Stationery envelopes are elegant, but they’re just not the right choice for a business that needs to send a mailing to more than a hundred people, or a business that wants to send out billing statements.
In those cases, you’re going to need something more functional but equally sleek and professional: business envelopes.
Even so, business envelopes aren’t a single type of envelope, but an umbrella term for a huge array of envelope options. Here’s everything you need to know to ensure you order the right envelopes for your purposes.
What is a Business Envelope?
Before we talk about the ins and outs of a great business envelope, it helps to understand what a business envelope actually is.
A business envelope is a lightweight, simple envelope designed to handle your business’s everyday mailings to customers, vendors, partners, and everyone else you frequently mail. That could mean anything from sending a billing statement to a partner to sending a catalog to a customer.
Business envelopes these days get less usage than they did in the era before computers and email, in that they’re no longer used for everyday correspondence. These days, email has taken over the role of rote correspondence and business envelopes are reserved for two occasions: official business, such as sending a billing statement, and mailings that help establish your brand.
What Makes a Great Corporate Envelope?
Before you order a batch of corporate envelopes for your business, you need to know what makes a great corporate envelope for your specific business, in this specific case.
Remember that these days, envelopes are typically used for official correspondence (usually in cases where the recipient has opted to receive paper mail, such as paper billing statements) and branding opportunities (such as sending a promotion in the mail). The envelopes used for those two broad categories can be quite different.
Official correspondence like a billing statement uses formal, understated business envelopes. Customers don’t care about branding when you’re sending them a bill.
On the other hand, marketing opportunities like sending a catalog or an event invitation are a great opportunity to turn the envelope itself into a branding tool. After all, it’s the first thing a customer will see, so it’s your first chance to convince them to open the envelope.
Business Envelope Sizing
Once you know what you plan to use the envelope for, choosing the right size is considerably easier. Standard business envelope sizes include:
- Number 10 envelopes (4 1/8 x 9 1/2)
- 3/4 regular envelopes (3 5/8 x 6 1/2)
- A2 envelopes (4 3/8 x 5 3/4)
- A6 envelopes (4 3/4 x 6 1/2)
- A7 envelopes (5 1/4 x 7 1/4)
- 6 x 9 envelopes
- 9 x 12 envelopes
- 10 x 13 envelopes
Most envelopes that travel by snail mail are number 10 envelopes, especially transactional mail such as monthly statements, bills, direct mail, and even policy renewals from insurance companies.
6 x 9, 9 x 12, and 10 x 13 envelopes may be booklet or catalog envelopes (booklet envelopes have the flap on the long side, while catalog envelopes have the flap on the short side).
A good rule of thumb when choosing your envelope size is to find an envelope about 1/4 inches wider along each edge of the document. If you have a mailing that could fit multiple ways (i.e. the choice between a booklet and a catalog envelope) think about the item you’re mailing. A subscriber magazine, for example, might be easier to remove from a catalog envelope.
Standard vs. Custom Business Envelopes
Once you have sizing in mind, you can start to think about whether you want standard envelopes or custom printed envelopes.
Why Get Standard Envelopes?
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Standard envelopes are plain envelopes–a blank canvas, if you will. Because the whole envelope is blank, what goes on the envelope is up to you. If you want an address printed on the envelope or if you use a sticker to apply the labels, these envelopes are pretty forgiving.
Note that standard envelopes can include typical plain envelopes or plain envelopes with a window. Standard envelopes are a good choice for transactional mail, especially in cases where you’re ordering one large batch of envelopes to be sent out by multiple departments in your business. That way, individual departments can apply the relevant return address rather than everyone having to sort through each other’s mail. |
Why Get Personalized Business Envelopes?
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On the other hand, personalized, custom printed envelopes are a great way to save time, ensure consistency, and, of course, deliver a bit of ready-made branding.
If your business sends out correspondence and other mailings under a single mailing address, ordering personalized, pre-printed envelopes with the return label already printed can save your employees a lot of time later. That way, employees only have to add the address of the recipient and, of course, the stamp. Personalized business envelopes are also a great opportunity for branding. Let’s say that you’ve got a simple business logo that you use on all your branded items. In this case, you can order that logo pre-printed on your envelope batch. This will ensure every envelope looks clean and professional. |
Express Yourself with Colored Business Envelopes
Of course, who says that mailings have to be boring? In fact, if you’re using envelopes as an extension of your branding, envelopes are a perfect opportunity to express yourself with color.
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Business envelopes usually aren’t as bright as other envelopes, so the standard colors are white and plain brown. However, our parchment envelopes offer an array of beautiful yet understated color options, including:
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If you’re ordering colored business envelopes that are also pre-printed with your return address and business logo, make sure that the envelope color doesn’t clash with the logo before placing your order. Also, think about the colors of the branded items that will go inside the envelope–when you’re providing a complete marketing experience, the details matter.
Some envelopes also include a security tint option, which is especially important for business envelopes when you’re sending bills or other confidential information via snail mail. It’s not always necessary, but when it is, it’s one of the little ways you can show your customers you care about their privacy.
To Seal or Not to Seal?
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One way or another, you’re going to seal your business envelope. But you do have a few options where sealing is concerned.
Traditional envelopes have a sealing strip along the lip, which is where you would lick the envelope or (in most cases for a business) use sponge tongues, a glue stick, or an envelope moistener. These are perfectly fine for sporadic, one-off mailings where sealing the envelope doesn’t require much extra effort. Self-sealing envelopes are a more practical option for bulk mailings. In those cases, where you’re sending out a hundred or more envelopes at a time, it’s unrealistic to seal envelopes one at a time with a glue stick. You could ask your intern to do it, but there are more useful ways to spend the intern’s time. |
Looking for the Perfect Business Envelope?
Your business has worked hard to build its professional image. Your envelopes are just one more small (but important) reflection of that image. Isn’t it time to order the right ones?
If you’re in the market for business envelopes, you’ve come to the right place. Our business envelopes are elegant and professional, with a wide array of options to suit almost any mailing. Check out our business envelope options today!
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| #10 Envelopes | #6 3/4 Envelopes | A-Envelopes | Catalog Envelopes |