A few months ago, we realized that we were running out of business cards.
And frankly, the idea of reprinting them really annoyed us.
Every time an employee changed, the information became obsolete. The same was true for a simple change of phone number.
To save money, we ordered large quantities...but over time, the design always looked outdated.
Result: piles of unused cards and a real sense of waste.
We tried to avoid that by using QR codes from our LinkedIn profiles, but then again, not everyone has a LinkedIn account.
And of course, we were often asked for our business cards at professional events. But let's face it: every good networker knows that handing out your card is mostly a gesture to clear your conscience, because it's often forgotten.
Conclusion: not having business cards wasn't the answer either.
That's when we decided we needed to find an alternative, something more durable, more intelligent, something that would leave a better impression on the receiver, and most importantly, something that reflected our values. A business card that wasn't just a piece of paper to be handed out without a second thought, but a modern, evolving and memorable tool.
That's how the idea of wooden business cards with a QR code was born. No more risk of outdated information: the QR code links directly to an easy-to-update online contact form. No need to print hundreds of them, because we don't give cards, we show them. This solution was much more in line with our commitment to responsible digital technology open source.
The concept was clear, but now it had to become reality. How could we combine elegant design, sustainable materials and accessible technology? Of course, we weren't the first to think of it... but the existing online solutions didn't satisfy us: they were often proprietary, with subscriptions required to modify the contact form.
This is how it works:
- You show the card: At an event or meeting, you present your wooden business card to the person you're talking to.
- Your interlocutor scans the QR code: he uses his phone's camera to scan the QR Code on the card.
- Instant access to your contact profile: By scanning the QR code, your interlocutor opens your contact profile right in their contact management application, on their phone, with all your up-to-date information. Your name, company, number, email... it's all there, ready to be saved.
- Easy to update: If your information ever changes, there's no need to print anything new. You update your contact information online and the QR code stays the same. You can limit the information engraved on your card to what's absolutely necessary (first name, last name, logo). We decided to put our contact information on the card anyway because we go to places without Internet, so if the worst comes, our contact can take a photo of our card...
It's easy, fast and efficient! No need for outdated physical cards, everything is always up to date and easily accessible.
The rest of our adventure explains how we met this challenge for less than 5€ in open source.
Design concept
We simply designed our business cards with Canva. The free version is all you need. The tool is super-easy to use and perfect for minimalist design. In fact, for engraving, the file to send to the printer is very simple: no colors, just 2-3 gray variations for engraving depth, and play with fonts and their sizes.
We've chosen to put our logo on the front (in black and white) to leave enough space for the QR code on the back. This is important so that the QR code can be easily scanned (if it's too small, it won't work!).
Here's an example of a template to give you an idea of the desired result (for the QR code, I'll explain everything a little further):
The graphics were done! All that remained was to add the contact form and the QR code.
Creation of the contact form :
To make the card universally compatible, we've chosen a .vcf (vCard) format. This type of file is a simple text file that can be edited with Kwrite (Linux), Notepad (PC), or BBEdit (Mac) to store all the necessary information - name, number, email, company, and even a profile photo. It's a standardized format (readable by all phones and even computer contact management applications) whose specifications are available on Wikipedia, making it easy to create.
Add your photo
Adding a photo, however, required a bit more effort. It had to be converted to base64, a format that encodes images so that they can be included directly in the .vcf file (like email, but you don't even know it's there - it's automatic!). It may seem intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's almost mechanical. Use an online site like Base64-Image to convert your image to a long text file, which you then simply copy into your .vcf file.
To check that your file is working, simply open it on your phone (you can send it to yourself as an email attachment, airdrop it on your Mac, ...etc.) or on your computer (if you have a contact book software). If all your information is there and in the right fields, you're ready to go!
Hosting
Once our .vcf file was ready, we decided to just host it in our drive on our server. But if you don't have your own server, any drive that generates a public share link will do (e.g. Google Drive, although we're not fans of that one!). This solution is accessible, reliable, and easy to manage in case of a file update.
QR Code Generation
To generate the QR code, we used a free online service with unlimited scans, such as QR Code Generator. This was crucial: a QR code that was limited in time or scans would have quickly made our cards obsolete, which would have been contrary to our goal.
Enter the URL provided by your drive that links directly to your contact form. Generate your QR code, then add it to your previously created business card design.
Bamboo Business Card Engraving
To engrave our bamboo business cards, we turned to one of our Mind & Go customers, Cemeleon Impressions print shop in Cabestany, near Perpignan. This fits in perfectly with our approach: not only did we choose a local partner, but we also avoided having to send packages from one end of France to the other.
By working with a local company, we were able to guarantee a high quality of service and reduce the environmental impact of transportation. What's more, it was an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with one of our customers. Not to mention the value for money: only €2 per card!
And voilà, our cards were done! A beautiful combination of design, technical simplicity and practicality.
I had the opportunity to test my business card at the Agora d'Occitanie Coopération and it was not only durable, but it really opened up the conversation. It's a great way to attract attention and create an exchange with our contacts. After all, a business card shouldn't just give information, it should also stimulate interest and the desire to learn more.
What else to dream for?