Enamel pin business guide
How to Sell Enamel Pins: The Complete Pin Business Guide
You designed your first enamel pin, found a factory and received your first batch. Now comes the part that turns a creative project into a business: learning how to sell your pins consistently.
This guide explains how to sell enamel pins online, price your pins, photograph your products, create bundles, market on Instagram, sell through Etsy, attend in-person events and keep releasing new designs so you can find your best sellers.
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What you’ll learn in this guide
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The enamel pin selling strategy in one page
Selling enamel pins is not just about uploading a product and hoping people buy. The best pin shops combine a strong product idea, clear pricing, great photography, consistent marketing, community building and regular product releases.
Start with strong designs, clear themes and products that feel worth collecting.
Use a simple online store, clear pricing, strong product photos and trustworthy product pages.
Use Instagram, Facebook groups, Etsy, email, events and collaborations to reach pin buyers.
Use bundles, multi-buy deals, free shipping thresholds and matching designs.
New designs give customers a reason to return and help you find best sellers.
Measure sales, clicks, conversion rate, returning customers and which designs sell fastest.
Step 1
Pick the right online store to sell enamel pins
You can sell enamel pins almost anywhere, but your online store is usually the most important sales channel because it gives you control over your brand, product pages, email list, customer experience and repeat purchases.
Many makers sell through Shopify, Etsy, Instagram, in-person events, wholesale stockists or a mix of all of them. A dedicated store is especially useful if you want to build a long-term enamel pin brand instead of relying only on marketplace traffic.
Best for building your own brand, email list, product pages, bundles, shipping rules and long-term customer base.
Best for reaching customers who are already browsing handmade goods, artist merch and collectable pins.
Best for visual discovery, new releases, community, giveaways and driving customers to your store.
Best for connecting with customers, getting feedback, building community and selling multiple pins at once.
Step 2
Price your enamel pins for profit, not just sales
Pricing is one of the most important parts of selling enamel pins. If you price too high, your conversion rate may drop. If you price too low, you may sell pins but struggle to fund reorders, packaging, marketing, event fees, shipping supplies and future designs.
Many standard enamel pins sit around the USD $10–$15 range depending on size, finish, quality, packaging, audience and brand positioning. Premium, limited-edition, larger or highly detailed pins can often justify higher prices.
| Cost to consider | Why it matters | Pricing reminder |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing cost | Your unit cost, mould fee and finish choices affect your real margin. | Do not price only from unit cost. Include setup and overheads. |
| Packaging | Backing cards, bags, mailers, labels and freebies all add up. | Professional packaging can lift perceived value. |
| Shipping | Postage and fulfilment can eat margin if not planned properly. | Use shipping thresholds and bundles strategically. |
| Marketing | Ads, giveaways, influencer gifts and event fees need funding. | Your price should help fund growth, not just break even. |
Pinlord tip: think beyond your first sale. Your pricing should help you reorder best sellers, create new designs, test ads, attend events and keep your pin business moving.
Step 3
Take product photos that make people want to buy
Product photos can make or break an enamel pin sale. Customers cannot hold the pin, feel the weight or see the enamel in person, so your photos need to do the selling for you.
Plain white-background photos can be useful for clean product listings, but they are rarely enough. Lifestyle photos, hand shots, bag shots, jacket shots, desk photos and themed backgrounds can help customers imagine owning your pin.
Use sharp focus, good lighting and multiple angles so customers can see the enamel, metal and size.
Photograph pins on jackets, bags, hats, cork boards, hands or styled flat lays to create desire.
Include a hand, coin, backing card or packaging so customers understand the real size.
Your photography style helps differentiate your pin brand from hundreds of similar listings.
Step 4
Use enamel pin bundles to increase average order value
Bundle deals are one of the easiest ways to sell more pins per order. Instead of selling one pin at a time, offer customers a reason to buy two, three, four or a whole themed set.
Bundles work especially well when designs belong to a collection, match a theme, use the same character universe or appeal to the same audience.
Example: buy 3 pins and save 10%. Great for mixed collections.
Example: a cat pin pack, music pin pack, spooky pin pack or artist collection.
