METAL LAPEL PINS

How Are Metal Promotional Products Made?

Promotional products come made from all types of materials, including metal. Metal promotional products are especially nice because they are made of a more durable material and therefore last longer. Metal promotional items can be highly customized to suit the needs of the customer. Let’s look at how custom badge designers make metal products.

Acid Etching

Once the initial product is produced, it’s time to create one-of-a-kind customizations. The easiest way to do customization on metal is with acid etching. Acid etching is a process by which a hard surface can be easily cut using a specially formulated acid. Acid etching is useful because it doesn’t change the properties of the metal. The gran structure and strength of the metal are also not affected. This process is often chosen for materials that would otherwise be damaged by other processes. Items that acid etching can be used on include metal tags, metal pins, keychains, and stainless steel items of all sorts.

Metal Selection

When planning for custom metal promotional items, the metal selection is important. Acid etching can be used on many types of metals, but some are easier to work with than others. Some options include stainless steel and aluminum.

Design Selection

The fun part about custom metal promotional products is the design of the products. As the customer, you get to design your items based on company logos, organizational slogans, or other details like badges, emblems, or flags. If you’re not sure about designing your items, you can work with our custom badge designers to get ideas. Our professionals will be happy to provide you with tips and ideas on how to create the best promotional items for your organization.

Cleaning

Once the metal has been chosen, it needs to be cleaned carefully. During the cleaning process, any burrs on the edges of the metal will be removed. The metal then needs to be scrubbed, rinsed, and cleaned using isopropyl alcohol to make sure that it’s completely ready to go.

These are just a few facts on how custom metal promotional products are made by our badge designers. If you’re looking for custom badge designers for your project, please contact us at The Emblem Authority today! We are happy to help you with your promotional products.

lapel pins

6 Cool Ways to Use Custom Lapel Pins

When it comes to marketing ideas, there’s not much that hasn’t been tried. There are, however, some marketing techniques and promotional items that have stood the test of time and continue to be a useful way to spread the word about a business, organization, or cause. Custom lapel pins are one such item. A lapel pin is a small pin that can be worn on clothing, hats, or bags to show your affiliation with an organization or cause. Let’s look at some of the cool ways these pins can be used for promotional purposes.

1. Brand Promotion

One of the most common ways that these items are used is for brand promotion. They are a great addition to marketing packets, package inserts, or simply as a little extra thank you to customers. Customized lapel pins can be designed with the brand’s logo, mascot, colors, and slogans. Giving customers mementos such as these helps to build loyalty as they can attach the pin to their own personal items to tell the world they are a fan of your message or brand.

2. Fundraising

Another way to use lapel pins is for fundraising purposes. Non-profits and charitable organizations often sell these pins for fundraising. It’s not uncommon for pins that have been associated with important movements or programs to even become collector’s items later on.

3. Corporate Events

Conferences, trade shows, and networking events are great opportunities to hand out pins as well. This will keep your brand or your group on people’s minds as they participate in the event. A great example of this is the cool pins that were created and passed out at Comic-Con over the years.

4. Commemorative Events

Pins can also be used to commemorate special events. Things like anniversaries, product launches, retirements, and other events make the perfect opportunity to create a souvenir for those who were along for the ride.

5. Awards and Recognition

Handing out pins is also a good way to recognize the achievements of someone who is going above and beyond. Using pins in this way can help to build a company culture of gratitude and recognition.

6. Sports Teams

Team building can be done in a lot of ways, and one way is through customized clothing and pins. Pins can be created with team logos, mascots, or event names. It’s the perfect way to celebrate team spirit and help players and coaches bond.

These are just a few ways that customized lapel pins can be used. If you’re looking for custom promotional products, please contact us at The Emblem Authority today.

What Makes Custom Lanyards a Great Marketing Tool?

Lanyards are pieces of fabric that usually form a loop. The most popular lanyards are ones that are used as a keychain accessory. They are designed so they can be worn around the neck and are helpful, but it’s also essential to remember they are a great marketing tool. Most custom badge designers can help you design a custom lanyard.

Versatility

Lanyards are one of the most versatile marketing products. They can be used as ID holders or luggage tags. Some people clip them onto their keys. Custom lanyards on a keychain make it easier for people to find their keys while promoting an organization. The versatility of lanyards makes them great because you know people will use them, increasing visibility.

Visibility

A simple lanyard with your business logo can help increase visibility while building trust with potential customers. According to Non-Profit Pro, 64% say a professional logo design builds brand trust and increases engagement. The more people see your logo, the more they want to work with you.

