It’s easier than you think!
Collectibles. They tend to be brushed off as “mindless addictions” or a “waste of time…” but what if I told you that your interests could be turned into cold hard cash?
Well, they absolutely can, but it takes a bit of understanding of exactly how to dive into this niche market. The first questions most people ask themselves are typically something along the lines of:
“Where do I begin?” or even better, “What do I sell?”
My friends, let me tell you about the magic of Disney pins.
The Market
In order to understand how to sell Disney pins, it’s important to understand why you’d want to sell them in the first place (after all, you need a target market to sell your items to).
I’ll give you your market: Disney adults, and those who surround them.
For quite some time, Disney adults have been under fire for their “bizarre” interest, and the amount of money they devote to their love for the mouse. As a Disney adult myself, I feel like I’m a worthy advocate of why Disney adults are valid in their ways of splurging on a company.
The answer? Nostalgia.
Most of the adults who are interested in Disney well into their adulthood have fond memories of going when they were children — when life was still sweet and innocent, and the only thing that mattered was the next ride. Stepping into those entry gates again just fills Disney adults with pure joy, and the stress of the world falls away.
Imagine being able to keep this feeling, this pure magic, in your own home. Or even better, imagine being able to gift this feeling to someone you love and cherish.
That’s where the pins come in.
Disney Pins… And The Obsession That Comes With Them
There’s something so special about souvenirs. So many memories trapped in a bobblehead, or a plush… or a pin.
Most enjoyers of Disney content have a favorite character or two. To Disney adults, these favorite characters can become an honest obsession, as it makes them feel joy when they see them and reminds them of the better times. Wouldn’t it be amazing if someone could just shove all the amazing elements of their favorite character into a bottle and bring it home with them?
Well… maybe we can’t physically do that, but Disney pins sure come close.
There are currently over 300,000 Disney pins in circulation. That’s right, that’s over 300,000 unique designs of pure metal, enamel, and bliss. Now, imagine how many individual unique pins there are of someone’s favorite character and the massive variety that likely comes with them.
That’s where the collection (and obsession) begins.
Disney pins aren’t just mass-produced forever. There are limited release pins (meaning they’re released for a limited time), limited edition pins with unique edition sizes (meaning they only sell a certain number of a specific pin), and a variety of exclusives. I’m sure you can imagine how this gets to become… a lot.
Price Range Of Disney Pins
Pins usually retail in the parks and online from anywhere between $10-$30, depending on if they’re exclusive or limited… but they can also get up to $100 if they’re “jumbo.”
The price for pins at retail may seem like a lot, but it gets even more absurd when you take it online. If a limited edition pin has been sold out for some time, the price only goes up. The funny (and good for collectors) thing about Disney pins is they never go down in value — only up.
For example, the “holy grails” of Disney pins are called “profiles.” These are pins that illustrate a popular Disney character, facing right, holding an object, with a glittery background. The catch about these pins is that they’re limited edition 250 each, and they’re Imagineer exclusives. This means that they can only be purchased, and then traded, by Walt Disney Imagineering employees. This sounds intense, I know, but wait until you see the prices of some of these…
This pin, a Hades profile, sold for about $1.5k on May 27th, 2022. However, this isn’t even the highest I’ve seen a pin sell for! On other sites, profile pins can go for up to $4k.
How You Can Get Pins
I’ll be honest, I’ve never made as much money as I have by selling Disney pins. But before you can profit, you have to know how to acquire the pins.
The best way to get Disney pins is in bulk. If you spend a bunch of money on individual pins, you’re never going to be able to make a profit. The trick is to find someone who’s no longer collecting and is selling their pins in bulk for around $2-$5 per pin.
I recommend looking in Disney pin groups online, Facebook Marketplace, or possibly even eBay and Mercari. HOWEVER…
BEWARE OF FAKE PINS!
Fake pins, or “scrappers” (Disney pins that were rejected based on quality but were put into circulation anyway), are a massive issue in the Disney pin community. The pins go into circulation by factories, typically in foreign countries like China, who copy the molds of pins and put them in cheap eBay lots for unsuspecting buyers. Do your research on fakes before you buy lots, or you may end up with worthless pins! Additionally, do research for a long, long time before you consider selling pins that you trade in the parks. The park boards are absolutely covered in fakes from eBay and nasty scrappers.
You can typically spot a fake pin if it arrives in a little baggie with a red line sealing it (straight from a factory), if it has “dips” in the enamel (factories use soft enamel while Disney uses hard enamel), if the details are muddy, and many more ugly details. Please do your research on fakes and scrappers before purchasing pins of any kind!
Okay, now that the hard stuff is out of the way…
How To Profit Off Of Disney Pins
Finally, the part you’ve been waiting for. I’ve been selling Disney pins for just a few months, and in this time, I’ve made around $3,000. The details I’ve mentioned are ESSENTIAL to being successful in the Disney pin business. Ensure that you know what you’re getting yourself into, get yourself a good lot, and you’re on your way.
Now, the magic step… I downloaded an app called Whatnot.
Whatnot is a collectors’ app, featuring a multitude of categories of collectibles to buy and sell. The way this app works is a bit of a combination between Twitch and eBay — the app consists of live auction sales. A friend said this app is “like the Home Shopping Network but for collectibles” and I can’t agree more. It’s so convenient and easy, and all you have to do to sell is fill out an application and attend an onboarding session if you’re approved. The best part is, you don’t even have to sell Disney pins! You can sign up and sell in whatever category you feel suits you best.
You can sign up as a buyer here and get $10 off of your first purchase!
Alternatively, if you’re ready to start selling, you can sign up to be a seller here!
This app allows so much freedom for sellers — you can go live whenever you want, sell whatever you have (as long as it’s authentic), and create a community of your own. I do have to warn you though, it’s ADDICTING. I may have splurged on a collection of my own…
This isn’t limited to Whatnot, however! There are many ways to sell pins once you acquire them, it’s just up to you to find out what works best for you! Additionally, you can branch out into other collectibles or items, such as Funko Pops, thrift shop clothes, or even merchandise from another company!
In Conclusion…
Making money has never been easier. With a passion and some patience, you too can make thousands off of your interests or a niche you decide upon. It’s all up to you, so get out there, and make that money!
But please, be careful, and don’t get addicted (like some of us already have).
Psst, you can check out my own Disney pin sales on Whatnot by clicking here!
