You need three thousand cards. Or thirty thousand. Every single one has to carry its own code, its own number, its own piece of information that nobody else's card has. Get it wrong and duplicate codes start floating about, customers claim the same discount twice, or a batch doesn't match the file your finance team is expecting. It's the kind of job that makes most printers quietly change the subject.
We do variable data printing all day. It's one of our specialisms, and it has been for years.
What variable data printing actually solves
Say you're running a promotion with 20,000 unique discount codes, issuing membership cards that each need their own number, or sending out top-up cards for a subscription service. The design is the easy bit. The hard bit is making sure code number 14,392 only ever exists once, that the file matches what your systems expect, and that the cards arrive in the right order, in the right packs, ready to hand out.
That's the part we handle end to end.
How we do it
You send us your data, usually a straightforward spreadsheet. We take it from there, converting it into print ready artwork, applying unique codes, numbers, barcodes or QR codes to every card, and managing production from a handful of cards to well over a million. Because we handle the data manipulation in-house rather than sending it out, we can manage far more complex jobs (specific mixing, batch packing, sequential numbering) than a printer who's only set up to print what they're handed.
Explore by format
Unique Code & PIN Cards
Every card gets its own number, code or PIN, checked so nothing duplicates and matched against a file you can rely on.
Used for competitions, promotions and anywhere a card needs to be one of a kind.
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QR Code Cards
A QR code on every card that sends people straight to a landing page, form or tracker, so you can see exactly what has been scanned and when.
Good for campaigns you want to measure, not just print.
Barcode Cards
Barcodes printed and checked on every card for fast, accurate scanning at tills, gates or check-in desks.
Built for the high-volume jobs that need to move quickly.
Explore by use
Voucher & Gift Card Printing
Vouchers and gift cards with a unique code or barcode on every one, so each can only be redeemed once.
Works for a single promotion or a nationwide rollout.
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Top-Up & Access Cards
Top-up and access cards carrying a unique PIN or code, ready to load onto your system the moment they arrive.
We handle the data end to end, from your spreadsheet to the finished card.
Membership & Loyalty Cards
Membership and loyalty cards with a unique number, barcode or QR code for every member, ready to scan from day one.
Suits clubs, gyms and reward schemes of any size.
Ticket & Admission Cards
Tickets and passes with a unique barcode or QR code, checked once at the door and never again.
Suits single events or a full season of fixtures.
Permit & Validation Cards
Parking permits and validation cards with a unique number or code, so each one checks out against your records.
Built for sites and schemes that need to control who's allowed in.
Marketing & Data Capture Campaigns
Trackable cards with a unique code or QR code, built to capture data at every response.
See exactly who redeemed, when, and where, not just how many you printed.
Not sure which format suits your project? Get in touch, tell us what you’re trying to do, and we’ll tell you the simplest way to do it.
Variable Data Card Printing Examples
Christmas Gift Vouchers, loyalty cards
Here’s the thing, we have printed thousands of gift vouchers over the years, and the difference between a decent one and a terrible one is night and day. Nobody wants to give someone a flimsy bit of paper that looks...Continue reading→
Scratch card marketing – An engaging & fun way to promote business
Why Scratch Cards Still Work in 2025 Whilst everyone is banging on about the latest digital trends, scratch cards are quietly delivering results that would make most marketing managers weep with joy. Why? Because they tap into something primal, that...Continue reading→
Lottery cards printing – St Mirren FC
Lottery cards are a great way to raise funds for your club or charity. Client: St Mirren FC. Solution: Bespoke scratch cards. St. Mirren FC used lottery cards to help raise funds for the clubs’s coffers. The printed scratch cards...Continue reading→
Iroko TV – Voucher card printing
Creating customized scratch cards for a pre-paid subscription card. Client: Iroko TV Solution: Voucher card with variable data. Iroko sell TV content to customers in African countries such as Nigeria and Ghana. They required a simple, yet secure voucher card...Continue reading→
Arthur Riley – Energy top-up cards
Top-up cards, Prepayment cards... whatever you call them we print scratch reveal cards for utilities, telecoms & subscriptions. Client: Arthur D. Riley, New Zealand Solution: Unique numbered scratch cards. New Zealand based company Arthur.D.Riley use scratch reveal cards as top-up...Continue reading→
Nissan UK – Staff reward scratch card
A fun, festive staff incentive for Nisan's 8000 workforce at Christmas.Continue reading→
Lipstick Queen – A fun promotional scratch card
Client: Lipstick Queen Requirements: A fun, interactive scratch card for a fashion event. Solution: Mix 'n' Match scratch card game. Lipstick Queen are a very fashion conscious brand and scratch cards were seen as an appropriate marketing tool. They appealed...Continue reading→
Unisys
Using scratch cards at an exhibition to create footfallContinue reading→
Regatta Clothing – Retail promotional scratchcard
Promotional scratch card for a winter marketing campaign. Client: Regatta Clothing Solution: Bespoke scratch cards. Regatta Clothing used a promotional scratch card campaign as a fun marketing tool to raise brand awareness and ultimately sell some product. They used scratch...Continue reading→
Boux Avenue
Discover how UK retailer Boux Avenue uses scratch cards from Northstar for their In-store promotion campaigns.Continue reading→
Bristan – In-store promotion
If youre looking to order scratch cards for your next promotion, Call Northstar: 01282 865333. Bespoke, Numbered & Standard game solutions.Continue reading→
Hanson Academy – Pupil incentive scratchcard
Are you looking for a fun pupil incentive idea? One that is interactive, memorable and easy to manage?. Consider a pupil/staff incentive scratch card from Northstar. We're a Scratch card company with a wealth of ideas, solutions and products for...Continue reading→