Business stationery refers to a range of printed paper material, writing equipment, and supplies used by a company for its daily operations and communication with clients.
To make the stationery on-brand means ensuring the visual elements applied to them during design are consistent with your brand guidelines. Creating brand guidelines is an essential part of good branding for small businesses.
The top 7 stationery that a business should consider as staples are branded:
- Business cards
- Letterheads
- Compliment slips
- Invoices
- Envelopes
- Flyers
- Pens/Pencils
The most important considerations to make when ordering your stationery are brand design, quantity, print quality, and quality of paper or material.
Let’s dive deeper to see how each stationery piece is essential for your brand representation.
1. The Business Card Means Business
A business card is a small print ID card that contains essential contact information about a business or an individual. It is typically printed on 350gsm cardstock paper with a standard size of 3.5 inches by 2 inches.
A business card is highly likely the one piece of stationery that will end up in more hands outside of your company compared to the other business stationery.
The information on a business card includes:
- Name: The name of the individual or business representative is the most outstanding detail displayed on the card.
- Job Title: The person’s position within the organization is indicated underneath the name. It gives away their professional identity.
- Company Name: The name of the organization appears for brand recognition.
- Contact information: It is to facilitate communication. It includes phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses relevant to the business or individual.
- Logo and branding: The company’s logo and branding elements are included to reinforce visual identity and brand recognition
Ensure the font used is legible. It is also safer to stick to 1-3 colours when designing it.
To have more eyeballs on your brand, always give away more than one business card during interactions. The extra one may be passed on to another person.
The business card in this sunflower themed business stationery package would certainly get many eyeballs on it.
2. The Letterhead Is Ready To Head All Your Official Communication
A letterhead has a printed heading at the top of a sheet of paper and is used for official business correspondence.
It has the company’s logo, name, address, and contact information, making it easier for recipients to contact the company or individual.
Good quality paper should be used to communicate attention to detail. The standard paper weight on which to print a letterhead is 110-120gsm. The standard size of a letter of a letterhead is 8.5 inches by 11 inches.
A well-designed letterhead has the brand’s visual elements laid out neatly yet impactfully. This not only enhances the professional appearance of a document but also helps in building trust and familiarity with the recipient.
Letterheads are commonly used for formal business letters, contracts, internal communication, notices to the public, and other official documents helping to establish a formal and official tone.
A lover of minimalism will love this teal and pink business suite that can be fully customised to reflect your minimalist brand.
3. The Invoice Is No Novice To The Business World
An invoice is a commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer serving as a request for payment. It itemizes the product or service provided along with the corresponding costs.
The invoice has undergone a metamorphosis over the years. You will be amused to learn that centuries ago transaction records were carved on stone and then later on skin and parchment paper.
Today, the invoice is not only printed on paper but also largely electronic. Printed invoices are done on paper that is 80-120gsm. The standard size is 8.5 inches by 11 inches
The design and layout of an invoice is normally brand-centric. The visual elements of a brand ought to be captured well to enhance brand familiarity.
The key components found on an invoice are:
- The header: The word invoice is prominently displayed here with a unique invoice number and date of issue. Company name and logo can appear here.
- Seller information: It includes the name, address, and contact details of the seller or the selling company.
- Buyer Information: These include the name, address, and contact details of the buyer
- Itemized list: This is a breakdown showing the product or services provided. It includes the description, quantity, unit price, applicable taxes, and/or discounts for each item.
- Total amount due: This is the amount owed by the buyer including any taxes, shipping costs, or other fees.
- Payment instruction: The invoice specifies payment terms, and acceptable payment methods including bank account details, payment deadline, and any reference numbers for proper allocation of funds.
- Additional information: Some invoices may include terms and conditions, delivery instructions, or any special agreement related to the transaction.
Invoices serve as crucial documents for both seller and buyer in that,
- They help with payment tracking to ensure timely payments
- They facilitate proper record-keeping
- They provide evidence of transactions for accounting tax and audit purposes
4. The Compliment Slip Comes ‘With All Compliments’
If there is one more opportunity to add a human touch to your business through stationery it should be through the compliment slip. Also known as a compliment card, it is a small piece of paper used to convey a brief message to the recipient.
