How to Get Started Collecting Trading Pins
Are you interested in starting your own collection of trading pins? Click here to find out how you can get started collecting trading pins.
Choose Your Niche
The first thing you'll need to do to start trading pins is to choose the types of pins that you'll collect. You could simply choose to collect any kind of pins. But this can make choosing which pins to buy a little tough. It can also make it tougher to connect with other pin traders, as most choose to buy, collect, and trade pins within a certain niche.
There are an endless number of types of pins that you can choose from. Here, we'll take a look at a few of the most popular collectible pins.
Disney Trading Pins
One of the most popular pins to buy, trade, and collect is a Disney pin. Disneyland and Walt Disney World have both sold pins as souvenirs since the parks opened. But it wasn't until 1999, during the Millennium Celebration, that pin trading was introduced Disney pins are enamel pins that often feature pictures of favorite characters, references to rides or resorts, historical references to the Walt Disney company, and more. At any one time, there are thousands of different pin designs available. You can even purchase starter packs, which include a lanyard for wearing and trading your pins in the park and a few pins to get started with.
If you live near a Disney park or visit frequently, this can be a fun way to grow your collection and be able to trade often. A Disney pin can be purchased online and in stores in and around the parks.
Trading in the parks is also super easy. Pinboards or trading boards are displayed in many stores in the parks, as well as in resort hotels. You can trade any of your Disney pins for the ones on the board, making it fun and easy to get started.
Souvenir Trading Pins
Another fun type of pin collecting is souvenir pins. These can often be found in gift shops and visitor centers, and feature the name of the location you've visited and an associated image or design. You'll find these pins in zoos, museums, and even in visitor centers for national parks!
These pins can be a fun way to document your travels. Plus, they'll give your family something fun to shop for while on your trip. Searching gift shops and other stores for the right pin to commemorate your trip can be a little like a scavenger hunt. The selection of pins is often smaller than other collectible items but every store will have some if you just look. And you'll be able to look back on your collection of souvenir pins and reminisce about trips that you've taken for years to come.
Trading this type of pin is more difficult. However, there are some enthusiast groups that trade all kinds of unique pins. Look for local events near you. Or, get your friends and family on board with their own collection, and swap pins from each of your travels. If your entire collection is made up exclusively of souvenir pins - you will have a historical record that will be of great value for your own posterity.
Olympic Trading Pins
Disney pins are far from the only pins that are popular to trade. Another very popular type of pin to collect is Olympic pins . These official pins are released every two years for the Summer and Winter Olympic games. For each new Olympic Games, as many as 5,000 new pin designs are released!
Experts believe that the first Olympic pins were created for the 1896 Games located in Athens, Greece. However, the first pin trading was likely held for the Stockholm Games, hosted in 1912.
Pins can be purchased online and at the Olympic Games. While there are official Olympic pins, many companies that sponsor the games release their own pins as well. This includes brands like McDonald's and Coca-Cola. These pins are just as collectible and tradable as the official pins. Each Olympics will bring out the hardcore collectors. These experienced pin collectors know what is valuable. Olympic pins are typically limited edition which once they are all sold, the value increases. One of the most collectible pins from the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah was the green Jello pin. If you were one of the lucky ones to buy one, you could have sold it for a nice profit to a lapel pin collector.
Olympic pin trading events are hosted in big cities around the world but are most popular in the cities hosting the Olympics every two years. You can also trade online through online communities.
Little League Baseball Trading Pins
One of the most common yet unknown pin collecting niches is little league baseball amateur teams. Believe it or not little league baseball players typically collect hundreds of pins over their playing years. Pin collecting becomes their second sport.
The little league world series is a fixture on ESPN every year, but little do people know that teams play in local, state, and then regional tournaments to get to the big one. Along the way, pin trading is happening at many of these tournaments.
Teams create unique pins with intricate designs that usually include their team name, team colors, team state and even player names and numbers. These pins are traded with other teams in the tournaments. You can imagine one tournament may produce 20+ unique pins. In just one year you have a pin collection.
So, don't overlook these smaller events that you participate in normal life and receive pins. A few pins and all of a sudden you could tell your story just by displaying the pins you have collected. If you want to make your own youth sports trading pins check out how to get affordable trading pins.
Plan How to Store Your Pins Safely With Enamel Pin Display Ideas
After choosing which types of pins you'll collect, you'll need to decide how to store and preserve your pins. There are a variety of options to choose from.
A corkboard or shadow box are great options for displaying your pins at home. This is great if you want to enjoy your collection, even when you aren't actively trading.
However, if your goal is to trade, and you want to grow your collection beyond what a board or box can hold, you'll need a trading pin bag . Our bag can hold up to 420 pins, depending on the size of the enamel pins that you choose to collect.
These bags serve a number of purposes. They are great for taking your pins on the go. The bag zips closed and features a handle and adjustable shoulder strap. Use this to carry your pins with you to trading events or even in the Disney parks for a day of pin trading fun.
Unlike a lanyard, your bag will keep your pins safe so you won't lose any while you walk around or ride rides. It also allows you to carry far more pins with you than you could on a lanyard.
Pin bags are great for storing your pins at home, too. They protect your pins from damage and keep them all in one place, so you can easily flip through your pins to see what you have while shopping online or sharing your pins with friends.
Get Shopping Online - It's Easy
You've chosen your pin collection and ordered a bag to store your growing collection in. Now, it's time to get shopping!
As we've already mentioned, there are plenty of places to find pins. If you want to get started right away, head to the internet.
You can find Disney pins on ShopDisney.com. They may also be available on sites like eBay. However, be aware that fake pins are common. If you aren't strict about collecting authentic pins, this might not be an issue, as it's often tough to tell the real pin from the fake.
If you've chosen to collect Olympic pins, you won't have to wait for the next Games to get started. You can browse and buy pins from previous years online.
Another great place to shop for pins of all kinds is thrift stores, yard sales, and estate sales. This is a great spot to find antique or out-of-print pins. If you haven't narrowed yourself down to a specific niche, this can also be a great spot to get a variety of inexpensive, cool pins to jumpstart your collection.
Connect With Other Traders Who Share the Same Passion
After you've started your new collection, it's time to look for some online communities to join. Forums, websites, and social media groups are great spots to connect with other pin collectors. You can share your newest pin finds, learn more about the pins you find, and even trade pins.
This is also a great way to find out about in-person pin trading events in your area.
In the case of Walt Disney World pins, you can even take your collection one step further by signing up for a monthly pin box. A variety of companies offer these pin trading subscriptions. This can be a fun way to grow your collection, especially if you can't visit the parks often.
Get Started Collecting Trading Pins
Collecting trading pins is exciting, and can be a fun way to connect with others who share similar interests. With so many different types of pins to choose from, you can start a collection related to your own interests, like travel, sports, or Disney. It might seem like a business decision, but it really isn't. Just choose something you like and you will find a huge variety to get going.
If you're thinking about starting your very own pin collection, purchasing a trading pin bag can be a great spot to start. That way, when you get your very first pins, you'll have a safe spot to store and display them. Your first pins don't even have to be considered trading pins, any lapel pins work to start a collection.
Not all trading pin bags are created equal - it's not about the lowest prices. Our premium pin bags not only expertly protect your pins from damage, but will also hold up to travel and wear. That way, you can take your pins with you on vacation, while you travel, or to pin trading events for years to come.
Ready to order your first bag?
Click here to learn more about why every pin trader needs a premium pin bag.
