Building on Bead Girls Jewelry’s new identity, Dynamic Graphics art director Sam Berkes has generated business cards, postcards and packaging for the company. Bead Girls’ recent identity redesign provides a playful and casual, yet professional look and feel. The new palette incorporates the plum and turquoise that Berkes built into the system.

“We like the vertical info side to the business card. It’s different than what everyone normally has,” says Shari Lorbiecki, cofounder (see sample vertical design below). The owners also “love the background swirl.”

Along with business cards to hand out, Bead Girls Jewelry provides postcards to customers who host a party for the company. The party hostess mails out the cards inviting family, friends and coworkers to attend the event. These “house parties” are the group’s largest income source, at least until their new website is completed. “One side of the card needs to be a functional postcard for mailing, with the party info to the left side [see example below]. The other side should showcase the jewelry and intrigue recipients to attend,” says Lorbiecki.

Prior to the creation of the new identity by DG, the company’s owners had selected a black-and-pink palette. As a number of new business owners learn, what you see isn’t always what you get. “We ordered gift bags online,” explains Lorbiecki. “The bags were called Pink Rendezvous. When we received them, the quality was awful. The lines of printing were blurred.” And Lorbiecki says the color didn’t pop like it did on the website. “We were trying to have a polished look to our packaging, and it ended up looking very cheesy,” says Lorbiecki.

“We need boxes and bags, but considering our disaster with the gift bags, we haven’t decided what direction to take,” she says. To keep costs low and offer flexible and environmentally friendly packaging, Berkes devised a package design using low-cost boxes made with recycled materials and embellished with custom stickers. The boxes can be purchased in a variety of grades and will speak volumes to “green” consumers looking for smart, savvy suppliers.

The custom stickers can be used for packaging and other collateral. And if Bead Girls Jewelry ever wants to update its look with new colors or a new identity, new stickers will work with the packaging. It’s a look that stays in style.

Simple sophistication
Dynamic Graphics art director Sam Berkes created several options for business cards for the owners of Bead Girls Jewelry, Shari Lorbiecki and Lisah Vander Heiden. He designed both one- and two-color versions to keep printing costs low.

Vertical for variety
The owners liked Berkes’ horizontal business-card design featuring the group’s logo running the width of the card with a screened-back swirl. But they chose the vertical design (above) because it is less common and will stand out among traditional cards. The two-color gradient pops, and the scrollwork adds flair.

It’s in the mail
The postcard above is mailed by a Bead Girls Jewelry party hostess to friends, family and colleagues. Copy on the postcard needs to connect quickly with recipients and easily highlight reasons for attending. A bullet or list approach is most recommended.

Stick out
Berkes suggests the company invest in reusable kraft boxes for their packaging. These can be customized with inexpensive stickers, ribbons or straw, and can be updated easily with new colors for a variety of uses.

Do your homework
DG found online providers for business cards, postcards and packaging. The boxes above are from Howard Packaging (www.howardpkg.com). Printing costs can run the gamut of prices, so research and request samples. Check out print providers: VistaPrint.com, PsPrint.com and 48hourprint.com. Be sure to contact online companies and verify prices and materials with a representative. Note whom you speak with and ask for confirmation in print. Carefully consider all materials for bags and boxes and whether packaging is recycled.