Who can forget the scene in “American Psycho” when the yuppie businessmen are comparing business cards:

BATEMAN: “New card. What do you think?”

MCDERMOTT: “Very nice. Look at that.”

BATEMAN: “Picked them up from the printers yesterday.”

VAN PATTEN: “Good coloring.”

BATEMAN: “That’s bone. And the lettering is something called Silian Rail.”

VAN PATTEN: “It’s very cool, Bateman. But that’s nothing. Look at this. Eggshell with Romalian type.”

PRICE: “But wait. You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet. Raised lettering. Pale Nimbus. White.”

BATEMAN: “Impressive. Very nice. Let’s see Paul Allen’s card.”

Bateman gets Allen’s card handed to him, picks it up and starts trembling. This time, he doesn’t say anything out loud, but makes this subconscious observation: “Look at the subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God – it even has a watermark.”

Aside from offering you a little Hollywood entertainment, my point is that what your business card looks like is important – don’t think it isn’t!

Okay, maybe the egotistical, posturing business tycoons went a little overboard in this movie, but there is a lesson to be learned here: the smallest detail about your business can make the biggest impression.

That little 3.5- by 2-inch piece of paper says a lot about you: are you classy or tacky? Are you unique, or do you just blend in with the crowd? Do you have a sense of humor, or do you take yourself too seriously?

Needless to say, I collect a lot of business cards when I’m on the road, and most look the same. That’s why I pause when I get one that really stands out and impresses me – which isn’t often!

I make a point to compliment the person who gave the card to me, and when I get into a discussion about how it came about, it’s obvious they’re very proud of it and put great thought into it.

Think about it: a customer who receives such a card could think, “Gee, if they put that much thought and care into their business card, I’ll bet they’ll put the same or more into repairing my car!”

The cards shown above are two of the best I’ve ever seen in the collision repair industry. The one with the Shar Pei dog – well, what can I say? Cute, clever and appropriate for the industry when you consider Concours Collision Centres’ motto: “We take out the wrinkles.”

The other one? Quite possibly the sleekest, coolest card I’ve seen. I love the gold on black. Plus, it’s not the standard 3.5- by 2-inch size! Slick. Congrats, Wards Auto Painting & Bodyworks of Savannah, Ga.!

So the next time you order another set of business cards...think about the statement they make about you and your business!