Affordability

Most people give away custom lanyards when they use them as a marketing tool. Ordering them in bulk from custom badge designers can increase affordability. You’ll also enjoy a better return on your marketing efforts. You won’t have to pay monthly for advertising services or worry about whether your ad is still running. Instead, you can trust that your custom lanyards are doing plenty of advertising for you.

Customization

Every organization and cause is unique, so you want a special lanyard. A custom badge designer can help you create the perfect lanyard to suit your organization. You can choose from various colors available. There is room on a lanyard for a quote or slogan, or you can go simple by putting your logo on it. Customize your lanyard to encourage conversation and promote your organization to potential hires or the greater community around you.

Custom badge designers will work with you to ensure you have the perfect lanyard to advertise without exceeding your budget. Our designers will ensure you love the color and design. We can also help you design ID tags and more for your next event, trade show, or for your employees. Contact us at The Emblem Authority when you’re ready to learn the details.

Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Patches for Law Enforcement

5 Reasons to Use Patches for Your Awareness Campaign

Choosing the right tools to raise awareness for a cause or campaign is essential. You want something that stands out from other devices while representing your campaign. Emblem patches have quickly surpassed other advertisement methods for awareness campaigns. This is why more people are interested in using an emblem patch.

1. Color Psychology

When you wear a patch, everyone sees it. According to Review 42, 90% of a first impression is influenced by color. For example, bright colors like red and yellow encourage a person to take action. These are great choices to encourage people to donate to a cause. Other bright colors can instantly capture someone’s attention, ensuring they know about your awareness campaign.

2. Increased Visibility

An emblem patch can easily be put on anything someone wears, like a jacket or hat. They’re also great for accessories, like tote bags. These patches are instantly visible to everyone around the person wearing them, immediately increasing visibility. As more people ask about patches or look up the logo online, more people will learn about the cause.

3. Custom Options

Patches can easily be customized to ensure they have the impact you want. Invest in larger patches to help increase awareness. Large patches are easy to notice and give you more room to write a message. Small logo patches for hats and other small accessories are also available. You can select the image you want on your patch to ensure everyone knows about your cause.

4. Easily Distributable

You can easily hand out patches. Send an emblem patch in the mail as part of a promotional event or pass them out at the office. Emblem patches are cost-effective, so you can utilize mass distribution efforts to increase awareness faster. Some people leave a bowl available on the front desk or at an event booth to encourage people to take one.

5. Long-Lasting

One of the most notable benefits of using patches for visibility is their long-lasting impact. When people put a patch on their bag, vest, or jacket, they rarely take them off. This ensures that you’ll continue to increase awareness for months or years to come, and you won’t have to keep paying for it.

The Emblem Authority specializes in creating custom patches, badges, challenge coins, and more. You can use these for firefighters and police officers or to increase awareness about any cause. Contact us when you’re ready to learn more.

EMBROIDERED KEY FOBS

What Makes Badge Keychains Ideal for Law Enforcement?

Police officers often identify themselves with a badge, and custom keychains are another way to add to their apparel. These keychains are a great way to represent the police force anytime. Why are custom police badges on keychains ideal for law enforcement? Read on to find out more.

Identification

Over 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers are working in the United States, the highest figure ever recorded, according to The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. These officers all have an official badge to identify them on duty. However, custom police badges made into keychains are a great way to further identify them once they’re off duty. It can also be a good keepsake upon retirement.

Camaraderie

Police officers do a dangerous job. Therefore, it helps to have some healthy camaraderie. Having these custom badges is a great way for police leaders to show support for their team.

Appreciation

Has a police officer on your team really stepped up? If you’re unsure about a way to award them, these keychains could be a good gesture that they would appreciate. Whether it’s going above and beyond on a case, being a good teammate, or being a natural leader, custom police patches are a great gift. These mini badges are very small and can fit easily on a keychain, so it’s an easy way for officers to have a daily reminder that their squadron appreciates what they do.

Support

There are many ways that police officers can support each other. These badges are good ways to not only reward an officer who’s going beyond the line of duty but also a good way to commemorate a fallen police officer. They make cool gifts to people who have proven to support the police force, whether it’s people who made donations or those related to police officers.

As you can see, there are many reasons to invest in custom police badges for keychains. These are small and lightweight gifts that won’t weigh anyone down. They provide a way for an officer to identify themselves anytime, whether they’re on or off duty. They also make great gifts as a way to show appreciation for people who support the police force. If you’re interested in getting some of these keychains made for your crew, family, or donors, contact The Emblem Authority today for a quote and consultation.

