The first use of American military lapel pins dates back to 1860 during the Civil War. These lapel pins were used to identify soldiers by their unit numbers on the battlefield.
From there they have been worn by senators, special organization members, fraternity and sorority members, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, and members of political parties.
Today the modern lapel pin is a fun and fashionable accessory that is customizable for a variety of interests and hobbies. A custom lapel pin is a great expression of individuality.
Creating a custom lapel pin is an enjoyable process that takes your ideas and brings them to life. Want to know more about how to make your own custom lapel pin? Keep reading this guide for more details below.
When creating a logo or design for your custom lapel pin, you need to consider how the overall concept will transfer to a lapel pin format. For lapel pins, you must take into account the image itself, as well as the font you use.
If possible, stay with a simple design image with not too many fine details in it, as they will be difficult to see. They may not convert over as well as they do on paper.
You should also consider the size of the image you are using. If your image is too small, it will look muddled and indistinct. This defeats the purpose of making a custom lapel pin if others cannot even see the image.
Choosing an appropriate font is as equally important for any text your custom lapel pin may have. You want a clean font that is easy to read. Avoid any fancy or overcomplicated fonts that will look messy or illegible.
Don't use too much text, either. Using long portions of text will require your text size to shrink in order to fit it all on the pin. Stick with just one word or a few short words to maintain its readability.
The next step in the design process is choosing the type of lapel pin you want. There are five types of lapel pins to choose from.
A soft enamel pin can be die-struck or die-cast during the manufacturing process. Soft enamel pins differ from hard enamel pins due to the texture that results from filling the enamel beneath the metal ridges of the design.
The soft enamel pin is heated up to 400º Fahrenheit, creating a high-quality custom lapel pin with a textured surface and a more natural appearance.
Soft enamel pins are cost-effective options that can provide an affordable option for purchasing large groups. You can customize soft enamel pins in an array of colors, shapes, and sizes.
Hard enamel pins are the highest quality lapel pins you can get. A hard enamel pin is created by polishing the enamel flush with the metal for a smooth appearance. This is in addition to what goes into making soft enamel pins.
The result is a high-quality custom lapel pin with exceptional long-lasting durability and a beautiful finish. This high gloss finish enhances a pin's vivid coloring and won't fade with time.
A die-struck pin is an all-metal pin with an image or logo stamped into the metal. These pins can be made from brass, iron, copper, or other metal types. There is no color involved other than the color of the metal used.
Die struck pins have a striking appearance because of their raised features. Texturing and polishing add to their distinct features.
An offset printed custom lapel pin is ideal for creating a unique design. It uses state-of-the-art technology to print your design directly onto the metal. Once the design is printed and the color is set, a trimming tool shapes the design.
To provide protection and durability, an epoxy resin dome is applied to the custom pins. This also improves the image's quality.
Quick pins are suitable for when you need stock pins shipped out in a hurry. You can have your Quick Pins order in less than a week.
Quick pins are available in 3 sizes including a 1.5″ round or square pin, a 2″ square pin, or a heavyweight 3″ cast pin.
The right metal color, in combination with your design, can also complement your custom lapel pin's overall appeal. You have so many different metal colors to choose from, so you're certain to find the one that best suits your needs.
Whatever metal color you choose, your custom lapel pins are sure to shine.
The next step is deciding which backing you want. Depending on your budget and needs, there are several different options for your custom lapel pin to choose from.
Once you have selected your preferred custom lapel pin backing, you can decide if there are any other enhancements you would like to add to your custom lapel pin.
You can choose from other options that can enhance your custom lapel pin's look. These options can include:
To give your pins a glow-in-the-dark appearance, add glow enamel for a fun effect. Glow enamel costs just 20 cents per color.
Adding glitter to your custom lapel pin will really make it shine. It costs 10 cents each for one glitter color or two glitter colors for just 15 cents.
Add crystals to your pin to glam it up or make it stand out. The price is an additional 10 cents per crystal.
Blinkers are small lights that you can add to your pin. They are powered by an attached battery pack on the pin's back. One blinker costs $1.25 and two lights are $2.24.
