Holders for business cards are the standard accessory for any entrepreneur. They're practically a necessity for any serious, networking business person in need of ready and easy access to their calling cards. Because business cards are cheap and usually bought in large quantities, a reusable organizational tool like a business card holder can come in handy anywhere you want to get the word out about your business.

Business card holders come in many forms. They can be small and stored in your back pocket or bag, medium-sized and free-standing or designed as large displays. Whatever your preference in holder type, you should take advantage of your sectioned business information. When deciding on a business card holder to buy and use consider the following:

1. Business card holders can be placed where your customers and target market gather.

2. Suppliers of business cards often offer large holders capable of housing many cards at once.

3. The presentation of your business cards is almost as important as the business cards themselves.

Action Steps
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Buy a business card holder that gives the right impression

Business card holders can increase your profit margin just by being present. They protect cards, guarding against wrinkling and creasing, and can even continue to advertise your business after the last card has been drawn if your personal information is printed on the card holder.

I recommend: Engraved business card holders remind your customers of your identity and give you an air professionalism and individuality. Memorable Gifts has a variety engraveable business card holder styles and materials. CardCues offers an interesting way to advertise your business cards by constructing a glossy holder made to look like your business card. You can then put the holder up on a bulletin board or stand it on a desk.

Position your business card display where your customers will see it

Business cards don't sell themselves. To help them find their way into your customers' pockets, you need to make them attractive and unable to be ignored even by the busiest customer. One way to ensure that they slip into customers' bags is to put their holders in your customers' line of sight.

I recommend: Plastic Product Manufacturing sells multiple business card displays with varying numbers pockets. In addition to holding business cards, they also boast a space to hold a business signs and are designed to be mounted on a wall at eye level. Innovative Plastics can help you customize a display by detailing it with your logo, artwork or another message at the top of the display.

Take your bulk business card holders outside

Your business doesn't end in an office. Lots of times, networking is the biggest part of keeping a business going and successfully advertising yourself keeps your business alive. Many business owners have found new and creative ways to get their business cards out to the general public, including attaching acrylic business card holders to their cars and putting plastic business card holders anywhere else that's readily accessible and eye-catching.

I recommend: Vehicle Card Pockets sells easy-to-install acrylic business card holders for your car. A complimentary sticker invites potential customers to "Take One." Business card holders from Displays2Go are weatherproof, made from molded plastic and are designed to be used on the exterior of a building. Spring lids make taking a business card easy and refilling the holder with more cards even easier.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Business card holders designed with your own logo and artwork are great for advertising, but don't discount the plain ones, especially if your business is mobile. Many changes in your business' information could mean more money that has to be spent on new, customized displays.

Your business card sends a message to prospective customers and clients. But the first impression is made before your business card ever reaches their hands. It occurs when clients see the business card cases or business card holders you use to carry your business cards. These simple business card cases can impress clients while keeping your business cards clean and organized. Before you decide which business card holders to purchase, consider:

1. The quantity of business cards you want to display or carry in your business card files.
2. The thickness of your business cards. This will gauge how many you can carry in your business card cases or display in business card holders.
3. The materials and design of your business card cases or business card holders.

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Get stylish business card cases to carry in your briefcase, tote or purse

If you are in sales, you no doubt hand out your business card right after your first handshake with prospective customers. By having stylish professional looking business card cases in your pocket, purse or briefcase, you'll have your business card in reach while keeping it protected from getting scuffed, wrinkled or soiled.

I recommend: Executive Gift Shoppe has a wide variety of business card holders, including designer business card cases, leather business card holders and cases and color lacquer business card holders. Elighters has business card holders designed for women including stainless steel and graphite, pink aluminum and crystal embedded stainless steel business card cases. Levenger Company has a selection of leather business card wallets including wallets that combine business card wallets with notepads.

Personalized business card cases

By personalizing your business card cases, you go one step further in style. You can either have your name, company name, logo or monogram engraved into metal business card cases.

I recommend: Pick N Personalize features metal business card cases that can be engraved with your name or monogram. MyBusinessGifts.com has several options for engraved and monogrammed business card cases including leather, metal and argyle business card cases.

Desktop business card holders

Desktop or countertop business card holders are ideal for office or retail environments. They allow you to display business cards for customers or clients to take. Another great use for countertop business card holders is to display your business cards at trade shows. Business card holders that display multiple business cards are also available.

I recommend: Netique has unique desktop business card holders in pewter, brass and crystal and in stylish designs that include clocks and pens. OfficeMax and Office Depot carry a variety of desktop business card holders from leather business card holders that hold a single person’s business card to acrylic business card holders that hold multiple business cards. Brochure Holders Online sells a variety of countertop business card holders that have four, eight, 12, or 16 slots for displaying multiple business cards.

Business card files

Salespeople who are often on the road should use business card files to store the business cards they collect. These handy items look like a book with pages for storing business cards. You can also find business card files that are pages that fit in your daily planner so that you can combine your business card files into one central book.

I recommend: Keysan has a variety of business card files that hold 72, 96 and 200 cards along with loose-leaf business card holders that fit in any three-ring binder. Day-Timers and FranklinCovey offer pages of business card holders to fit their respective day planners.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always remember to restock your business card cases before leaving the office for a business trip or sales call.
• •  Personalized business card cases are a perfect gift for salespeople who have gone the extra mile, or to give to employees or clients as a gift to recognize a promotion or career accomplishment.
• •  Most desk sets come with business card holders that match the other accessories, such as a desk blotter, mouse pad and pencil cup.
• •  With business card wallets that combine a wallet with business card storage, you can reduce the number of items you need to carry.

You could say the primary goal of business card holders is to prevent your cards from getting lost, bent or soiled. However, they also provide an attractive presentation that can draw a potential client's eye to your cards. They can be made of wood, metal, plastic or leather and even bear your company's name or logo.

To use your business card display effectively you need to make it appealing to clients and convenient for your employees. Some things to keep in mind are:

1. Research the many different types of business card displays.

2. Use an eye-catching design for in-office card holders so that customers will notice them.

3. Purchase portable business card holders. After all, most networking occurs outside the office walls.

Action Steps
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Look at types of business card holders that are available

Before you get into specific business card holders, you need to know business card holders basics. Then you can narrow the field to see what would be best for your organization. There are three main types available: holders for the desk, portable holders and holders for displays.

I recommend: Check out eLighters for a good overview of the first two types. Then visit Innovative Plastics for a large selection of plastic business card holders you can use for indoor and outdoor displays, including bulk business card holders.

Choose eye-catching holders for business cards in the office

Sometimes just the sight of an interesting holder can prompt a contact to ask for a business card. It's an easy way to start a business relationship without your having to force the issue.

I recommend: Choose a design that is appropriate for your business. If it's a school or daycare center, a do-it yourself holder made of Popsicle sticks could be perfect. See Kaboose for instructions. Alternately, if you have a fancy furniture store, you may want an intricate holder, such as the ones available on Wish Treasures. If you have a traditional office, find a happy medium between the two.

Make sure each employee has a portable business card holder

You want your business to have the most exposure possible and your employees need an easy way to distribute contact information. That's why everyone should have a convenient card holder on his or her person at all times.

I recommend: Visit Shoebuy and check out its huge supply of traditional business card holders for the purse or wallet. Then go to GreatFX Business Cards and WeddingDepot for some trendier options that may be a better fit with your business' or employees' personalities.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider giving holders for business cards to employees during their first month of work. That way you can ensure that everyone has one and they are all uniform.