Yes—people really are making money selling hat pins. Not just a few bucks here and there, either. On Reddit, one creator shared how they crossed six figures in sales. On Instagram, you’ll find hundreds of small accounts with loyal followers, making a living or side income selling unique, well-branded hat pins. So, can you do it too? If you’re serious, and you’re willing to do the homework—yes.
But making money with hat pins isn’t just about putting out a cute design and waiting for the sales to roll in. What actually works is understanding how to position yourself, who to sell to, and how to create demand—even before your first hat pin is produced.
Let’s walk through the real path people take to go from idea to income.
It Starts With the Right Niche
No matter how good your hat pin looks, it won’t sell if no one’s searching for it. The most successful sellers don’t try to be for everyone—they focus on a niche. And more importantly, a niche they already understand.
Some of the most reliable niches right now?
- Nostalgic themes (Y2K, early internet, retro anime)
- Pop culture fandoms (but avoid IP infringement)
- LGBTQ+ identity, mental health, or self-expression themes
- “Cute but slightly weird” aesthetics—think frogs with swords, melting smiley faces, ghost cats
It helps if you already scroll through this kind of content on Instagram or Pinterest. That way you’ll know what kind of vibe works, what people are sharing, and what makes a design stick.
Find 3–5 other hat pin creators in your niche who are doing well. See how they talk about their products, how they shoot their photos, and how often they launch new designs. Don’t copy them—just learn the rhythm.
Before You Spend: Test the Idea First
Don’t go dropping $500+ on production until you’ve tested the waters. A great way to do this is through pre-sales or crowdfunding.
Kickstarter is a solid launch method—some of the most successful hat pin projects on there didn’t get funded because the designs were amazing (though that helps), but because they told a good story, had great visuals, and offered limited-edition tiers. That’s what makes people click “Back this project.”
If you’re going the Kickstarter route, here’s what makes a difference:
- A clear concept and short backstory about why you made this hat pin
- High-quality mockups (use Procreate, Canva, or Illustrator)
- Real-life photos of the sample (a physical prototype builds trust)
- Tier options (standard pin, holographic version, bundle of 3, etc.)
- A realistic delivery timeline—and stick to it
And if you’re not ready for a full campaign, just test interest.
You can:
- Post your mockup on Instagram or TikTok with a poll (“Would you buy this hat pin?”)
- Use Google Forms to build a waitlist (collect emails + gauge preferred colorways)
- Offer “early bird” pricing for people who sign up early
When 30+ people are already interested, it’s way easier to justify placing that first order.
Choose a Manufacturer You Can Count On
A great hat pin idea is only as good as the product you deliver. If the quality isn’t there, even the most creative concept can fall flat—and worse, lose you money. On the other hand, a well-made product builds trust, keeps people coming back, and helps you stand out in a crowded market.
That’s why working with a reliable manufacturer matters. Hat pins are a simple product, but the execution has to be right—clean lines, durable finishes, strong clasps. If something goes wrong in production, it’s hard to recover.
Factorypin make sure that doesn’t happen. Whether you’re ordering 50 pieces or 5,000, we focus on quality and consistency. Once you’ve finalized your design, we’ll handle the rest—so you can launch your hat pin with confidence.
Selling Smart: It’s Not Just About Where, But How
Most hat pin sellers don’t start with a website—they start with a story. Whether you’re building on Etsy, Instagram, or through Shopify, you need to show people why your hat pins are worth collecting.
On Instagram, post more than just product shots—share behind-the-scenes moments, early design sketches, customer reviews, and how you wear the pins. On TikTok, quick videos showing packaging or real customer reactions can go viral in niche spaces. The point is: you’re not selling just a hat pin, you’re selling identity, humor, or nostalgia in 2 inches of metal.
Some creators sell directly in DMs or via PayPal until they’re ready for a full shop. Others link to Etsy listings with “drop dates” and limited quantity warnings. Whatever you choose, make sure it feels personal.
If your audience feels like they’re part of your journey, they’ll come back for every release.
Conclusion
Selling hat pins isn’t just a fun business—it’s a profitable one if done right. By understanding the market, choosing the right designs, and executing a strong sales and marketing plan, you can turn this small accessory into a big revenue stream.
If you’re ready to create your first hat pin, we’d love to help.
Factorypin specializes in helping small businesses and independent creators turn their ideas into high-quality hat pins. From samples to bulk orders, we’ll make sure your first product is something you’re proud to sell.
👉 Let’s talk hat pins and make something awesome together.