How Do I Choose the Right Shape for My Custom Patch?

Custom patches are ideal accessories, gifts, and extra identifiers for professionals in some of the most dangerous jobs. Stakeholders in charge of firefighters, policemen, and EMTs may want to have custom ones made for gifts, keepsakes, or to show support. Read on for tips on choosing the right shape for your custom patch.

Design

Over 17,985 American police agencies exist in the form of city police departments, county sheriff’s offices, state police/highway patrol, and federal law enforcement agencies, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. If one of these law enforcement agencies gets a custom patch, the design should match their occupation as much as possible. In other words, the custom patch should be in the shape of a badge or shield.

Size

Consider how big or small the custom patch will be. In most cases, if you have a more complex shape, it’s easier for smaller patches, such as those on keychains. Larger patches work best when in a circular or rectangular shape.

Budget

How many custom patches do you need to have made? The more complex the shape, the more expensive the final project is. Keeping the shape as simple as possible with a square, rectangle, or circle can lower the final cost. If you’re eager to have badges in more complex shapes, you may want to wait to have them produced in a smaller batch.

Use

Will the custom badge be on a key chain? Is it a custom badge that will be sewn into a hat or article of clothing? On something such as a hat, circular patches tend to work best, as they’re more practical and easier to apply. However, a key chain can provide more leeway when it comes to having intricate shapes like stars due to its small size and use. Once a key chain is made, you don’t have to sew or adhere it to anything, such as a piece of clothing.

Now you understand the considerations when deciding the ideal shape for a custom patch. Consider how you’ll be using the patch, the budget for your project, its overall use, and its design. If there’s a group of firefighters, police officers, EMT workers, or other enforcement agencies you want to support, contact The Emblem Authority today so we can get started on those custom patches.

fire dept patches

What Is the Process of Creating a Custom Patch?

A custom patch can give a uniform or any other article of clothing a greater sense of professionalism and a more distinguished identity. Custom police patches and similar items designed for other pieces of clothing can be the finishing flourishes that complete an ensemble. Are you looking to come up with your own set of personalized patches? If so, the tips in this article should prove helpful. Keep them in mind so you can create the best products!

Create a Workable Patch Design

The first step in creating a custom patch is developing a design. This part of the process is easier said than done because many people tend to go overboard with their ideas. They come up with these wildly creative ideas that sound and look good, but they may not translate to a custom patch.

According to True List, you should limit yourself to using two colors when designing a logo. You want to hover around that color range for custom patches so the patterns remain highly visible. When it comes to size, you should choose a design that makes sense for the patch’s intended scale. Avoid including overly intricate details that may not be distinguishable in the final product.

Sketch a Rough Draft of Your Patch Design

Now that you have a design in mind for your custom patch, the next step is putting your idea down on paper. You can do that by providing a rough draft of your patch design. Sketch the design on paper and send it to the patch makers. Coordinating with the patch makers is also recommended if you’re having difficulty sketching or refining the designs for your custom police patches and other creations.

Evaluate the Digitized Patch Design

Once your base patch design is ready, you can send it to the patch makers for digitization. At this point, you can just wait for the patch makers to finalize the digital design. They will present the design to you for approval, and you can either give the green light for production or request changes.

Inspect the Custom Patch

With all the previous steps completed, your custom police patches should be ready for manufacturing and distribution. Inspect the final product first to confirm that it aligns with your vision. The patch makers can finish production after that inspection.

Custom patches can make uniforms and other articles of clothing more unique and identifiable. Create the best custom patches by following the steps we detailed here. Work with us at The Emblem Authority and secure high-quality patches for various applications!

A male police officer

How Police Badges Have Changed Over Time

The modern police badge has come a long way over the years. Today, many badges are made from advanced, lightweight materials and feature advanced technologies. If you’re looking for custom police badges, you’ll have tons of options regarding styling, materials, and more. To better understand badges and the choices you have today, let’s take a look at the evolution of police badges.

The Emergence of Badges

Did you know that police badges mark one of the earliest job-specific uniforms? While uniforms are common today, they’re also a relatively recent invention. Even ancient armies often lacked highly standardized uniforms. This was due in part to the fact that mass production didn’t really exist, and thus it was hard to create standardized goods.

Still, there were times when people in authority needed to identify themselves. Sometimes people needed to show who they had sworn allegiance to as well. This paved the way for badges. According to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, police badges emerged in the medieval age when knights sported a coat of arms demonstrating their allegiances and loyalty.

