Sourcing + selling custom keychains

Keychains are a functional and stylish accessory and now you can source and sell this specialty product. The TeespringGo service includes inventory sourcing, storage, product photos, and listing creation. We’ll even handle order fulfillment + delivery + customer support for you too.  

Just like lapel pins, keychains cannot be produced on demand. This means you purchase inventory upfront before your listing is created.

Part 1: Design your keychain 

There are two different keychain types to choose from. First decide which type you want to sell. Below you’ll find a menu of customization characteristics for metal and PVC keychains. Please note all keychains will feature clear plastic bag packaging.

Which keychain type is best for you?

• Metal: Metal keychains are constructed in various materials and feature a key loop. They’re a functional and durable keychain option and provide a high-quality look and feel. 
• PVC: PVC keychains are crafted in different colored plastic polymers and finished with a key loop. They’re a fun and fanciful product and provides the chance to incorporate vibrant colorful elements into your keychain designs. 

Design files

Whichever option you choose, the design file requirements are the same. Vectorized design files are preferred, but we can accept JPEG, .JPG, .PNG, .AI, .EPS,.PSD, .TIFF and .PDF design files. We recommend submitting high resolution files (300 DPI) with at least 2.5” x 2.5” (750 x 750 pixels) dimensions. If you’re not able to submit a design file through the form you can provide a design link in the comments section of the form instead. When creating designs intended for enamel keychains we recommend using RGB / Pantone color system.

Sizes for both keychain materials:

Something you will want to keep in mind when creating your keychains is the size of it. From as small as 0.5 inches wide * 0.5 inches long; and as large as 3 inches wide * 3 inches long. Size options/combinations for width and length (e.g: 1.5 inches long * 1 inch wide):

Long:

• 0.5 inches
• 1 inch
• 1.5 inches
• 2 inches
• 2.5 inches
• 3 inches

Wide:

• 0.5 inches
• 1 inch
• 1.5 inches
• 2 inches
• 2.5 inches
• 3 inches

Option 1: Metal keychains

When submitting your metal keychain request these are the characteristics you’ll need to choose. Continue reading to learn more about each one. 

1. Keychain style
2. Color options
3. Ring and chain style
4. Finishes
5. Ring and chain finishes
6. Quantity and pricing  

1. Metal keychain style 

• Soft enamel: Soft enamel is our most popular keychain type. Its defining characteristic is having colored paint recessed into the metal mold—giving the keychains a dimensional look and textured feel people love. These keychains are a great option for simple designs.
• Hard enamel: Similarly to the soft enamel option, colored paint is used to fill a metal mould. However the difference is that the enamel is polished down to give the keychain a smooth flat surface.
• 3D mold: 3D mold is ideal for creating striking, three dimensional keychains. This keychain type offers depth of detail with multiple surface levels at multiple angles to create a three dimensional look and feel. It’s best for designs of animals, objects, shapes, etc. Please note 3D mold keychains cannot feature any custom colors—the color of the keychain is based on the finishing you select.
• Glitter enamel: This process is exactly the same as soft enamel, however glitter is mixed into the paint before pouring into the mould. This gives the keychain a fun and sparkly look, which may work well with your chosen design.
• Glow in the dark enamel: Again, this is the same process as soft enamel. Glow in the dark additive is added to the paint, which adds an extra element of interest to your keychain. 

2. Color options 

We offer 3 different color options for your metal keychain. 

• No color: If you want your keychain to just have your chosen metal finish, you can choose the no color option—for this option keep in mind that you’re only able to choose the 3D mold option. 
• One-sided: Having color on one side is the most popular choice, with the reverse being smooth metal, please note using a design with 5+ colors increases the base cost  of the keychain.
• Double-sided: You can also choose to have your design on both sides, please note using a design with 5+ colors increases the base cost  of the keychain.

3. Ring and chain style

Choose between 6 options of ring and chain styles so that your keychain can look and function to your preference.

4. Finishes

Metal finishing is used to treat the exterior of the keychains by applying a thin complementary layer to its surface. Spring offers 12 different finishing options to choose from. 

5. Ring and chain finishes

You are able to choose your ring and chain to have either standard nickel or brass finishes. There is an option to upgrade your ring and chain to match the keychain, but keep in mind this will incur an additional cost. 

6. Quantity 

Below is a price reference table. This is an example of price ranges for soft enamel keychains with less than 5 colors and no add-ons. Please note these prices are not exact—they simply provide an indication of price range. Keychain type, number of colors, size, etc. will determine the base cost. Your pin’s base cost may be slightly lower or higher than the table below depending on the characteristics you choose.

0.5″ W – 1″ L = 0.5 inch width and 1 inch length

Option 2: PVC keychains

When submitting your PVC keychain request these are the characteristics you’ll need to choose. Continue reading to learn more about each one. 

1. Keychain style
2. Color options
3. Ring and chain style
4. Quantity and pricing  

1. PVC keychain style:

There are three style options for the PVC keyring, this will again depend on your design and preference. 

• One-sided: The first option to have your design on one side, with the reverse being a flat surface. Features standard 4mm thickness.
• Double-sided: The second option is for your design to repeat on both sides of the keychain. Features standard 5mm thickness.
• 3D design: Finally the most popular option is to have a full 3D design made from a custom mould. Features standard 5mm thickness.

2. Color options:

You can have up to 12 different colors included in your PVC keychain. Simpler designs such as logos or text work well with the 1-3 or 4-6 color options. If you have a more detailed design, we recommend choosing 7-9 or 10-12 colors to keep as much detail as possible.

3. Ring and chain style

Choose between 5 options of ring and chain styles so that your keychain can look and function to your preference.

4. Quantity and prices

Below is a price reference table. This is an example of price ranges for a full 3D PVC keychain with up 7-9 colors and no add-ons. Again, keep in mind that these prices are not exact—they simply provide an indication of price range. 

0.5″ W – 1″ L = 0.5 inch width and 1 inch length

Part 2: Source & sell inventory

Here’s a breakdown of how the sourcing process works.

1) Submit request

Once you’ve unlocked keychains you’ll see the ‘Metal Keychain’ and ‘PVC Keychain’ product icons in the Launcher. Fill out the form with your keychain characteristics and submit your request. We aim to process all requests within 24 – 48 business hours.

2) Order inventory

Once we receive your submission we’ll send you a deposit payment link for $50. Once the deposit is paid we will process your request and follow up with an exact quote and product mockups. When you approve the keychain mockups and quote we will send you another payment link for the total inventory cost (minus your deposit). Once full inventory payment is provided your keychain order will be processed.

3) Start selling

Keychain production takes between 35-50 business days and inventory will be sent to our facility in the US. We’ll create product mockups for you and make sure to set the listing to ‘private’ so you can make it public and start selling when you’re ready.  We can also send a keychain to you if you’d like to create promotional material or videos for the launch.

Pricing recommendations + fees

You decide how much profit you want to make per keychain. We charge a service fee which covers storing your inventory (up to 60 days from last sale), creating product mockups, fulfilling orders, and handling customer service for you. Our service fee is 15% of the selling price (minimum $2). Normally keychain retail prices range from $7 – $20. Pricing should depend on the base cost of your keychains and how much you think your audience will pay for this custom product.

For example, you source 1,000 keychains with a base cost of $2.80 each. You pay $2,800 total. The selling price for each keychain is $9. Spring’s fulfillment fee is $2. Therefore, your profit margin would be $9 (selling price) – $2.80 (base cost) – $2 (service fee) = $4.20 profit per keychain. This means once you sell all your keychains you earn $4,200 in profit.