In this day and time when breeches in security are all too common, more and more organizations are looking for ways to ensure the safety of people, ideas and property. Photo ID badges are a good way to identify persons that are authorized to enter and work in sensitive areas. However, badges - even those with both photos and barcodes - can be easily duplicated. In order to shore up security and reduce the risk of forgery, something that is highly difficult to replicate should be worn in addition to photo ID badges. Customized lapel pins are the affordable solution. There are many situations that require people other than employees to enter your organization. Businesses and government offices, for instance, may have vendors on the premises to offer installation, technical support or repairs to computers and other equipment. Lapel Pins are not Easily Duplicated Contractors will typically have identification from their company. They may even be issued a visitor's badge from your organization upon arrival. Unfortunately, both of these can be duplicated with little effort using equipment purchased at any office supply store. Not true of lapel pins. Because of the extensive manufacturing process required to produce these custom pins, counterfeiting would be quite an undertaking. Reduce Security Risks for Every Organization with Lapel Pins Lapel pins can be used in conjunction to your existing badges to enhance security in sensitive areas. Create custom lapel pins that are presented to visitors, vendors or contractors. When a non-employee arrives, verify their identity and their destination/purpose at your organization. Issue a customized lapel pin to the guest that must be worn at all times in addition to their visitor's badge. Before leaving, the person must check out and return the pin. A similar scenario would hold true for hired security officers that are contracted to protect banks, hospitals, courthouses and other facilities. Security uniforms can be rented by anyone off the street. Using a desktop computer, it's simple to produce authentic-looking photo identification. Unfortunately, there are frequent news reports about imposter security personnel whose actions sometimes result in serious consequences to companies. By using lapel pins that are specifically designed for your business, the risk of having an unauthorized person slip through security is greatly reduced. Employees will know that anyone without the appropriate lapel pin should be reported immediately. These small lapel pins could help you take tremendous steps in preventing fraud and/or theft in your line of work. Lapel Pins are an Affordable Security Measure Lapel pins are affordable and are custom created in any design imaginable, making them a great partner with your current security measures. Because lapel pins aren’t costly, you can produce individually designed pins for each department, group or class. Try using different lapel pins for each month, division or branch. With their versatility, lapel pins can easily add to the security of banks, hospitals, software manufacturers, government agencies, schools, sports arenas, airports and more. When used in addition to your existing security protocols, lapel pins make a big impact on warding off potential threats.

It's often the smallest detail that turns the ordinary into the extraordinary, and lapel pins are no different. While there are hundreds of options available, adding a little pizzazz to your pin can not only increase the value and appeal of your giveaway, but can turn a plain pin into one that instantly draws the eye of everyone in the room. Moving parts, colored lights, or even a beautiful box or printed card for presentation all make your giveaway a real attention grabber.

Eye-Catching Accessories Offer Instant "Collector's Item" Status

Want to really stand out from the crowd with your lapel pin? Jazz up your design with an unusual accessory such as colored gemstones, danglers, or even tiny flashing lights. Whether you use them to signify accomplishments or just to gain attention, one thing is certain: your pin will definitely capture the interest of everyone who sees it.

Mark important milestones such as years of service or customers served with custom pins adorned with colored stones. Using different colors to signify each achievement encourages employees to start a collection, and helps build morale with good-natured competition.
Larger pins are perfect for whimsical designs that will turn heads everywhere they go. Spinning balls, sliders, and moving baubles incorporated into your pin help create a unique look that collectors and fans will love to show off.

Presentation Matters

Sometimes it makes sense to offer your pins in the simplest manner possible, but when special events come around, an attractive presentation can be as important as the pin itself. Celebrating outstanding employee accomplishments with a commemorative pin nestled inside a velvet box makes a grand occasion even more austere. For keepsakes designed to last a lifetime, consider a protective acrylic box that allows recipients to show off their treasure without worrying about damage.

Pins meant to say "thank you" can do so with a beautifully designed note printed on custom card stock. Perfect for mailing, you can attach pins to cards of any size, printed with your heart-felt message.

Custom Clasp Options for a Lifetime of Wear

Often the most thoughtful thing about a keepsake like a custom lapel pins happens behind the scenes. When you consider that recipients of your pins will likely wear them frequently, it's clear that care should be taken when choosing just the right clasp.