Designing a custom lapel pin should be a fun and enjoyable process. From concept art to the finished product, let MetalPromo help you with every step of the creation process. Our product quality and honest customer reviews speak for themselves.
We offer free U.S. shipping, free artwork design and revisions, and we'll even beat our competitors' prices. We even have metal business cards, keychains, and custom challenge coins. Our talented design team can't wait to bring your ideas to life.
Contact Us today to receive your free custom lapel pin order quote.
Did you know that the music industry was worth $26 billion in 2021?
Because of its magnitude, it is no surprise why so many people want to make it into this industry. However, with such high rewards, the world of music also comes with a lot of competition.
Today, artists everywhere are constantly looking for ways to get exposure and take their career in music to the next level. Although there are many ways to advertise music, artists today need to get creative. Luckily, if you've been looking for some inspiration on doing so, you've come to the right place.
Read on to learn why creating band pins is a fantastic way to advertise your music.
Today, it is not enough to make good music-- you also have to develop your brand to be recognizable. Because music enamel pins are such a cool item, your fans will be happy to wear them and will therefore create a lot of exposure for your band.
Your fans can wear your pins on their backpacks, jackets, hats, etc., and get your band's name out there for all of their friends and family to see. Pins are often very eye-catching, so everyone who sees them will wonder what the design is all about and will likely look up your music! Therefore, developing a well-made collection of pins can be a great strategy to have your current fans become walking advertisements for your band.
The more people who wear your pins, the more exposure your band will get. So, you can give them away for free during shows to reward your most loyal fans and include them in band giveaways to get as many people as possible to market your band!
Besides giving the pins out for free, you can also design them as part of your merchandise line and sell them to your fans. In fact, creating and selling branded merchandise is a strategy that has helped many musicians worldwide make some money using their brands.
Although there are many items that you can create for this strategy, pins make a fantastic merch item because they are very easy to buy in bulk and are also easy to ship to fans worldwide. Because they are a pretty small item, it is easy to carry hundreds of them from show to show. You can sell your band pins on the online shop of your website if you have one, or take them to gigs and sell them directly to your fans.
Enamel pins are a fantastic item for advertising your music, no matter what type of artist you are. Even if you are a soloist and not part of a band or group, pins can still work to take your music advertising to the next level. With enamel pins, there is no limit to your creativity; because they are fully customizable, you can create any design to bring your brand to life.
There are many ways to customize your pins so that they match your brand's aesthetic; some ideas include:
In addition, bringing your custom designs to life is very easy. At MetalPromo, you can turn your custom pin idea into a reality in just a few steps!
It is believed that collecting pins started in Athens, Greece, in 1896!
Since then, lapel pins have been a very popular collector's item. Today, many collectors look for vintage rock band pins. However, many love to collect pins made by current artists.
Because of the collectability factor, pins are a fantastic thing to have as part of your branding strategy. People will love to get your band pins because there is always a chance that your music will blow up, and your pins will become a very sought-after item in the future.
Some artists also love to create limited-edition pins, as they can potentially become more valuable for collectors in the future.
Lapel pins are a versatile item because everyone and anyone can wear them and rep your band. Unlike t-shirts and other merch items alike, enamel pins are something that people worldwide can enjoy, no matter their age, gender, aesthetic, etc.
Although they are dainty items, their versatility makes them a potent tool for advertising. Not everyone likes to wear band t-shirts, hats, backpacks, hoodies, etc. However, a pin can turn any item into an advertisement for your brand.
In addition, pins are also a versatile item because you can make as many designs as you want, and they will never become boring. Because of the collectability factor, pins are a merch item that you can design for every album and song you put out.
As you now know, band pins are a fantastic way to advertise your band and your music. You can sell them, use them as prizes for giveaways, and gift them to your most loyal fans! The best part is that music pins are customizable, versatile, collectible, easy to sell, and can give you a lot of exposure.
So, why not start designing some pins to take your music to the next level? Get a quote today!
