Good Morning.
Decades ago, people in certain circles had an item known as a calling card. It was a small rectangle of white or ivory card stock with the person's full name engraved, not printed, on it, as in Robert Kenneth Cooper or Mrs. Robert Kenneth Cooper because women always used a husband's name unless they were unmarried. The card was left on a silver tray near the front door when the person paid a visit to another person during a formal occasion. The card was also enclosed with a gift,
particularly a wedding gift. Wedding gifts were displayed at the home of the bride's parents for women to gaze upon over a cup of tea, but the cards weren't visible with the gifts, lest women titter unkindly and make remarks like, "Well I see the Johnsons gave them a place setting of their china but the Parkers got them a letter opener and they just got back from
three months in Europe."
The military was the epitome of social formality and an officer and his spouse - because there were few officers with her spouse - had to keep a huge supply of calling cards on hand. On New Year's Day the commanding officer held an open house that was not an option if a junior officer was interested in being promoted. He, in dress uniform, and his wife, in her smartest ensemble, went to the commanding officer's home, nursed a glass of punch for exactly one hour, nibbled quietly on a cheese puff and a macaroon, thanked the host and his wife, and left a card for every adult member of the household, even a mother-in-law if in residence. One presumes the commanding officer and his wife sorted through all of the cards after the party and was able to put a card with a face.
Calling cards have, sadly or not, depending on your point of view, gone out of style, but now we have the business card, and women will, guaranteed, not use a husband's name if they have one. It's just plain clunky in the year 2018.
I keep plastic in my wallet but business cards in a little container on my desk and present now a handful with their slogans:
A computer guru - Sales and Service with a Bedside Manner
A cell phone salesman - Your Solutions Specialist
A lawn service - Your Turf Management Professionals
A store that sells olive oil - Experience the Difference
A tree surgeon - No Job Too Big or Too Small
An auto body shop - We'll Take Care of You
A plumbing outfit - All Things Waste, Water, and Natural Gas
A hair salon - We Do Outer Beauty
A catering service - We Make Every Event Memorable
These are not inspired slogans with the possible exception of the computer guy with the bedside manner that I assume means he will guide idiots like me through tech problems with a patient, compassionate attitude. The cell phone guy's slogan could apply to the lawn service, and the olive oil store's claim to provide a difference could apply to almost any business at all from the auto body people to the plumber whose slogan, quite frankly, I find rather unappetizing. The tree surgeon's quote would be appropriate for the caterer, the lawn folks, the plumber, and unfortunately, the beauty salon. The auto body shop sounds like a medical clinic.
I wonder now if a compromise is in order, given the silliness of the slogans. You get a small rectangle in white or ivory card stock with the name of your business on it and along the bottom you have your address, phone number, and e-mail. The trick is to say what you do in the name of the business as in Out, Out Damn Spot Carpet Cleaning. I think that would look lovely on a silver tray.
Best regards,
Elisabeth
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