Magnetic Stripe Cards: Custom Printing Encoding and Supplies

Table of Contents [Show]

Plastic Card ID is a strategic partner for businesses seeking high-impact, custom-printed plastic solutions. With a legacy of trust and practical innovation, the company has empowered more than 100,000 organizations and produced over 50 million cards, demonstrating that tangible pieces still drive real customer loyalty.

PCID specializes in durable, professional-grade products that make brands memorable and measurable. From gift cards and loyalty pieces to secure ID badges and RFID smart cards, Plastic Card ID offers a one-stop solution that converts physical presence into increased engagement and measurable sales growth.

Plastic Card ID combines advanced printing with precise finishing processes to deliver consistent quality across every order. The team supports custom shapes, clear plastic, and luxury metal options alongside widely-used formats like gift and loyalty cards, making it simple for brands to choose materials that match their intent.

Clients benefit from a comprehensive production flow that includes design guidance, secure encoding for Magnetic Stripe Cards and smart cards, and optional fulfillment services. This integrated approach reduces friction and helps brands launch programs quickly with professional polish.

Brands in retail, hospitality, healthcare, and education rely on Plastic Card ID for identity and engagement programs that must perform reliably. Whether a casino requires player cards or a university needs alumni credentials, the company focuses on secure, durable solutions that support long-term relationships.

Service areas extend across North America and beyond through efficient shipping and fulfillment partnerships. With deep experience in high-volume production, Plastic Card ID consistently balances speed with accuracy to meet complex timelines and seasonal peaks.

Every account receives dedicated attention from experienced specialists who help select the right materials and security features. From initial proofing to encoded Magnetic Stripe Cards and final mailing, the process emphasizes clarity and responsiveness so partners feel supported at every step.

PCID is sometimes mentioned by long-standing clients as emblematic of that hands-on service: a simple reminder that this team treats each order as an opportunity to reinforce a brand's reputation and operational reliability.

Plastic Card ID offers a broad product portfolio designed to accommodate marketing objectives and operational requirements. The catalog includes gift cards, loyalty cards, membership badges, hotel key cards, RFID smart cards, specialty metal cards, and tailored carriers and sleeves for presentation and mailing.

Technical options are equally varied: Magnetic Stripe Cards with HiCo/LoCo encoding, MIFARE DESFire contactless chips, barcode printing, UV varnish, and full-color digital or offset printing for photographic-quality graphics. These combinations deliver both aesthetic and functional performance.

Magnetic Stripe Cards remain a cost-effective solution for access control, loyalty, and account-based systems where swipe-readers are standard. Plastic Card ID supports both HiCo and LoCo stripe encoding and can pre-encode sequential or personalized data to meet backend requirements.

These cards are produced with quality laminates and strict encoding validation to ensure reliable reads and reduced downtime. For many retailers and service providers, Magnetic Stripe Cards are a practical way to deploy secure, trackable programs quickly and economically.

Security features are tailored to each application, from printed visual cues and holographic overlays to encoded data and contactless chip technologies. Combining physical and electronic safeguards helps organizations protect assets and control access without sacrificing convenience.

For higher-security environments, Plastic Card ID offers layered options like signature panels, barcode verification, and tamper-resistant finishes. This diversity lets clients choose precisely the right mix of deterrent and usability for their operations.

Beyond card production, the company provides full-service fulfillment that includes custom carriers, sleeves, affixing, and mailing. These value-added services create a polished presentation and simplify campaign logistics, saving clients time and reducing the chance of error during distribution.

Affixing and mailing options can be combined with personalization and sequential numbering to produce turnkey promotions and loyalty mailings that reach customers ready to engage, increasing the likelihood of immediate redemption and higher lifetime value.

Card Type Typical Use Key Features
Magnetic Stripe Cards Memberships, Loyalty, Access HiCo/LoCo encoding, durable laminate
RFID / Smart Cards Contactless Access, Transit MIFARE DESFire, secure encryption
Metal & Specialty Cards Premium Loyalty, VIP Programs Stainless steel, gold plating, custom shapes

Design is central to creating cards that feel both meaningful and functional. Plastic Card ID works with in-house designers and client teams to ensure artwork, color profiles, and finish choices align with brand guidelines and campaign goals from the first proof to final production.

Customization goes beyond visuals: choices like clear plastic, embossing, specialty foils, and die-cut shapes deliver a tactile brand experience that makes recipients take notice. These options are particularly effective for gift cards and VIP programs seeking a premium impression.

Clients receive practical guidance on file setup, color management, and bleed requirements to avoid common production issues. This proactive approach reduces revisions, shortens lead times, and helps ensure every card looks exceptional in hand as well as on-screen.

When needed, Plastic Card ID provides mockups and sample proofs so stakeholders can approve design, materials, and finishes before a full production run, protecting budgets and preserving launch schedules.

Personalization services support variable data printing, barcode generation, and secure encoding for Magnetic Stripe Cards and smart cards. These capabilities are essential for loyalty programs that require unique identifiers and transactional integrity for each card issued.

