How to Create Your Own Rubber Wristbands
Nike's Livestrong wristband campaign demonstrated how significant an impact a small accessory can have in increasing awareness and raising funds. Its launch in 2004 transformed the wristband or gel bracelet into an expression of individuality and a powerful marketing tool. Many organizations have since adopted the wristband to help spread awareness and build their brands. Among younger groups, wristbands can help an organization reach individuals it otherwise would not and help foster word-of-mouth marketing.
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Instructions
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Choose a color. Using an extremely bright color or one that clashes with too many colors may dissuade people from wearing the wristband. A color that blends in too well, however, might make it difficult to recognize the bracelet. The color should have something to do with the organization the band is promoting. Yellow, for example, was selected for Lance Armstrong's Livestrong bands because of its use on the champion jerseys for the Tour de France.
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Choose a phrase. The phrase should be catchy, short and directly tied to the organization. Merely printing the organization's name makes the wristbands too overt of a marketing ploy and may dissuade people from wearing them. Organizations like Livestrong, whose name can double as an inspirational message, achieve the best effects.
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Make the bands. There are many manufacturing companies online (see three options in Resources) that allow customers to design their own bands for printing. Prices range based on quantity but generally hover between 15 cents and $2.
You can also make your own wristband at home. You'll need newspaper, dye in your desired color, thick rubber bands, tape, an alphabet stencil and permanent markers. First, cover your workspace in newspaper to prevent the dye from damaging anything underneath. Keeping the dye in a separate container, soak a rubber band until the color reaches the desired depth. Make sure to use a thick rubber band that fits your wrist well. Once the dye has dried, tape the rubber band down flat on the newspaper to prevent movement. Using the stencil and permanent markers, write in the phrase of your choosing.
Let the wristband sit for several minutes to avoid smudging the ink. Because of the time and labor this requires, and inconsistency of results, purchasing wristbands from a manufacturer may be a more attractive alternative for larger quantities.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit green silicone wristband image by Georgiy Pashin from Fotolia.com
