Bulk Custom Pins: How to Save Money Without Losing Quality
Custom pins or coins are not mere accessories. They create a sense of belonging, responsibility, and dedication within employees who wear them.
Moreover, they act as a miniature advertising tool for your business. They promote your brand, build trust with the audience, and increase its recognition.
However, if you are worried that getting custom pins can break your bank, then that is not the case. When you work with the right pin maker, you can ensure both the quality and affordability of your pins.
Why Bulk Custom Pins Are a Smart Investment?
One aspect that makes a lapel pin a worthy investment is versatility. You can use pins or coins for anything. For instance, branding purposes, attending an event, creating merchandise, brand or product promotion, etc.
You can use these pins as rewards, collectibles, or giveaways at social events to engage with the audience. They make you instantly visible in crowded places while creating a professional impression of your business.
Other than that, it is a small yet effective way to promote your business. By applying design elements, you can add character to your pins, which also engraves your brand name in the audience’s mind.
How Bulk Orders Lower the Price Per Pin?
There are a few factors that influence custom pin or coin pricing. However, the main reason depends on whether you choose a bulk order or a small order. In small orders, the manufacturer makes a mold based on your design and only churns out a few pieces. Engraving and machine setup take time. This production also requires skilled labor and specialized machines, all while increasing production costs.
However, in a bulk order, the manufacturers will still be making the mold for your designs, but more pieces will be made. It keeps the machines running continuously, avoids wastage of materials, and optimizes labor time, keeping the costs in place.
Hence, getting your pins made in bulk is a better choice if you are on a budget. You get more pins at a small price, which is a win-win situation for both small and big brands.
Tips for Choosing the Right Pin Type for Your Budget
Keeping in mind why going bulk is a good choice, you can get as many custom pins or Canadian coins for sale price as you please. But before you place your order, here is some advice to follow to get high-quality yet low-priced pins:
Think of the Message
You need to narrow down why you even need custom pins. Is it to reward your employees? Is it to be easily recognizable at a company event? Or do you want to distribute them to your customers to boost engagement?
Before you spend money on making these pins, you need to know what purpose they will serve. This will also help you generate creative custom pin ideas and designs according to your goals.
Gather Your Branding Materials
When you have identified your aim for custom pins, it is time to think about what kind of branding elements you will apply to them. You need to come up with ideas to incorporate your brand logo, colors, typography, or tagline in your pin designs.
Without doing so, both your employees and customers will fail to understand the function of these pins and will think of them as mere accessories.
Sketch Out Some Ideas
When you have thought out your purpose and gathered the branding materials in place, it is time to design. You can either choose from templates available online, work with an artist, or sketch your ideas onto the paper.
Work with a peer to get feedback on color scheming and designing. Together with your team, you can create a unique design for your custom pins that will not look like you just fulfilled a formality.
If you or none of your team members have any experience in the visual arts, then do not worry. Simply consult a printing company, tell them about your dream design, and decide on the perfect style.
Select the Right Material
Once you have the designs in your hand, it is time to analyze what material you need for your custom pins.
You can get your pins made either in soft enamel or hard enamel. A soft enamel has textured, recessed coloring with raised metal lines. It offers more design flexibility and enables you to use vibrant colors and special effects like glitter or cutouts.
It is also on the more affordable side. However, it is less durable and is not scratch-resistant unless the enamel is coated with epoxy. It is best used for promotional items, fundraising events, fun designs, and larger production.
On the contrary, hard enamel is more expensive. That is because it is filled, polished, and smoother. It is also highly durable, does not get ruined easily, and lasts longer.
Any design on this enamel will look premium and elegant. It is best suited for premium collectibles, corporate gifting, and presenting high-end and promotional items.
Find A Local Pin Maker
Going with a local custom pin maker instead of popular pin-making companies is a more affordable option.
A high-end company will use high-quality materials, refined designs, and premium finishes for your pins. But if you are on a budget, then they may cost an arm.
On the other hand, when you work with a local pin maker, you save money on international shipping while avoiding any delays. You can also communicate with them easily and visit them whenever you like to discuss designing, pricing, and the production process.
Order in Bulk to Reduce Pricing
As we discussed earlier, the more you order, the less it costs. For small orders, specialized labor and limited pieces can increase production costs. As for bulk orders, production costs like mold setup and labor are shared across the manufacturing process.
This, in turn, also reduces your per-pin expense. Hence, if you need custom pins for big events or distributions, then order in bulk.
Keep Hidden Costs in Mind
While you are getting your custom pins made, beware of manufacturers who may not be honest with their hidden costs and charge you more at the end.
When you are looking for pin makers, look into their client reviews. Ask them questions regarding mold creations, rush orders, revisions, and even packaging. Inquire if all these costs are included in the base package or if you will have to pay separately for these costs.
You can also get a contract made that mentions all the expenses and clearly states that any additional costs that were not mentioned before will not be your liability to pay. This is to be on the safe side and keep you on track with your budget.
Smart Design Choices That Cut Costs
Let us be real, as you increase customizations on your pins, it will directly affect the price points. The goal is not to deter your creative liberty. It is to let it take over while remaining on budget.
Therefore, simplify your artwork. Cleaner designs are easier to mold, fill, and finish. This also reduces production time and requires less labor.
Also, using a few colors not only makes your design neat and refined. It also cuts down costs by reducing enamel fills and color changes during the manufacturing process.
Another recommendation is to reduce intricate cutouts and detailing. It minimizes the need for making complex molds for labor and saves your time, too.
Lastly, go with standard shapes. Cutting down straightforward mold designs further will increase pricing. Thus, remember that too much designing can be overwhelming and deviate from your goal, which is to promote your brand subtly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are bulk custom pins lower quality than small orders?
Not at all. Bulk orders provide savings through volume efficiency and use the same production process. Hence, the quality and quantity of your material will not be compromised in any way.
What is the minimum quantity that is considered a bulk order?
To place a bulk order, you need to get at least 100 to 300 pins made. Keep in mind that if you need more than 300 pins, then your order may get larger discounts from manufacturers.
Which pin type offers the best balance of cost and quality?
Soft pin enamels offer both affordability and quality. They are also more visually pleasing due to design flexibility.
How long does bulk pin production usually take?
Bulk custom pin production can typically take between two to three weeks. Its time duration depends on your design complexity and location.
Smart Choices That Keep Custom Pins Premium
As we conclude this blog, we would like to emphasize that affordability does not equate to cheap quality. It means you made smart decisions for your business and had your custom pins made while staying on budget.
With the combination of the right pin maker and strategic planning, you get the best-looking pins while ensuring that they are durable and serve your purpose. If you haven’t considered making your custom pins yet, now is a good time to get started.