Sport Pins International Inc

What Sport Pins International Inc does

Sport Pins International Inc (SPI) is a privately held, family-owned custom award and recognition products manufacturer founded in 1980 by Connie Bivens and headquartered in a 7,400 sq. ft. facility in Upland, California. The company designs and produces custom medals, lapel pins, coins, trophies, plaques, laser-engraved products, patches, lanyards, dog tags, wristbands, apparel, decals, and specialty items such as Crocs shoe charms and friendship pennants. Its manufacturing capability spans multiple processes — cloisonné, die-struck soft enamel, photo-etched, screen print, offset print, high-relief cast, and laser engraving — supporting Pantone color matching and both premium and budget product tiers.

The company's go-to-market is sales-led B2B, with a small direct sales team (Customer Sales Managers and Sales Representatives) handling custom orders from youth soccer organizations, schools, corporate clients, and sports clubs. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; typical custom medals start under $6 per unit with a 100-piece minimum order quantity. Standard production takes 3-4 weeks from art approval, with rush services (e.g., Express Star Medals in 5-7 days) available at a premium, and payment terms require a 50% advance deposit with balance due on delivery. In-house design services (two full-time graphics artists) and free custom logo design are bundled into the offering.

SPI's customer base is heavily concentrated in U.S. youth soccer, anchored by multi-decade official supplier relationships with AYSO, US Soccer, US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer, the US Adult Soccer Association, and 20+ state associations, alongside partnerships with volleyball (AVP America) and marquee tournaments such as Schwan's USA Cup. The company ships to customers throughout the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe and operates a dedicated AYSO Shop e-commerce storefront for in-stock AYSO-branded merchandise. With 14 employees, the firm remains a focused, bootstrapped specialty manufacturer without external funding or acquisitions on record.

Name

Sport Pins International Inc

Legal name

Sport Pins International, Inc.

Website

https://sportpins.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sport Pins International is a family-owned custom award and recognition products manufacturer founded in 1980, producing custom medals, pins, coins, trophies, and laser-engraved items primarily for U.S. youth soccer organizations, schools, and corporate clients from its Upland, California facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Awards and Recognition Products Manufacturing

NAICS

Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Team Sports Equipment & Uniforms Retail (CRAMABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sportswear Customization & Printing Retail (CRAMACAK), Sports Art, Prints & Photography Retail (CRAMAOAG)

Keywords

• Custom lapel pins
• Tournament medals manufacturing
• Custom recognition awards
• Challenge coins production
• Laser engraved trophies

Headquarters

HQ city

Upland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Award Products: Manufacture and sale of custom medals, pins, coins, patches, trophies, plaques, and recognition products for tournaments, sports organizations, schools, and corporate clients. Production time is typically 3-4 weeks from art approval. Orders require 50% advance deposit with balance due on delivery. Rush services available for additional charge.
2. Laser Engraved Products: Laser engraving services for wood, crystal, acrylic products, glassware, and other materials for awards and recognition items.
3. In-Stock Products: Ready-to-ship standard products including medals, pins, coins, bag tags, and other recognition items available for immediate purchase and delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sport Pins International, Inc. designs, manufactures and sells custom awards and recognition products—primarily medals, lapel pins, coins, trophies, plaques, and laser engraved items—for tournaments, sports organizations, schools, and corporate clients. The company offers multiple manufacturing processes (Cloisonné, Cloiscreen, die-struck soft enamel, photo-etched, screen print, offset print, high relief cast, and laser engraving) and complementary merchandise (patches, dog tags, apparel, lanyards, keychains, Crocs charms, friendship pennants). Production runs on a custom order basis with typical 3-4 week turnaround plus a rush service, supported by in-house graphic design and a dedicated AYSO Shop.

