My Logo Business Card and Post Card Design

[Steve]

Actually, I'm still waiting for the zoning hearing board meeting to actually be approved to run a home based business. (Jan 26th) Until then, I hesitate to advertise "large scale" for fear of jeopardizing my approval. (It's "not legal" to operate a business from your home without approval) Can you tell us more about this? Does a new business owner always have to wait for the zoning board to meet on their application or was your situation unique? Are you going to the meeting? Do you need to do anything there?

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[Hedgemaster]

Lawn care business tips

Actually, I'm still waiting for the zoning hearing board meeting to actually be approved to run a home based business. (Jan 26th) Until then, I hesitate to advertise "large scale" for fear of jeopardizing my approval. (It's "not legal" to operate a business from your home without approval) Originally Posted by Steve Can you tell us more about this? Does a new business owner always have to wait for the zoning board to meet on their application or was your situation unique? Are you going to the meeting? Do you need to do anything there? Nothing special about my situation. If you want to run a home based business (legally) in my municipality, you must apply for a home occupancy "permit" (forget the actual term), and be approved. Since these meetings are only held once a month, I have to wait because I submitted mine right after the last one was held. (ugh.) Yes, I'm going - I believe attendance is required. All I need to do is listen to them explain the "restrictions" that apply to me, and answer any questions they may have for me pertaining to my business and how it may impact my property and those around me. The guy who took my application said, "No need to wear a tie, and no need for a lawyer to come with you - very informal setting." I was told that for a business like mine, it's pretty much a done deal - "they approve them all the time", and that this is mostly a formality, but they want to be sure I understand what I am/am not permitted to do in regards to my property. For example, I'm not permitted to "stockpile materials" on my property. Here, I'll copy/paste the pertinent section of the application info for you to read. HOME OCCUPATION - An occupation conducted in a dwelling unit. Home occupations shall be special exceptions, subject to the approval of the Zoning Hearing Board. In reviewing applications for home occupations, the Board may impose appropriate and reasonable conditions necessary to protect the surrounding properties. The following conditions shall apply to all home occupations unless expressly waived by the Board after a demonstration of good cause: A. No Person other than members of the family residing on the premises shall be engaged in such occupation. B. The use of the dwelling unit for the home occupation shall be clearly incidental to, and subordinate to, its use for residential purposes by its occupants, and not more than 25 percent (25%) of the floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used in the conduct of the home occupation. C. There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the building or premises, or other visible evidence of the conduct of such home occupation, other than one sign, non-illuminated, and non-animated not exceeding one square foot in area. D. No home occupation shall be conducted in any accessory building. E. There shall be no stocking of goods or keeping of an inventory or finished goods in connection with such home occupation. Retail goods must be made to order or selected from catalogues and/or samples, and delivered to customers. There shall be no “over-the-counter” sales of retail or wholesale goods. F. No traffic shall be generated by such home occupation in greater volumes than would normally be expected in a residential neighborhood, and any need for parking generated by the conduct of such home occupation shall be met off the street and in other than a required front yard. G. No equipment or process shall be used in such home occupation, which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the lot if the occupation is conducted in a single-family residence, or outside the dwelling unit if conducted in other than a single-family residence. In the case of electrical interference, no equipment or process shall be used which creates visual or audible interference in any radio or television receivers off the premises, or causes fluctuations in line voltage off the premises. H. No home occupation shall involve the use of toxic materials or any materials, which present a deleterious effect on adjacent properties. (snip)... While some may grumble about anyone restricting what you can do with your own property, I don't have a big issue with this. I live in the suburbs - I would be highly upset if my neighbor started a motorcycle repair shop in the shed in his yard and was constantly revving up dirt bikes and piling up engine parts and tires all over the place. In talking to the folks who took my application, what they seem most concerned with is that you aren't going to become a nuisance to your neighbors. Beyond that, I doubt they would even care if you violated some of the "terms".

[Steve]

That is very interesting stuff. Keep us posted on how the meeting goes and what the final outcome is.

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by Steve

That is very interesting stuff. Keep us posted on how the meeting goes and what the final outcome is.

That was addressed in my "First Step to Legitimacy" thread, so I won't respond to that again here...