Jewelry-grade clutch fasteners ensure long-lasting hold so you never have to worry about pins becoming dislodged or lost. Safety-pin-style fasteners provide extra stability for large or oddly shaped pins. And for protection of fine garments such as ladies' blouses, consider a magnetic clasp, which will leave no tell-tale holes behind to ruin her look.

Whether your lapel pins are designed for marketing, collectors, or to reward employees and volunteers, adding a colorful or useful accessory can transform the ordinary into something they'll treasure. When designing your pins, be sure to look for a manufacturer who can help you realize your vision with stunning accessories, just the right presentation, and the perfect fastener for your pin and those who will wear it.

When it comes to shopping for a lapel pin company, consumers have numerous misconceptions about the process. To dispel the myths associated with designing custom lapel pins, this article highlights the facts and fallacies associated with selecting an appropriate medium.

Fallacy: Cloisonne lapel pins are the only pins, which exude an expensive jewelry like quality.

Dating back to ancient Chinese history, the cloisonne pin has an opulent past. Although, many people consider the cloisonne to be the highest quality pin, it is not always the case. Just as cloisonne pins come with five color options and plating formats, so does the die struck embossed soft enamel pin. However, due in the cloisonne pin's heavy lead content, loss of intricate detailing seen, the die-struck embossed soft enamel appears just as expensive, without the cost.

Fallacy: The photo-etched lapel pin always has a poor cheap appearance.
The production quality of the photo etched pins does not have a cheap appearance. It all depends on the artworks, logos and other insignia. Photo-etched pins are ideal for color-intensive designs. Moreover, once finished in soft enamel finish the vibrancy and sharp details.

FALLACY: All lapel pin companies charge a fee for the set up and the die charge.
On the contrary, since set up is a part of the order process and die charges are step involved in the production, these are extraneous costs. In other words, companies, charging extra fees, are price gouging their customers.

FALLACY: Professionally designed artwork is a prerequisite to placing any lapel pin order.
Fallacy, while the vast majority of pin companies require consumers to prepare the artwork themselves, it is better to shop around for a company that will assist with the imaging. Moreover, providers, who are committed to quality, generally offer complimentary design support.

FALLACY: Since all lapel pin companies provide the same service, it's unnecessary to shop around for a quote.
On the contrary, all pin companies do not provide the same service. There are three consumer shrewd tactics for evaluating a pin company for consumer satisfaction.

1) When shopping online, first verify that the Web site features an actual address. Generally, sites without a business address have illicit business practices, which can lead to inferior quality or even consumer fraud.

2) Next, prepare a list of questions pertaining to the production of the custom pins. In situations where the customer support staff is unable to answer specific design questions, move onto another provider.

3) Finally, disqualify any lapel pin company that refuses to assist with the artwork.

Designing a lapel pin for your own needs and uses can be a very exciting project. Many people have a general idea of what they want their lapel pin for (fundraiser, social gathering, business meeting, conference or trade show) but they're not exactly sure what they want the lapel pins to look like, or how to begin designing one for that matter.


If you don't have the time or creative liberty to design your own lapel pin, don't worry; many custom pin manufactures will actually design your pin for you (most of the time free of charge with an order). If you're like me and like to have control over things, you prefer to design, or at least begin the design, of your lapel pins yourself. Ok, let's begin, shall we? Assuming you already have a purpose for a lapel pin, we'll begin by identifying key points in the design of your lapel pin.


Let's begin by determining the colors you'll use. For a company/corporate or logo lapel pin, most of the time you're going to want to stick to your company's color scheme. If you can, make sure to look up the corresponding Pantone colors so that you can provide these to the design company. You'll also want to choose your metal plating in this phase. Some options include 14K gold, Silver or Brass depending on your personal preference. After your colors are selected, begin to outline a sketch of the composition of your pin design. Will the lapel pin be a circle, or, a square perhaps? Maybe you want your lapel pin shaped like your logo with no solid background - that's entirely possible!


Figure out if you want to include other elements aside from just your corporate logo. Maybe a slogan or byline and something to signify your company's direction or goals. A visual symbol that tells people what you're about, or something that communicates a theme for an event or tradeshow. For example say your company is holding a conference in Las Vegas, maybe displaying the well-known "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign on your pin design would be an idea. Maybe an image of a full-house hand of cards, or a slot machine. Something that communicates your ideal or goals. Remember, lapel pins are a very powerful communication device, and even though they're small they can speak your company's ideals to people just walking by you who see the pin on your tie, shirt collar or lapel.

