Services company goes with unusual configuration to produce commanding presentation folders.
BY FOLDERPRINTERS WRITERS
October 17, 2023
The three inside panels of Portfolio's custom presentation folder.
It should augur well for a presentation folder’s potential to make an impact on its recipients when an order — whose design we have not yet seen — gets our attention as soon as we get notification in our internal system.
One such attention-grabbing project is that which we recently completed for Portfolio, a services company based in Ohio. The primary factor? Its three-panel, three-pocket configuration.
Whereas a standard folder folds in half (the halves thereby creating two panels), Portfolio’s folder has a third panel; each having a pocket. All the panels are of equal size after a sheet is folded using the tri-fold method.
The final folded (or closed) size is the same as that of the standard folder, except that it obviously has a wider canvas for graphic design and more capacity to hold accompanying documents or other pertinent material.
Cover of Porfolio's folder.
Their judicious use of the wider canvas further heightened our appreciation. On the side that includes the front and back of the folder, a majestic panoramic image of a desolate highway during sunrise is sprawled on the entire sheet.
On the other, text that list Portfolio’s beliefs, attributes, values, and product features are laid out across the inside panels.
All this prompted us to reach out to Portfolio's Director of Marketing and Advertising, Tariq Kamal, to learn more about their choice of configuration and use of the folders.
FOLDERPRINTERS WRITERS: Please describe your company and its services or specialty.
TARIQ KAMAL: Portfolio provides service contracts, warranties and protection products sold by U.S. auto, RV and powersports dealers.
FPW: What purpose do your folders generally serve? Is it for marketing or selling? If so, What problems or challenges in marketing, selling do the folders solve for you?
TK: Our folders serve as “pitch kits” filled with dealer-facing and customer-facing marketing materials.
FPW: In this digital, internet age, why use analog presentation folders?
TK: Our sales team continues to rely on folders to make a physical, tangible impact when presenting our products to new and existing clients.
Partially open folder showing the tri-fold folding pattern.
FPW: Who designs your folders?
TK: Our in-house graphics team designs our folders.
FPW: Did you look at other folder sellers’ websites? What made you choose us?
TK: Folder Printers is among the few vendors we found that offers a three-panel, three-pocket folder with full gloss and full-bleed artwork on both sides.
FPW: Speaking of three-panel and pocket folders, why did you choose to go with such a configuration?
TK: We chose the three-panel, three-pocket configuration to hold a booklet and leave room for any combination of additional available materials.
FPW: What was your experience using the website? Was it easy to use?
TK: The website was easy to use.
"Our sales team continues to rely on folders to make a physical, tangible impact when presenting our products to new and existing clients."
— Tariq Kamal
FPW: Did you easily find the product you were looking for?
TK: We easily found the product we were looking for.
FPW: Did the final product meet your expectations?
TK: The final product exceeded our expectations.
Fully opened folder seen from the side that includes the cover and back, showcasing panoramic image.
Our Takeaway
As evidenced by the projects we’ve completed for thousands of companies, standard presentation folders add value and impact — and likely make the recipient more receptive — to any sales, marketing, solicitation or proposal, but a custom folder with an unusual configuration and aesthetically pleasing design can exponentially greaten the effect.
A three-panel custom folder is a case in point.
First, as it is usually the case with anything out of the oridinary, the larger-than-normal size alone should command better attention.
Second, if this larger space is utilized and designed thoughtfully, the recipient may better see and absorb your message or branding.
Third, the extra panel and pocket allows for more space to include material that can provide more detail with regard to the presentation.
Finally, if nothing else, the reveal during the opening of all the panels could provide a little bit of drama and excitement.
It is in instances like this rare project in which we, even as a leading manufacturer of custom presentation folders — who are supposed to be
jaded — are throughly impressed, but nonetheless left wondering why such a majestic folder is not utilized more often. Could it be the lack of awareness or availability (folderprinters.com is one of the very few that offer three-panel configuration).?
Perhaps this article will shed light on the product and promote its use.
