Sheffield business owners ordered an astonishing 129 tons (129,365kg) worth of business cards during the past year, with most of the purchases coming from Millennials.
Instantprint has seen sales of business cards rise by 195% in the last five years with demand now being so high for the custom stationery that 6 business cards must be produced every second in their Rotherham based headquarters.
Known for recycling trends from generations passed, the latest retro revival Millennials have got their hands on is the humble business card and Sheffield’s younger generation have contributed to the city being one of the top areas in the UK for ordering business cards.
Business cards are said to first have been used in the 17th century to announce the arrival of VIPs and aristocrats, generally handed in out in public spaces. They became an ‘executive tool’ in the 1980s and 1990s and now Millennials are listing their handles for the likes of Instagram and Facebook – and even QR codes – on them today.
The re-introduction of paper into the digital world has seen bold new techniques and trends emerge with orders of the traditional 3.5 x 2 inch cards being revamped, resized and refinished for the boldest and expressive generation.
Instantprint’s top ten most popular customisation trends in business cards from Sheffield residents in 2018 are:
1. 100% recycled
2. Kraft brown effect to replace standard white
3. Rounded corners
4. Peach fuzz texture (velvet lamination)
5. Raised high shine features (spot UV)
6. Square
7. Mini (85mm x 25mm)
8. Folded over
9. Extra thick heavy card
10. Metallic shine
Jon Constantine-Smith, Head of Instantprint, said: “It’s equally great as it is surprising that the business card is thriving in this digital era, but we think the rise in business card popularity is down to the pride young entrepreneurs have for setting up their own businesses.
“It’s an oldie but a goodie in terms of what we print but the designs that leave our HQ are a far cry from the dull designs of years gone by. We’re experimenting with texture, size, finish, weight and shape – after all these little cards are an extension of a person’s personality.
“We all have theories about what’s influenced this U-turn from tech to paper, but pop culture is a great indicator of future trends. After the recent revelation that Friends is the most popular TV programme for teens, we can’t help but wonder what next trend from previous decades will make a comeback.”
Customers can order stationery essentials from instantprint.co.uk which can be dispatched within 24 hours.