Product overview

Sport Pins International Inc is a custom award and recognition products manufacturer founded in 1980. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of customizable sports and event awards including custom medals (available in Cloisonne, Soft Enamel, and Printed processes), custom pins (Cloisonne, Cloiscreen, Soft Enamel), trophies and plaques (Trophy Cups, Sport Columns, Resin, Acrylic, Crystal, Wood), laser engraved products (Acrylic Awards, Glassware, Engraved Wood), coins, neck ribbons, polyvinyl products, patches, dog tags, wristbands, t-shirts and apparel, decals, static clings, lanyards, keychains, shoe charms, and friendship pennants. The product line centers on tournament awards, recognition items, and event merchandise with customization through various production methods. The company also operates a dedicated AYSO Shop for the American Youth Soccer Organization. Core products include medals and pins, with complementary offerings across recognition awards, apparel, and promotional items. The company serves customers throughout the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Europe, with primary markets in soccer, softball, schools, corporate, and other sports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AYSO Shop: A specialized online store for American Youth Soccer Organization products offering in-stock medals, pins, coins and more for AYSO regions.

Products and services

• Custom Medals Custom designed medals for tournaments and events, offered in Cloisonne, Die-struck Soft Enamel, Die-struck Satin Finish, Valuestar Steel Poly, Photo-etched Soft Enamel, High Relief Cast, Screen Print, Offset Print and Mylar Inserted variants, with neck ribbons and multiple back die options.
• Custom Pins Custom lapel pins available in Cloisonne, Cloiscreen, Soft Enamel (Die-Struck), and Printed (Photo-Etched, Screen Print, Offset Print) processes, used for event participation, corporate identity, club affiliation and pin collecting/trading.
• Trophies & Plaques Recognition awards including Trophy Cups, Sport Columns, Resin Trophies, Acrylic Monuments, Crystal awards, and Solid Cherry Wood Plaques with no glue joints.
• Laser Engraved Products Laser engraved acrylic awards, glassware, and solid cherry wood products at 3/4 inch thickness with natural finish.
• Custom Neck Ribbons Custom designed neck ribbons measuring 1-1/2 x 34 inches, color-coordinated to event design and attached via standard jump ring, intended to accompany medals.
• Coins Custom coins available in Antique bronze, Antique Silver, Brushed Gold or Silver finish at standard 2.0mm thickness with grooved or smooth coin edge options.
• Polyvinyl Products Custom polyvinyl chloride products available in multiple vinyl colors (White, Cream, Off White, Black, Gray, Clear, Green, Teal, Purple, Yellow, Red, Blue, and Neon variants) with approximately 3 week delivery.
• Patches Custom embroidered patches for sports, corporate and organizational applications.
• Dog Tags & Wristbands Metal dog tags (1x2x0.05 inches) with 24 or 30 inch beaded chain in Silver or anodized gold finish, plus silicone wristbands in classic, debossed and color fill options.
• T-Shirts & Apparel Custom silk-screened t-shirts and apparel in all sizes with free artwork adaptation from other SPi product artwork.
• Decals & Static Clings Transparent decals for inside or outside application with die cutting, available in 30 standard colors at no additional cost, plus static decals on 0.007 inch white or clear static adhering stock.
• Lanyards & Keychains Lanyards measuring 5/8 x 30 inches with metal J Hook and split key ring attachment, plus carabiner key rings in assorted colors.
• Charms for Crocs Shoes Custom soft PVC shoe charms designed for Crocs shoes to commemorate events; minimum order of 250 pieces.
• Friendship Pennants Custom pennants for soccer tradition of team exchanges, available in 3 standard shapes (Crest, Shield, Classic), 3 sizes (5x7, 8x10, 10x15 inches), with no limit on colors and color coordinated fringe included.
• AYSO Shop Dedicated online store for American Youth Soccer Organization products offering in-stock medals, pins, coins, trophies and custom designed products for AYSO regions, areas, sections and tournaments.

