Business Binders:

10 Creative Ideas For Making a Unique 3-Ring Binder

Presentation by: Vladimir Gendelman

Company Folders, Inc.

Does your office look like this?

Office Clutter Statistics

• People waste an average of about 4.3 hours a week searching for lost papers and documents.

• 87% of people feel less productive when their workspace is disorganized.

• 28% of employers say that they are less likely to promote someone with a messy workspace.

For over 10 years, my business Company Folders has worked with a wide range of companies who need a way to present materials to clients or employees.

They need to keep documents organized, but they also need to represent their brand in an engaging way.

A binder is one of the best ways to organize your marketing materials neatly and professionally (as long as it has the proper ring capacity).

But for client-facing collateral, it’s also important to stand out. You can’t just go with the default binder that everyone else has.

Concealed Rivets

• Allows art to flow seamlessly on the spine, without having to fit between rivets 
• Creates a smoother, more professional look

Closure Devices

• Includes items such as Velcro, tuck tabs and magnets
• Help secure the binder’s contents
• Adds decorative element to the design

Reinforced Finger Hole

• Makes it easier to retrieve the binder from a shelf
• Just hook your finger through it and pull!

Handle

• Turns binder into a makeshift briefcase
• Makes it easier to carry, especially when your hands are full

Pockets

• Provide extra storage and quick, easy access to specific documents
• Keep binder contents secure when a three-hole punch is unavailable

Printing on Inside

• This is a less common design choice, so it surprises and engages audiences
• Note that this is not available for all binders

Sheet Lifters

• Makes binder easier to close
• Protects outermost pages from wear and tear when the binder closes

Tabbed Inserts/Dividers

• Makes contents of binder more scannable, easier to navigate
• Recipients can more quickly find the documents they need

Sheet Protectors

• Similar to the sheets you might use to store baseball cards in a binder (but they protect important documents instead)
• Lets you store papers within the binder’s rings even if they aren't punched with three holes
• Protects materials from stains, rips and other damage

Avoid the Cold

• Leaving vinyl binders in the cold for too long makes them susceptible to cracking
• Avoid this by storing them at 60 to 70 degrees
• If you must store them in a colder area, don’t stack the boxes they’re contained in or they’ll be more likely to get damaged

Keeping organized doesn’t have to mean making a workspace plain and boring. By adding embellishments to your binder and thinking creatively about its design, recipients can de-clutter their desks in a way that also keeps them engaged and focused on your brand.

As you create your binder, keep these tips in mind. Try to keep your collateral both functional and visually attractive; in most cases, you shouldn’t need to sacrifice one for the sake of the other.

Conclusion