Here at PrintFirm we love us some trading cards. We find this particular product attracts some of our most creative clients. Anyway, all this Valentine’s Day talk got me thinking about the little paper cards I passed out in elementary school. They were supposed to be mini greeting cards (I think). At least that’s what they seemed like to me at the time. Now I’m inclined to believe these premade packets have more in common with trading cards than anything else.
6 Valentine’s Day marketing examples with custom trading cards
Printed trading card promos have plenty of uses from advertising to education. Cards are the perfect tool for a holiday about love and appreciation because they’re supposed to be keepsake items. For this reason, I recommend sticking with the collectable theme rather than using cards for discounts or offers. So what can you do with cards instead of push coupons? I’m glad you asked. Here are 6 creative ways to spread the love for your brand on February 14th.
Veterinary pet patient cards
Animal hospitals often take pictures of their furry patients. Your veterinary office probably has tons of adorable photos laying around. Since the standard trading card size is 2.5″ x 3.5″, you don’t need big hi res photos to get good quality results. Just make sure you get permission from your patients’ owners before you print.
In the classroom
There are tons of fun ways for schools, teachers, and students to get in on the CMYK action. Rather than share a single idea or concept, I’ll just toss out a couple:
Teacher love cards- Valentine’s Cards to help parents get to know the faculty and staff.
Student photo cards- Every kid in the class can have his or her yearbook photo printed to create a set of class cards.
Trivia test questions – Work cards into your holiday lesson plans! Ask questions about lessons, and give your students a special card for the correct answer.
Restaurant specials
Promote your best-selling menu items or introduce new seasonal fare with cards.
Kids sports teams
Give everyone on the team a chance to feel like an All-star on Valentine’s Day. Encourage team spirit and good sportsmanship with cheerful heart shape designs for your little athletes.
Photography portrait showcase
Photographers who specialize in portraits, weddings, etc. should jump at the chance to share their work in a unique, memorable way. As with the pet patience, it’s best to clear things with clients beforehand.
In-store gift
This would be a perfect fit for a florist on Valentine’s Day. Other small niche stores might have to do a bit of brainstorming, but any company in the gift giving world can surely find a way to integrate cards that show off their inventories. A florist should be able to create cards for every flower in the garden, and add interesting information on the back about its history, symbolic meaning, etc.
Share your campaigns!
Have you done a cool trading card promo for Valentine’s Day? Tell us your sweet marketing success stories in the comments below!