A trendy friend of mine gave me one of her new business cards yesterday and I was immediately blown away. These tiny (1” x 2 -1/2”) alternatives to large bulky cards are chic, obviously eco friendly and so right for today’s entrepreneur.
If you, like me find yourself the proprietor of a business…or more frequently businesses that can get hard to cram into a traditional format you may like these tiny cards. Counter intuitively, the lack of space is freeing. Rather than having to decide which information is the most important, these cards leave space for little more than name, phone, URL and e-mail address, so no decision is necessary. (Though I did cheat and include some type on the photo I selected for the back.)
More importantly, the entrepreneurs responsible for developing these tiny cards saw the renewed interest in old fashioned calling cards. While years ago, calling cards were a standard accessory of the well mannered crowd, as more and more of the formerly jobless (older men and women, mothers, trust fund babies) went to work, the standard business card replaced the “calling card”.
The rise of the blogsphere has changed all of that. Many of us with business cards find we need a second card for our blog or Facebook or Myspace page or simply for our personal e-mail address. That’s where a simple personal calling card comes in handy.
Twenty something Richard Moross saw that opportunity in 2006 and harnessed the power of social networks to launch yet another, but not JUST another, online printing company.
His company Moo.com, rather than appeal to businesses targets the consumer- the one with the Myspace/Flick’r/Facebook page.
Moross developed partnerships, first with Flick’r and then with a variety of social networking sites to promote his card with the early adaptors who hang out on social networking sites. The idea caught on like wildfire with bloggers and in the design, art and new media communities. Based in London, in 2007, Moo.com shipped over 10 million cards to 140 different countries.
A Steve Jobs admirer, Morass compares his web-integrated business with Apple. And like Apple, Moo.com is design driven. Unlike traditional business cards, Moo.com offers a selection of designs for your card. Select a set of designs, drop in a few lines of type for the back and you’re ready to go. You can also upload your own designs, (as I did) for a more personalized look.
Though the truly eco way to exchange information is to enter a contacts name directly into your phone or Blackberry, there’s still a need in this world for business cards. Moo.com makes a smaller eco choice that’s fun and trendy too.
Photo Courtesy Rick Wells
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These are great — I use them myself. But I just wish they weren’t shipping them from the UK. I wonder if we can get a shop set up in the US?
I love these cards…but sadly I don’t think they are made out of recycled paper. I contacted them, hopefully I’m wrong.
Jennifer Kaplan
Partner
Greenhance LLC
Cute! Thanxs for the head up on these. I have heard of Moo.com before, but i didn’t know they specialized in tiny biz cards, though.
Also, as someone else mentioned, it would be neat, if the cards were printed on recycled paper.
and with soy based non-toxic ink!
I love these – they really are cute. I am going to visit the website now and see what else they do.
yeah i’m looking for calling cards & they seem unique, but I can’t help but be irritated that it’s not the regular business card shape, meaning it wont fit into people’s business card holders =/
hmm still confused on what to get
I like that moo cards use so little paper. I recently recommended them to a client as a way to distribute special offer codes (for shopping on the client’s website) at special events.
I found a company in the US that does these. They are an eco-printer also out of NH.
http://www.pixxlz.com/
The folks at Moo gave me this response when I asked about their card stock:
The cards are cut from heavy 350gsm stock printed on a 4-color commercial digital press. We have not yet found a recycled stock suitable for printing cards with our process. Our stock does however come from sustainable forests and the digital print process we use generates far less paper and chemical waste than traditional litho printing.
In any event, thanks, DAMION, I’m going to check out pixxiz.
You should call the folks at Pixxlz.com. My first project I could order right off the site, but my second project wasn’t on their site anywhere. However, I called to see what other options they had for eco-friendly paper, and if they could help with my custom print job. OMG they were great!
They can order any stock you want(100% recycled paper with Post Consumer Waste – 30 to 100%).
Unlike some other companies they actually have GREAT customer service.
Hope this help!!!!
My heart is on fire that two people have recommended pixxlz.com!!
I am the marketing director (no false plugs, I promise) and just want to let you know that we are constantly researching new eco alternatives and resources for printed products. One of our paper vendors actually uses renewable water and wind energy to power their plant:) Yip!
We will be introducing new live editing technology (very exciting and way cool) in a few months. In the meantime, if we can help with anything, we will! And don’t forget to click on our “F-Bomb” to see what’s eco & FREE!
See you soon:)
jen