Creative Ideas to Communicate Your Company Message Sometimes a simple logo pin will suffice, but what about if you want to get across a message without including a bunch of small wording on your pins that nobody will be able to read?


Time to be creative!

Let's say your company builds boats. You have a logo and you know your company's colors. You know you want to include your logo (maybe the logo has an image of a boat, maybe it does). This is the perfect way to show off your company's image. Your custom lapel pins would ideally consist of your corporate logo, along with an image of an attractive boat that your company sells or makes. Possibly in the water, with the sun setting or rising in the background, perhaps some cat-tails or other aquatic vegetation at the edges of the design to show some detail. What about adding some seagulls in the horizon flying about? Think pale blue skies and deep blue water with wave detail etched in 14K gold. See where I'm going with this? Open your mind's eye and let your creative imagination go to work.


The Office Supply Warehouse

So your company does something exciting... It sells office supplies. Ok, Ok so it's not that exciting, but that doesn't mean the lapel pin you design to represent your company can't make your company look exciting. You've included your logo, but your colors are kind of stale (maybe a bit boring?) and you need to spruce things up. What about adding an image of a stack of papers curling up at one end almost forming a C like they're being blown in the wind from a desk top. Maybe a pen or pencil drawing out your company's slogan. Oh! What about a stamp stamping on your company logo or the shape of the pin is actually a ring-bound binder and your logo is on the first sheet of paper? Maybe the theme could be a thumbtack stuck through a sticky note and your logo is displayed on the note with your slogan in a hand-written looking font.


Let's Break it Down Below I've listed the most important aspects to consider when designing your own lapel pins. If you have anything you'd like to add to the list, please let me know and we'll get it put up here. Colors (be consistent with your company's colors or corporate branding guidelines) Shape - Do you prefer a circular shape or square? Even in the shape of your logo.


Slogan or byline - What do you want to say to your potential customers? Creative images - Think of ways you can visually communicate your company's message without going overboard. Plating (14K gold, Silver, Brass, Copper, etc) Size (not too big for a lapel pin now, ya here?) About 3/4" to 1" seems to be the most widely accepted. Nobody wants to wear a dinner plate. Type (Hard Enamel, Soft Enamel, Die Cast, etc) So you've learned a little bit about designing your own lapel pin. Hopefully I've been able to lead you on the right path and maybe even save you a few bucks in design charges.


Designing your own pins is a great feeling and is rewarded when you hold the actual pin in your hand that you (yes YOU) designed and can be proud to wear. The possibilities are near endless if you just put your creative mind into gear. Next time your company needs to customize lapel pins, try to take on the task yourself. There's a little pride that comes with knowing that you designed your company's pins, and people around the office will be giving you high-fives.

Custom lapel pins are versatile enough to be used in modern businesses and other organizations for many purposes. Nonprofit organizations depend on them to increase awareness of social causes. Businesses use them to recognize outstanding achievements such as meeting sales or production goals. Even total strangers become friends by trading pins at Little League baseball tournaments. Custom lapel pins can be made in so many different styles and designs that they can fit just about any motivational, promotional or awareness raising concern.

Military units have worn custom lapel pins at least as far back as the Civil War. Lapel pins were commonly used to denote specific military units and sometimes rank. Today, the tradition has evolved to the point that the military often uses custom lapel pins to honor distinguished service, either on or off the battlefield.

Custom lapel pins are made in several different styles. Some styles are better suited for particular applications than others.

The highest quality custom lapel pins available are cloisonné. These are created from a glass-like mixture of hard enamel on the die-struck metal base. To ensure durability and no color bleeding, each color is fired individually at high temperature. These custom lapel pins are the quality of fine jewelry and are the most durable lapel pin style made. Because the manufacturing process is so complex, cloisonné pins also are the most expensive type of lapel pins. Due to their cost, cloisonné custom lapel pins are best suited for pins for the business world. They are seldom used for sports trading pins.

Soft enamel custom lapel pins are the most popular style used for sports trading pins. They look like cloisonné, but are less expensive because the colors are made from soft enamel and fired at a lower temperature. An optional epoxy coating can be added to increase their durability.

