There are some product categories that may seem, well, somewhat dull. But they have hidden attractive sales points. Take lanyards and badges, for example.
According to Totally Promotional, lanyards provide an upfront display of identification when combined with badge holders. They are highly practical promotional items that are necessities and thus make appreciated giveaways at trade shows and conventions. Another bonus: lanyards and badges/badge-holders can provide tremendous exposure to the branded logo of the sponsor and the exhibitors.
However, as a promotional product distributor -- you are not selling “lanyards and badges,” you are selling security, and identity assurance, as well as facilitating commerce through easy identification and handshakes. At tradeshows, for example, traffic flows quickly, and booth personnel can immediately size up the person at the booth as a potential direct customer, ancillary customer, or media and respond appropriately. For the booth visitor, he or she can look at the booth employee’s badge and discern if the individual is the correct one – meaning, a marketing assistant, sales manager, vice president of product development, or CEO.
Additionally, opportunities for ID lanyards and badges lie in all types of events, from concerts to charity walks/runs and in event venues where staff needs to be identified. And,
Non-obvious opportunities are in health and senior care, according to the team at the Lanyard Store. Custom lanyards are worn by hospital staff, volunteers, and other personnel; the name of the health care facility can be printed on a lanyard, and they can be used in many different ways to enhance easy distinction. For example, different colored lanyards can be used by different personnel (eg, nurses, surgeons, aides, administration, etc.). This is similar for senior care facilities, and the color-coded lanyard system will help residents identify the staff.
In gyms and fitness centers, trainers and staff typically wear lanyards, and in this case, neoprene lanyards are a sensible solution as they are water (and sweat) resistant. Heavy construction trades, police and security, and emergency personnel also need lanyards and badges. And of course, don’t forget schools, whose staff should have an official lanyard and badge to provide reassurance in parents that they are part of the school system.
A lanyard is more than a chain and a clip to hold a badge and the more you know what your suppliers offer, the more precisely you can match to your client’s needs. Taylor Brandon, lanyard department coordinator at Totally Promotional, explains that he and his team “check to guarantee the correct attachment, attachment size, if it gets a buckle release or breakaway, and if it receives anything special such as a badge holder. We also look for color contrasts, art issues that we believe will not transfer properly.”
At your end, work with your client to select the lanyard material and style, choose the material color and imprint colors, then choose the hook, keychain, or badge-holder attachment.
Lanyards are widely available in almost any color and texture you can imagine. Review the offerings from SnugZ USA, Hyproline, AZX Sport & Simplified Sourcing, RFG Line, Rivers Promo, IDProductsource (which also offers reflective lanyards), WOV-IN, Koozie Group, and Innovation Line.
Badges, meanwhile, should be sturdy and durable, as should badge-holders. A trend gathering steam in the instant-identity segment is Badge-Buddies, the extension under the badge proper that expresses, for example, one’s position (eg, “Doctor” or “Volunteer” or “Event Staff.”) Laminated Badge Buddies, from My Name Badges, hangs just below the regular ID badge with the same clip, features subsurface, protected graphics, and burr-free slots.
Overall, the need to quickly identify an individual is growing, and students, customers, clients, and attendees will automatically feel a bit safer if your clients’ employees or contractors are wearing ID items.