Business Stationery Design

Business Stationery Design: What's Included?

Business stationery design can be rather dull, dry, drab and mundane. Alternatively, it can be very well designed to convey information to business associates, customers and others. Unfortunately, many businesses overlook the significance of their stationery, falsely believing that few would be interested in carefully studying the bit of paper.

Business stationery varies a bit in the definition. While it includes letter paper or letterheads and matching envelopes, more items, including invoices, receipts, quotation sheets, business cards and loads of other stuff, are usually customised to denote the business's identity.

The importance of business stationery

In brief, stationery is the representative of any business.

The quality and feel of the paper, overall design, and details mentioned in the stationery can help businesses evolve by winning customers and associates. Business stationery has been used for over a century and has evolved over decades with advances in printing technology.

Companies found it worthwhile to have their name, address, and other details printed on writing sheets, envelopes, receipts, invoice and quotation books, and business cards. A single glance indicates the sender of the letter, bill or receipt.

In modern times, though, business stationery has assumed further significance. It plays multiple roles by augmenting marketing efforts, helping staff network, and creating brand awareness.

Personalised business stationery printed on superior quality material speaks very well for a company. It subtly promotes your business to the right audience. However, you must include five essential elements in your business stationery designs to be highly useful as marketing, networking or brand-building tools.

Therefore, they require business stationery that gives their business plan a professional look and speaks well about the venture. Other than the name, you can include the address, contact details, website of the business, and a few elements on stationery to serve as effective marketing, promotion, customer service, and networking tools.

1 – Corporate logo design

All business stationery packages, without exception, should bear the business's logo design. Company logos serve as brand builders.

People remember logos better than words and quickly associate the image with the business's brand identity. However, the logo should reflect the company's nature to be practical. For example, a food-related company cannot have aircraft and skies as its logo unless it caters to the aviation industry. Neither can an airline feature a bottle as its logo.

The shape and colours of a business logo also play a significant role in grabbing attention. Corporate giants like the Virgin Group and Vodafone use red and its hues since this colour is known as an attention catcher.

On the other hand, banks and financial houses tend to be conservative while using colours. Incorporating a logo is an essential element of custom business stationery.

2 – Catchphrase

Another vital element for business stationery designs is the company's catch-line. A great slogan attracts customers and business associates. The catchphrase is a condensed version of the business's mission and vision statements.

America's General Electric has one of the best catch-lines used for marketing and brand building. “We bring good things to life”, the GE catch-line also appears alongside its logo in adverts and business stationery.

Catchphrases allow business associates, clients and prospective customers to identify with your brand. British Airways has a famous catchphrase, “To fly, to serve.” In these four words, the airline sums up its vision and mission.

Having them printed on business stationery creates an excellent brand image.

3 – Year of establishment

Thousands of well-established businesses must include this small detail in their stationery.

The year the business was founded on branded stationery has several inherent advantages. Firstly, it indicates that the company has flourished over decades.

This translates into high-quality products and services that help keep the business active. Secondly, it also speaks about the experience and expertise of the company upon which customers and associates can draw.

Mentioning the year of establishment, either on or below the logo, helps develop confidence and boost the brand among users. In this era of start-ups, some ventures fail miserably and close shop within a few years. Hence, a business thriving for at least three years can safely capitalise on its market standing by including its year of establishment as an element in business stationery.

4 – Helpline or consumer contact numbers

Doing business requires competent troubleshooting and resolving the client’s issues. Including a number of emergency or helplines in the company’s stationery and designs is a good idea as it creates positive experiences for both business partners and users.

Customers are essential, and the company will do whatever it takes to maintain its brand image. Some possible clients call the hotlines just to gather information about so many different things about products sold by them or their provision of services. This can lead to increased revenues for such firms.

Businesses have helplines, customer services, or emergency numbers showing how seriously they take their businesses. Furthermore, it also serves as an excellent way for customers to express themselves in ways they think would help improve what companies offer. Customers also link this with other aspects of service delivery the business provides.

5 – Certifications

In an era of stiff competition, every business tries to outsmart the other by acquiring certifications from international agencies. These include the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), British Standards Institution (BSI), Conformité Européene (European Union standards certification) and several others.

It serves every business well by subtly displaying any certifications it has acquired on its stationery. Printing the logo of these certifiers with specific details about the accreditation obtained (for example, ISO 27001:2017) creates a powerful impact on business associates and customers.

Words like “ISO 27001:2017 certified” are sufficient if space does not permit a logo. It implies that the business offers products and services that meet or exceed the standards required to compete globally.

This element of business stationery also assists new and foreign clients to choose that particular company over rivals.
Certification details can be deftly woven into the design of letterheads and envelopes, business cards, invoices and receipt books, among other stationery.

More elements

Unsurprisingly, there is no limitation on the items to be included in business stationery. However, companies have to be careful while designing their stationery so as not to include too much information.

There are fewer elements and simple designs on luxury business stationery, which are more beautiful. In addition, other things might also be contained in the stationery of enterprises, excluding the name or logo distracting.

A – Social media

Understandably, small and large businesses increasingly deploy social media for marketing and customer service.

Millions of people worldwide prefer social media over conventional press since it provides information in user-friendly formats. Any business with a presence on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest can benefit immensely by mentioning these subtly in their stationery.

B – Locations

To that end, businesses trading across several locations in a limited local area throughout the country or even globally could include these particulars on their stationery. Besides indicating the central office address, they can also display the names of places where they operate. These locations have some merits.

They can help business partners and customers to check how famous the business is. Furthermore, clients and associates can investigate potential firms in those regions.

C – Brands

Companies with more than one brand can include labels in business stationery. The same holds for businesses that represent various products and target customers.

Understandably, huge businesses with multiple brands need not include these elements without risking their stationery looking like promotional brochures.

For example, a multinational like Nestle cannot include all its consumer brands on a business card or other stationery. Smaller businesses with a handful of brands can do so safely.

D – Awards

Businesses can include titles of any awards they have won as an element in a business stationery set. For example, the title can be printed on the reverse sides of envelopes, the bottom of letterhead or the reverse of business cards.

Winning an industry award is something that business associates and clients should know since it builds confidence in the brand.

E – License number

Admittedly, any legitimate business need not prominently display its license numbers. Regardless, mentioning the license and registration numbers is useful when bidding for tenders.

It may assist decision-makers in short-listing the business for an upcoming contract since they may not have time to pore over other documents submitted with the bid.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, trends over the last few decades indicate that many businesses have relegated stationery to the backseat. Email and digital communications make sending ‘old-fashioned' letters by mail seem rudimentary. It is worth remembering that emails and other forms of communication lack the personal touch of stationery.

Aesthetically designed stationery with company details subtly incorporated is essential to represent any business.
Any business can create an enormous impact with proper elements featured in its stationery.