Lanyards 101

"What kind of materials can I chose from?" "What about decoration?" "Why are there like 4,000 attachment options?" "And where the heck am I supposed to sell these things? Should I just drive around and look for people who might want a better place to store their keys or badge?"

Promotional lanyards. You've got questions, we've got answers.

Materials

The material you chose for your lanyard can impact more than just comfort, strength and decoration options. Sue Tobias, MAS and MASI, senior vice president of sales for Fields Manufacturing/TARGETLINE, St. Cloud, Minn., provided some examples.

"We do special lanyards, such as an anti-microbial lanyard, which is great for the medical field as it is coated and thus inhibits the growth of germs and kills odor-causing bacteria," she said. She also mentioned reflective lanyards, which she explained were useful for employees working late-night shifts, as well as for children who may be walking after dark, say for Halloween or a field trip. She also noted the option for wholly different materials that can give a different look, such as a bead lanyard for clients who are looking for a more festive look.

Decoration

The core of any promotional product is of course how it's decorated, and lanyards offer plenty of options beyond "put some text on it in a nice thick font." From glitter and rhinestones to non-consecutive printing, there are a lot of creative options out there for lanyard decoration.

Glitter and even rhinestone decorations are a possibility, some companies even specializing in such designs. "We specialize in rhinestone lanyards that are made with a soft felt, for comfort and for strong adhering for the rhinestones," said Tami Cimperman, president of Vegas Golf/Foxyware, Port St. Lucie, Fla. "We are the original rhinestone lanyard supplier and now offer 10 different rhinestone styles."