MOO cards: review and giveaway
Note: Don’t miss the giveaway at the end of this post!
You’ve probably heard of MOO before – the company that turns your Flickr images into mini business cards – but they now offer a lot more: full size business cards, greeting cards and postcards, stickers and labels, and more. And you don’t need a Flickr account to use them – you can upload your photos directly to MOO.
MOO asked me if I’d like to test out their service, and I was happy to oblige – I’d wanted to order some minicards anyway, but had no idea that they’d be able to ship to me in South Africa! It turns out that MOO have two websites (US and UK) but they ship worldwide from both those locations (if you’re international, compare shipping prices to your country from each site before you order, to get the best deal).
My Experience
I decided the most useful products for me would be lots of PlanetJune MiniCards and StickerBooks. (I also ordered a high quality dot grid notebook, because I love large notebooks when I’m designing, and the grid of dots makes it easy for me to draw crochet stitch patterns, write without sloping down the page, and sketch without lines getting in the way.)
The process for creating any size of cards or stickers is really simple – just browse your computer for some suitable photos, and upload them. The unique thing about MOO’s service is that you don’t need to have the same image on each of your cards: for no extra cost, you can upload as many images as you want, to the point where every card in your pack can have a different photo, if you want! (You can also use MOO’s design templates if you don’t want to start from scratch with your card design.)
Once you’ve uploaded your images, you can resize and crop each one to fill the frame nicely before approving the project. You can also delete any images that don’t look good, add extra pics, or save your project to edit later. A little tip: If you have several designs uploaded to one pack of cards/stickers, you’ll receive an equal number of each design. As my Baby Bunnies photo is so perfect for the MiniCard size and shape, I added that same photo several times, so I’d end up with lots of bunny cards and a few of each of my other choices.
Here’s what arrived:
Lots of pretties! Let’s look at the MiniCards first:
They look great: bright and colourful, and the photos are crisp and high-res. MiniCards are the same width as a standard business card, but half the height. Each card is printed in full colour on both sides of the high quality cardstock, so, for the first time ever, I have my logo and colour printing on the back of my business cards:
I want to address price before I move on. Although MOO’s prices may not look competitive compared with cheaper services like Vistaprint which I’ve used in the past, there are no hidden extras with MOO. When I used Vistaprint, by the time I’d added the glossy upgrade fee, the image upload fee, and the print on reverse side fee, the cards ended up being many times more expensive than they initially appeared to be, and only worked out to be cost-effective if I bulk-ordered 500 or 1000 cards at a time. And looking at both cards together, the print quality is much better on the MOO cards:
MOO (left) vs Vistaprint (right). Any fuzziness is from the extreme close-up, but you can see the clear grain pattern visible on the VP cards only.
Okay, now back to my order! I put together the most adorable StickerBooks:
Each sticker is just under an inch (22mm) in size. The stickers have rounded edges and look completely professional. My only problem with them is that they look so cute as a sticker collection, I’m going to have a hard time using any of the stickers!
As you can see from my earlier photo, MiniCards come packaged in a very nice classy white cardboard box, but as they are an unusual shape, I also bought a MiniCard holder to keep my cards looking pristine when I’m out and about:
I chose this hot pink shade so I’ll quickly be able to find it in my bag when needed, but you can also get sensible black and white versions. And this is, for me, the genius part of MOO cards. Now when I meet someone and they ask what I do, I can whip out my pink card holder and say “I design the patterns for these”:
Pick a card; any card…
I’ve already tried it and it’s a great icebreaker – nobody can resist taking the cards and looking through them all. Then I can casually say “keep your favourite, if you like” and they look thrilled as they try to choose the one they like best. The result is that I’ve handed out my business card (and my details are on the back, so I may get a new customer as a result), but my new friend feels like they’ve been given a gift instead of having contact details forced on them. Win-win 🙂
Giveaway Time!
MOO have very generously offered to give three PlanetJune readers their choice of either 50 Classic Business Cards or 100 MiniCards. (Classic Business Cards are exactly the same as MiniCards in terms of quality etc; the only difference is that they’re standard business card size).
The prizes includes standard worldwide shipping, so this contest is open to everyone – yay!
To enter:
- Just leave a comment on this post saying what you’d use your MOO cards for if you win!
- One entry per person, please.
- Make sure the email address you leave with your comment is valid, so I can contact you if you win (don’t worry, that field is private, so only I will see it).
- You may enter until
6pm (EST)11.59pm (PST) on Tuesday January 22nd 2013. I’ll draw the 3 random winners from all the entries after that time.
