Making refrigerator magnets: production, equipment, technology

Making refrigerator magnets has recently become a popular business niche. For a long time, the domestic market was saturated with products from Chinese manufacturers. However, in recent years, there has come an awareness of the fact that you can make money using magnets with virtually no initial investment or special knowledge. Small production is easier to adapt to the specific needs of consumers, in contrast to the assembly line activity of China, which leads to the production of monotonous and non-functional products.

How to produce

An absolute advantage of a business related to the production of small souvenir products, such as magnets, is a quick payback.

Of course, the production of large, expensive products promises corresponding profits, but a lot of investment is required. And you have to wait months or years for payback. You can earn money by producing refrigerator magnets in the first months.

To organize your own business you need a minimum set of equipment and materials. The ability to take photographs, work with Photoshop and design skills will be a huge plus. In general, the creative side is largely decisive, since there is competition in this area, and consumer sympathy depends on the ability to stand out from the general magnetic mass.

Advertising activity

In order to attract potential customers and interest them in your products, it is best to create a business card website. In addition, advertisements can be placed on other portals of similar topics. Advertising activities on a large scale are not advisable, since the company will be engaged in wholesale sales. You can also advertise your activities through supermarkets, selling some of the magnets with their help.

Selling magnets can bring quite high profits. Therefore, it makes sense to try hard to ensure that your income is very high.

What are they made from?

To set up the production and production of refrigerator magnets, you need to decide on consumables. Based on the type of material, the following types of magnets are distinguished:

1. Acrylic. Acrylic is a common plastic. Such magnets are easy to make, since there are special blanks - an acrylic box with a lid, into which you just need to insert a printed picture or photograph.
2. Vinyl. Vinyl is a soft polymer sold in rolls or sheets. It's easier to buy magnetic vinyl with an adhesive backing. Then you will need to attach a printed and laminated picture to it.
3. Clay. To make clay refrigerator magnets, polymer self-hardening or baked clay is used.
4. Wooden. The wooden look looks quite original, and they are also environmentally friendly. But their creation requires a lot of time, effort and special equipment. You need a laser plotter that burns a drawing or engraving onto the working surface.
5. Plaster. Gypsum is perfect for the production of a variety of volumetric types.
6. Phosphor. Glow-in-the-dark magnets have become very fashionable items lately. When created, they are coated with a special phosphor powder that can draw energy from the environment and transform it into light radiation. This glow will definitely last all night.
7. Sunsets. The sunset look usually refers to some kind of symbolism and is attached to clothes or bags. In addition to the acrylic form into which the image is inserted, a metal base is required. To secure the finished magnet, a special rolling press is required.
8. Rubber. Magnets made of soft PVC rubber are quite in demand, but they are difficult to produce. The rubber must be poured into molds and then baked in a special oven at a temperature of about 250 degrees Celsius.

Raw materials

The types of raw materials are determined by the type of magnets or products made from them.

For permanent magnets

Neodymium magnets contain three components:

• iron;
• boron;
• neodymium

Raw materials are purchased in powder form from foreign manufacturers or through Russian intermediaries.

Ferrite magnets require two types of ferrite powder:

• barium
• strontium

These raw materials are cheaper and available on the domestic market.

In the manufacture of polymer magnets, the same ferrite powders and various binding fillers are used, the choice of which depends on the required performance characteristics of the finished products:

• for sheet magnetic plastic produced by calendering, these are thermoplastic elastomers, plasticized PVC, sulfo-chlorinated PE, rubbers;
• for extrusion and injection molding – polyamides, polystyrenes, polyolefins, Sevilen and other thermoplastics with good fluidity;
• for pressing – epoxy-phenolic and polyester resins.

For magnetic products

Depending on the type of product being manufactured, the following materials may be required in this production:

• photo paper for printing;
• magnetic vinyl or ferrite magnets;
• lamination film;
• gypsum;
• wood (plywood);
• plastic and/or metal blanks;
• paints and varnishes;
• glue.

All other materials are purchased as needed.

We open production

Opening a business for the production of refrigerator magnets should begin with registering an individual entrepreneur. The OKVED code will depend on the type of products manufactured.

It is expected that before opening, you will analyze the competitive environment and formulate a production concept that will allow you to produce in-demand products. The concept of functionality and usefulness (reminder magnets) and the concept of warm memories (photo magnets) work great.

There is no point in renting a separate room; it is easier to adapt one room in an apartment. Then you need to purchase equipment, organize an advertising campaign and establish sales channels.

Traditional ways of promotion work well: website, landing page, group on social networks, contextual advertising. You will have to invest 20,000 - 50,000 rubles in advertising. But in the case of souvenirs, it is worth emphasizing live communication with potential buyers.

