Enamel pins are becoming increasingly popular, which is why you might have started thinking about using them for marketing your organization. After all, it’s one of the most budget-friendly ways to meet your marketing goals, however, if you did some digging online, you might have discovered that there are two types that you can choose from – soft and hard lapel pins.
This is why you might be wondering – which type is better for marketing my business? Well, the answer to this question will vary from one company to the next. However, there are some factors that you should consider, all of which will help you make a suitable decision. Before we look at the things you must consider, let’s first look at what both of these options are:
Soft Enamel: Explained
The production process will start with some viscous paint that’ll be treated at a suitable heat. In order to create the design of the pin, there are two processes that manufacturers use – the first is where the pin is stamped, which allows the surface to recess, while the other requires the rims to hold a ‘free liquid that’ll form the design.
Once it’s shaped properly, it needs to be layered with specific metal coatings, which include options such as silver, gold, copper, or even nickel. When the coating process is done, the operator will apply specific paint to it. A short journey through an oven will treat the varnish, and all that will remain is an appealing pin.
One of the characteristics that a lot of people like is that the level of cured paint will stay below the rims, which means that it’ll have a textured appearance. Keep in mind, they will be softer than the option below, but you could choose to cover it with epoxy, something that’ll protect the surface while making it smoother at the same time.
Hard Enamel: Explained
Hard lapel pins are produced from harder pieces of either glass or resin and they’re treated at much higher temperatures than the previous option. The beginning of the manufacturing process is similar to the alternative option, however, the processes that follow are more complex and daunting.
Why are they more daunting and complex? Well, instead of simply using paint, colored resins are attached to the design, and more importantly, they’re treated one at a time. Besides adding and curing resins one at a time, each of them will also have to be polished in order to create a suitable design.
This process will allow operators to bring down the resins to an appropriate level of the exposed ridges. Once this process is completed, it needs to be electroplated in order for it to be durable and strong. The last step will be to polish the pin one more time before shipping it. If you want, you could learn more about ordering custom hard enamel pins here.
So, Which One is Better?
As we already mentioned, the option you should choose will depend on your organization’s needs, but more importantly, the budget you have. The option you choose will depend on a wide range of things, however, before choosing, there are a few things that you must consider, including:
- The Expenses You’ll Have
One of the first things that you must consider is the expenses you’ll have. Generally speaking, soft lapel pins are quite cheaper than the alternative, mostly because hard lapel costs more to manufacture and it’ll also require processes that are more labor-intensive. This means that you should first establish your budget and learn how much you can spend on your marketing strategy. By doing so, you’ll be able to learn what option you could opt for.
Manufacturers like myenamelpins.com offer both options, which means that you can find a suitable solution without any issues. Just visit their website and find an option that’ll be able to satisfy your needs without breaking the bank.
- The Number of Details
Now, you should know that the differences are small when it comes to the amount of detail, however, you should also know that soft lapel badges are more suitable for featuring clearer and a bit more detailed designs. How is it possible that the cheaper option has more detail? Well, hard enamel will need to be polished a few times, meaning that the ridges will be more rounded and spread out, hence, the small details could easily get lost.
- The Elegance of The Design
Pins that are produced from hard resins resemble the outcomes that are achieved by traditional processes, meaning that they’ll seem and feel more elegant than the alternative. Of course, soft lapel pins are, in most cases, appealing and attractive, but they won’t look as classy as its counterpart. So, if you’re looking for a more sophisticated marketing tool, you might want to choose to order pins made from a more durable coating.
- The Durability And Resistance to Wear And Tear
If you want to make the most out of your marketing materials and if you also want to ensure that people can wear the pin they got from your organization for longer, you should definitely opt for a hard lapel, especially since they’re resistant to marks and wear and tear, which makes it tougher than soft ones. However, as we already mentioned, you can choose to cover the soft pins with epoxy, however, it’ll certainly increase the expenses you’ll have.
- The Texture is Important Too
Last on our list of factors, but not least important is the point that soft pins will provide you with a texture that’ll be different in the elevation between the decorated pieces of the design and the rims that separate them. With the alternative, they’re filled in with resins and then polished, which means that they’ll have a smoother finish. Hence, depending on your preferences, you can choose what suits your needs best.
Conclusion
As you could learn, soft and hard enamel pins are both suitable for marketing your organization. In order for you to choose a suitable option, you’ll have to consider a wide range of factors that we mentioned above, including your budget, as well as your company’s objectives.
So, now that you’re aware of all the differences between these two options, you might not want to lose any more of your time. Instead, you should go through the article above one more time, determine which option is better for you, and then start searching for a company that will provide you with the enamel pins you need!
