Q. Dr. Don,
I have been struggling with this problem for a while. Does anyone reading this know an inexpensive and/or creative way to display 2 1/4 in. buttons for sale? I don't want to buy Badge-A-Minit's display, they are too expensive. I toyed with the idea of making my own display, but I think I can use some help. BTW, I use Corel Draw 6 to make my designs. It's great. I also use the baseball card sleeves to package my buttons and magnets too. (thank you to the person who suggested the diskette label idea)
Happy button making,
Melissa
A. Melissa, I don't have the answer to your question myself, but I'll bet that one of our fellow button-makers can give us some helpful suggestions. So come on guys and gals, can any of you give Melissa some ideas on cost effective ways to display her buttons?
Response:
Hi Don:
I was reading some of your Q & A pages and found the one about "how to display your buttons" and thought I would send you the attached photo of my table and button display for you and others to see for their own consideration.
I made my own folding tables using Table Leg Kits from the local hardware store. I then measured and sewed together the table covers in a red felt with black top. The buttons are stored in cardboard boxes I made
and covered in colors to match my table cover. The boxes holds 20 button designs of 20 buttons each for a total of 400 buttons per box. When the box top is opened, the buttons are pinned to the top of the box and becomes a flip open display board with a dowel rod attached to the rear to steady the top in place. For a setup at a flea market or such other event, I am able to open 5 boxes side by side and have a total of 100 designs (2000 buttons ) for public viewing. When the show or event is over, I simply close the lids, band them to stay shut and stack back into the vehicle again. The table skirt and table are then folded rather quickly and also into the vehicle. My total setup time at the location is approximately 10
minutes. Same as for the tear down and load time.
The carousel display to the right in the picture is also made of a wood signboard with a dowel rod mounted in the middle. On the dowel rod are "foam bricks" from the locl craft store. The bricks are covered in a material from the craft store and the buttons are then pinned to the bricks for those special buttons other than what is stored in the boxes.
Thanks again
Jim Noble
Booster Buttons
Response:
Dear Don:
After receipt of your disc for button designs, I received an order from a religious gift store but did not have a display rack yet, I did not want to deliver them in a box.
I checked out the rack from Badge A Mint for $32.95 and found the supplier for their racks,
www.art-phyl.com , at $ 14.50 plus shipping.
Having been in the giftware business for many years I have had experience in making racks. Lowe's Hardware sells a vinyl pegboard sheet for $9.95 in a 2"x4", I cut 4 pieces 12X18 inches and then cut the 8" remants into tri-angles, (see attachments) and attached them with an epoxy glue. I ordered the plastic hooks from www.pegslockinghooks.com they cost $1.80 per dz, and can hold 4 buttons. I put the buttons in baseball card bags, and printed a small card 2 1/2" x 2 3/4" I then fold the bag over the card and staple the card onto the bag and punch a hole in the center. The board hold 20 different styles. To cut the board with a jigsaw and glue stand onto back took less than 1 hour for 4 stands.
There is no reason that you could not use regular pegboard to do the same thing, but I feel the the white board looks more professional.
Please feel free to pass on the information to others.
Best regards, Gus Real
Response:
Dr. Don
I display my buttons at a local farm market (my wife sells bakery at the market and the buttons are on her display). I use a piece of off white material pinned to a wooden display board. I just pin the buttons on the material and slide it over the top of the board. It's quick to set up and quick to take down. The attractive buttons draw people into our booth and we sell more bakery plus the income from button sales.
Wayne Haegele
Don,
This message is in regards to the question by Melissa. This is what I made to display my buttons for fairs and flea markets.
First of all, my total cost for everything was under $50.00 at Home Depot. What I made were 4 display boards that were easy to carry, that measure 2 feet by 2 feet. I used peg boards(1/8th inch size holes). They come in the store in 2 by 4 foot sheets. Just ask any sales rep at Home Depot and they will cut all your wood for free, right there on the spot.
I feel using the lighter peg board is just fine for buttons, since they do not weigh a whole lot, plus it is half the cost of the thicker and bigger hole peg board. Next I bought 1 by 3 inch boards for the frame, I think it is around 7 pieces that were needed. You also need 3 small hinges, and the next thing you need is a can of spray paint (I used black), also you need 1 inch wood screws, and last item you need is the actual metal pegs(you need to buy enough for about 150 pegs, be sure to buy the pegs that are 1/8th inch round not the larger 1/4 inch size.
Once all your wood is cut at Home Depot which saves a bunch of time for you, assembling these 4 units took about an hour of my time, it will take more time to put the pegs in though. All you have to do is make a frame (4 sides) (just screw in the peg board to the 1 by 3's) and with a hinge I made a leg that will hold your display up on a table and will close when you are ready to leave. In order to use this set-up you have to package your buttons with a header card with a hole punched in it, so all you have to do is slide the package onto the peg board. I hope this helps Melissa, and good luck in your business!
thanks,
John D'Agostino (Buttons on You)
Manville, NJ
Response:
Don,
I went to a local sign maker and bought precut pieces (12x24 inch) of corrugated plastic. I then cut these down to the size I wanted - any size up to 12X24. I then used the cutaway pieces or an extra piece for the easel back that I cut to the same height as the front board by 6 inches wide. I scored the 6 inch strip with a ruler and a butter knife about 2 inches from the top. I glued the two inch part above the scoring to the middle of the back of the main board with hot glue. (It doesn't melt the plastic) I then took cup hooks and spaced them out to hold my buttons which are in 3 x 3 ziplock bags I ordered from silver states plastic. (you could use the baseball plastic sleeves and just space accordingly) The cup hooks are longer than the plastic is thick so I then took and put a dab of hot glue on the point of the cup hook screw on the back. This protects from scratching as well as reinforces the cup holder to the plastic. After the glue is cool, I put two large grommets through the board where the easel back is attached. This way I can either hang the board or use the easel back for a table top display. To stop the display from falling over on the table, I punched a hole in the easel back and the main board, each about one inch from the bottom and put a cord through both holes. I made the cord no longer than the distance I wanted the easel back to be from the main board and then knotted it. This helps to stabilize the easel back. This can also be weighted with bags of extra buttons for windy days.
I also use a cool glue gun I buy at WalMart that works well for the magnets. It dries pretty quick and doesn't require electricity. The gun runs about 20 bucks and the refills are a buck each.
Pam Rodriguez :)
Response:
I would like to pass on to your customers a display tip I use and have found to be easy and economical. When I sell buttons that need to be displayed I put them on a piece of foam core poster board. The button pin easily slides into the board and it can be reused. I hope this helps our fellow button makers.
Sincerely
Tami Wilson