In today’s world, it’s not enough to have a killer app and offer customers excellent service. You must find ways to stand out from the rest of the pack and become memorable for potential customers.
With so many businesses competing for attention and recognition, you need to find ways to make your brand unique. One way is by sending out branded swag at conferences and events or even creating your own event to market your services.
Proper branding is essential in any business, especially when launching an event or conference company. From websites and logos to branded clothing, company swag has become crucial in building brands easily recognizable by consumers.
In this blog post, we take an in-depth look at current trends in event management software (EMS), event technology hardware solutions, such as screens, video conferencing solutions, virtual reality (VR) headsets, and company swag trends in 2022.
Branded conference swag is a great way to promote your brand and make people stand out at events. This doesn’t just apply to business owners, either—anyone attending a conference can use these items to show their support for the brands they like!
Besides helping you to stand out at events, company swag can also help you to build your brand and make your company more memorable. If your logo appears on a high-quality tote bag or lapel pin, people will be able to recognize your brand whenever they see it in the future.
When you’re trying to build a new brand, getting lost in the shuffle can be easy.
Made from various materials, lapel pins can be used for events, conferences, sporting events, and more. They come in multiple colors and designs so that you can choose many styles.
Classic company logo pins design is the pinback button. These are budget-friendly and can be created with different colors, fabrics, and designs.
Another popular lapel pin is the clutch or locking pin designed to stay on your clothing. These lapel pins are great for more significant events to ensure your pin stays in place.
A lapel pin is an excellent tool to make a statement.
Tote bags are another classic piece of swag. They can be used for everything from grocery shopping to taking books back and forth to school.
They come in a wide variety of styles and sizes, so you have the option of using them for different types of events. Tote bags are a great way to show off your brand and help customers keep their groceries fresh and their books clean and safe.
If you plan to give out tote bags at an event, make sure you have your brand name and logo visible so people can see them. Tote bags are excellent for various events, including conferences, fundraisers, and trade shows.
They’re practical and can be used again and again.
New technology is changing the face of event marketing and company swag trends in 2022. With new innovations and inventions hitting the market, many new tech items can be used as promotional items.
Here are a few examples of new technology items that can be used for swag.
Virtual reality headsets: Virtual reality headsets are a great way to get customers to experience your brand in a new and unique way.
They can be used to offer company tours, walkthroughs of your products, movie trailers, and more.
Augmented reality: Augmented reality can be used for a wide range of events, including conferences and product launches.
You can use augmented reality to give customers a unique and engaging experience that helps them to better understand your brand.
Artificial intelligence: Artificial intelligence speakers can be used to play messages, give updates, and more.
They are a great way to keep your customers informed and engaged with your brand.
Internet of Things: The Internet of Things can be used to create a unique and engaging experience for customers at events.
You can create games, offer prizes, and use IoT devices.
These can help serve water, coffee, or even alcohol at events. This can be especially useful if you’re hosting an event that lasts a few hours.
There are many drinkware options, from mugs to tumblers and more. You can choose different drinkware types depending on the event you’re hosting.
For example, you may want to choose paper cups if you’re hosting a significant event that will last a couple of hours.
If you’re hosting a short event where guests will leave shortly after, you may want to select plastic logo-branded cups.
Wellness products, such as fitness trackers, nutrition supplements, and more, are great for event swag. They are also something that many attendees will use in their daily lives, making them an excellent marketing tool.
There are many wellness products you can hand out at events, including vitamins, fitness trackers, nutrition supplements, health bars, and more.
You can also choose to hand out wearable devices, such as health and fitness trackers, that can be useful for people in their daily lives.
From conferences to trade shows, there is a wide range of apparel items that you can choose from. You can choose many types of apparel items to create custom company swag.
You can choose from shirts, jackets, bags, and more. You can also choose to create custom apparel with your company’s logo and name.
As you can see, there are many options for company swag. From augmented reality tech items to lapel pins, there are tons of company swag you can try out.
Speaking of lapel pins are you searching for a company that can help bring your company swag ideas to life? Stop what you're doing and get a price quote from Metal Promo before your next event.