The common size is around 8.5 inches by 3.5 inches. The print paper commonly used is about 120-170gsm.
Compliment slips often include the company’s logo name and contact information and a brand-centric design. This easily allows the recipient to identify the sender reinforcing brand recognition.
They also feature the salutation ‘With compliments’ and some space for a brief handwritten or printed message expressing gratitude or acknowledgment.
Compliment slips can be used to:
- Reward loyal clients: acknowledge loyal clients by offering them exclusive discounts on your products or services.
- Convey appreciation: send a handwritten note with a delivery to a new or existing client expressing gratitude for doing business with you.
- Be human, not just a business: send a quote or light joke on a slip alongside an invoice or letterhead to reinforce relationships with your clients while making them feel valued.
Overall, using compliment slips is a thoughtful gesture that can enhance customer relationships and foster a positive impression of your business.
An elegant watercolour and floral business stationery package for a feminine brand displaying the compliments slip that comes alongside the package.
5. The Envelope That Needs Addressing
While in written correspondence with other businesses, the envelope is bound to be the first document the recipient gets to see. Beyond the documents in it, creating a good first impression of your brand is the primary assignment that the envelope will have to deliver.
Good quality business envelopes come in high-quality paper of 70 – 100 gsm. The standard size is 4 1/8 inches by 9 1/2 inches and perfectly fits an A4-sized document folded into thirds. The envelope can have a window on it or not.
Custom-size envelopes can also be designed depending on your business needs. These could be envelopes sending out communication for special business events. Specialty or premium paper is used to make these envelopes and the grammage is between 110-130gsm.
Imagine hand-making an envelope according to the size of every document you send. Fun, right? Maybe not. Well, that was the case until 1840.
Most envelopes are normally white providing the perfect background for your brand design. Your logo, company name, and contact information are the prominent details on a branded envelope.
For a business that corresponds in written documents using branded envelopes will increase familiarity and add credibility to your business.
6. Would Your Business Even Fly Without The Flier
A flier is a single-page promotional material. Its main purpose is to convey information about a business, product, service, event, or special offer.
The main difference between a flier and a brochure is that the former is a single sheet and is distributed to masses by hand or mail while the latter comes folded- single fold, bi or tri-fold and targets a smaller audience.
The standard size of a flier is often no bigger than 8.5 by 11 inches. Smaller fliers can be 5.5 by 8.5 inches. They are printed on paper that is between 110 -170gsm. The heavier grammage will make for a longer-lasting flier that can be printed on both sides. Printing fliers in bulk is often cost-effective.
The design of a flier can make or break a business. Since it is a marketing tool, its design ought to be attention-grabbing. The colours, graphics, images, and fonts need to be on brand.
The information about the business offering or event being promoted ought to be compelling.
A strong call to action is also included to encourage recipients to take a specific action.
If you want to announce a new product, promote sales or discounts or invite people to events or seminars a well-designed flier is your go-to stationery of choice.
You can quickly and easily create flyers on Canva and have them ready for printing.
7. Branded Pens And Pencils Will Never Be Pointless
It’s one thing to have pens and pencils, it’s quite another to have them branded.
Pens come in various shapes and sizes but have standard heights. You can order pens and pencils that are in your brand colours and have them branded in a preferred technique. It is important to be sure that the pens and pencils you are purchasing are brandable by confirming this with your supplier.
Printing and engraving are what are commonly employed in branding pens and pencils. The name of the company is often what is required for the branding.
Providing branded pens and pencils enhances the perception of professionalism in a brand.
As a brand, you want to be perceived that way.
Branded pens and pencils are the best items to give as gifts or giveaways as they are relatively cost-effective. Undoubtedly, they will offer a valuable means of increasing brand visibility and reinforcing brand identity.
The role that on-brand business stationery plays in creating a cohesive and professional image for a business while facilitating effective communication is significant.
Get your essential business stationery and get it branded today!
