The Olden Days…

Can you imagine back in the olden days ( maybe you’re too young, if so,  you need to keep reading this post more than anyone visiting this blog) before credit cards were invented, the amount of time and effort it took to get money out of the bank, those long line ups, no Saturday banking, paying for a trip (cash or cheque up front), or if you finally got to your travel destination and lost your wallet…it all spelled inconvenience.

Yahoo…

But then there came credit, then the credit “card”, and then the decision that vinyl be the preferred material for credit card applications, and then the world economy grew like never before!

According to Britannica.com “The use of credit cards originated in the United States during the 1920s, when individual firms, such as oil companies and hotel chains, began issuing them to customers for purchases made at company outlets. The first universal credit card, which could be used at a variety of establishments, was introduced by the Diners’ Club, Inc., in 1950. Another major card of this type, known as a travel and entertainment card, was established by the American Express Company in 1958.”

Flexible vinyl…

So why was vinyl the choice for a mode of consumerism that would revolutionize the world?

  • Vinyl can be molded into many shapes and sizes, and in the case of credit cards, can be reduced to a convenient wallet size card.
  • Rigid Vinyl is able to stand up to repeated use.
  • Banks and other financial institutions can put their colours and logos right on the card, making it perfect for promotion…over and over again.
  • Like magic, today we wave our cards at any entity or on-line store that offers a product or service, and receive the product of our desire all in one convenient transaction.

It’s hard to imagine what life would be like without a credit card, and the convenience that comes with. Besides monetary transactions…here are a few more things to think about how vinyl impacts your life:

  • Left your credit card in your pants pocket and ran it through the washer and the dryer, vinyl can take it.
  • Need to tighten a loose screw on something, vinyl can fix it.
  • Want to put a down payment on a car, vinyl is great at driving those transactions.

Bottom line…

Life takes vinyl!