The precursors to modern police forces also started to appear in the medieval ages, particularly in England. When people were put into positions of authority, it helped to have a badge that could identify them. This way, people would be able to pick them out for help. These early badges were often made of fabrics and were a far cry from the modern custom police badges available today.

Modern Policing and the Modern Badge

The Washington DC Metropolitan Police Memorial and Museum notes that historians speculate that police badges, as we conceive of them today, emerged around 1845 in England. London then was a massive city, and the local police force that was set up paved the way for modern police forces the world over.

Police badges can signify which organization an officer worked for. This, in turn, makes it easier to determine authority and jurisdiction. Further, many police badges will also signify rank. This can make communication and coordination in an emergency easier.

If you’re looking for some of the best custom police badges, get in touch with The Emblem Authority. We can help you design and craft modern badges that will demonstrate your police force’s priorities and make identification easy. When working with us, you can expect expert craftsmanship and materials.

METAL LAPEL PINS

When and Where Do I Wear a Lapel Pin?

You might see people wearing lapel pins at certain events. These are tiny pins that are put on clothing that show an affiliation with a cause or an organization. Not sure when should you wear one? We’re here to help you with this basic etiquette guide.

Wear Them at Events or Fundraising

Are you having a wedding? You can have a lapel pin made to commemorate that major event in your life and have the people in your wedding party wear it. They’re also perfect for fundraisers since they’re an excellent symbol for a particular cause. That way, people can show that they support it in a discreet way, and the money that they pay for the pins can be donated to that particular cause. This will then be a two-fold way of showing their support.

Where to Wear Them

There’s a certain way to wear a lapel pin. Men can wear them on their suit jackets, on the left side. It can go through the buttonhole if it’s a long-stem lapel. If there’s a pocket for a handkerchief square, it can go above that. Some might like to wear it on the collar of their shirt. Generally, it’ll be on the suit jacket, though. Many people also like to wear lapel pins on jean jackets or leather jackets, typically on one or both sides of the breast. Depending on your style, you may also choose to mix and match lapel pins with patches.

There are also exceptions when it comes to wearing lapel pins. You shouldn’t wear them at funerals or job interviews. An exception to that might be if the deceased was a member of a certain organization that wore a pin, such as the local fire department, and people might don them to show support. The main rule of thumb is to ask if the general public would think that it would be appropriate to wear it at the time. It’s a matter of trusting your gut.

If you’re looking for custom lapel pins or patches to suit your needs, look no further than The Emblem Authority. We can create the perfect lapel pins for your organization whether you’re police officers, firefighters, or EMSes. Contact us today to get started!

What Is a Challenge Coin?

Challenge coins are rooted in history and serve as a treasured tradition among many groups. Their origin is in the military, but they have transcended the troops and moved into other lines of work and settings. Here, we’ll dive into the history and use of challenge coins.

A Brief History

The tradition of the challenge coin started in World War I, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Military squadrons began creating their own coins of identity and belonging. They were informative to others in declaring a soldier’s affiliations but also were a source of camaraderie within a group. They differed from squadron to squadron and typically bore symbols.

Design and Significance

One challenge coin will differ greatly from another in terms of shape, size, and symbology. Typically made of metal, the coins reflect their issuing group. A squadron or other group may choose to include colors, pictures, and other symbols that have significance to the history and membership of the group. Then, in turn, the coins themselves become an identifier and quasi-logo of the group to which they belong.

The Challenge

Because it’s a tradition to honor and keep the challenge coin close, one member may challenge another to produce their coin without notice. If the challenged member is unable to produce their coin, there is typically a consequence or penalty, such as buying drinks for the group. The point is to always be prepared and show commitment to the fellowship by always holding onto the challenge coin.

Beyond the Military

Challenge coins originated in the military and are still most commonly used in that environment. However, their use has extended to other settings as well. Police officers, EMS professionals, and firefighters, with their strong military ties, have also adopted the practice of creating and issuing challenge coins. Other businesses and organizations without ties to the military have also caught on. It’s likely that there are groups within your sphere who keep the coins and extend challenges among fellow members.

Challenge coins provide a fun and significant way to pledge commitment to a group and enjoy the camaraderie of belonging. While they started in small squadrons during World War I, they have endured to this day and extend to non-military groups. Teams looking for a way to increase pride and belonging might want to consider creating their own challenge coin, and we can help! Contact The Emblem Authority today for more information about our custom challenge coins or to learn more about our other services.