As a small business owner or entrepreneur, you know the importance of having professional, eye-catching business cards to market your brand and connect with potential customers or partners. But with so many options out there for printing business cards, it can be overwhelming to figure out the best route to take in terms of quality, price, and convenience.
One option you may not have considered is getting your business cards printed at Walmart. Yes, the same place where you buy groceries, household essentials, and just about everything else also offers business card printing services through their online Photo Center. But is Walmart really the best choice for your business card needs?
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about printing business cards at Walmart, from pricing and design options to how the retail giant stacks up against other popular business card vendors. Plus, we‘ll share some expert tips for designing standout business cards that make a lasting impression. Let‘s dive in!
Walmart‘s Business Card Printing Services: An Overview
First, let‘s go over the basics of Walmart‘s business card offerings as of 2024. Through the Walmart Photo Center website, you can design and print custom business cards on the following paper options:
- Standard matte cardstock (120 lb weight)
- Premium glossy cardstock (130 lb weight)
- Ultra-thick matte cardstock (220 lb weight)
Pricing for Walmart business cards is as follows:
| Paper Type | Qty 50 | Qty 100 | Qty 250 | Qty 500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Matte | $8.00 | $12.00 | $25.00 | $35.00 |
| Premium Glossy | $10.00 | $15.00 | $32.00 | $45.00 |
| Ultra Thick Matte | $15.00 | $25.00 | $55.00 | $75.00 |
As you can see, Walmart‘s pricing starts at just $8 for a pack of 50 standard matte business cards, which comes out to only 16 cents per card. However, upgrading to a premium glossy or ultra-thick stock will cost you a bit extra per card. You can order business cards in quantities up to 1000 at a time.
Shipping costs for business cards from Walmart vary based on your chosen quantity and delivery speed. For 50-100 cards, you‘ll pay a flat rate of $2.95 for 7-10 day shipping or $7.95 for 3-5 day expedited shipping. Costs increase incrementally for larger quantities, maxing out at $5.95 for standard shipping or $15.95 for expedited shipping for 1000 cards.
In terms of design, Walmart provides a user-friendly interface where you can choose from a variety of professional templates and customize the layout, colors, fonts, and images to your liking. You can incorporate your own photos, logo, and text, or select from Walmart‘s library of clipart and stock imagery. The standard dimensions of Walmart‘s business cards are 3.5" x 2", but you also have the option of choosing a square 2.5" x 2.5" format for a trendy, modern look.
After finalizing your business card design, you can opt to pick up your print order at your local Walmart store as early as same-day, often within just a few hours. Alternatively, you can have your business cards shipped directly to your home or business with estimated arrival in 3-10 business days depending on your chosen shipping method.
Walmart vs. The Competition: Business Card Printing Showdown
Of course, Walmart is far from the only option for printing business cards. To see how the mega-retailer stacks up against some of the other leading vendors, we compiled comparison data on pricing, paper stocks, design options, and shipping/pickup choices. Here‘s how Walmart compares to three top competitors for business card printing:
Staples
- Pricing: From $14.99 for 250 standard matte cards to $59.99 for 1000 premium glossy cards
- Paper stocks: Standard matte, premium glossy, and ultra-thick options available
- Design: Choose from hundreds of customizable templates or upload your own design
- Specialty options: Folded cards, mini cards, metallic/foil accents, embossed/debossed effects
- Shipping: Free 7 day shipping on orders over $50 or in-store pickup in 3-7 business days
Vistaprint
- Pricing: From $19.99 for 100 standard matte cards to $135 for 1000 premium cards
- Paper stocks: Standard, signature, premium, and ultra-thick paper options
- Design: Use Vistaprint‘s online design tool or get help from a professional designer
- Specialty options: Spot gloss, metallic finish, plastic, magnetic cards, and more
- Shipping: Starts at $5.67 for slow economy shipping up to $22.99 for express 2 day shipping
MOO
- Pricing: From $19.99 for 50 original matte cards to $119.99 for 400 luxe cards with color seam
- Paper stocks: Original, cotton, super, and luxe premium paper stocks
- Design: Robust online design tool or choose from exclusive designer templates
- Specialty options: Gold/silver foil, embossed gloss, NFC-enabled cards, custom stickers
- Shipping: Flat rate of $8.50 for 10 business day delivery or $22.50 for express 2-3 day shipping
Based on this comparison data, it‘s clear that Walmart offers some of the lowest per-card prices, especially for larger quantities. Walmart‘s 16 cents per card for basic cardstock beats out the competition handily – Staples comes closest at 20 cents per card when ordering 1000.