Good luck!
UPDATE 24 Jan: Thanks to everyone who entered! Just to keep you in the loop, I’ll be drawing the winners in the next few days (when I have time to set up the random drawing) and I’ll update this post with the winners’ names once I’ve done that 🙂
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Ruth said
I would use them to promote items I have for sale in my college shop. The shop is to get more students into adult education. The items for sale are linked to the courses, and are used to promote the courses.
I would love something that is so much better made than my homemade ones.
Val Hatton said
I have a Folksy shop with my husband, called Sewn and Sawn – I sew, he saws! I am about to start selling hand-made clothing and I would use the cards as hang tags with our details on the back. Perfect!
Kathy said
Those are really adorable cards! I would use them to network with fellow knitters and crocheters. And maybe send some along with ordered items. 🙂
Andrea G. aka SpringSplndr said
Those mini cards are really neat. I saved the link to reorder my contract crochet business cards when I run out. I’d love the mini cards to add as tags to my donation projects with fiber content or washing instructions. Thanks for sharing the link!
Beth Graham said
I’m intrigued. I’m still pretty much a baby designer, but could see using these cards for promoting some of my designs and/or crochet teaching. Hmmmm….
Marion the Geek said
I’d use them for my new etsy shop, Purple Okapi Yarn Studio. Right now I’m selling scarf yarn, but I have several expansions planned in the next 2 months including handmade bags for the crocheter (or knitter) on the go, hook cases, and safety eyes!
Linda D said
Hi, I’d use them to promote the business I’m starting with my crochet skills. My daughter needs me at home so I have to leave my full time job and start earning very quickly. These M00 cards would help me to stand out from the crowd and get my hats and accessories noticed.
Lorna said
I punch a hole in a mini moo and use it as a hang tag in my products.
Merry Thornsburg said
First of all, they are adorable….I would use them when I give a gift…a wonderful way to advertise Planet June! LOL!
Merry????
Ashley B said
I love moo business cards! Thank you for the giveaway!
Kelly said
I love these! I’m already thinking of all the wonderful uses and getting mental images of what pictures I already have that I could use for more business cards! 🙂
sonia said
Luv these. I would use them for my Scentsy business.
Thank you!
Maggie Moody said
I would use them for my business, It would be great to have the minis. I love the idea of letting people see them and choose the one they like. : )
Diane said
I’d use them to showcase my photography work 🙂
Kristine BEll said
Great review… you did a fair comparison to what i’m now using, vistaprint. I have often seen the Moo cards but just haven’t had the capital in my very small business to branch out & try them… this would give me a great opportunity! I would use them to promote my handmade soaps & Lotions, Crave Bath & Spa Products etsy shop! Thanks!
Dale said
The MOO cards look great! The print seems good and they offer a wide variety of options for customising the cards.
What would I do with them? Hm, I’ll prolly print stuff I created on the business cards and use them to promote my business :D. That’s if I can take good pictures…
a ferreira said
I’ve just found your blog, I’m delighted with it and specially love your animals, what a splendid collection! 🙂
And this giveaway is great, the MOO MiniCards are just perfect! When I’m at Markets and Craft Fairs, I have these home made business cards to give to people that are interested in my work (buyers or not)… This Spring I will be at this exhibition in a Marina Hotel and I’d really love to have some more ‘professional’ business cards. The MiniCards are about the same size as my home made ones but surely would look much better! And the idea of
Minthe said
I am a young girl in 6th grade, with a passion for drawing and crochet. I would love to have these little cards to pass out to my friends, and maybe even start my own crochet/art shop!
Rajandran R said
I guess i will be winner for this event. Eagerly waiting for the MOO Pack 🙂
Amiguruthi said
I’d use them to actually kick my bum into gear for starting to get Amiguruthi off the ground properly…
I love the idea of MiniCards, they can be used as book marks too then!
Maria Ivansson said
I
tomae said
I would use moo cards to highlight my crafts to see if I could generate a personal business.
Tamsyn Spooner said
If I won, it would give me the kickstart to turn my dyeing into a business so that I can finally share my pretties!
Anne Rebeck said
I would use it to promote the children’s book I’m illustrating with my crochet creations.
Samantha said
I love business cards because of their shape and size and I like collecting the interesting or pretty ones. I’ve always wanted to try to design my own cards with cute pictures (like yours!) but never had a reason or chance to. Did I mention I am only 13? I’m obsessed with collectible cards and making cool business card things would be fun to share and write inspirational quotes on. Hope I win!
