The GSJJ Blog

Explore and share design tips, inspiration, customer stories, and expert guidance for custom challenge coins, custom lapel pins, medals, patches, keychains, lanyards, neon signs, metal business cards, golf ball markers and more.
How to Choose the Right Keychain Attachments?
Keychains
Guide

How to Choose the Right Keychain Attachments?

Custom keychains are now gradually becoming a trendy item and a marketing tool. Whether it is a personalized decoration or a gift or promotional gift that appears in the public eye, it is an information dissemination, conveying personal fashion style and brand impression. 

As the protagonist, keychains are often known to people if they are made well, but they know little about keychain accessories. 

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Lea Alber
July 11, 2026
Veterans Challenge Coins: Honoring Service with Meaningful Gifts
Coins
Guide

Veterans Challenge Coins: Honoring Service with Meaningful Gifts

Veterans Day is a time to remember, thank, and be patriotic. There are parades across the country, veterans go to classrooms to make presentations, and families gather to pay tribute to those who've served.

Apart from such public displays, we look for some way to give something more personal—a gift beyond words to express the degree of respect and admiration we have. Veterans Challenge Coins do precisely this. Small in size, these coins are big in history, tradition, and symbolism. Not trinkets or souvenirs, but symbols of sacrifice, honor, and brotherhood, they are one of the most significant Veterans Day gifts.

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Ethan Carter
February 6, 2026
What Size Should a Custom Patch Be?
Patches
Guide

What Size Should a Custom Patch Be?

The proper size of a patch will vary with some variables, like where the patch is going, how complicated the design is, and the requirement for it to be visible at all. 

In other words, a 2-inch patch may be perfect for the front of a hat, but a patch that is 10 inches is not a proper size to place on the brim of a hat unless it is on the back of a jacket. If you stay aware of a handful of guidelines, you should be able to find a size that works for the purpose you're intending and then the level of impact that you will want.

 

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Lea Alber
February 6, 2026
How to Choose the Ideal Neon Sign Size?
Signs
Guide

How to Choose the Ideal Neon Sign Size?

A neon sign is described as "a bright sign composed of either flexible LED neon or traditional glass neon tubes that gives off a bright glow." Most neon signs used to consist of glass tubes filled with neon gas, but now most neon signs will have LED equivalents that are more energy efficient, safer, lighter, and less brittle. 

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Lea Alber
February 6, 2026
GS-JJ at NGAUS 148th Conference Recap and Product Highlights
Pins
Info

GS-JJ at NGAUS 148th Conference Recap and Product Highlights

This annual conference, a key event for the National Guard community, brings together military leadership from across the country to determine defense priorities and establish strategic partnerships.

The 148th NGAUS General Conference & Exhibition took place from August 28–31, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana, hosted at the Indiana Convention Center. Organized by the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), this annual event serves as the association's official business meeting.

Bringing together over 4,000 attendees—including Army and Air National Guard officers, senior defense leaders, and industry experts representing all 50 U.S. states, three U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia—the conference addresses key defense priorities, operational readiness, and legislative policy updates. 

If you want to see the full event program, the list of speakers, and the legislative updates, please visit the official page for the 148th General Conference & Exhibition.

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Adeel Qayum
September 9, 2026
How To Choose The Best Custom Patches For Your Hats
Patches
Guide

How To Choose The Best Custom Patches For Your Hats

When creating a custom patch for your favorite patch hats, the four key factors are patch type, size, attachment method, and hat material. Nailing the color is just the start—you also need to choose the right custom PVC hat patches or embroidery based on your activity. This guide covers patch types, sizes, materials, best backing for hat patches, and pricing. By the end, you'll know exactly how to find the ideal hat patch maker for your needs.

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Adeel Qayum
September 8, 2026
The Ultimate Custom Pin Materials & Crafts Comparison Guide
Pins
Guide

The Ultimate Custom Pin Materials & Crafts Comparison Guide

The production of custom pins involves a careful balance between visual art, the tactile aspect, and the production budget;  whether it is corporate hard enamel (or a durable hard pin), which keeps its shine for many decades, or highly realistic 3D die cast lapel pins, as well as printed and acrylic pins capable of achieving complex gradients, various methods have a direct impact on whether the design can be perfectly reproduced.

This guide explores all major custom lapel pin types, providing a one-stop, tailored selection reference based on material characteristics, core process comparisons, and advanced special effects.

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Adeel Qayum
September 8, 2026
Pink Ribbon Pins & Awareness Pins: Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness
Pins
Guide

Pink Ribbon Pins & Awareness Pins: Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast cancer awareness is a global movement, and among its most widespread symbols is the awareness pin.

These tiny pins have a number of symbolic meanings: not just are they tokens of support for survivors and patients, but also for fundraising awareness, research, and community support. For wearing to parties or in daily life, these pins are tangible reminders that promote conversation and provide hope.

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Ethan Carter
September 8, 2026
Top 10 Custom Pin Manufacturers Compared: GS-JJ vs. 9 Major Suppliers
Pins
Guide

Top 10 Custom Pin Manufacturers Compared: GS-JJ vs. 9 Major Suppliers

This guide looks at GS-JJ and nine other leading pin manufacturers, including Wizard Pins, PinMart, Vivipins, and Vograce, examining factors such as factory-direct pricing, flexibility with minimum order quantities, production cycles, and general service quality in order to assist you in choosing the best manufacturing partner for your custom pin.

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Adeel Qayum
September 8, 2026
15 Unique Military Gift Ideas
Pins
Info

15 Unique Military Gift Ideas

Military members have a unique status in our lives. The task of finding the ideal gift for them isn't as straightforward as finding them something practical for daily use. Sometimes it may be a keepsake and other times, practical, military gifts can carry high esteem and future value. 

military gifts

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Lea Alber
September 8, 2026
GS-JJ Factory vs. Middlemen: Why Direct Sourcing Saves 20–40% on Coins
Coins
Comparison

GS-JJ Factory vs. Middlemen: Why Direct Sourcing Saves 20–40% on Coins

Sourcing custom challenge coins for military units, law enforcement agencies, or corporate milestones usually comes down to three factors: cost, quality, and lead times. The build quality and total project cost hinge on the specific supplier you choose. Working straight with GS-JJ eliminates middleman surcharges to keep piece prices down while making artwork proof sign-offs and physical quality checks much faster. Here is how direct manufacturing compares to using a broker across six critical B2B procurement dimensions.

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Ethan Carter
September 7, 2026
How Do You Pick the Right Size for Your Custom Pins
Pins
Guide

How Do You Pick the Right Size for Your Custom Pins

Choosing the right custom pin size isn't just about picking 'a little bigger' or 'a little smaller'—it’s about balancing design details, wearing comfort, and overall visual impact. When the size is too small, intricate patterns, fine printing, or brand logos may be hard to see; but if the size is too large, it will add to the weight and thus make it more probable that the fabric will sag or tilt when worn on thin fabrics like silk or cotton. To help you avoid unnecessary costly trial and error, GS-JJ has created this comprehensive pin sizing guide, which provides a detailed analysis of various lapel pin sizes, production process limitations, and design considerations, ensuring that your custom pins are not only aesthetically pleasing, professional, and exquisite but also sturdy and durable.

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Adeel Qayum
September 7, 2026