Badge Ribbons: Top 5 Reasons To Use Them

Badge ribbons share helpful information, open the way for conversations to begin, and add identifying information to any badge. Plus, they can be fun to wear.

Badge ribbons are satin acetate ribbons with your custom text imprinted on them. They are sometimes called name tag ribbons or convention ribbons. Usually, they are attached to the bottom or sides of event badges.

Badge ribbons are inexpensive, so they are perfect to use in many different ways. In addition, they are available in various ribbon and imprint colors, so you will always find that ideal combination. Their uses are extensive, but we have chosen to share our five favorite ways to use them in this post.

1. Identification at Events

A badge ribbon with a title such as staff, council member or sponsor is easy to see when attached to a badge holder. The titles also allow attendees to quickly recognize and identify exhibitors, judges, speakers, honorees and other important figures at a conference.

Examples of ribbons used for networking at events

2. Event Networking with Badge Ribbons

Unique ribbon titles are frequently used at conventions and other events to create buzz over an idea or theme. Offer a variety of ribbon titles with creative thoughts, a fun idea or personalized titles. One or more ribbons can be attached to the name badge and attendees can share their unique personalities and have fun while networking.

Use badge ribbons to promote activities and sales

3. Use Badge Ribbons for Promotional Advertising

Inexpensive promotional tools are hard to find, but ribbons are a great option. Many retail establishments use them during sales to promote them to their customers. Employees with a ribbon attached to their name tag become walking billboards. Because they are customizable, you can add a logo or business name and choose from various ribbon and imprint colors.

Acknowledge achievements with badge ribbons

4. Ribbons Reward Good Work

Recognizing achievement is a great way to have fun identifying and celebrating accomplishments. Highlight how your people have made a difference at your next meeting and award them with a small gift and a bright ribbon announcing their achievement. Or, provide a colorful ribbon for every participant at your next event to take home and remind them of the wonderful time they had.

5. Share an Important Message or Reminder

Custom ribbon bookmarks are a great way to share an important message or reminder for visitors, members or special events. For example, have custom ribbons imprinted with suggested readings, an event schedule or a favorite quote.

Do you have a creative way to use badge ribbons? We would love to hear about your crafty idea, no matter how crazy or zany.

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Get what you need by mixing and matching ribbon colors and titles to meet the low minimum quantity.

Custom Badge Ribbons: You can choose the ribbon color and foil. Provide your custom wording. Logos and artwork are also a possibility.
Stock Badge Ribbons: Select from over 50 titles imprinted onto colorful badge ribbons.

Donation Spotlight: The Durham-Orange Genealogical Society

Coller Industries Incorporated has many wonderful customers. We work hard to make sure everyone gets quality name tags and personalized ribbons. Sometimes, we are able to take the time to especially recognize one of these wonderful customers by making a donation to their personal identification needs. We love donating time, products and ideas to these companies and organizations. This month we were able to provide a donation to The Durham-Orange Genealogical Society (D-OGS).

According to Holt Anderson, D-OGS Charter Member, D-OGS is “an active genealogical community dedicated to the research and preservation of family history of Durham and Orange counties in North Carolina. We provide research assistance and educational opportunities to our members and the public through outreach programs, monthly meetings, newsletters and forums. We meet once a month to hear speakers on topics about general research techniques, North Carolina maps, Indian Trading Paths, cemetery records, advances in technology, DNA results and so much more.”

The Durham-Orange Genealogical Society primarily focuses on family history research. They hold meetings on the first Wednesday of each month and these meetings are free and open to the public.

Badge ribbons were made with the “distinctive D-OGS logo,” said Anderson, “so that members who are attending large, and sometimes statewide or national, meetings can be identified (quickly).”

Anderson’s hope is that by wearing these name badge ribbons, “It will help to foster fellowship and promote the organization to prospective members.”

Name badges are an important part of any large meeting. They help to identify the wearer to everyone around them. By adding a badge ribbon, such as a Full Color Horizontal Badge Ribbon, one can be identified with more than just a name or a title. Badge ribbons can be used as awards, recognition for an achievement, or in a fun way with a silly title or message.

Avoiding Boring Badge Ribbons – Part 2

The boring badge ribbon has proven functional at many professional gatherings. Keep this in mind when choosing badge ribbons as they are meant to improve the effectiveness of a name badge. The five previous tips were aimed to help decide which type of badge ribbon was the best for each ribbon project. Here are five more tips to help with the overall design of any badge ribbon.

TIP #6 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Choose a distinctive font.

The easiest way to drastically improve how your ribbon looks, and to keep it from being boring, is by using a nice font. There are many fonts available that will meet most any need. Keep in mind that most fonts will require a metal die.