Lapel pins have been in existence since the 13th century when they were first seen in use by the Byzantine Empire. For centuries, we associated lapel pins with military organizations.
Now, all sorts of organizations are creating custom lapel pins. Lapel pins can be as bright or subtle as you want them to be. They can be used for everything from fundraising to marketing to boosting organization pride!
The question is, can you go wrong with your lapel pin design? There are some lapel pin design mistakes that you're going to want to avoid--and we're here to help.
Read on for seven lapel pin mistakes and how to avoid them.
If you're looking for lapel pins to use as a fundraising item or to promote your branding, it may seem tempting to go with a pre-designed lapel pin that you've found online. However, this isn't the best choice if you want your organization to stand out.
Coming up with your own design (or collaborating with one of our artists) gives you the opportunity to truly represent your organization. By creating something unique, you create something memorable. Plus, a pre-designed lapel pin won't capture the essence of your branding nearly as well as one that incorporates your branding into the design.
Once you've made the choice to custom design your lapel pin, it's time to start thinking about aesthetics. What should it look like? One thing you want to avoid is overcomplicating your design.
Overcomplicated designs tend to have too many small images or too much text. Remember, lapel pins are usually about one to three inches wide or tall. You want the design to translate well to this small size and maintain legibility and clarity.
If you have to reduce the amount of imagery or text on your design, don't worry. We recommend sticking to your organization name, the relevant year, and possibly a slogan if it's only a few words long. Your design may not be as detailed as you originally wanted, but we guarantee that it will still represent your organization well.
Did you know that there's a psychology to color? When you're putting together a simple design, it can be helpful to think about color psychology and how your color scheme can send a message.
Color psychology can get a little complicated. A quick, good rule of thumb is to remember that warm colors (like red and yellow) tend to evoke feelings of excitement and happiness while cool colors (like blue and purple) tend to evoke feelings of calmness and professionalism.
Just like you don't want to crowd your design with too many images or too much text, you don't want to overwhelm your design with too many colors. Whether you're going with a printed or enamel-filled lapel pin, you may want to limit your design to four colors or less.
When you're creating a design out of metal, it's best to use single tones. In other words, shading may look great when you design your pin on the computer or on paper, but it won't translate well to the pin, itself. Instead, you'll want to choose single tones and pick colors with high contrast so that your lapel pin pops.
Lapel pins come in a variety of sizes, and sizing truly does matter. Choosing the wrong size for your lapel pin can mean that fewer people will actually wear them--or be able to see your design.
Typically, the more complicated your design is, the bigger you're going to want your lapel pin to be. That being said, size is a big part of pricing. If you're making your lapel pins on a budget, it may be best to opt for a smaller size with a simple, pared-back design.
As we mentioned earlier, lapel pins can be used for a number of reasons and on a number of occasions. Just like any other swag or marketing material, you should think about the purpose of your lapel pin as you put together the design.
For example, if you're marketing with lapel pins, you'll want the design to reflect your overall company. Create brand recognition by including your logo and company name on your marketing lapel pins.
However, you may be using your lapel pins to commemorate a specific occasion. If that's the case, you may want to include the year and the name of the occasion or event in question.
At the end of the day, purpose does dictate design. It's often best to start out by brainstorming the purpose of your lapel pins before you start designing them.
A good design can easily be ruined by the wrong lapel pin company. Custom metal products are growing in popularity, which means that more and more lapel pin companies are cropping up--and not all of them will suit your needs.
We offer a variety of sizes, materials, and attachments to ensure that you get exactly what you're looking for. We also work with you to create the perfect design and offer free revisions to make the process more affordable. At MetalPromo, our goal is to make your vision come to life.
Lapel pins are a great way to celebrate or commemorate your organization. By avoiding these lapel pin design mistakes, you can create a timeless memento that everyone will proudly wear!
If you're interested in our custom lapel pins here at Metal Promo, get started with us by requesting a free quote. We're transparent about our pricing so that you can make an informed decision.