How to Choose the Right Custom Plastic Card
Plastek makes custom plastic cards for all kinds of businesses, including gift cards and loyalty cards for restaurants and retail stores; key cards for hotels; and membership cards for gyms and other types of membership organizations. To pick the right card, start with one simple question: What does the card need to do?
- Hold money or points. Gift cards, loyalty cards, discount cards, fundraising cards, and casino players cards keep track of what your customers have earned, paid for, or saved on purchases.
- Identify or grant access. Hotel key cards, smart cards, and ID badges let the right people into the right places.
- Verify membership. Membership cards and VIP cards prove a person is part of your club or program.
- Share your brand. Plastic business cards, NFC cards, and promotional cards put your name, logo and branding into people’s hands.
Next, think about how the card will be used at the register or the door. A magnetic stripe is the dark strip on the back that gets swiped. A barcode or QR code is printed onto a card’s surface and scanned. A chip inside a card works with a tap, like many hotel room keys.
Each card can have its own number printed on it, called variable data. These numbers come in especially handy when a card reader fails at checkout. Before you order, ask your point of sale (POS) company what kind of card number your system needs to track the cards that are issued to customers.
Most cards are made from PVC, the same plastic used for credit cards. They are the same size and thickness, too. PETG is a plastic that can be recycled. Metal and wood cards can give a more high-end feel.
You can also add special touches. Spot UV is a shiny coating on just part of the card. Other choices include metallic ink, foil, raised lettering, and holograms. Matte and glossy surfaces are also available.
Plastek makes custom cards in any amount. The typical minimum order is 250 cards. Setup costs about the same for a small order or a large one, so the price of each card goes down as you order more.
If your card needs to work with a card reader or POS system, ask about a sample card first. Try it in your system. If it works, place your full order. If it doesn’t, you found the problem with one card instead of a whole order. Request a quote or call the Plastek card team at 1-888-762-2737.