Named customers5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Maryland State Youth Soccer AssociationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2019Official Awards Provider offering 15% discount off catalog prices for first time orders and 5% discount for current customers.
• Kwik GoalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2019SPI provided lanyards and event badges for the Kwik Goal Club Summit attended by over 70 top youth soccer executives.
• AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2019Extended sponsorship agreement through 2023 as Official Pin, Coin and Medal Supplier. SPI has been proudly serving AYSO for over 30 years and is promoted through AYSO.org, social media, email blasts, national events and PLAYSOCCER Magazine.
• AVP AmericacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Official Awards Supplier providing medals for beach and grass volleyball events nationwide. Offering exclusive deals including 15% discount for first-time orders and tiered discounts for promoters.
• Schwan's USA CupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Official Pin and Coin Supplier and sponsor of the Sport Pins Trading Zone at the largest youth soccer tournament in the Western Hemisphere, attracting 1,150 teams from 20 countries.
• US SoccercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of US Soccer, one of the governing bodies for soccer in the United States.
• US Club SoccercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of US Club Soccer, providing quality award products for their events and programs.
• US Adult Soccer AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of the United States Adult Soccer Association.
• GotSoccerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of GotSoccer, a leading soccer platform for tournament registration and management.
• Kiwanis InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Kiwanis International, a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.
• North Texas SoccerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of North Texas Soccer.
• South Texas SoccerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of South Texas Soccer.
• California State Soccer Association - South (CalSouth)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of CalSouth, the governing body for youth soccer in Southern California.
• US Youth SoccercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of US Youth Soccer, the largest youth soccer organization in the United States.
• Eastern New York Youth Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association.
• Florida Youth Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Florida Youth Soccer Association.
• Georgia SoccerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Georgia Soccer.
• Wisconsin Youth Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association.
• Alabama Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Alabama Soccer Association.
• Alaska Youth SoccerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Alaska Youth Soccer.
• Arkansas Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Arkansas Soccer Association.
• NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of NSCAA, the national association for soccer coaches.
• Indiana SoccerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Indiana Soccer.
• Kentucky Youth Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Kentucky Youth Soccer Association.
• Louisiana Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Louisiana Soccer Association.
• New Mexico Youth Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of New Mexico Youth Soccer Association.
• Oklahoma Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Oklahoma Soccer Association.
• Oregon Youth Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Oregon Youth Soccer Association.
• PA West Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of PA West Soccer Association.
• Virginia Youth Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Virginia Youth Soccer Association.
• West Virginia Soccer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of West Virginia Soccer Association.
• Wyoming Youth SoccerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPI is a proud partner of Wyoming Youth Soccer.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Crown Awards: Crown Awards is a direct competitor offering custom trophies, medals, plaques, pins, and recognition awards to schools, sports organizations, and corporate clients — overlapping almost entirely with SPI's product portfolio and customer segments.
• Pinnacle Awards: Pinnacle Awards manufactures and sells custom recognition products including trophies, plaques, medals, and corporate awards, targeting sports leagues, schools, and businesses — a directly comparable custom-awards manufacturer.
• Crystal Image Awards: Crystal Image Awards focuses on laser-engraved crystal, glass, and acrylic awards for corporate recognition and sports events — directly comparable to SPI's laser engraved product line serving overlapping customer segments.
• Awards.com (Trophy Awards): Awards.com is a long-standing custom awards retailer/manufacturer offering trophies, medals, plaques, and corporate recognition products. Directly comparable in product mix and B2B tournament/school customer base to SPI.
• LapelPin.com (Lapel Pin Company): Lapel Pin Company is a US-based custom lapel pin manufacturer using cloisonné, soft enamel, and die-struck processes, directly comparable to SPI's pin product line and overlapping customer base of sports clubs and organizations.
• Award Pros: Award Pros specializes in custom trophies, medals, plaques, and engraved awards for sports tournaments, schools, and corporate recognition — a close direct peer serving similar end markets with comparable customization.
• PinMart: PinMart specializes in custom collectible pins, trading pins, and recognition pins for sports, schools, and corporate clients — a direct comparable in the custom pin segment of SPI's business.

Broad incumbents

• HALO Branded Solutions (HALO Recognition): HALO is one of the largest US promotional products and corporate recognition distributors, offering awards, trophies, and branded merchandise to enterprise customers. Broader scale and portfolio than SPI but directly overlapping in recognition products.
• 4imprint: 4imprint is a major US promotional products distributor selling branded merchandise including pins, medals, and recognition items. Operates at significantly larger scale with broader catalog, but overlaps in serving schools, leagues, and event organizers.
• National Pen (Promo Direct): National Pen is a large promotional products company offering custom writing instruments, apparel, and recognition items. While broader than SPI, it competes in the same B2B awards/promotional merchandise category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sportpins
• Facebookfacebook.com/SportPins
• Instagraminstagram.com/sportpins
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sport-pins-international-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sport Pins International Inc