May I have your card?

My scanner's acting up, so my St. Patrick's Day Special will have to wait. In the meantime, let's talk about one of the most basic and important elements of a business interaction: the humble business card.

In many Asian cultures, there is a special protocol for exchanging business cards. Fortunately I was told of this before meeting my Japanese colleagues for the first time. In Japan, business cards are not carelessly tossed across the conference room table, shoved into your wallet or purse, or jammed in between papers in your briefcase; all of this would be considered quite rude. Instead, business cards are treated with a great deal of respect. Hold the card with both hands, and face your name outward so that your colleague may read it right away. When accepting a card, take it from your colleague with both hands, take a moment to look at it, then put it in a special place right away. Bowing slightly when you do so will help.

So, where to put those cards? I have a black fabric signature "C" Coach business card holder which they don't appear to make anymore. But there are several fun options, and here are a few:

Fun and pink for the girly-girl from Miego:

For the geeky tree-hugger from Eco-Artware:



For the retro-cool, who work in a field where something so tongue-in-cheek would be acceptable, from Anne Taintor:


I love that it says, "Why yes, I am overqualified"!


For the preppy girls, from See Jane Work:






And finally, for the sophisticate, this Luis Vuitton from eLuxury:

Don't stash business cards in your pocket - get a cute case to match your handbag or briefcase.