Set a minimum order value that encourages customers to add one more pin.
Launch new pins as a set for collectors who want the full release.
Step 5
Market your enamel pins where pin buyers already spend time
Once your store, pricing and photos are ready, the next step is getting your pins in front of people who are likely to love them. The strongest enamel pin marketing usually happens where visual communities already exist: Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Etsy, Facebook groups, email lists and in-person events.
Best for visual storytelling, new drops, reels, giveaways, collectors, reposts and community building.
Great for behind-the-scenes content, packaging videos, artist stories and product launch momentum.
Useful for evergreen discovery if your pins connect to aesthetics, niches, characters, moods or hobbies.
Good for marketplace discovery and reaching shoppers already looking for handmade or collectable products.
Helpful for pin collecting, trading, niche fan groups, artist communities and local maker groups.
One of the most valuable channels for launches, restocks, preorders, discounts and loyal collectors.
Instagram selling
Start an Instagram account for your pin brand
Instagram has always been a major home for the enamel pin community. It is visual, collector-friendly and great for helping people discover your style before they are ready to buy.
Show close-ups, packaging, new releases, restocks, sketches, production proofs and pin styling ideas.
Your profile should quickly show what you make, who it is for and why someone should follow.
Countdowns, polls, behind-the-scenes updates and reposts help customers feel involved.
Do not buy followers or rely on fake engagement. It hurts trust and rarely turns into real customers.
Community growth
Use reposts, giveaways and collaborations to reach pin buyers
If you are starting with a small audience, community-led growth can help you get discovered faster than posting alone. The key is to make sure every collaboration reaches people who genuinely like your style of pins.
Pin repost pages curate work from different makers and can introduce your designs to people who already love pins.
Giveaways can help grow awareness, especially when entrants follow, comment and tag friends who might also love your work.
Trade pins, share each other’s work or collaborate with makers who have a similar audience or style.
Encourage people to join a waitlist before a launch so you are not relying only on social algorithms.
Marketplace sales
List your enamel pins on Etsy for extra discovery
Etsy can be a helpful extra sales channel because customers already visit the marketplace looking for handmade goods, artist products, gifts and collectable items. It should not replace your own store, but it can help you reach shoppers who may not find your website yet.
- Use keyword-rich titles that describe the pin clearly.
- Add strong product photos with lifestyle, scale and packaging shots.
- Write detailed descriptions including size, material, backing, shipping and giftability.
- Test Etsy ads carefully and measure whether they create profitable sales.
- Invite Etsy customers to follow your brand through packaging, inserts and social links.
In-person sales
Sell enamel pins at pin events, markets and craft fairs
Online sales are powerful, but in-person selling is still one of the best ways to understand your customers. Events let people see the quality, ask questions, buy multiple pins and connect with the story behind your designs.
Great for collectors who already understand enamel pins and may buy multiple designs.
Great for artist merch, gift products, local customers and seasonal sales.
Great for brands, musicians, galleries, coffee shops and local creative communities.
If your area has no pin event, organise a small trading night or local maker gathering.
Step 6
Release new enamel pin designs consistently
One of the biggest mistakes new pin makers make is relying too heavily on one or two designs. Even if your first launch goes well, sales can slow down when customers see the same product over and over.
New releases give your audience a reason to return, create fresh content for social media, help older products get rediscovered and increase the chance of finding a best seller.
The goal is not to make endless products. The goal is to test enough strong ideas that you discover which designs your audience truly loves.
Launch 2–5 related designs around a theme, season, fandom, mood, event or character set.
Measure how quickly each design sells instead of judging only by likes or comments.
If a design sells fast, restock it before momentum disappears.
Discount, bundle or archive designs that do not connect with your audience.
Reality check
Manage your expectations and put in the work
Building an enamel pin business is still building a business. It takes testing, patience, money, time, mistakes, product development, customer support, shipping, marketing and consistent effort.
Some makers find a best seller quickly. Others need many launches before the numbers start working. The best reason to enter the pin game is because you genuinely love pins, design, community and the creative journey.
- Do not expect instant profit. Your first batches may mainly teach you what works.
- Track your numbers. Know your costs, profit, stock levels, reorder points and conversion rate.
