You went to a convention for “just a look” and came home with three new pins. Sound familiar? Now your favourite characters are sitting in a drawer because there’s no room left on your bag.
A pin display gives those little finds a place where you can actually enjoy them. You don’t need a huge collection or a whole wall, either. A small board, a fabric hoop, or a frame on your desk is enough to start.
Pick a Theme Before You Pick a Display
Put your pins on a table and choose which ones you want to display together. You can sort them by anime, game, artist, or colour.
Try putting all your cat pins in one group or keeping your pink pins together. If you collect pins of one character, you can give them their own board.
You can also turn your own art into custom pins from Vograce. Options include acrylic, enamel, wooden, and button pins. Before buying a display, check the backs of your pins. Some have straight posts that push into a board. Others have clasps that fasten to fabric.
Make a Cork Board Feel Like a Fandom Wall
You can use a cork board to display pins with straight posts. Take off the pin backs and gently push the pins into the cork. Make sure the board is thick enough so the sharp points don’t come out the back.
Leave some space between your pins. Try putting your favourite one in the middle with smaller pins around it.
Add small paper labels to help you remember where you got them. You could write “birthday gift” or “first artist alley.” Keep the pin backs in a small labeled box so you can find them later.
Give One Character an Embroidery Hoop
An embroidery hoop is a great way to display a few pins.
Put a piece of strong fabric between the two rings. Pull it tight, then tighten the hoop. Push your pins through the fabric and secure the backs. If the fabric starts to sag, use fewer pins or try thicker fabric.
Pick a plain fabric so your pins are easy to see. You can use navy for space pins or cream for brown and orange designs.
Hang the hoop on a wall or put it on a small stand next to your manga. Make sure the stand can hold it with the pins on.
Turn a Fabric Banner Into a Growing Collection
A fabric banner gives you room to add pins over time. Choose a sturdy one that can support their weight, and leave access to the back so you can fasten each pin.
Try arranging the pins in rows by series. Or start with one group at the top and work downward as you collect more.
Not sure how to place them? Try one of these:
Keep matching pairs side by side.
Give each artist a separate row.
Arrange colours from light to dark.
Leave a space for the next convention find.
Check the banner’s hanging hardware too. The finished display will weigh more than the empty fabric.
Save a Shadow Box for Your Special Finds
Have a signed backing card or a pin from your first convention? Give it a small shadow box of its own.
Choose a deep frame with a suitable insert for attaching pins. Before closing it, check that both the pin fronts and the backs have enough room. The cover shouldn’t press against the designs.
Arrange the backing card beside the pin if you want to keep the artwork visible without making extra holes in it. You could also add a small note with the event name.
A closed case helps limit dust, but don’t assume ordinary glass provides UV protection. Keep the display away from direct sunlight.
Build a Little Display on Your Bookshelf
You can display your pins on a shelf if you have no room on the wall.
Put a small pin board on a sturdy stand. Add a few books or a figure beside it. Keep the board near the front so you can see the pins.
Try dragon and potion pins next to your fantasy books. You can also put anime pins beside manga from the same series.
Leave enough space to take out your books and clean the shelf. Keep each item easy to move.
Plan the Layout Before Making Holes
Cut small paper shapes roughly the size of your pins and move them around the display first. Take a photo when you like the arrangement.
This helps you spot crowded areas before making extra holes in fabric. It also leaves you free to try a completely different layout.
Check how each pin sits once attached. Don’t force a bent post into place, and make sure the backs are secure. Keep loose pins and sharp parts away from young children and pets.
Terry Clark is the Publisher and Content Director of 365 Retail, with more than a decade of experience covering retail design, technology innovations, store openings and the wider retail industry. He also works closely with leading retailers, suppliers, agencies, events and industry awards across the UK.
