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  • 1.  Digital v. Physical: What are the benefits of a plastic membership card in a digital environment? Read on to find out.

    Posted 06-15-2022 06:30 PM

    Membership Art Mementos
    by Hilda Gonzalez

    Although people visit museums daily worldwide, only a handful become benefitting members. Most museums have membership programs providing members with perks that serve their community. Membership benefits often include guest passes, networking events, exhibits, and a sense of belonging. A great way to give members a sense of belonging is to provide them with a physical membership card. Additionally, physical membership cards can be little pieces of art themselves. As museums, you understand the importance of showcasing artwork and having your members want mementos of their visit. Why not send your members home with a little piece of what your museum represents?

    Membership cards are like VIP art prints intended for those who pride themselves as members. For over 50 years, International Plastic Cards, Inc. has been working with museums, zoos, and organizations that reward the members of their benefit programs. Museum membership kits usually include customized envelopes, card carrier letters, and inserts (i.e., passes, benefits information, postcards, direct in-mail advertising, etc.) We help you deliver your message while offering something tangible and commemorative to your members.  IPC produces these materials on the highest quality paper and plastic, often using recycled materials. 

    IPC is not anti-digital; we have digitized many aspects of our business with positive results.  We've found that what works best is a balance of both physical and digital, which gives your members multiple ways to access their benefits and encourages them to take full advantage of everything your museum has to offer. A great way to think about the difference between digital and physical cards is to consider that although technology has made it easy to have virtual museum tours, there is a difference between admiring what museums offer in-person versus enjoying it through a screen. If your museum wants to unify its members with their own physical cards, we would love the opportunity to connect and work with your membership team to provide your supporters with collectible benefit cards. In an effort to go green, membership cards can be used for a lifetime instead of issuing new cards for each renewal, and your supporters can make their renewals digitally or through other means (i.e., letters, creative postcards, etc.)

    If your museum wants to represent its community with the highest quality membership cards, please feel free to contact me, Hilda Gonzalez, or any member of the IPC team. You can even go straight to the top and contact Julie Eckert, IPC's President and CEO. We look forward to working together to create those wallet-sized pieces of art.

    Digital v. Physical: Why not both? What are the coolest perks your program offers? What are your thoughts on membership cards? Comment below.



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    Hilda Gonzalez
    Sales & Marketing Coordinator
    (310) 322-4472 x 201
    International Plastic Cards, Inc.
    Gardena, CA 90249
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    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 2.  RE: Digital v. Physical: What are the benefits of a plastic membership card in a digital environment? Read on to find out.

    Posted 07-15-2022 03:03 PM
    I realize that plastic is contributing to waste, but digital apps are their own kind of waste also since phones become obsolete every year as well.

    I like having a keepsake that acknowledges my membership and would love an "indestructible" plastic membership card like a drivers' license that  is permanent with my name and expiration, in the event the app is malfunctioning which it sometimes has, in my phone, when I have tried to use it.
    Why not a card with a five year expiration so it's printed less frequently? I would pay more, ahead, I've been a member of AAM for easily  20 years, I think and I value my membership. I think  $400 or $450 for a five year card is fair, for serious members and cards could be issued less frequently like a driver's license or a high end credit card.

    Just a thought.

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    Jane Haimes
    Professor
    Pratt Institute
    New York NY
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    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 3.  RE: Digital v. Physical: What are the benefits of a plastic membership card in a digital environment? Read on to find out.

    Posted 07-15-2022 07:33 PM
    Hi Professor Haimes,

    I hope the day has been treating you well. Thank you so much for commenting. I appreciate your thought and agree with you 100%. I value my memberships more when I am gifted with a VIP card. I recently lost my phone and my wallet. I can confidently say that replacing the phone is more costly than replacing all my membership cards (Bank, Government, Costco, etc.)

    Congratulations on 20 years on AAM, that's impressive, I am a newbie around here. Do you own a physical membership AAM card? Unfortunately, AAM has gone fully digital, so I will not be receiving mine. However, I hold out hope that if they do decide to bring them back, they contact me first. 

    It was a pleasure reading your reply.

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    Hilda Gonzalez-Franco
    Sales & Marketing Coordinator
    International Plastic Cards
    Gardena CA
    ------------------------------

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 4.  RE: Digital v. Physical: What are the benefits of a plastic membership card in a digital environment? Read on to find out.

    Posted 07-18-2022 09:19 AM
    I currently have a physical AAM card, but understand it is likely to be my last, as things stand now. I did also use AAM's lightweight 'digital card' app in years past. While I appreciate, and in the main support, your appeal for continued availability of physical cards, my concern is also with AAM shifting to all-digital and also requiring the use of a digital wallet to store the digital card.

    Digital wallets themselves are complex tech that bring with them their own complexities - and risks. For those who already use them, adding an AAM card is a non-issue. For those who don't, it's a big ask for AAM to make installing one, essentially, a requirement of membership. 


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    Brian Mattlin
    New York NY
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    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 5.  RE: Digital v. Physical: What are the benefits of a plastic membership card in a digital environment? Read on to find out.

    Posted 08-05-2022 12:18 PM
    Hi Brian,

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I'm glad to hear you still have a physical membership card. Since you have experience using both, how do they compare?
    I hadn't considered the risks of requiring members to add their cards to their digital wallet, especially for those who are uncomfortable sharing information digitally. 

    Your input is appreciated!

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    Hilda Gonzalez-Franco
    Sales & Marketing Coordinator
    International Plastic Cards
    Gardena CA
    ------------------------------

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more