However, Walmart falls a bit short when it comes to paper stock options. While they do offer a premium glossy and ultra-thick stock, the selection pales in comparison to specialty papers like Vistaprint‘s plastic or MOO‘s luxe cotton blends. Walmart also lacks many of the unique add-ons and finishes available elsewhere, like foil accents or customized card shapes.
In terms of design, all four vendors provide user-friendly online design tools and customizable templates. Staples and Vistaprint are the standouts here, with extensive libraries of industry-specific designs and easy-to-use editing features.
When it comes to shipping and pickup options, Walmart and Staples offer the added convenience of in-store pickup, while Vistaprint and MOO are online-only operations. Walmart also has the edge for cheap delivery, with a flat $2.95 rate for standard shipping compared to $5.67 and up from Vistaprint and MOO.
The Business Case for Business Cards
Despite the proliferation of digital networking tools, business cards remain an indispensable asset for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to make meaningful professional connections. Consider these telling statistics:
- 10 billion business cards are printed in the US each year (that‘s 27 million per day!) (Source: Statistic Brain)
- 72% of people judge a company or individual based on the quality of their business cards (Source: Adobe)
- 39% of people would choose not to do business with someone if they have a "cheap looking" business card (Source: Entrepreneur)
- 88% of business cards handed out are thrown away in less than a week – but business cards with a unique design, material, or finish are far less likely to be discarded (Source: Small Business Trends)
Based on these figures, it‘s clear that business cards can be a powerful tool for making a strong first impression and kickstarting professional relationships. A memorable, well-designed business card conveys credibility and attention to detail, and can keep your business top-of-mind long after an initial meeting.
Expert Business Card Design Tips
So what goes into crafting a winning business card design? We asked branding experts and professional designers to share their top tips for creating cards that spark conversations and drive results. Here are some of their key insights:
1. Keep it simple
Resist the urge to cram every last detail onto your card. According to Matt Ellis, Brand Strategist at Mesmerize Media, "The most effective business card designs are clean, uncluttered, and easy to read. Stick to the essentials like your name, title, company name, and key contact details. Avoid tiny text or elaborate fonts that are hard to decipher."
2. Reinforce your brand identity
"Your business card should be a tangible extension of your overall brand identity," says Allie Decker, Graphic Designer and Brand Consultant. "Incorporate your core brand colors, fonts, and imagery to create a cohesive look. If you have a standout logo, make it the centerpiece of the design."
3. Maximize the available real estate
"Many businesses miss out by leaving the back of their cards blank," notes Decker. "Put that space to work by featuring an appealing image, highlighting a special offer or discount code, or even printing a mini version of your product menu or service list. Give people a reason to hang onto your card and reference it in the future."
4. Opt for high-quality materials
"Never underestimate the power of touch when it comes to making a lasting impression," advises Ellis. "Choosing a premium, weighty cardstock or an unconventional material like wood or metal can really set your business cards apart. People are more likely to keep and show off a card that has a luxurious, substantial feel."
5. Get creative with special finishes
According to Brittney Theriault, Lead Designer at Speak Design Co., "The difference is in the details when it comes to business card design. Specialty options like spot UV coating, foil stamping, embossing, or die-cutting introduce a whole new tactile and visual dimension that gets your card noticed and remembered."
The Bottom Line
Printing business cards at Walmart can be an affordable, convenient way to equip yourself with this classic networking must-have. With low per-card prices, an intuitive online design tool, and the option to pick up your cards same-day at your neighborhood store, Walmart‘s offerings definitely hold their own against the big names in the business card printing space.
However, if you‘re looking for a wider variety of premium paper stocks or want to experiment with specialty finishes and design upgrades, you may find it worthwhile to invest a bit more in your cards with a vendor like Vistaprint or MOO. Ultimately, the best business card choice for you depends on your budget, your brand style, and your business goals.
No matter which printing route you choose, remember that a memorable business card is an opportunity to make a powerful first impression. Focus on a clean, simple design that seamlessly connects to your core visual brand, experiment with unexpected materials and design features, and always carry a fresh stack of cards everywhere you go. You never know when a casual conversation could turn into your next big break!
