DSF

I think 38 is the size i'd look to go for too, middle of the road isn't it. I've seen rectangular badges for sale on some badge sites, little more of a unique look I suppose

I have a badgemaking machine with 25mm and 38mm dies. I print & cut all the circular designs on my electronic cutter. I tend to give them away as freebies along with other items I produce rather than try to sell them.

We were going to use them as marketing tool as well as sell some to try recoup the outlay, with young kids we've added opportunities that present themselves so will take advantage of them

Oops, I meant 45mm badges, not 38mm. I think the 45mm are an ideal size for most things and allow room for a half-decent design.

Sometimes you have to experiment a bit with paper thickness to ensure the mylar/paper combination makes a good seal.

mr-gobby;121563 wrote:We were going to use them as marketing tool as well as sell some to try recoup the outlay, with young kids we've added opportunities that present themselves so will take advantage of them

If nothing else, they're quite fun to make. A lot less stressful than dyesub!

I ordered a 38mm now so don't say that lol!

mr-gobby;121568 wrote:I ordered a 38mm now so don't say that lol!

What's 7mm between friends? LOL!

Don't worry about it, it's all down to personal preference anyway. I never use my 25mm dies, yet there are many badge collectors that only collect that size.

For marketing giveaways they'll be fine, and for selling I suppose it's down to the originality of your designs more than the size.

Well it's child's play and i have the kids to prove it, 9 year old designs them in ibadge and 5 year old presses them, I've done the cutting so they don't destroy the table. Their cutter has £6 replaceable wheel, cuts fine though lining up by eye is a bit critical. Be better if you could buy and swap die sizes rather that whole press and after 38 it's 50, a 45 would be a good size but 38 is a good kids size, our lads presold 3 yesterday at school and delivering them today! Once the whole schools been sold a badge we might have got back the investment! Blankbadge was the brand we got. Mark

mr-gobby;121667 wrote:.... Blankbadge was the brand we got. Mark

I just looked at their site. I bought the Tecre US system and for a while I've been thinking that I made a mistake buying from America. But the price I'm paying to import them is half the price of these components. I can afford to drop my prices after seeing this and be more competitive...not that I sell any these days!

mr-gobby;121667 wrote:Well it's child's play and i have the kids to prove it, 9 year old designs them in ibadge and 5 year old presses them, I've done the cutting so they don't destroy the table. Their cutter has £6 replaceable wheel, cuts fine though lining up by eye is a bit critical. Be better if you could buy and swap die sizes rather that whole press and after 38 it's 50, a 45 would be a good size but 38 is a good kids size, our lads presold 3 yesterday at school and delivering them today! Once the whole schools been sold a badge we might have got back the investment! Blankbadge was the brand we got. Mark

After you have sold everyone a badge though you go back and sell them all a fridge magnet too. 10p more for the components but they sell well. Look to local gift shops etc. We sell some wholesale. We do 2000 a month to one place for not much money, i.e. 15p each which means we double our money on them but we sit in the evening and make a couple of hundred as we watch some telly or something. We then do some product ranges for them on a backing card for 40p each but they only order 100 or so at a time.

As I said before, its not big money but its money we wouldn't have otherwise and we use the machine on some events etc. Make a badge stall for an event can easily do £1 badge or £2 a magnet. Have some pre printed disks which kids can colour and then you make the badge/magnet in front of them. Its a good earner. Maybe check local school summer fetes etc.

Alex.