Author: Bryan Croft

At Name Tag Wizard, we’ve spent the past 70 years creating customized products that bring your vision to life. As we celebrate this exciting milestone, we’re reflecting on how we’ve played a role in evolving the world of customization.

Our rich history, strong connections, advanced machinery, unwavering commitment to quality, and efficient shipping set us apart from the competition, making us a leader in the industry.

History

HC Brands, the parent company of Name Tag Wizard, was first started by Owen Holmes in 1954, right out of his garage in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Holmes had a passion for connecting with his community and wanted to give people an easy way to express themselves through personalized products. In the early days, customized products relied on manual processes, and Mr. Holmes’ dedication to quality and personalization laid a strong foundation for the company.

As the business grew, we continuously discovered ways to improve and innovate. In 2009, Bryan Croft took over as CEO, bringing a fresh vision and strategic direction to Name Tag Wizard. Recognizing the potential of the internet, Bryan moved the business online, making it easier for customers nationwide to access our personalized name tags. This shift not only expanded our reach but also streamlined our operations and enhanced customer experience.

Machinery

Before modern technology, the production of custom name tags relied on manual carving or chemical etching. While effective, these traditional processes were time-consuming and less precise. Manual carving demanded immense skill and patience, often resulting in variations in quality and consistency. Chemical etching involved the use of hazardous substances that posed significant risks to the health and safety of workers. 

The introduction of laser engraving machines revolutionized custom name tag production. Unlike older methods, laser engraving allows for intricate designs to be replicated with exceptional accuracy. The speed of laser technology enables rapid production, reducing turnaround times and increasing efficiency. This advancement has not only streamlined manufacturing but also elevated the safety and standard of custom production.

Raising the Bar for Quality

With all of our products made here in the USA, we ensure that only the highest quality products leave our facilities. We have set the standard for what high-quality customized products should look like. Our quality check process consists of 10 steps:

1. Our laser engraving machines and UV printers are cleaned first thing in the morning to ensure consistent quality throughout the day.
2. Our durable name tag sheets are precisely aligned with the appropriate machinery for the material.
3. Any dust generated during the engraving process is vacuumed away to prevent debris interference.
4. The engraved name tags are hand-scrubbed with soap and water to ensure a clean product.
5. Our experts perform a visual examination to check for proper depth and style.
6. The name tags are sorted, reviewed, and sent to production.
7. The name tags are hand-assembled with the correct backing.
8. Each name tag is packaged with a heat seal for added protection.
9. A final visual check is conducted to ensure the quantity is correct.
10. The name tags are scanned and shipped to the customer.

Nationwide Shipping

While we take pride in our Jacksonville, Florida roots, we wanted people nationwide to have the opportunity to shop our personalized products. To make this possible, we made the shift to our online stores and began shipping to all 50 states. 

From the very beginning, we committed to shipping within two business days, ensuring our delivery driver dispatched orders promptly. Today, with the help of modern technology and our experienced team, we continue to uphold our tradition of super-fast shipping across the country, providing the same reliable and speedy service our customers have come to expect.

Looking Ahead

While we celebrate 70 years of innovation and excellence, we are excited about the future.  We’re aiming for another 7 decades of not only increased connections with our customers and fantastic products, but opening more paths of opportunity and security for our team members. At the time of writing we have had 700 employees come and go since 2012, and have several second generation employees on our staff.

Name Tag Wizard is nothing without the people that keep it running and through continued focus on customer service, innovation, and creating great products.

With our CEO Bryan at the helm, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of customization, continually enhancing our processes, and expanding our reach. We are grateful to our loyal customers for their trust and support, and we look forward to many more years of helping people express themselves through our high-quality personalized products. Thank you for being part of our journey.

The benefits of custom name tags can be limited or expanded by how you see and use them in your company. If you’ve just been relying on simple name tags with your company logo, this post is for you.

The Importance of Name Tags

Name tags are facts of life in many businesses. If you have public-facing employees, the odds are good that you use name tags to identify them. If you stop to think about why name tags are important, you might say they put names to faces and make employees accountable to company standards. But have you ever thought about how simple name tags could be building relationships that go far beyond the professional?