The most popular custom lapel pins of all are sports trading pins. They are virtually everywhere at Little League baseball and softball tournaments. In recent years other youth sports such as soccer, hockey and football have taken note of the popularity and adopted them for trading as well.

Die-struck custom lapel pins are commonly used for military-style pins. The pins are stamped from a die, just like cloisonné and soft enamel pins. But unlike the other types, die-struck custom lapel pins have no color added. They feature recessed areas that are sandblasted to give them a grainy appearance, while raised areas are polished to a high shine. The result is a classic, formal appearance.

Offset digital lapel pins are the way to accurately reproduce gradients and drop shadows on custom lapel pins. Unlike the preceding pin types, these have no raised or recessed areas. Instead of being die-struck into the metal, the photograph-quality image is printed directly onto the pin surface. An epoxy coating is generally required to increase the durability of this style of custom lapel pins.

Silk screened custom lapel pins feature colors printed one at a time, just like the silk screen printing process used to print T-shirts. These are ideal if you need to precisely reproduce logos, corporate text, drawings or photographs on custom lapel pins. Like their offset digital counterparts, these have no raised or recessed areas. These custom lapel pins require an epoxy coating to protect the image and increase durability.

Photo etched lapel pins are an economical style of custom lapel pins. Because they are made of thinner metal, however, they are less durable than other styles. Using a chemical process similar to that used to develop photo film, the desired custom designs are etched into the surface of the metal. Like silk screen printed pins, the photo etched custom lapel pins require an epoxy coating for added durability.

Custom lapel pins have been used for years by businesses, churches, fraternities, sororities and other groups to identify their members. With the rise in recent years of the ribbon shaped custom lapel pins, they have become even more popular for everything from supporting worthy causes to recognizing employees for outstanding job achievement.

Custom lapel pins are an affordable way to bring attention to causes, people or companies. They are versatile enough to be used for multiple purposes, from identifying group members to increasing employee morale.

Ribbon custom lapel pins are among the most popular lapel pins available. Wearers use them to promote social causes around the world, such as pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness, yellow ribbon custom lapel pins to support U.S. troops, and many other causes.

The history of ribbon pins dates to the 1991 Tony Awards, when AIDS awareness activists wore real red cloth ribbons looped in the now-familiar shape to promote awareness of the disease. Before long, custom lapel pins were being made in the same shape, and have now become ubiquitous stand-ins for many causes worldwide.

Ribbon custom lapel pins are so popular that many colors now stand for multiple causes. The only way to really know what a ribbon custom lapel pin stands for is to ask the wearer. That gives them an opportunity to explain the pin’s meaning and why it’s important to him or her.

Civic organizations such as Civitan, Rotary Club and Chambers of Commerce often use custom lapel pins to denote membership. For such organizations, custom lapel pins help promote group unity and common purpose among members who might otherwise business competitors or strangers.

Businesses use custom lapel pins for several purposes. They are a good way to reward workplace accomplishments such as meeting production or sales goals, or for rewarding long-term employees for their years of loyal service. Employees appreciate knowing that their contributions in the workplace are valued. Other businesses use custom lapel pins in the shape of a company logo to identify the company when calling on prospective clients.

Fraternity and sorority members also wear custom lapel pins to identify themselves to each other and to other such organizations. Many members wear their Greek-letter custom lapel pins on campuses every day. The letters are an easy way to hail a fellow member of Tau Phi Epsilon or Alpha Chi Delta.

Many people also choose to wear custom lapel pins to make a political statement, to declare their party affiliation, or their opinions on specific causes or interest groups. Although these types of custom lapel pins are popular, they can be divisive in the workplace.

Trading pins are one of the most popular styles of custom lapel pins. In youth sports such as Little League baseball and softball, custom lapel pins are widely celebrated and traded at games and tournaments as a way to make new friends.

While such pins have been tremendously successful in Little League for many years, they are now becoming more common in other sports as well, including hockey, football and soccer.

Custom lapel pins are popular among virtually everyone, young and old. With so many different types of pins available, there’s a lapel pin for just about any organization or cause in the world.