P.S. If I win, may I have permission to use some of your crochet animal pictures? They are awesome and I don’t really have anything remarkable to put on them for the time being. 😀
morag said
I’d love to win this to test out my textile patterns and see if the colours work in print the way they do on screen, i’ve been to scared to pay for a bigger order in case they came out weird but this would give me the confidence to pick mini ones that work and get them made into full size ones.
Edith said
Thanks for the giveaway, I love MOO products.
I will use the MOO cards as business cards, as I am planning to open a tiny shop online soon.
Hope you have wonderful time in the States, here in Paris we have snow since two days. Paris is amazingly beautiful in white =)
Good luck to everyone.
Cotton Candy said
Business cards are always handy, but I never have any, always ending up writing stuff on scraps of paper… This would help out!
Becky said
I would use them for my business especially since I had looked at moo before and was thinking aut ordering them.
Eleanor Thomas said
I used Moo to print Xmas cards of my drawings last year. Like you I was really impressed with the print quality but would have liked to have been able to order a larger sized greeting card – they only had the one size on offer. I had to contact Moo a couple of times for help and the Customer Services were excellent. Also the cards arrived quicker (UK) than they had promised. Excellent. I would love business cards to advertise my KnitNell textiles and art blog as my home-made ones are a little ‘ropey’!
JJ Pop said
I would use the cards to make our own family business cards.
Michelle said
Those are such cute little cards. I would use them to help get my etsy shop established more. it was give me an excuse to take better pictures of the rest of the things that I make.
Desiree said
I am going to get married, and moving, and all the things that come with marriage, in September, and I think it would be a lovely idea to have a calling card with my new name and address to give out to family and friends.
Shirley said
I would use the business cards to promote my creative business. I might even get some stickers, cause they are way TOO cute!
-Shirley
Marta said
Great giveaway! I would use the buisness cards to promote my Dental Lab 🙂 Thanks!
Nadine B said
I am getting ready to revamp my etsy store and to change the focus of what I sell. I also want to start selling my items locally. Part of this is needing some nice new business cards. I would really appreciate this prize.
Cherry said
I would use the moo cards to promote my newly started business and use as tags for my creations.. The quality of Moo’s products is just outstanding.
Joey Phang said
The quality seen like good! Mm, I will like to let it be my thank you card for the person who like my craft, or I will make it as my own personal card.
Thanks June and Moo for this lovely giveaway!
Chrisie said
Ooh! I would love to get some Mini-Cards! What a great find!
The Cogaroo said
Your Moo cards are so cute! I recently started a blog, and I would like to have Mini Cards to advertise it. They would also look cute displayed someplace, or work well as bookmarks. So many possibilities!
Thank you for holding the giveaway, Moo and Planet June!
barrie said
Your moos are adorable!! I would use mine to promote my dog walking/training pet sitting business 🙂
MorganAdel said
I would use my MOO cards to help me promote my business by hanging them on bullitin boards at shops in my area, attatching them to my products I sell in store, and sending them along on my etsy orders so people can pass them on!
Bec. said
I’d love to have some Moo cards! They are so cute. Last year when I went to a dolly convention, lots of people were handing them out so that people could friend request them on Facebook and such after the con. I’d love to be able to do the same next time I go to a con!
Josefin said
I’d use them to show people my photografy, and leave them at random places for people to find them and get a happy surprise! 🙂
Kara said
Oooh … what a great giveaway! I would usd them to network with fellow crocheters 🙂
SilverMoon said
I finally got around to opening a store for my blog and crafty things, but now of course I need new business cards so I can send people to my store or at least my FB page, which is a lot friendly than a quiet old blog. I love the idea of different pictures on them too! When I do a market, it may inspire people to take one if they have a choice!
Kati said
I should have made business cards long ago, but there’s always something more urgent to attend to. This would be the perfect chance to finally get that point off the to do list. 🙂
Simone said
That sounds exciting, and though I don’t use business cards all that much, I’d love to have some. My pics aren’t as nice as yours (by a far cry they aren’t), but there are some which might be suitable.
Thank you for your extensive review, an thank you to MOO for these give aways.
Lori - What Remains Now said
I would love to try the mini moo cards with different pictures. I love your idea of letting the person I’m talking to choose which card they would like. What a wonderful way to advertise.
Carola Rodrigues said
I’d use it for my business, showing my work and making them look extra nice with moo! 😀