- Keep learning. Improve photos, product pages, packaging, email, launches and customer service.
- Stay connected to the community. Pin makers, collectors and customers make the journey more valuable.
More resources
Helpful Pinlord guides for enamel pin makers
Learn the full process from artwork to production.
Create better artwork before sending it to a factory.
Compare suppliers and understand how to work with factories.
Make your orders look professional and arrive safely.
Research custom product manufacturers before ordering.
Find a better-fit custom product manufacturer for your project.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions about selling enamel pins
How do I start selling enamel pins?
Start by creating a strong pin design, producing a small test batch, setting up a simple online store, taking clear product photos, pricing for profit and promoting your pins through Instagram, Etsy, events, email and pin communities.
How much should I sell enamel pins for?
Many standard enamel pins sell around USD $10–$15, depending on size, finish, quality, packaging, brand and audience. Larger, limited-edition or premium pins can often sell for more.
Is Shopify or Etsy better for selling enamel pins?
Shopify is better for building your own brand and customer base, while Etsy can help with marketplace discovery. Many pin makers use both: Shopify as the main store and Etsy as an additional sales channel.
How do I market enamel pins on Instagram?
Post strong product photos, reels, behind-the-scenes content, packaging videos, giveaways, launch countdowns and customer photos. Focus on real community and avoid fake followers or fake engagement.
Do enamel pin bundles help increase sales?
Yes. Bundles can increase average order value, help customers buy more pins at once, move inventory faster and reduce the cost of shipping per item.
How often should I release new enamel pin designs?
Release new designs as consistently as your budget, audience and creative process allow. Regular releases help you find best sellers, keep customers interested and give people a reason to return to your store.
Can Pinlord help me make custom enamel pins?
Yes. Pinlord helps makers, artists, brands and communities create custom enamel pins and ethical custom products.
Final advice
Ready to sell your enamel pins?
The best enamel pin businesses are built through good products, strong photos, clear pricing, smart marketing, community support and consistent releases. Start small, learn from every launch and keep improving.
Selling enamel pins is not a shortcut to quick money, but it can become a meaningful creative business when you love the process and stay consistent.
I have hundreds of pins from various Olympics, amid hundreds of others around the world. Hundreds of pins that I do not want to throw away! Is there conventions in Florida that I can bring them to?
Hello! I had a question. I m at the part where im about to fina a manu and start producing, however, I wanted to know the consequences on my taxes if i start selling pins. Do you have any insight into this?
Hello my name is Andie And I just read your post.Thank you for all the advice. I am interested in making a few pin for art walk that my town has but I was curious if I can make pins of the historic building and logos of other peoples shops! With out getting in trouble. Do you know anything about this?
Great article! We just started creating/selling our own pins and it’s nice to have some insider insight.
Thanks for the great blog post. I have been thinking about doing a pin giveaway. When you post about your giveaway on Instagram do you also run the same giveaway on your Facebook page? How do you go about picking your winner? Have you ever just given away a pin to a big Instagram person to get a shoutout? Is it worth it to do this?
Thanks:)
Scott
Hi, thanks for this insightful article about selling pins.
Glad to see it’s popular on instagram as I have a decent following already!
I want to sell some of my artwork on pins to interested pin collectors through my shopify store.
Are there any dropshipping services to create and sell custom pins?
I did a few searches and came up with nothing.
Regards
Hello! I have some questions about selling pins. A friend and I want to start designing and selling together but how does this tie into taxes when it’s time to file? Also, would we need to establish an LLC or partnership to file legally? Lastly, are there ever any issues with basing pins off licensed characters?
Thank you for the help, your article was great!
Hello my name is Rosie. I just recently discovered pinlord. After checking out the website I found this article. I fucking loved it. My pin collection started three years ago and I’ve realized it makes me very happy.
As a young entrepreneur I see a lot of opportunities in this business. We can be world wide. People want to collect and we can bring the goods. I will provide.
If you will give me an opportunity I will provide for you a service you cannot compare. An unbridled partnership in success and compassion.
Let’s pin the fucking world. Email me back @pinlord. I couldn’t find your name anywhere but I want to know it