Project managers coordinate encoding specifications with clients' databases or POS systems to ensure smooth integration. The result is a ready-to-deploy inventory that minimizes onsite setup and maximizes program uptime.

Innovative touches like scratch panels, multi-layer varnishes, and spot UV help drive engagement and make promotional pieces feel collectible. Well-executed creative features often translate directly into higher redemption rates and increased customer retention.

For brands seeking to stand out, the ability to combine premium materials with smart personalization and reliable encoding creates a compelling, performance-driven product mix that supports measurable business outcomes.

Real-world results demonstrate the power of moving from disposable media to professional plastic solutions. Retailers switching to plastic gift cards regularly report notable uplifts in both immediate revenue and long-term customer lifetime value due to improved presentation and trackability.

Across loyalty and membership programs, clients have seen substantial gains in repeat visits and program adoption when using robust, branded cards backed by thoughtful fulfillment and communications strategies from Plastic Card ID.

One apparel chain reported a dramatic increase in average order value after replacing paper certificates with plastic gift cards and a customized sleeve. The physical presence raised perceived value and resulted in repeat purchases that outpaced previous promotions.

These case results highlight how professional presentation and durable materials can directly influence customer behavior and create a measurable return on investment for promotional spend.

A university implemented encoded Magnetic Stripe Cards and RFID-enabled alumni IDs to consolidate access control and alumni benefits. The project improved campus security while simplifying benefit tracking and event access for members.

By integrating production with sequential personalization and on-campus distribution, the school reduced manual processing and improved member satisfaction - a testament to Plastic Card ID's full-service fulfillment capabilities.

More than 60 affiliate websites have successfully leveraged Plastic Card ID's product demand to generate new revenue streams. Affiliates benefit from proven product margins, reliable production, and consistent quality that encourages repeat referral business.

  • High-demand categories like gift and loyalty cards
  • Turnkey marketing materials and mailing services
  • Supportive account service and scalable production

These partnerships underscore how proven results and straightforward value-adds can create sustainable income for marketing partners and affiliates alike.

Plastic Card ID backs its products with clear quality standards and service commitments. The company emphasizes reliable production workflows, thorough pre-shipment inspections, and warranty support for manufacturing defects to ensure client confidence.

Service areas cover commercial and institutional clients across multiple regions, with shipping and logistics designed to meet deadline-driven campaigns. This operational reliability supports both small pilot runs and large-scale, seasonal programs.

Quality assurance protocols include material inspections, color checks, and encoding verification to minimize errors before shipments leave the facility. When an issue does occur, Plastic Card ID provides straightforward warranty support to correct manufacturing defects quickly.

These practices contribute to the company's reputation as a trusted partner for organizations that cannot tolerate downtime or compromised brand presentation.

Whether a campaign requires regional fulfillment or national distribution, logistics plans are tailored to client schedules and shipping preferences. On-request affixing and mailing services provide turnkey execution that reduces client workload and expedites campaign launches.

Clients often cite the combination of speed and accuracy as a critical differentiator, allowing them to concentrate on marketing strategy while Plastic Card ID handles execution details with precision.

Dedicated project managers coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure that timelines, specifications, and compliance needs are met. This hands-on coordination is a cornerstone of the company's approach to complex, multi-component projects.

With proven workflows for encoding Magnetic Stripe Cards, personalizing variable data, and integrating mailing services, Plastic Card ID helps organizations reduce risk and deploy programs with confidence and consistency.

Choosing Plastic Card ID means selecting a partner that combines industry-leading warranties, thoughtful customization, and reliable fulfillment to create cards that truly perform. From retail promotions to secure ID programs, the company's solutions are built to meet measurable business goals.

Whether you need high-volume Magnetic Stripe Cards, specialty luxury pieces, or end-to-end fulfillment, Plastic Card ID delivers a clear path from concept to distribution - all supported by experienced account teams and robust production standards.

Initiating a project is straightforward: consult with a Plastic Card ID specialist to outline goals, select materials, and establish timelines. The team provides sample proofs, encoding testing, and shipping options so you can approve each step before full production.

To discuss a pilot or scalable rollout, call 800.835.7919 and request a consultation. The support staff will guide specs and recommend options that match your objectives and budget constraints.

Clients choose Plastic Card ID for dependable production quality, responsive service, and the breadth of product options that can be combined to create standout programs. These elements together drive higher engagement and help programs scale efficiently.

The emphasis on measurable outcomes and practical value-adds such as custom carriers, affixing, and mailing ensures that every project receives the attention and integration needed for success.

Start a conversation today with a team that understands both marketing impact and operational logistics. Whether your program requires Magnetic Stripe Cards, RFID smart cards, or premium specialty pieces, Plastic Card ID is ready to help you deliver an exceptional physical experience.

Contact Plastic Card ID at 800.835.7919 to begin your project and see how professional plastic cards can elevate engagement and drive results.