One of the services we provide at Letter Jacket that makes us the proudest is our custom printing. We strongly encourage our clients to use custom printing to make a more significant impact on clients, to reinforce branding and to find unique ways of communicating with someone who has not yet opened their letter.
Yet, not every one of our clients fully understands what we mean when we say “custom envelopes.” Even those that have a vague notion do not grasp the full extent of versatility custom printing can provide.
The truth is that “custom envelopes” can mean almost anything you want it to mean. For a more specific answer, read on.
Standard Envelopes
Perhaps one of the reasons some people cannot fathom custom envelopes is because they have become so used to standard envelopes. The image of a traditional envelope has become so familiar that it is practically emblazoned in our minds. While letter envelopes come in a variety of sizes and shapes, the basic product is usually the same.
The most common envelope seen in the US is the #10. This typically white envelope measures 4 1/8 x 9 1/2 inches, and it uses the iconic pointed flap design.
Number 10 envelopes have their roots in Victorian England. Manufacturers Edwin Hill and Warren De La Rue filed a patent for an envelope-making machine in 1845 that cut diamond-shaped sheets that were folded into the now-ubiquitous rectangle shape. The pointed flap design was created so a single seal could hold the envelope shut at its apex.
This design has remained largely unchanged since its first creation. The vast majority of envelopes are white, folded paper that are so unassuming it could blend into the background of any desk clutter. Window envelopes and other such developments alter this image from time to time, but by and large most envelopes look the same.
The Custom Difference
We at Letter Jacket aimed to shake up this monotony. Clients can order envelopes in nearly any hue with a design of their choosing printed on each one.
The difference between us and most “big box” retail suppliers is that we do not force our clients to choose between preset templates, designs, fonts or layouts when they request an order. Instead, we work with clients to use the designs they created, or to come to a consensus on the perfect design for their branded stationary or direct mailing campaign.
Our projects in the past have included some pretty creative ideas, too. Some brands use the window envelope to have an image “peeking” out from within the envelope in the backdrop of something like a bushy hedge to ignite curiosity. Others request we reproduce gorgeous works of art that turn the envelope into an impressive and eye-catching component of the direct mail campaign itself. Clients can also choose to have a design printed on the envelope interior so as the recipient unfolds the envelope, they are placed in a discovery mode where surprises abound.
No matter how you choose to flex your creative muscles, we at Letter Jacket strive to bring your ideas to life in the highest quality and most accurate way possible. We choose to exceed minimum standards by offering our clients envelopes that are anything but standard. Visit our testimonials page to learn more about the difference custom envelopes can make.
