You can get custom pins made quickly for a trade show by partnering with a pin manufacturer that offers fast turnaround times, customization options, and a track record of meeting customer expectations. To ensure your manufacturer can produce your pins on time, you should provide everything they need as quickly as possible.
Once you’ve chosen your manufacturer, you’ll need to:
- Share your ideas, logo, or sketches for your custom pins.
- Review the design team’s digital concept for your pins.
- Approve the design, at which point production begins.
- Wait for your pins to arrive in time for your trade show.
Even manufacturers with fast production times will have a limit on how fast they can produce your custom pins. Whether you receive your pins on time will also depend on how quickly you can review and approve the design. Many manufacturers have a minimum order threshold that must be met, too.
For those who need custom pins designed, created, and delivered as soon as possible, Pinmaxx offers fast turnaround times, with many custom pin orders delivered within 7–10 days. Actual delivery times depend on the design, quantity, and artwork approval.
Let us know your event date when requesting a quote so we can confirm the timeline.
Pin Styles That Work Well as Trade Show Giveaways
There are several pin styles that could work well as a giveaway at your trade show. The best pin style for you depends on your budget, brand aesthetic, and the impression you want to make.
Soft Enamel Pins
Soft enamel pins are among the most popular styles, with their vibrant colors and budget-friendly production making them particularly well-suited as promotional giveaways at trade shows. Featuring raised metal edges that protect the pin and a recessed painted area, soft enamel pins deliver a textured and three-dimensional appearance.
Hard Enamel Pins
Also known as cloisonné pins, hard enamel pins are often seen as the premium option for trade shows. These pins deliver a flat, polished shine and a jewelry-like finish that’s hard to match and will help your brand position itself as the premium choice.
Thanks to their top-quality appearance, hard enamel pins typically command a higher production cost than their soft enamel counterparts. Because of this, hard enamel pins are most often used by brands whose first priority is to create a strong impression for their prospects, rather than to minimize their costs.
Offset Printed Pins
If you intend to use complex designs for your promotional items, then offset printed pins may be the best choice for you. Whether your design features a detailed logo, gradients, or photographic aspects, CMYK printing captures the fine design elements that can’t be replicated with enamel pins.
Offset printed pins are best suited for brands searching for promotional merchandise that accurately depicts their detailed branding imagery.
Die Struck Pins
With a refined and timeless aesthetic, die struck pins lean into their metallic nature by having the design impressed directly onto solid metal with minimal color fill, if any. This process allows the metal itself to carry much of the visual weight.
Die struck pins are ideal for brands that want an understated and elegant appearance, making them particularly well-suited to businesses in classic or professional industries. These pins are distinctly different from enamel pins and pair well with gold or silver plating.
How to Order Custom Trade Show Pins on a Tight Timeline
For the best chances of receiving high-quality custom pins in time for your trade show, you should:
- Order as soon as possible: The longer you give your manufacturer to produce your pins, the better chance that you’ll receive them on time.
- Have your design ready: Providing your logo or artwork in a standard digital format as soon as the manufacturer needs it eliminates an unnecessary delay.
- Know your budget: Custom trade show pins may range from approximately $1.00-$3.50 per pin, depending on style, size, quantity, and design complexity. Larger orders of 300–1,000+ pins generally offer better per-pin pricing. Knowing your budget will help you decide how many pins to order.
- Know how many pins you need: Knowing how many pins you need reduces the number of decisions you need to make before production can begin. It also ensures that you meet your manufacturer’s minimum quantity thresholds.
- Communicate your deadline up front: Ensure your manufacturer is aware of your deadline, so they can confirm whether it’s possible to meet and take the necessary steps to deliver on time.
- Choose a responsive partner: When time is short, a partner that responds quickly can start production sooner and minimize delays caused by slow communication.
If you order your pins too close to your trade show, there’s no guarantee that any manufacturer can design, manufacture, and deliver them in time.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about ordering custom pins for your trade show.
How quickly can I receive custom pins for a trade show?
You can often receive custom pins for a trade show within 7–10 days, depending on the design, quantity, and approval process. Contact us with your event date so we can confirm availability.
What type of pin is best for trade show giveaways?
Soft enamel pins are often considered the best for trade show giveaways because they offer vibrant colors, detailed designs, and economical pricing for larger quantities. Hard enamel and offset printed pins are also good options, depending on the design and intended use.
Can you accommodate last-minute trade show orders?
Yes, Pinmaxx can often accommodate last-minute trade show orders. Let us know your deadline, quantity, and design requirements, and we’ll determine whether we can accommodate the order.
Get Custom Trade Show Pins Fast With Pinmaxx
Promotional items like custom pins can entice prospects at a trade show, build your brand’s reputation, and create a good impression. But if you leave it until the last minute to get your custom pins, only the best manufacturers can deliver high-quality pins within your deadline.
At Pinmaxx, we specialize in delivering premium custom pins in a short time frame. With over 10 years of experience designing and creating pins for corporate trade shows, sporting events, and other occasions, we can produce pins in many styles, shapes, and colors.
To get your custom pins delivered in time for your trade show, contact us today and receive your fast and free quote.
