While many businesses were left reeling from the 2020 Covid shutdown, which caused major supply chain disruptions in the economy, Florida-based Signature Coins was busy working on solutions. To counter the breakdown in global supply lines, shipping carrier disruptions and order processing times, Signature added an enhanced customer portal to their website to improve communication and the ordering process and launch an in-house Special Projects Division.
As a result, they were able to continue to take on the same unique and exotic projects they’d built their industry-leading reputation. The quality of communication and the efficiency of the creative aspect of the order process increased, leading to even better designs, faster times, and happier customers.
It’s one of the things that’s kept their business competitive and nimble during economic uncertainty.
“We’d always differentiated ourselves by being able to meet absurd turnaround times and incorporating coin features that were firsts in the industry. Unfortunately, the chaos from Covid was hindering us from taking on projects that were especially ambitious either in scale, turnaround time, or design.
“Accommodating customer requests, no matter how many competitors had told that customer ‘no,’ was always our specialty. Basically, we did things really, really fast and pushed the envelope. We said ‘yes’ to anything and would figure it out ( meteorite on coins, cerakoted coins, 9” coins, 24” coins, etc.).”
Above all, communication was the key element added to empower the customer with the online customer portal to supercharge the entire order process.
“We like taking on challenging projects, whether they be short turnaround times or crazy designs. We could do that in the past with our factories and long-term relationships, but now we’ve started taking direct control.”
Commemorative Souvenirs with Signature Coins
Signature Coins is a longtime custom challenge coin maker located just outside Orlando, situated near Full Sail University and the University of Central Florida. They’ve made a name for themselves in the commemorative and challenge coin market serving America’s troops over the last 20 years.
Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines have come to trust Signature for making these “challenge coins,” coming back time and again to place another order once their comrades in arms get a glimpse of just how stylish and detailed they are. These coins are usually gifted by troops among themselves on special occasions and handed out directly in the field by commanding officers during exercises for valor and recognition. The carefully crafted challenge coins often feature a unit’s insignia and the name of their division or ship, usually with a bit of attitude and bite, perfect for keeping up morale.
It’s a very strong tradition in the US Army today, but it wasn’t always so. It’s actually recent in the grand scheme of things. With their origins in ancient Rome, challenge coins became an informal tradition in the US Army around the turn of the 20th Century, where oftentimes a special coin was awarded to military units for service when a more formal award might not be called for or might not be near as fun.
Perfected in modern times, the design creation process involves creating a mold and then die casting or striking metal into a coin made of brass. Next, it’s polished and carefully painted– often by hand –resulting in quality craftsmanship and superb detail that an experienced jewelry maker would appreciate.
A World of Variety
Customers can choose from a variety of options like soft or hard enamel paint, flat or 3D (which really makes the detail stand out), and a modern look or antique gold, copper or silver plating. From there, you can customize it further, adding a unique identifying serial number for each coin and choosing from a variety of edge styles like beveled, rope, oblique, crosscut or standard edge.
And while challenge coins and other special memorabilia were already held dear by groups like the US Army Airborne and US Navy aircraft carrier crews, you’d be surprised to learn just how many large corporations and household names have tapped Signature Coins for their own custom projects. Signature employs the latest cutting-edge technology to produce more sophisticated challenge coins, as well as enamel pins, custom medallions, belt buckles, patches and lanyards too.
“Our focus has always been quality of service and product. We want to make the search to quote, order and delivery of the product to be as easy and enjoyable as possible for our customers and employees. That’s another reason why we’re so excited about the customer portal.”
According to Signature Coins, the new enhanced customer portal enables customers to track their project from initial idea to delivery to their doorstep. You are updated and notified automatically by either email or SMS text, allowing for fast communication and access to a complete history of quotes, proofs, and accounting information. New features are being added regularly to optimize the process as well, and soon you’ll even be able to track your order through the production process in real-time, send links to friends for group purchases, and track your referral credits.
When you visit Signature’s website and click on get started, you’re asked to make a few basic design choices, then upload a rough sketch or instructions of your idea and leave a note to chat with the designer. Signature Coins will work with you to ensure that what you receive matches your vision exactly. Unlike other manufacturers, Signature Coins makes actual contact with the customer to make sure every last detail is ironed out to perfection before going into production, providing unlimited revisions until you’re completely satisfied.
Head over to Signature Coins website to view their past projects and to get ideas for your next big event or personalized custom coin. You can also follow them on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
