Which Size Button is better and popular?

[Tanako]

So I'm looking into investing in a button maker and boy are they expensive. I have seen a bit cheaper ones but the size isn't something i want. Anyway, my main question is, what size button should i get? which size is popular in conventions? I was thinking of going with the 1.25" but I'm not sure. I want it to be small but not too small and i can't quite remember what these sizes look like in 3dmode.
Attached is the picture below. as you can see, if it comes with the accessories used to make the button it cost a bit more.

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[joannekwan]

Here's a photo of my button collection. The Meow cat is 1.25" along with the Earthquakes victory one. The rest are 1"
I think 1.25" is a fine size.

[Tanako]

wow thanks a lot. that helps.
how well do buttons sell? have you hand any luck with selling? or are they just your personal collections?

[Swamp]

Personally, I think big buttons are unweildy

Small buttons are my favorite, but need simple details and look best in sets

Medium is best for quotes and more complicated designs

[joannekwan]

They're just my personal collection!
I had considered getting a button maker myself, but I calculated the profit margins were too low to make it worth my while, personally.

And I've never really been into buying buttons. Most my collection are freebies and gifts, or specific souvenirs from events that didn't have other merch I liked. I'm more of an enamel pin collector.

[Tanako]

Yea that is what i thought. I guess i really have to think about it before i go investing. i wanted to use it as a promotional add-on but then again, i could look into other less money consuming items. anyway, thanks for your input.

[joannekwan]

No prob! I see buttons as more practical if you often table at cons, or plan of commissioning yourself and your machine out for other people who'd want buttons of their own.

Otherwise when selling online, shipping can be a huge deterrent. Like I don't see many people wanting to pay $1 for a button and $3 for shipping on top of that.

[Tanako]

wow damn. that's pretty terrible. how about a pack?
lets say a collection of 4 button or a collection of 6 buttons? will it be worth it then?
i've seen a couple of videos on youtube where people make small pack collections.

shipping is always a killer and the worst part is that, they keep hiking up the prices like almost every year. i'm afraid it's gonna get to a point we wont be able to afford it anymore ( well technically indie artists self promotion and selling).

[joannekwan]

A pack would definitely be more economical!
But I'm not sure what sales are like for those, especially if one doesn't have a huge following already.

[HGohwell]

My experience is people either want something around 1" - 1.5" (I like 1.5 bc it's big enough for a good design without being over the top) or outlandishly big. I haven't sold the big ones myself, but someone I spent a lot of time sharing a table with invested in some experimental 3.5" badges and they sold remarkably well, and the big of extra size adds a bit of extra profit margin.

(Idk how much experience you have with this sorta stuff so please forgive me if this next bit comes off as patronizing.) If you're not planning on selling the, or not doing it often, I'm not sure it's worth investing in a button maker personally when there's plenty on online places that will make you buttons cheaply and at a pretty good quality and a reasonably short run. I wouldn't pay more than £1 for most button badges around the size you're talking, so that's (quick currency conversion later) 250ish badges just to pay for your cheapest maker, plus labour, vs sending it to site (I use Zapcreatives) for 100 badges (often with bonus badges so closer to 120-130 for the price of 100) at £25. So unless you're hugely dedicated to the investment and want to do it all yourself, I'd lean towards getting it done by an online site, or at least while first dipping your toes into it.