Enamel pins are a great product to dip your foot into as a small (or even big) artist! They're wearable little pieces of artwork that make big impressions when showing off your interests in a subtle way. So why add enamel pins to your product line? Here's a few reasons why I jumped into making enamel pins:
+ small pieces of unique artwork
+ takes up little storage space
+ easy to ship (they're light and easy to package up!)
+ low minimums when manufacturing
+ small investment
As noted from bullet number three, yes enamel pins must get manufactured and they have to be manufactured overseas. If you come across any domestic companies, they are most likely a broker (a middle man who talks to the manufacturer and handles all the details for a price on top of the manufacturer cost). I recommend working directly with manufacturers to help with costs, but you definitely have to step up your communication game. In the end it's a personal choice, and I suggest talking to a few options before moving forward. There are great groups of artists out there who are more than happy to help. If you really want to get your research in before committing, I recommend checking out PMR: Pin Manufacturing Reviews on Facebook as a start (you do need to get accepted, and they're only strict if you're a manufacturer trying to schmooze in)! The group is a great resource not just for manufacturers, but any other questions you may have about pin making! Just make sure to obey their rules of course. All my pin making logs will be my experiences working with an overseas supplier.
The idea of working with a company overseas may seem a bit daunting, but in this day and and age of technology, it's been much easier! However, it never hurts to brush up on what other people's experience which is why I decided to write down all my experiences to help any new artists who are interested in this new adventure! Onward!