Custom lapel pins have become quite a rage these days amongst both business and corporate houses. The purpose of lapel pin custom can be purely ornamental in some cases wherein in other cases it could be resembling a person's affiliation with a cause or team. Lapel pins are available in plenty of designs and styles keeping in mind the requirement and purpose of the lapel pin. The variety of lapel pins start from a simple awareness pin or a service pin to a highly customized fund raiser pin, employee recognition pin, sports trading pin, etc. These pins can be used as a tool of promoting a team or organization. Get your biker gang these cool pins with the logo of the club and be ready to turn heads.

These lapel pins also work as a great tool for creating awareness or supporting a cause or campaign. Not only this in a huge gathering of people from various organizations or states these pins can help in recognizing who belongs to which organization thus these lapel pins also act as identity cards, such pins are referred to as Employee Recognition Pins.

You can place orders for customized pins all you need is a design and a purpose to be fulfilled by these pins. Customized pins not only create a lasting impression but also come into notice very easily since they are worn on the lapel of the dress. Lapel pins can be manufactured in a five popular ways which are cloisonne, photo etched, soft enamel, 4-color printed and screen printed. It is ideally stamped out from metal sheets, metal used for these pins generally includes aluminum, steel, copper, iron and brass.

The Cloisonne pins can be simply worn as a piece of customized jewelry, it looks great thanks to its specialized manufacturing method which gives it a smooth finish making it look extremely stylish. The pin's design is stamped out from copper metal sheet and then colored using enamel powder which is fired at a high temperature of about 900 degrees. The photo etched Lapel Pins Custom is highly complex in design; the exact shape of design is stamped out for these pins using a chemical process. The pins are hand colored and baked prior to polishing and epoxy coating. However the most popular type of lapel pin remains the Soft Enamel Pin which appears like colored coins.

This sort of pins is popularly used by sports teams and clubs. The 4-color printing process also known as the offset printing method has been used for manufacturing lapel pins. This method allows amazing blend of colors which is essential for catering to complex design reproduction. Traditional CMYK printing process is used for printing lapel pins under this method. The last method of manufacturing lapel pins is the screen printing popularly known as silk screening. Under this method each color is applied to the metallic base of the pin. A layer of epoxy is essential after silk screening for a smooth finish.

You won’t have to look very hard if you want to find a lapel pin manufacturer. The market is full of pin makers; all you have to do is find the right pin maker. Lapel pins are not only perfect for promoting a particular team or brand but also help in creating awareness by spreading a particular message. A pin maker works as per the instructions provided to it by its clients. When it comes to finding the best pin maker s, customers have countless options to choose from. Each lapel pin manufacturer offers a unique styling and price to its clients.

Internet plays a major role in helping people find the perfect pin maker for their requirement. Lapel pins are basically colorful pin which are worn on dress jackets or lapel. They can be used to attract people towards a cause. Besides they can also be used for the purpose of recognition. People sporting lapel pin of a particular organization or sports team show their belonging towards a common entity. The more amusing feature of the lapel pins is that they can be easily customized. Any school, college, scout group, NGO, etc can get itself custom lapel pin which represents the entity. The pin can be designed as per the specifications of the clients. Text and art work plays a major role in the designing of lapel pins. Unique shapes and trendy color combinations add to the appeal of lapel pins.

Organizations are attracted to invest in lapel pins mainly because they are extremely cost effective; a reliable Custom Made Pins maker will often offer you discounts on bulk orders. There are people who wear lapel pins as ornamental pieces of jewelry whereas there are some who wear it to show support or relation with an organization. US President Obama made the American flag lapel pins a fad in US. The pins look extremely chic and can be used to increase the appeal of simple garments. Danglers, spring and bobble head, etc make the lapel pins appear exquisite. With a little effort on the part of the Lapel Pin Manufacturer the whole look and feel of the lapel pin can be taken to an altogether different level.

Before finalizing order for lapel pin it is essential to learn about various options available in the market. Internet search can help in giving a fair idea about the alternatives. Metal base is used in nearly all the pins. The cost of the pin depends on the kind of metal which is used for making lapel pin, gold or silver plated lapels pin look great but are very expensive. Copper lapel pins are the most durable. Hard enamel lapel pins are the most popular types of lapel pins. The pins are great looking and very sturdy. A uniquely designed lapel pin is more attractive and is more noticed by passersby. Eye catchy design is essential to make a lapel pin click with people. Youngsters specially love wearing lapel pins all the more. Many women wear them as jewelry which adds to their beauty. Multiple lapel pins can be worn thanks to their small size.

