Suggestions?

**South** · 08-25-2006, 09:06 AM

I have a client who wants a corporate business card that includes all of his businesses. Problem is that he wants all the seperate logos on the card (4 total), and they're all pretty detailed and don't shrink well.

This guy is an extremely important client to me. He alone accounts for about a third of my business. I've never had to tell him "can't do it" before, and I really don't want to tell him this can't be done. I'd rather find a solution that looks good.

Has anyone seen cards with multiple logos that look good that you could link to for ideas, or have any ideas of your own?

I'm reaching here. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Mrblogs · 08-25-2006, 09:09 AM

You could try double sided?

Or perhaps ask him for one "all encompassing logo"?

**South** · 08-25-2006, 09:19 AM

He dislikes two-sided because he likes being able to write on the backs. He dislikes them even being coated on the back.

The businesses are all so different I don't even know how an inclusive logo would work.

**kristeejo** · 08-25-2006, 09:23 AM

How come he wants this South? Will he take your advice? I often tell my clients that I advise against things and then show them why.

I, too, don't think this would work well.

DaveyBoy · 08-25-2006, 10:08 AM

Nah i think it's a stupid idea really lol, the logo ideally would take up at least 1/5 of the page, that is on a single logo design, the rest for the information.

Tell him that the specifications of his request are simply not viable.

**South** · 08-25-2006, 10:39 AM

Y'all are right. Rather than telling him that I'll put something that looks good together without the logos and present it along with the logos scrunched up. He'll get the picture.

Quote:

How come he wants this South?

He has a unique personality. He's a great businessman, very successful, and that's largely due to his "Hey what if we were to.....(Insert oddity her)" mentality. Check out his car lot commercials for an idea of what I mean (and a laugh). Plus you get to see me make an a** of myself in a couple of them.

http://www.489cars.com/main/index.ph...d=16&Itemid=31

cimmeron · 08-25-2006, 12:02 PM

ok, I have a suggestion....

could you make the 4 logos fill the space of the front of the card, in an appealing way, but opaque them so that all the contact info shows through. Then, I'd put a large text element, where the logo should be, with some sort of name to pull it all together.

Like

"South's Group Ventures"

or some such. I think the idea is lame, but I have a lot of experience giving clients what they want, even though it is lame. It might work and might not look too bad.

alterego85 · 08-29-2006, 11:47 AM

Hey, you're THE designer, convince him that you know what you're doing.

phacker · 09-26-2006, 10:45 AM

Is he just being cheap about his business cards, why not a separate run for each business?

capman1 · 09-27-2006, 06:35 PM

I don't believe that there's a way that you will get four logos on business card to look good.

I'd personally question a business that had four on one card.

If he is a thriving business, he should get cards for each one that he has.

Just my opinion.

I would not do it. I would not want what a client wants to tarnish my reputation if people were to ask "who designed that sloppy business card?"

Matt B.

IslaScotts · 09-27-2006, 07:04 PM

I will put my name on something I don't like for one, because I need the money. And what one person likes another won't. So even though I am the designer, if my client is happy why shouldn't I be? I like cimm's idea. I have seen a few business cards done this way. Especially jack of all trades kind of people. I have seen it done with 3 and 4 logos. The 4 logo one had the logos on the upper left, with the info right aligned bottom.

IslaScotts · 09-27-2006, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by South

Check out his car lot commercials for an idea of what I mean (and a laugh). Plus you get to see me make an a** of myself in a couple of them.

BTW - Those were hilarious

**South** · 09-27-2006, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phacker

Is he just being cheap about his business cards, why not a separate run for each business?

He's not being cheap. In fact he spends more money than any two other people I work with. He just thinks it's aggrivating carrying around four or five cards all the time.

**kristeejo** · 09-27-2006, 08:07 PM

so what did you end up doing south?

**South** · 09-27-2006, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristeejo

so what did you end up doing south?

Making excuses so far. Fortunately he's been in an advertising frenzy keeping me busy enough to validate the slow progress on that. Fourth quarter is coming up so there are tons of ads to be made. It's Yellow Pages season!

**kristeejo** · 09-27-2006, 08:17 PM

what's the yellow pages?? ; )

**South** · 09-27-2006, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristeejo

what's the yellow pages?? ; )

I know web people are supposed to deny anyone reads the yellowpages anymore, but I still have many people spending thousands of dollars a year on them...and they all need ads designed. So I'm all for the Yellow Pages.

capman1 · 09-27-2006, 09:32 PM

Let me ask you...

Are these business cards the everyday thermography print cards? Or are you actually printing these using a different method? This would give a general idea of what we are dealing with. Thermography lacks the flexibility of options we get with regular print, so I'm hoping that you don't say thermography.

Marketing Guy · 09-28-2006, 06:13 AM

I'd suggest to him that he create an encompassing brand term (as cimmeron suggested) - create a logo for that, perhaps list URLs descretely somewhere.

Alternatively, you could do a booklet style business card - something simple on the front (name, title, etc) and logos inside, leaving the back free to scribble on.