I need stationary!

January 11, 2009 5:35 PM

Help me find an economical, customized stationary and business card service.

I've decided to get business cards and personalized stationary. Here are my needs:

• Containing very little information - basically my name, e-mail, phone number and one URL.
• Black (or black and another color) on white or ivory - no pictures are necessary
• Clean, modern look
• Business cards and flat cards for writing notes, preferably with envelopes included.
• Prefer an online card designer or preview, but I can design them myself if I have to.
• Low quantity: 50 - 100 business cards and 20-30 stationary cards
• I'd like to keep the price low but I'm willing to pay more for an independent designer or the like.
• Available online or in the DC area.

Any recommendations?

posted by l33tpolicywonk to work & money (5 comments total)

I was quite happy with designyourowncard.com

I paid about $35 for 500 cards (far far more than I need, but I seem to recall that as their minimum), including shipping. I got classic black raised ink on an ivory heavy card stock surface, with a small icon, and like it a lot. I get compliments on them.

The catch is that you do actually design them yourself, so you've got to put a little thought and graphic design work into it. I was unhappy with various places that let you semi-customize cards and offered you a limited selection cheap or free, so this was not a negative for me.
posted by foodmapper at 6:36 PM on January 11 [1 favorite has favorites]

Protip: It's spelled "stationery", which should help improve your online searches (if only slightly).
posted by Rhaomi at 6:52 PM on January 11

VistaPrint. I've used them at cash conscious start-ups, and for my own personal cards.
posted by ellF at 7:24 PM on January 11

ellF: Thanks. I'd been eyeing VistaPrint for their free sample business cards, but was worried they might come out bad. Needed a little independent verification before I took the plunge. I've ordered them, and we'll see how it goes.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 7:55 PM on January 11

I think the free cards from VistaPrint have an VistaPrint logo on the back. You probably want the $20 cards, which I have been happy with.
posted by stopgap at 8:58 PM on January 11