Badge ribbon printing requires the use of dies, which are made to imprint onto the ribbons. A die is basically like a stamp as it presses a printing foil down on to the badge ribbon. Wherever the stamp touches the foil to the ribbon, the foil will stay printed, or dyed, onto the badge ribbon.

Many badge ribbons may be printed using a polymer die. Polymer dies are faster and less expensive, but they do have a few drawbacks. They are made from a softer material than metal dies; they also wear out quickly, so they can’t be used for large runs of the same ribbon; and they don’t hold detail well, so only thick, plain letters and shapes can be used. Small holes in the design, like the inside of a letter “a” or “e” may fill in because the die can’t press hard enough to ensure a clean impression.

A metal die, which is much stronger than the polymer die, can hold much more detail and will ensure a much cleaner imprint. Using a metal die no longer limits the choice of font; text may be made smaller or even add a logo or other image. Metal dies give much more freedom in the design of a badge ribbon and are well worth the additional cost. They can also be saved to use again and again.

TIP #7 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Have fun with your text.

Text doesn’t have to be boring like straight side-to-side or up-and-down. Depending on the badge ribbon chosen, the text can be set at an angle or even on a curve. This is a great trick to get longer words to fit on a narrower ribbon and doesn’t always require a metal die.

TIP #8 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Don’t limit yourself to one color.

For a better looking badge ribbon, use a combination of colors. A plain badge ribbon suddenly seems less boring when changes to a few elements are made. If the badge ribbon really needs to make an impression, try a Full Color Custom Ribbon. This badge ribbon will be printed in full color and has no limits to fonts or number of colors and no metal dies. You can even get a photograph printed on these badge ribbons.

TIP #9 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Plan the shape and size of your ribbon.

Each ribbon should take content and function into account when adjusting the length or shape. If there is extra empty space, make the ribbon smaller or request options for making the text fill it better. Each badge ribbon should fit the text comfortably and not be crowded or empty. Make the badge ribbon unique by replacing the pinked ends with a fishtail.

TIP #10 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Add a company logo.

Nothing spices up a badge ribbon like an image. Use a company logo or find a basic image that will set off the design on the ribbon; it will instantly increase the ribbon’s appeal. Remember, a metal die will be required.

So the next time you find yourself in need of a ribbon for that upcoming event, keep these 10 tips in mind and the planning stages should be a bit easier and more enjoyable.

*Tips and graphics provided by guest author Melanie Bunch, Graphic Artist at Coller Industries.*

Making the Most of Stackable Badge Ribbons

stackable badge ribbons with a reusable name badge

veritcle and horizontal stacked badge ribbons with a reusable name badge

The Benefits of Stacking Badge Ribbons

Each badge ribbon obtained from a conference or convention serves its purpose. So, what happens when they are all combined? And where do you put them all? Every badge ribbon is used as an identifier and as a visual stimulant for the wearer.

Badge ribbons are meant to make the wearer stand out from the crowd. They are also suggested as an effective way to make an initial introduction and break the ice for those attending a social meeting. These crowds can be found anywhere, but most badge ribbons are obtained from trade shows, conventions, conferences, meeting or other social functions.

Name badges are the best place to attach any badge ribbon. They provide an extension on the name/title of the wearer. The ribbons are made to be “stackable” so that the wear doesn’t have to pick and choose which ones to add to their name badges.

Each title can range from council member and president to greeter and sponsor. Personalized Ribbons offers an abundance of these stock badge ribbons, and each title comes in several choices of colors. And each title will help anyone stand out in any crowd.

It’s always fun thinking outside of the box and coming up with unique ways to personalize badge ribbons to meet the needs of any social function. Creative titles can still be custom ordered so that not everyone has to have an official title attached to their name badge.

Badge ribbons don’t just have to remain at professional functions though. They can be found at parties, weddings and other intimate or family events.

Fundraisers are also a common place to see badge ribbons. They are an excellent tool for identifying a cause or support group for each fundraiser. Choose a color, such as pink for breast cancer support or a rainbow ribbon for autism supporters, and then add a title or function for the wearer to attach to their name badge.

Badge ribbons are inexpensive and come in both horizontal and vertical designs and can be customized to meet any need for any function. Don’t limit yourself on these great personalizing tools. Even blank ribbons may be ordered to identify specific groups by a single color worn by each person.

Badge ribbons are an excellent way to break the ice and stop any awkward stares or uncomfortable moments when someone doesn’t know what to say or how to introduce themselves. Stacking personalized ribbons on name badges is an effective way to identify any role at these events.