Bemusing business of business cards

Bemusing business of business cards

By Myra Sidharta

JAKARTA (JP): The man made a deep bow while presenting his
name card to me with both hands. An unconventional way of
introducing oneself, but for a person who has difficulty hearing
and remembering foreign names, it is a good solution.

A glance at the card enables you to see who the person is,
where he comes from and what his job is. In short, it is the
person's identity all on one little card. Presenting a business
card on introduction is very popular among Asians, particularly
Japanese and Chinese, to make it easier for people to know who
they are.

They used to be called "visiting cards" and would announce a
person's arrival in an office or house. The host could then
prepare, either with delight or annoyance, for the guest.

Visiting cards were simple then, with just the name and
position printed on them. Only aristocrats usually had their
coats of arms emblazoned as well.

Later, before greeting and birthday cards became fashionable,
a few initials were added: p.f. (pour feliciter) and p.r. pour
remercier, the French for, respectively, congratulations and
thanks. These cards were also sent to friends and relatives for
Christmas or birthdays.

Nowadays, almost everybody who wants to be respected in this
world carries business cards, partly to make it easy for people
to write down one's address or telephone number. But the most
important reason to have business cards remains to tell who and
what you are. That is why experts in graphic design earn lots of
money today in designing logos for business cards.

In Asian countries, where some languages use different
characters from the Western alphabet, we find cards with printing
on both sides, allowing people to use them at home or abroad.

Some people are proud to represent their businesses or
establishments, especially multinational corporations known
around the world, such as Toyota, IBM, AT&T, etc. They are proud
to have secured a coveted job at the firm, and want to show it
with their business cards.

Individual business cards vary with the personality of the
owners. One person has a small gray-colored card, about three
quarters of the size of a normal card. However, his name, address
and phone number were printed in such big letters that the whole
card is almost covered.

It initially seems this person wants to give the impression of
being modest, but is in fact a very talented and capable person.
His card is in striking contrast to the card one woman has been
handing out. Its orange color and unusual font of dancing letters
tells that she is a very extroverted person who screams for
attention.

What to do with all the cards? Some people just leave them in
their pockets until it is time to send the clothes to the
laundry. By that time they have to decide whether they want to
keep them or throw them away.

Some people do not care about organizing them, they just put
them away. When they need an address, they just call a friend who
is more organized. This friend may be keeping them neatly in
appropriate boxes in alphabetical order. He may have separate
boxes for business relations, personal friends and other
categories. Others have transferred the names to their pocket
organizers or personal computer.

There are better uses for business cards. Gary Richards is a
little English boy who wants to be included in the Guinness Books
of Records for having the largest number of business cards. Gary
has terminal cancer so this is his only way to get his name in
the record book.

If you have a card to spare and want to help Gary achieve his
goal, put it in an envelope and send it to 38 Shellby Road,
Carsalton, Surrey, GUI ILD, England. Gary and his family will be
grateful, and it is a positive way for us all to use our extra
business cards cluttering up the attack.