find only two vendors who carry carbon fiber business cards. This tells me that there could be opportunity (since there are few competitors) or hazards (there are only two because people just don't want them).
2) How many spot colors would you need/recommend? Would you be interested in metallics over simple inks?
3) Would you be interested in nonstandard outlines or cutouts that deviate from the standard business card rectangle?
By way of thanks for those offering opinions should we proceed with a product, we'd be willing to offer a discount to those who respond to what is effectively some market research.
Thanks!
Answers (15)
Angela V
Creative Services Director at Empire Broadcasting
Best Answers in: Graphic Design (2), Advertising (1), Retirement and Estate Planning (1), Small Business (1)
Hello Gordon,
I personally would not be interested in these types of business cards for myself. HOWEVER, I think you would have a good product for those in the custom automotive industry. For example think West Coast Customs type of clients. It is my understanding that carbon fiber is a specialty item in the customization of cars. So I would definitely use that as my target market, also keep in mind those who sponsor car shows, and those who "sup-up" their on cars. I could see the carbon fiber being used for a custom die cut for those all of those trade show passes too. There are a few ideas like this that come to mind. I think it is a great idea, however I think you will have a limited market. So it will be key to reach your target market effectively. Hope something I said helps and springs new ideas.
Diana R
Internet Marketing, Local Search, & Relationship Marketing Expert
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I'm not really sure what they ARE - but I own BusinessCardDesign.com so would certainly be happy to promote something new to ezine subscribers.
Diana
Wallace J
Multimedia Producer, Mind Taffy Design; Graphics Design, VR and i3D programming for Acrobat 3D PDF
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Yes. 4. Yes. 3D Business Cards. Walls. MindTaffyLLC@Yahoo.com
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Tony L
Systems Analyst with Scientific Research Corporation
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Gordon:
My business cards have always been just ivory and hard stock, but that might just be a lack of imagination.
I agree with Angela and Augustus. On the front, it would seem a niche market that would appeal to the custom auto industry. I might check also into chopper customs (like Orange County Choppers.)
I like it, it ranks right up there with stainless steel and brushed aluminum cards that I have had made for some of my clients. Plexiglass makes a great card too!
Mark
Peter P
Independent Marketing and Advertising Professional
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Nothing would interest me about it. I'd rather have people remember me for what I offer than for the fact I have a carbon fibre business card.
Gordon
I think like anything new it would get a pretty good initial interest level.. the novelty of something new. Carbon fiber is pretty hot in a lot of markets, from bikes and kayaks to cars and computers.
www.ginity.com looks like they have a few.
looking at the samples they have... I think as a fad you could probably move them, but they probably would have been a bigger hit in the 80s.
I would offer the option to have a custom size.. and just charge for it, as designers we will always want what we can't have.
Best of luck.
marc
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Peter R
President Flash / Web Developer PR-Interactive
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that sounds really cool how much per card? if i can get them under 30 cents i would really be interested.
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Jesse H
Graphic Designer at Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Best Answers in: Graphic Design (3), Freelancing and Contracting (1)
Gordon,
My answers...
1. Personally I am not interested in carbon fiber business cards for myself, but would definitely look into it if I had an interested client... Business cards should say who you are and what you do, if carbon fiber doesn't fit either one of these things then a carbon fiber business card is not for you.
2. Not knowing how well carbon fiber can be printed on, I wouldn't be able to recommend or even begin to think of a number of spot colors. If the material is very time consuming to print, elevated by the number of spots, this could raise prices as your overall productivity would be decreased.. you could spend a lot of time on one job instead of several. The metallic inks follow these same rules, I think, but also if you have a niche market like the automobile customization industry, metallic are a definite "yes."
3. I always love thinking outside the box, but deviating from the standard business card shape AND material (going carbon fiber) might cause the viewer to lose sight of what they are actually looking at. Is it a business card or a flashy promotional thingy? If the shape could somehow reflect the common carbon fiber body parts (hood, spoiler), this could be cool, but again you need to be careful.
Hopefully this turns out to be a good adventure. Sounds very interesting.
Good luck!
I would be interested... Would you offer wholesale pricing?
Dennis H
Owner, Creative Director at VIVIDESIGN Group, LLC
Best Answers in: Job Search (1), Advertising (1)
I think it sounds like an interesting alternative. A couple of things to think about: 1. Is it cost prohibitive? Many of my customers would ask how much first. 2. I think die cuts could be great attention grabbers but business cards generally need to fit the standard size constraints of 3.5" x 2 . 3. The number of colors will largely be dependent upon the process needed to apply the ink. Due to the nature of the carbon fiber, will it run through a digital printer? an offset press? or will it require screen printing?. Just my thoughts...
Yves P
Presentation Expert - PowerPoint Expert - Project Manager @ Your Slide Production [YSP]
Hello Gordon,
1/ I would not use them, but they sound cool.
2/ and 3/ no opinion.
I would look into boating and aircraft industries as well (big carbon fiber users) if I were you.
1. As a graphic designer & triathlete, I can imagine there would be an appeal to a certain group. Several people mentioned the auto industry, but triathlon is a growing sport where many participants have carbon fiber bikes. So either people in the industry or someone like a consultant who was an active triathlete might find this very cool.
2. I would wonder about readability. Assuming things are readable, I'd suggest a digital process that allows for full color. If readability is going to be tough, spot color may be a better solution.
3. This would probably depend on cost. However, I'm guess a carbon fiber business card would be die cut to begin with, so having another shape might not add much to the cost.
Emily Brackett
Visible Logic, Inc.
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Kevin W
Printing Sales rep that also helps his customers with social media
Best Answers in: Advertising (1), Direct Marketing (1), Graphic Design (1), Inventory Management (1)
Hi Gordon,
It would be a very niche market. I would be interested in them for personal use but I don't think my company would approve of them. I am guessing that just from a printing stand point point they would be very expensive. I believe they would have to be screen printed and you would probably be looking at around $1 to $5 per business card. This would shrink your market even more because I would think only presidents of the company would justify the price. Also you would also have a problem with ganging these on a screen printing press because 4 color process is not all that easy to do and will cost a lot just to setup. Spot colors would be another option but then you really lose the chance to gang anything up and divide the setups.
Let me know if I can help and feel free to connect.
Thanks
Lisa W
Student at the Art Institute of Tampa (a branch of Miami International University of Art and Design)
Best Answers in: Graphic Design (4), Education and Schools (1), Mentoring (1), Web Development (1)
I wouldn't... they look like an environmental nightmare. Yeah, they save trees, but what are the consequenses if thousands of these get thrown in the trash? They're meant to be kept forever by the recipient, but who really holds onto every business card they get? At least paper disintegrates eventually. We need to be more responsible than that. It's not worth the coolness factor.
From a design standpoint, they're hard to read. The look of the material fights with the tiny size of the content printed on it. Again, a pointless feature.
