What is in an envelope, you say? Well, that is basically the question you want your customers to ask when they see your mail. And when it comes to marketing material you send to potential customers or clients, something that plays a significant role in whether they open your mail or toss it in the trash can is the envelope it is packaged in. And this isn’t just true for marketing material. The fact is that business stationery plays a significant role in creating a good impression and building a relationship with existing and potential customers.

There is a lot of variety out there when it comes to envelopes. There are different sizes, shapes, numbers of windows in the envelope, colors, types of papers, design, etc. What you select will ultimately depend on the needs of your business and how much you are prepared to spend. But let’s try to understand the different basic types of business envelopes and what they are mainly used for.

The common letter envelope is used by companies for day to day correspondence including bills, quotes, notices, letters etc. It is possible to get different sizes of letter envelopes, and ones with and without plastic windows that display the content inside. Single window envelopes are usually used to display the name and address of the recipient.

Booklet envelopes are used to send brochures, booklets, annual reports or any company literature which has more than a few pages. Catalog envelopes are like booklet materials but are usually used to carry heavier material like catalogs or heavier booklets. This is because unlike booklet envelopes, they are constructed with the seam at the center. Booklet envelopes generally do not have a seam at the side which means that they are not able to carry heavy literature.

As with letter envelopes, it is possible to get catalog and booklet envelopes in varying sizes and with a varying number of windows. You can therefore choose the size and specifications depending on your material. Square envelopes are increasingly used by businesses to send nonstandard material such as greetings or invitations. Square envelopes are not often seen around, and so seem more attractive.

Businesses often use slightly different envelopes to send more specialized material like invitations or special offers and promotions to customers. These are usually baronial envelopes with their iconic pointy flap; or special announcement envelopes, designed to hold invites, cards, small booklets and so much more.

This is only a brief guide to the different types of envelopes commonly used by companies to send different types of material. Businesses often choose to add their personal touch by using different types of paper, different colors, sealing mechanism etc. All the types of envelopes mentioned above are usually available in various sizes, and the printing or stationery company will have more information on the sizes and custom specifications that they offer to their clients.

Good business stationery can play a more significant role in marketing than many people realize. The fact is that with so much variety available, it would be crazy not to use it to stand out from the crowd and be noticed!