Trading pins are custom metal pins designed for exchanging at sports events,
clubs, tournaments and team activities.
Perhaps, in the media reports, you will find a very interesting phenomenon. Athletes like Trading Pins after games.Why Olympic athletes like Trading pins
Why Olympic athletes love Trading pins
1. Commemorative significance
• Carrying Olympic memories: Every fouryears, the opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games is precious for most athletes. Not all athletes can win medals , and pin, as a souvenir of the Olympic Games, is small and easy to save, providing athletes with a concrete carrier of Olympic memories and recording their experience in participating in the Olympic Games.
2. Cultural value
• Show national and regional characteristics: Olympic pins are usually launched by the Olympic organizers, teams, sponsors or related organizations, and contain historical and cultural elements of the host country and different countries and regions. For example, the pin of the Paris Olympic Games has the Paris classic landmark pin such as the Arc de Triomphe, and the Chinese delegation has the panda pin, etc., through the exchange of pins, you can understand and appreciate the culture of different countries.
3. Social attributes
• Promote communication and friendship: In the Olympic Village, where athletes from around the world gather, there may be language barriers, but exchanging pins is a silent form of communication. Athletes can make new friends, enhance mutual understanding and friendship, and pass on the Olympic spirit of friendship, peace, unity and equality.
4. Collect for fun
• Enrich personal collection: Pins of different styles and themes have certain collection value, and athletes can enrich their collection by exchanging pins from all over the world, which has become a unique fun and harvest for them to participate in the Olympic Games.
Where Are Trading Pins Used?
Trading pins are commonly used for:
- Baseball and softball tournaments
- Hockey teams and competitions
- Cycling events
- International sports events
- School and club teams
- Youth tournaments
- Team exchanges and collector events
They can also be used as small event souvenirs or team gifts.
Popular Trading Pin Options
We can produce trading pins in many different styles.
Soft Enamel Pins
A popular choice for sports pins. The recessed enamel areas create a clear metal outline and strong color contrast.
Hard Enamel Pins
The surface is polished flat and smooth, giving the pin a cleaner and more refined finish.
Glitter Pins
Glitter can be added to selected enamel areas to make team names, uniforms or backgrounds stand out.
Spinner Pins
A rotating metal part can be added to create movement and make the design more interactive.
Slider Pins
A small part of the design can move from side to side.
Dangler Pins
An additional charm or metal piece hangs below the main pin.
Glow-in-the-Dark Pins
Special enamel can be used for selected areas that glow after being exposed to light.
Reco
Recommended Size and Material
Most trading pins are made between 30 mm and 50 mm, depending on the amount of detail in the design.
For simple logos, a smaller size may be enough. For mascots, text, multiple colors or moving parts, we usually recommend a larger size so the details remain clear.
Common materials include:
- Iron for standard enamel designs
- Brass for fine stamped details
- Zinc alloy for larger shapes, deep relief and special structures
We can recommend the material after reviewing your artwork.
MOQ, Sample and Production Time
Our usual MOQ for custom trading pins starts from 50 pieces.
Typical lead time:
- Artwork: after design confirmation
- Sample: around 7–10 days
- Mass production: around 10–18 days
Production time may vary for large orders or designs with special moving parts.
If you already have your artwork, send us the design, size, quantity and preferred finish. We can review the details and recommend a suitable production method.