By Thomas Welch : A how to tutorial about custom made lapel pins, american flag lapel [+]pins, lapel pins custom, Shopping with step by step guide from Thomas Welch.


Custom made lapel pins basically are small designer pins, which are worn on the lapel of the attire. The purpose of wearing lapel pins might vary but the effect remains the same. A custom made lapel pin might signal association of the wearer with a cause or an organization. Whereas there are some who wear these stunning lapels pins merely for the sake of fashion as ornamental pieces. Nowadays many big companies and political parties are using these pins for their promotion and marketing, unlike the past times when the lapel pins were just used by sport fanatics to lend their support to their favorite teams.

Custom made lapels pins are highly in fashion off late. With improved technology and designing lapels pins are not what they once used to be. Colorfully stylish custom made lapel pins are available in the market at decent prices, getting personalized lapel pins is extremely easy these days. Custom made lapel pins are available in the market in different types namely soft enamel, cloisonné, die struck, silkscreen printed, photo etched and offset digital printed pins. Any method can be used depending on the budget and complexity of design.

Reputable companies are getting themselves custom made lapel pinswith the name and logo of their companies; these pins are later used for employee recognition as well as marketing. Not only do these lapel pins help in marketing and promotion, and they also have the potential of playing a significant role in raising awareness regarding a social cause or even a political campaign.

The American flag lapel pins got popularized post the 9/11 attacks. It became symbol of national integration and was fondly worn by American citizens as well as political honchos. President Obama during his election campaign wore the American Flag Lapel Pins thus setting a popular campaigning trend. The demand of these American Fag pins skyrocketed the moment he won the elections of the US President, his supporters across the country showed their support by sporting lapel pins on their lapels.

The best feature of the Custom Made Lapel Pins is its ability to spread a message widely in an effective yet discreet manner. There low price and long life makes them all the more enticing. Lapels pins are no more ordinary pins, companies are coming up with exclusive designs, which makes lapel pins a prized possession for the wearer. Technology has made is feasible for the designers and companies to experiment with the design and material of the pins. Do not be shocked if you hear or see a gold or platinum diamond studded lapel pin.

Custom Lapel Pins have been used all through the American Civil War and numerous battle products have been ordered to place on them to distinguish their products from other people so they have been noticeably distinguishable.This was a visual clue that could help the army stay organized, look out for their individual as well as market solidarity among the their units.

The take about for placing on custom lapel pins transformed all through world War I and II. They have been offered to distinguished guys and ladies to show their exemplary services and honor them in the front of the units.These lapel pins have been created from multi-colored ribbons and bars and have been really sharp. They could occur to be possibly very simple die-cast material or uniquely complete of color. This use is nonetheless in exercise nowadays in current army units.

Today’s companies also use custom lapel pins getting a method to recognize distinguished personnel once they attain an exceptional level of program toward institution or attain best product sales quotas, time period of tenure with one another with other institution associated goals. companies and companies are among the the ideal utilizes in today’s society.

Custom Lapel Pins are cherished by generations from the households and preserve a historical and extraordinary particular worth to them, passing them straight reducing to much more youthful loved types individuals people to acquire them contemplating about qualifications and loved types individuals genealogy and for that reason certainly really are a pretty collectible product for collectors and buffs of war history.

Custom Lapel pins are also utilized these occasions in college fraternities and sororities to distinguish many groups at their gatherings and meetings. They are also used by companies, organizations, federal federal government firms and federal federal government companies to show individualism.

Rights activists with one an additional with other groups fixture up on these lapel pins to show their support for their particular possible customers to as well as to produce individuals conscious from the right’s concerns with one an additional with to stand out to other individuals from the groups.

Charity groups also use customized lapel pins finding a approach to supporting their induce as well as to acquire the phrase out. They fixture up on them for neighborhood reputation and industry them finding a method to produce bucks for their viewpoint charities. this could be really selected in today’s times.

Many individuals showed their patriotism subsequent 911 and preserve on to by placing on Flag lapel pins on their lapels, hats and ties. The federal federal government also fixture up on them finding a method to communicate, which consist from the President’s safety brokers along utilizing the US choice Service.