New Year, New Stationery: Business Cards, Letterheads and Brochures Made Easy

January is a clean slate. It is also a great time to refresh the printed essentials you hand out every day.

A tidy set of business cards, letterheads, compliment slips and a simple brochure can lift your brand, reassure new contacts and make your team feel sharp.

In this guide, you will find the most popular business card printing options, what affects cost, how to brief quickly, and simple file setup tips.

You will also see when to choose express turnaround and why consistent stationery builds trust at every touchpoint.

 

Are printed business cards still relevant?

Yes. Business cards are still one of the fastest ways to make a memorable connection.

They help in meetings, events and site visits where phones stay in pockets. A well-made card does more than share contact details. It signals quality, competence and care.

Printed cards also bridge online and offline. Add a QR code to link to your calendar, portfolio or reviews. Use the back for a short value statement or service list. People keep cards that feel good, so stock choice matters.

 

Popular business card options at a glance

You have lots of routes. Here are tried and tested choices that balance feel, durability and cost.

• Classic silk 450gsm: clean, professional, budget friendly.
• Soft-touch or matt laminate: smooth finish that resists scuffs and looks premium.
• Recycled uncoated: eco-friendly with a tactile, natural feel.
• Digital Foil highlights: add shine to logos or names without full foil blocking costs.

If you want to see and feel the difference, ask for samples. It is the quickest way to pick a stock with confidence.

 

Should you risk using ultra-cheap online printers?

The real question isn’t whether you can print cards at home.

It’s whether it’s worth trusting your business identity to the ultra-cheap online print factories.

They look tempting, especially when you see a stack of cards for the price of a sandwich. But there’s a reason those prices are rock-bottom.

You often get thin cards, poor finishing, and absolutely zero customer service.

And because everything is automated, fixing a problem can feel like shouting into the void. If your business relies on making a strong first impression, that kind of gamble rarely pays off.

A good commercial printer may cost a little more, but you get thicker stocks, sharper colour, proper finishing, and, crucially, someone you can actually speak to if you need help.

Your business cards look how you intended, not how a machine interpreted them.

 

What factors affect the cost.

Expect prices to move within a range based on:

• Paper stock: Heavier boards and textured or recycled stocks cost more.
• Finishes: Matt or soft-touch lamination cost a little more. Digital Foil and Spot Varnish add more.
• Quantity: per-card pricing drops as you print more. Ordering 500 instead of 250 is always better value for money. And ordering 1,000 is better value than 500.
• Turnaround: standard lead times are cheaper. Express options add a rush fee.
• Design time: Supplying a print-ready PDF costs less than a custom design. And if you are having your cards designed for you, remember to budget for multiple rounds of revisions.

Our online quoting tool lets you check out multiple options with just a few clicks, so it’s super-easy to compare prices.

 

Letterheads and compliment slips that match.

Consistent stationery builds trust. When your card, letterhead and compliment slip share the same fonts, colours and paper tone, you look organised and reliable.

• Letterheads: 90–120gsm uncoated works well for most office printers. If you use inkjet or laser in-house, tell your printer so they pick a compatible stock.
• Compliment slips: printed on the same stock as letterheads for a unified look. Keep the message area clear and legible.

 

A short brochure gives your pack a professional finish

A short brochure is a brilliant add-on for event packs, welcome kits or sales meetings.

It pulls your story together in one place and tends to stay on someone’s desk long after the conversation ends.

• Formats: 8–16 pages is a handy size booklet. But it all depends on the range of products and services you are promoting.
• A4 or A5 works well, with portrait layouts keeping things clear and tidy.
• Stocks: 170gsm silk for inner pages, with a 250–300gsm cover for a sturdy, confident feel.
• Finishes: Matt or soft-touch laminate on the cover adds durability and a touch of polish.
• Content: Keep it simple — the problems you solve, the services you offer, a few strong testimonials and a clear next step.

If you already have flyers or leaflets, much of that content can be gathered into a brochure so everything sits together cleanly. All of this is handled through our digital printing services, so it’s easy to keep everything consistent.”

Here’s a simple brief to speed things up

Copy, paste and fill this in. You will save days.

• Purpose: What should this piece do?
• Audience: who will read it?
• Format: size, page count or folding if relevant.
• Tone and examples: two links or photos you like.
• Content: final text, logo files, brand colours, images with alt text.
• Must-haves: contact details, services, accreditations, QR code destination.
• Quantities and deadline: how many and when do you need them?
• Extras: lamination, foils, recycled stock, envelope type, and mailing help.

 

File setup tips that avoid reprints

• Bleed: add 3 mm on all sides.
• Safe margin: keep text and logos at least 8 mm inside the trim.
• Colour: supply CMYK. RGB or spot colours will be converted and not always perfectly.
• Resolution: 300 dpi for print. Vector logos where possible.
• Fonts: outline or embed fonts in your PDF.
• Proofs: check names, phone numbers and postcodes carefully.

We provide free technical artwork checks and can fix files for you if needed.

 

When to choose express turnaround

Pick express when:

• You have an immovable event date, and you don’t want a white-knuckle ride with your order arriving on the eve of the event.
• Stock is running out, and you cannot stop operations.
• A seasonal window is closing.

 

Ready to move?

January slips by quickly. If you want a smooth start, request samples to feel stock options in hand, or ask for a quick quote and timeline.

If you are near Ruthin, pop in during opening hours, Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00, or call 01824 705 800.

You can also explore business card printing options and broader printing North Wales services on our site.

 

Summary

This guide walks you through the essentials of refreshing your business stationery for the new year.

From business cards and letterheads to simple brochures that bring your message together.

It explains which card stocks and finishes work best, what really affects the price, and why ultra-cheap online printers aren’t always the bargain they seem.

You’ll find quick briefing tips, file setup basics that prevent reprints, and advice on when express turnaround can genuinely save the day.

Whether you’re updating a single item or your whole stationery set, the guide shows how consistent, well-made print builds trust and helps you make a stronger first impression.