As a teacher I participate in a wide range of activities within and also connected to my profession. There are science exhibitions, inter-school activities, sports events, outdoor activities and so forth. Now that COVID restrictions have been lifted it is great to see the kids out and enjoying themselves and learning about the world. Life however, is not simple anymore. Not a month goes by without a security briefing by our security officer in charge Sophie Finn. No matter where I go, I need to prominently display my identity badge in and around the school gates. Apart from my regular teaching activities, I am also on the committee that looks into the purchase of items for our school and nursery. My day includes looking at quotes for all kinds of items such as laptops, stationery, arts and crafts, and other related items including lanyards, badge holders, and so forth. Over the past couple of years, we have been purchasing large quantities of lanyards and badge holders for all teachers including support staff. We also ask any guests visiting the premises to check in at the front office and wear a visitor badge with the lanyard. This ensures that everyone is accounted for when entering and exiting. The rule of thumb we apply is lanyards and badge holders multiplied by twice the number of staff. Initially, we used to purchase the same number of lanyards and badge holders as a number of staff. But then we found that many of the staff members regularly request for replacements due to damaged or scratched badge holders. We also issue replacements for lost badges and badge holders. Then we noticed that over time, lanyards get discolored or stained and they too require replacement. If this is the first time your institution is in need of purchasing lanyards and badge holders, you should be aware that they can be custom printed – subject to minimum order quantities. The company that we currently use has a minimum order of just 50 units which is perfect for small organizations. But because we normally order more than 500 units we get significant discounts. Our school crest is quite detailed in terms of the design and so the best option for material is the sublimated lanyard. It is where the design is sort of dyed into the material directly – it is not printed on top of the material like other types. It means we get a lanyard that is smooth to touch and is printed on both sides so the crest is always visible. There are four types of materials from which lanyards are made. These are sublimated Lanyards, polyester lanyards, Eco Friendly Lanyards, plain lanyards, woven lanyards and nylon lanyards. They all have pros and cons depending on what type of surroundings they will be worn in and the budget in mind. At €140 per hundred, sublimated lanyards are the most economical ones. Also, their production and printing are the easiest and so the order can be quickly fulfilled normally in about 2 weeks. Another advantage with sublimated lanyards is that, the printing can be done on both sides and in great detail. Best of all, the material feels smooth and soft to the touch. Woven lanyard by contrast, are made from coloured threads sewn together. The material used is very durable and strong but the production method means it is quite difficult to create detailed designs. Moreover, it can only be printed on one side and the reverse of the lanyard is like the inside of a jumper. The printing tends to be limited to simple text fonts and graphics. However, since they are made from 100% fibre, they tend to be very comfortable to wear. At the price of €200 per 100 they are be a bit pricier than the sublimated lanyards. Another material you could consider, is Nylon. I found lanyards made from Nylon to be stronger and last longer. Apart from having all the qualities of sublimated lanyards, Nylon Lanyards also offer a flatter, smoother and shinier finish. Nylon Lanyards work best with simple designs and cost around €200 for 100 units. They are not cheap but they are a premium product. If budget is a constraint (like at most education facilities, especially with costs going up everywhere), the best buy would be Polyester lanyards. These cost roughly €150 per 100 and can be quickly produced. Moreover, they are long-lasting and tough but can be a bit rough to the touch. If worn in direct contact with the skin, it can cause chaffing. However, since they are usually worn over clothes, the roughness is usually not a problem. Finally, the place we order our lanyards from at very competitive prices is, https://www.irelandlanyards.com. We are happy with the product and the service and the company also supplies badge holders and plastic pockets that we use to put our ID cards in that are scanned on entrance to the school grounds.
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