Envelope Sizes and Uses - Designing your Envelopes

How much attention do you give plain white envelopes? How often do you receive something in the mail in a dull, simple envelope, with only the address on it? Doesn't make much of an impression does it? And how much damage is that ho-hum envelope doing to the sender and the valuable contents inside? Who wants to open it? Unless you are expecting it, the answer is - no one. But, this is an easily fixed problem. Everyone accepts that a printed envelope attracts more attention than a plain one, and savvy businesses are using envelopes in a two-fold approach:

• Capitalizing on the initial attention grabbing design and graphics on the outside of the envelope
• The "vehicle" of an envelope allows businesses to deliver their marketing materials anywhere in the world. This gives the recipients a menu of their brochures, offers, business cards-a full offering of what that business does best in a good looking package.

So, why would you risk sending out a dull envelope, that people won't give a second glance? You wouldn't. And with the abundance of different sizes, paper stocks and features, printed envelopes are the traveling billboard for your business. Below are several popular sizes, and some of their uses.

#10 standard envelope and #10 envelope with window

The ubiquitous "#10"; not a comment on the classic Bo Derek movie, but the envelope that we all use, buy, receive and send on a daily basis. The #10 is 4.125 x 9.5", and is used for billing, alerts, membership forms, etc. - the list is endless. The real estate on a #10 doesn't allow you to create a graphical masterpiece, but some color or design on the majority of the front and rolling over to the back flap is a great way to produce something to look at, highlight your business, and not just tear open and throw away (immediately) or worse, the dreaded "get it and forget it" many pieces of mail encounter. You can also get this envelope with a window, to display the recipients address and other pertinent information.

9 x 12" Booklet

Jumping up considerably in size from the #10, the 9 x 12 booklet envelope is a perfect medium to transport your glossy full color catalogs, product sheets and spec sheets. Sized at (you guessed it) 9 inches by 12 inches, your business can advertise at the nearly the same size as the marketing materials contained in the envelope. Or, you may want to use that space to create a "teaser" and pique the interest of finding out what is inside. The opening flap can be on the short or long side, depending upon your preference or contents.

A10 Envelope

Measuring 6 x 9½", the "A10" is sized well for larger greeting cards, holiday cards and announcements. Remember that last wedding announcement you received? It may have been in an A10 envelope.

5¼ x 7¼" Envelope

This is your standard greeting card sized envelope. For this use, it may not be used for full color design, many businesses that send out holiday cards to top clients may opt for a more subtle design on the front or back flap. Other uses for this size of envelope would be warranty card mailers, postcard-sized pieces and photographs.

Remittance Envelopes

Whether used by a church, non-profit organization, fundraising group or your local bank, a remittance envelope is a great vehicle to reach out to a chosen group, and also easy to mail. Many remittance envelopes feature full "flaps" that, once sealed, cover all information of the contributor, ensuring privacy. The reverse side is typically set up to mail out with a minimum of extra work. The standard size remittance envelope is 3 5/8 x 6 1/2".

Offering Envelopes

Currency-sized offering, tithe or donation envelopes are perfect for religious services or organizational meetings and special events such as a memorial or capital drive. These 3 1/8 x 6 1/4" collection envelopes can be printed on one or two sides.

Envelopes are one of those things that everyone forgets about and takes for granted-they just cover and transport your stuff, right? Not so fast. Don't let the opportunity to advertise, inform and interest your customers slip away by designing and printing a lackluster envelope. Put some thought into the design, look and colors, grab their attention and make them want to open that envelope. It might be the difference between landing a new customer or your marketing materials ending up in the trash.