Every once in a while, while entering your workplace, going backstage at a concert or doing anything else that may need an ID badge, your eyes will catch the design of the cord that goes around your neck. That little strap ribbon-like material that is actually made of materials like nylon, satin, silk, and polyester, though it can also be made of ribbon and anything else, that is hanging down your neck will catch the eyes of many around you as well. You probably spend hours of handpicking the most voguish design just so you can replace that dull and basic lanyard issued along with your work ID. Though, how does one earn money in the lanyard industry exactly?
The origin of the name
The term lanyard shares a unique connection with the French. With the people of France having originally coined the item with their word ‘laniere’, which means strap, the word is actually derived from it.
Different styles & materials
When looking to manufacture these cords a number of things must first be considered. For instance, what material you will be using is crucial to the process. Based on that, you can then follow up with a design to style your lanyard. The materials may include, but are not limited to:
- Polyester
- Nylon
- Satin
- Silk
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (also known as PET)
- Braided Leather
- Braided Paracord
The lanyards are then styled, typically with an imprinted design. Some lanyards are dyed, where the color can be customized to the buyer’s requests. They have various uses, where they can perform past their typical use of carrying your cards. Lanyards can also have USB flash drives or cameras attached to them, which makes it easier to not lose the said items. These USBs, cameras, and some cell phones will usually have a small hole attached to their design from which you can hook it onto the lanyard. Though typically, they are popular for everyone to put their corporate badges, school identity cards, concert passes or for any other similar items. The lanyard designers at MeowPrint Lanyard Singapore explain a different type of use, as lanyards can perform and excel in promotional duties. They are great promotional products to promote your brand. Most companies today prefer the use of lanyards with the company name on it. It promotes the brand and security as well, for only employees can get their hands on this custom-made lanyards.
Depending on your use, you will be allocating a specific type of lanyard. If the cord is needed for short-term use, usually they use a light-weight lanyard with a split key ring attachment. If it will be used for long durations, a more durable one will be developed. Though, if the item is used by a night-time crew or staff, where they will be operating in low-light areas, a reflective material is usually considered.
The many different uses of a lanyard
Lanyards are not just developed for corporate use, or to have your USB flash drive hanging down from them. They have more uses and many more needs that go beyond corporations. These needs and uses may include:
Accessory for your electronics
As it was mentioned, they can carry your cameras or USB flash drive long as they support the convenient option of a lanyard hole. They should also typically be of the right size, so as to add to the convenience and comfort of using a lanyard for this purpose.
Badge and Identification holder
This is the most basic, most typical use of a lanyard. Instead of having to keep pulling it out of your pocket to then put it right back, it can stay there hanging all day and you probably will not even notice. It is especially important in things like conventions, and places that require you to show your badge or ID throughout your time there.
Used as a safety strap
You will find that, in certain places where there is dangerous machinery, a lanyard will usually be strapped to the machine. This is so that if, for any reason at all, the machines operator becomes tired or can no longer work for that moment and they fall, the fall will pull on the lanyard which will instantly stop the machine, preventing any damage from occurring. You will usually find lanyards attached to things like a treadmill, jet-ski, and other machines and vehicles.
Lineman lanyards
These types of lanyards provide the user with support against something such as a fixed object or pole. This is especially useful for mountain climbers. Though this type of lanyard is not made of your normal lanyard material, it boasts a heavy-duty nylon strapping which is attached to a metal ring and it could tighten around. This makes for its sturdy quality and great durability.
Custom lanyard printing
Lanyards can be customized, as it was mentioned, with virtually anything you want. You can have your name printed on a colorful lanyard, with maybe a few bats printed on, only because you love Batman. Apart from fulfilling its obvious purpose, which is to make you happy, a customized lanyard can bring together a group of people. It makes a group of either employees or visitors feel special about themselves, inviting unity within the assigned place. Customizing your lanyard with special prints does not cost as much as you may think, where you can pay as little as $0.5-$1 for one, though it depends on the material you use. However, they are relatively considered to be inexpensive items with several necessary uses, which means they sell a lot, everywhere in the world.
There are many uses for this item, uses that stretch beyond the workplace. However, with almost every corporation in the world, lanyards are considered essential, as they are always issued out with a card such as an ID or a security pass. Though, mostly, they are sturdy and very durable, they will need replacing every now and again. This keeps the lanyard industry working and constantly manufacturing more work friendly lanyards that agree with the conditions they are to be put in. All in all, this industry is a very profitable one, supplying everything from schools, companies, factories, prisons and even made for personal use.