What is a retractable badge holder?
A retractable badge holder is one of those simple inventions that make life far easier, more convenient and less stressful. Most people are aware of the need for name badges in many of today’s industries and businesses. Staff members have used employee badges for decades as a means of making the interaction with customers far more personal by allowing the customer to know the employee’s name without needing to ask. But the need for name tags has far surpassed this use in today’s world. Name badges have evolved into identification badges that are required in areas where security is an issue. An example of this is in corporate settings such as Information Technology companies, banks or finance companies. These companies use id badges that often have information built into the card, for example, as a magnetic strip. The card is then swiped through a card reader next to a door to allow access to an area in the building. This is where the retractable badge holder comes into it’s own.
For years, the standard employee has used a traditional clip or pin to attach the identification name badge to their coat, blouse, shirt, tie or belt. This requires the employee to remove the badge whenever they need to present it. This is not so much of a problem if the employee has only one or two entrances to which they need admittance. For instance, when the staff member needs to use their card for entry into the building where they work and once again to enter their particular floor and then stay there for the remainder of the day until they go home in the afternoon.
But if the employee is someone who works in a corporate environment where there are many areas of security that they need to gain access to including the building, different floors, different departments and even individual offices, then the need to remove the badge each time becomes tedious and frustrating. A retractable badge holder alleviates this problem by providing a means by which the badge can be presented without the need to remove it from the clothing. Some may say that a neck lanyard provides the same benefits. The lanyard is a piece of cord or ribbon that hangs around the neck with the name identification badge attached to the end. These were historically used to stop soldiers in the cavalry losing their swords when they rode into battle. The sword was attached to the lanyard, which was wound around the wrist of the rider. Although a lanyard provides a certain amount of freedom when using a name tag, it still often requires the user to lean down towards the card reader with their face right next to the wall. Add to this the usual necessity of having to swipe the ID card several times before it gets read and you have a method that whilst being more convenient than removing the name badge altogether, is still less than satisfactory.
Advantages of a retractable badge holder
Alternatively, the retractable badge holder contains a retractable badge reel that has a nylon or metal cord wound around it. All of this is housed in a plastic, fibreglass, or metal container that clips to the uniform or clothes of the staff member. The employee’s identification badge is then attached to the end of the retractable wire with some form of badge clip that often takes the form of an alligator clip. Badge clips can also include hooks and bulldog clips. When the ID badge is needed, the worker simply pulls it out of the retractable id badge holder to the distance required to swipe it through a card reader or to show someone. Once swiped, the wire automatically retracts into the retractable name badge holder, taking the ID tag with it. Once completely retracted, the badge simply dangles from the retractable badge holder. In this way, the once tedious and trying method of presenting a badge for entrance into secure areas becomes a simple enough, stress free procedure. Some people even combine neck lanyards and a retractable badge reel to create a retractable lanyard which is even more versatile and takes the best features of both methods.
A custom retractable badge holder and its cost
A retractable badge holder is remarkably cheap beginning at less than a dollar when bought in bulk. They also come in many shapes, sizes, materials and designs and can even be customized to show a particular logo or have a special shape. Custom badges are particularly popular with many companies buying these retractable name badge hoders in bulk with their company logo emblazoned on the side. The reels are then given to the staff for free which provides several benefits both to the staff and to the company. The staff benefit by having a more stress free environment as well as receiving a small gift from the company. The company benefits because each retractable badge holder that is worn outside the company provides a means of company advertisement.
So if you are a staff member who works in an environment similar to the ones described above but your company has not yet organized retractable id badge holders, then have a talk with your human resources manager and see if they might be inclined to take on this idea. Even if they choose not to, you should look on the internet at buying one for yourself and maybe a couple for your closest work colleagues. They make an excellent gift for someone who needs one. For making your movements through a relatively high security corporate office, there is nothing quite like the retractable badge holder.
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