Are All Pin Badges Made in China?
We've lost count of the number of times our social media posts showcasing our pin badge production processes (that wasn't easy to say!) are met with comments like ...
"They're made in Chinese sweatshops!"
And
"You're just middlemen to China."
And while we're not fans of the way these statements are made, we think it's a valid question to ask: "Are all enamel pins made in China?"
So, stick with us for the most comprehensive answer you could possibly imagine.
Are All Pin Badges Made in China?
No. Not all pins are made in China, but most of them are. An estimated 95% of the world's annual pin production occurs in Asia.
But Why?
China has a rich heritage of producing pin badges and has been at the forefront of the industry for almost a thousand years. During that time, factories in the region honed their skills, refined production processes, and created tools that made manufacturing badges more efficient and less labour-intensive. So, their products are exceedingly cost-effective without sacrificing quality.
It's also been suggested (but as yet unconfirmed) that some of the equipment used to make pin badges has been banned in many countries because of its suitability in making counterfeit currency.
Contrary to misconceptions, Chinese manufacturers often adhere to stringent quality control measures. Many factories are certified by international standards, ensuring their pin badges are durable and well-made. This commitment to quality has helped China build a strong reputation in the pin badge industry.
Some of the world's most popular products are made in China. There's a better-than-average chance (according to our Google Analytics) that you're reading this blog on one such device.
Do Made by Cooper Make Enamel Pins in China?
We do. And we've never kept it a secret.
So, Why Should I Use Made by Cooper?
As we mentioned earlier, 95% of pin badges are made in China, so it's more than probable that whichever company you use to produce your pins will have them made in the Far East.
What makes us so much more than mere 'middle people' is that we've been in this business for more than 11 years and spent a long time searching for the right partners. Our original mission statement logged our commitment to only working with those who could produce the highest-quality pins without cutting corners on human rights and child labour laws (we require our partners to be SEDEX audited) and those who echo our views on sustainability.
There's a reason that most of our 4000+ positive reviews mention how happy they are with the quality of our pin badges. We did painstaking, diligent homework to find the perfect partners, and we've also spent years refining our design parameters to ensure our designers get the most out of your ideas.
Creating enamel pins is more complex than handing a design to a factory and saying, "500 of these, please!" There are specific rules that factories need to abide by to ensure the pin badges are made to the highest standards, and we've forged clear lines of communication with our partners so we know exactly what they need from us without ever having to ask.
We shoulder all the responsibility of making sure the designs are production-ready (for free!), resolving any issues that might occur with your products without being hamstrung by the language barrier, and knowing which processes will be best for your ideas.
This is in addition to taking care of those pesky import taxes (if you're in the UK) and quality control checks.
You'll never have to risk your time and money again trying to create designs only to find they're unactionable or end up with batches of unsellable products because the vendor you chose didn't have the capabilities to match your designs or the talent to meet your expectations on quality ... because we've spent years learning how to avoid those exact situations.
Still Not Sure? Free Samples!
We're so confident in the quality of our badges and enamel pins that you can check out our products before placing an order.
Without spending a penny
Fill in our form and let us know what you'd like to look at and the industry/niche you work in, and we'll send you a small selection of pins we've made before so you can see firsthand how good we are at what we do.
You can keep them, too!