{"id":904,"date":"2020-02-10T00:00:40","date_gmt":"2020-02-10T00:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blinkee.com\/blinkeeblog\/?p=904"},"modified":"2024-07-22T17:28:29","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T17:28:29","slug":"blinkeeblog-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blinkee.com\/blinkeeblog\/2020\/02\/10\/blinkeeblog-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Case Study: “Snowflake Lane” Custom Blinky Pin for Greg Thompson Productions Inc."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Case Study: \"Snowflake Lane\" Custom Blinky Pin for Greg Thompson Productions Inc.<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Strap Yourself In and Hold Onto Your Hat<\/h3>\n

It's time for another riveting tail of the creation of a custom blinky light pin.<\/p>\n

In June of 2008 (was it really that long ago?) Dominique of Greg Thompson productions emailed us:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Matt,<\/em>
\nCould you send us a sample of your Snowflake Body Light to\u00a0 Seattle, WA 98119?<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>Could we get a sample with a lapel pin and backer pin?\u00a0 Are the prices the same?<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>How long do the CR927 lithium batteries last? Run time?\u00a0<\/em>
\nHow much to buy replacement batteries?\u00a0 In bulk?<\/em>
\nHow long do the blinkie lights last? Run time?<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nThank you!!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Naturally, We Responded<\/h3>\n

Hi Dominique,<\/em><\/p>\n

I'm happy to send the sample today. Thanks for the inquiry.<\/em><\/p>\n

I don't currently have a sample with a lapel pin. However it can be manufactured that way for no extra cost, especially since we have plenty of time. The ones I have now have a magnet back. Then there is the backer pin you mentioned. I'll include one of those so you can see what that is like. Those cost .13 each for 1000. The lithium batteries will last at least 8 hours in one of these snowflake body lights and indefinitely on the shelf as long as they are kept cool and dry. The replacement batteries are .09 each for 1000.<\/em><\/p>\n

Any other questions please let me know.<\/em><\/p>\n

Regards,<\/em>
\nMatt<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The Life of a Blinky Pin<\/h3>\n

Dominique: What is the life of the blinkee lights on the pin?<\/em><\/p>\n

Matt: 10000 hours - basically a lifetime<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Now everybody's sampling<\/em>. -Missy Elliott<\/h3>\n

Next, Dominique requested a sample snowflake body light from us and we actually had to get a sample from China for her.<\/p>\n

Here was her response upon receiving the sample (she's very detail oriented as you can see)<\/p>\n

Matt,\u00a0 We received the samples and have a few questions to brainstorm how we would like to proceed.<\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\n\"Snowflake-Lane-Pin-Design-Sketch\"Do you have any other snowflakes\u00a0that aren't so sharp on the edges?<\/span><\/em>
\nWhat would be the cost be if we didn't do the butterfly backs and did the magnets instead?<\/span><\/em>
\nHow much are additional butterfly backs?<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\nWhat is the price if we order 2,000 instead of 4,000?<\/span><\/em>
\nCan the flashing lights be changed to steady or on off instead of rotating pattern?
\nAttached is the logo and design we would like to consider doing.
\n\u00a0<\/span>It will be\u00a0a round pin with a dark blue background, light blue snowflake and white snowflake lane logo.
\nWe really want the logo to pop!
\nWhat is the diameter of the button... I know the snowflake you sent us was about 1\" round. Is that the biggest we can go for the 68 cents each?\"SnowflakeLaneArt\"
\nHow many lights will we have.....3 like the sample?
\nCan we make the\u00a0lights flash on and off together\u00a0instead of rotating?
\nDid you find out if you can throw in extra backs?
\nPlease send us a proof of the pin design ASAP\u00a0to approve so we can begin production.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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So Many Question<\/h3>\n

Since she had so many questions we wanted to avoid a long back and forth via email so we settled it all on the phone.<\/p>\n

We avoided sharp edges on the pin by making it circular.<\/p>\n

We quoted $.20 extra per pin for a magnet back.<\/p>\n

We told her we would comp the extra pin backs.<\/p>\n

We gave her a super low price of $0.68 per pin for the 4000 quantity.<\/p>\n

We advised her that the lights on the pin could flash, fade slowly or just beam steadily.<\/p>\n

We stuck with a one inch size for the pin and 3 lights.<\/p>\n

Etc.<\/p>\n

Virtual Sample<\/h3>\n

The next step was to provide a virtual sample. This is where we make an animation of what the pin will look like when complete. We had to obtain artwork from Dominique first:<\/p>\n

\"SnoflakeLanPinArtwork\"Matt,\u00a0<\/span><\/em>
\nHere it is!\u00a0<\/span><\/em>
\nThe color on my screen looks right with the bright royal blue and light blue snowflake and bright white logo.....\u00a0but when I print it it looks very dark...navy blue... just want to make sure you are\u00a0seeing the bright blues too!\u00a0<\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nPlease provide me with the virtual animated sample\/\u00a0mock up showing where the lights will be located.<\/span><\/em>
\nIn summary, we would like to order:<\/span><\/em>
\n4,000 at 68 cents = $2,720 Total<\/span><\/em>
\nShipping included?<\/span><\/em>
\n3 Blue lights<\/span><\/em>
\nWe would like the lights to chase faster.<\/span><\/em>
\nYou said you would throw in 300 extra backs.<\/span><\/em>
\nPlease confirm the replacement batteries used are CR927<\/span><\/em>
\nDelivery in 5 to 6 weeks from order date.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Hi Dominique,<\/em>
\nHere's the LED diagram and virtual sample animation attached.
\n-Matt<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Like I Said Before, Very Detail Oriented<\/h3>\n

Matt,\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

We are having issues with the color I see on the computer screen and what is printed.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I want to be sure what you are seeing and printing is:<\/em><\/p>\n