If you ask yourself “What are the benefits of name tags” or “What is the aim of a name tag,” you might not answer, “To build human connections using creativity.” But if you open yourself to that possibility, your company name tags can be relationship builders that create trust and spark excitement in your customers.

How? Let me tell you a story.

The Power of Personal Connection Through Name Tags

A couple of weeks ago, I took my kids to Disney World. All of the employees wear name tags that include their name, the Disney logo, stars for the number of years they’ve been there, and the city and country the employee comes from. A young man serving hot dogs was from Venice, Italy, where I visited with my family last summer. I chatted with that young man about his home city.

His name tag created a human connection that wouldn’t have been possible without that one extra detail – the city he came from. Name tags are professional necessities, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Name tags can also build relationships and encourage human connections. With customized name tags, your customers might remember your employees long after they leave your business. And that means they’ll remember your business, too.

The Impact of Name Tags on Customer Relationships

I have a personal theory about the trust factor name tags can provide. Imagine a bartender with no name tag working for a month. They’ll make sales for the company and earn tips for themselves. But what if they wear a name tag for the next month? Do you think it might make the bartender more friendly? Will that name tag start building relationships between the bartender and their customers? Do their customers stay longer, start conversations, and have another beer? Will the bartender make more sales and tips as guests connect on a personal level? I think they will. Why? Because humans like to connect, and that name tag creates a connection.

The Significance of Names in a Fast-Paced World

As sophisticated and crazy as the world is getting, starting with a name, also slows things down. For many people, our names are our favorite word.  For example, I’m Bryan with a Y. Most people with my name are Brian with an I. I’m proud of my “Y”.  When I see it out in the wild, like driving through Bryan County, Georgia, I get a little thrill. When someone asks about the spelling of my name, that builds a connection between us.

Name Tags as Career Milestones

Here at Name Tag Wizard, we recently got an email from a long-term customer named Katie. She shared a photo of her collection of name tags, starting as a Food and Beverage Assistant at a golf club and moving up the ranks all the way to General Manager. These name tags were part of building her relationship with her career. They trace her personal history and have been an important part of her identity with the company. Katie’s name tags stated her title at every stage of her professional development, giving her both something to claim and something to aspire to.

Creative Customization of Name Tags

So, how can your company’s name tags get to work at building relationships? Why not add some creativity and customization to those tags? One great way is by adding a question. Questions build connections by engaging people. Here are some ideas:

• Lego asks what employees’ favorite Lego brick color is.
• A pet store might ask: “Team Cat or Team Dog?”
• For a golf course, “What’s your lowest round ever?”
• A brewery’s name tag could ask, “What’s your favorite type of beer?”
• An Italian restaurant might ask what kind of pasta the employee loves most.

If we both love dogs, stout, or fettuccine, we’re going to connect over that. How can you have fun with name tags in your industry? What kinds of questions can you add to your employees’ name tags to help them with building relationships?

Using Name Tags to Spark Conversations

When you add titles to name tags, they don’t have to be formal. For instance, I use a name tag when I attend trade shows that says, “Bryan Croft, Visionary.” When people ask about it (making connections!), I tell them I’m a dreamer. I dream about everything. I had a dream of building this ecommerce company that we’re having fun with. And a dream about helping the kids in Haiti where we have an orphanage. And my trade show name tag builds relationships by creating an opening for conversations about that title and what it means to me as a person.

Reflecting Company Culture Through Name Tags

You can reflect your company culture with your colors, logo, font, and the size of the elements you choose. And you can go in any direction that will create connections and make your customers feel comfortable. You can let your employees’ name tags build relationships if you think of that surface area as an open invitation for connection.

What will you do with your company name tags? Whatever you decide, we make thousands of customized name badges at Name Tag Wizard every day. With many options for customizing, we can help you bring your imagination to life. Create your own custom name tags today with our easy-to-use design tool, and start building those relationships!