That said, I thought I'd update this thread. I had purchased a pack of "Card Cues" business card holders from Artie a while back, and finally found a place to use some.

Note that most "bulletin board" advertising has gone the way of the dinosaur around here (most have signs stating: Community Announcements ONLY! NO BUSINESS ADVERTISING!), so I was surprised when I stopped by a smaller grocery store on my way home today to see if they had a board available. I was initially disappointed when I saw a board that was covered by glass, but just inside the door, by the "take one" magazines, was a small board with cards and flyers attached! Woo-hoo!

There were no push pins left, so I bought a pack in the store, and rather than just pinning up a card, I went back out and grabbed a few of my "snow removal" flyers to put up.

The wife and I had to go back out for something later on, so I stopped back in, and replaced the cards I had pinned up with these card HOLDERS.




They are pretty handy for things like this and have tabs on the back that fold out to use on a counter top as well. I didn't fill them up, as I suspect some jerk will get pissy that I've "outdone" his "tear a number off my chicken-scratch flyer" advertisement*, and just throw all of my cards away.
I'll honestly be shocked if the entire card holder doesn't go missing - time will tell. They were cheap - no big deal if I lose one.

*No offense to you "chicken-scratch" advertisers.


Here's a closer view. Rather than just using one of my cards, I made "season specific" mini-ad/cards that I printed at home and placed in the spot for a business card on top. I also TAPED them on, so someone can't easily pop my card out and use the holder for himself. (It's a shame I even have to think about doing that)









Finally, since I didn't have my postcard uploaded before, and people may have overlooked the attachment in my OP, I'll throw that back up again too...

[Steve]

Here's a closer view. Rather than just using one of my cards, I made "season specific" mini-ad/cards that I printed at home and placed in the spot for a business card on top.

That is very creative! Did you do them for all 4 seasons? What are your thoughts on why you didn't put them in the business card holder below? Do you feel handing out season specific business cards would be helpful or no?

How do you choose when you should use them or not?

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by Steve

That is very creative! Did you do them for all 4 seasons? What are your thoughts on why you didn't put them in the business card holder below? Do you feel handing out season specific business cards would be helpful or no?

How do you choose when you should use them or not?

No. I just sat down to make the "Got Snow" design and since it's almost spring, I did that as well and printed a few of each on the same sheet of business card paper. I figured that on the off chance that we don't GET any more snow, I'd have the "spring" theme working for me as well.

I made them specifically for the top part of the card display. It didn't make sense to me to just have the same thing there(my card) as is below - waste of real estate. Since a business card isn't typically geared towards "advertising", I figured I would use that upper space for that purpose.

It's obviously designed to place a card there so that when the cards run out below, your info is still on display. Keeping that in mind, I made sure to have my logo, phone number and important points included "up there" as well.

No, I don't think season specific business cards are a good idea. That's what all other forms of advertising are for.

Finally, to answer your question about "timing"... LOL, I have no clue!
I was in Home Depot the other day and saw that all the new mowers and lawn furniture are arriving, so I figure it's not too early to advertise for spring.

[Steve]

No, I don't think season specific business cards are a good idea. That's what all other forms of advertising are for.

I just love the graphics that you designed! What about having seasonal magnetic business cards? Do you think some people would be more in need of certain services than others? Some may need snow plowing while others need lawn care? Could you still list other services you offer throughout the year on them, just not at the top of the list?

If not on business cards, what other forms of advertising would you suggest would work better for this?

[Hedgemaster]

I think "specialized" business cards/magnets would be nice, but it could get costly to have to make several designs and then keep track of which ones need replenished at different times, not to mention having the right ones handy at all times.



I stopped by to see if my card holders were still there (5 days since hanging them) and was pleased to see that they hadn't disappeared. Initially, I thought one was gone, but apparently someone needed a push pin, so they decided to take one of mine and then placed my card holder up on the ledge above. I went and got some more push pins from the truck and re-hung it.

I counted the cards. I had place 15 in each of the holders, and 4 were gone from the "got snow" display. Strange since it's been in the 50's all week and I doubt we'll get any more real accumulation.

[ElGringoLawn]

Here is one also made with vista print

[lawncare.mobi]

Excellent design work Hedgemaster!