You can offer samples of finished magnets to souvenir shops and museums. They purchase products from China and will be interested in cooperation with a local entrepreneur.

It is worth recommending the products to hardware stores. When selling a refrigerator, the magnet will be given as a gift - a small thing, but it will be nice for the buyer.

Various companies and firms often order magnetic products with corporate symbols.

A great option is to make friends with the organizers of city events, festivals and exhibitions. They can order a batch of magnets with a certain symbol, but instead of paying you in cash, they will offer to advertise you during the event. It is worth agreeing to such a proposal.

And, of course, a business producing refrigerator magnets will be incomplete without its own online store.

The history of the discovery of a magnet, the study of its properties

The real history of the discovery of the magnet, supported by facts reflected in written sources, began in the 4th century BC. Thales, a Greek philosopher and physicist, mentioned the magnetic properties of rock in his writings.

The first scientific study of the magnet began in the 13th century. P. Peregrin published an essay in which he described that an object has 2 poles that cannot be separated. The scientist also talked about repulsion and attraction. By the end of the century, compasses were being used for navigation in developed countries.

William Gilbert published his work On the Magnet in 1600. The English doctor added sensational information to the already known facts: iron fittings enhance the effect of magnetic poles, heating weakens magnetism.

Further, the study of the properties of the stone became in-depth: numerous experiments were carried out using other objects, with changing conditions, heating and cooling.

220 years later, Hans Oersted showed students at a lecture how a magnet behaves next to an electric current. Soon, the outstanding physicist proved that he acts on the wire through which the current passes with a certain force. The discovery was a major breakthrough in the study of magnetic properties.

In the first quarter of the 19th century, the English engineer Sturgeon created the first electromagnet. The object was a bent iron rod wrapped in copper wire. The insulation was a layer of varnish. When a current passed through the rod, it became a strong magnet, and when the supply was interrupted, it instantly lost its properties. It is this ability of electromagnets that has brought them into widespread use.

Equipment

To be fully armed and produce magnets from various materials, you will need to purchase the following equipment and materials:

• inkjet photo printer + related products (paper, cartridges) – RUB 35,000;
• cutting plotter – 15,000 rubles;
• professional camera (we’ll talk about why it’s profitable to make photomagnets for refrigerators a little later) – 30,000 rubles;
• laminator + laminating film – 6,000 rubles;
• tools for processing – 3,500 rubles;
• paints, brushes – 3,000 rubles;
• roll of vinyl measuring 3000 by 62 cm (10 pieces) – 50,000 rubles;
• acrylic blanks for magnets (1,000 pieces) – 5,000 rubles.

Total: 147,500 rub.

How much do you need to save in exchange for a discount?

Technology

The manufacturing technology of different refrigerator magnets differs significantly from each other.

It is better to start a business with the production of vinyl and acrylic - they are the easiest to create.

Acrylic blank + printed image = finished magnet. To make vinyl, you need to print out a picture, laminate it, stick it on an adhesive vinyl backing and cut out the finished product with a plotter.

Plaster and clay magnets are easy to produce, but you will need to purchase additional molds and be prepared to paint the product yourself or hire an artist separately. If baked clay is used, it can be placed in an oven preheated to 100 - 130 degrees. But a microwave is not suitable for baking clay. A gypsum product, on the contrary, needs to be cooled.

It is important that the back side of the volumetric magnets is perfectly flat for a tight connection with the magnetic base (vinyl).

The cost of wooden types is quite high, plus you need to purchase a laser plotter (from 70,000 rubles). To create rubber and ceramic magnets, you will have to rent a separate room and install a baking oven. This is worth thinking about when the business gains good momentum.

Payback

You will have to invest about 150,000 - 200,000 rubles to open a business producing vinyl and acrylic refrigerator magnets.

1 roll of vinyl yields approximately 2,000 magnets. It is realistic to produce and sell about 8,000 per month.

1 magnet sells for 20 – 40 rubles. It turns out that you can earn 160,000 - 320,000 rubles. Minus monthly expenses for materials and advertising, the net profit will be 100,000 - 150,000 rubles. Payback is achieved in 2 – 3 months.

Past promotions

Magnets must be collected from September 2 to February 9, 2022 to receive a discount on the Royal Kuchen cookware collection, and from March 3, 2021, a promotion with stickers for Royal Kuchen appliances will start.
At the same time, you can use chips for board games Monopoly and others. Find out more details at the link.

Adviсe

Some practical advice for entrepreneurs who have decided to start producing refrigerator magnets:

1. Create entire sets on different topics. It is common to see magnetic alphabets in families with children. But you can develop this theme and come up with seasons, magnets - road signs, magnets - inhabitants of the underwater world, etc. Such educational sets are perfectly compatible with children's boards.
2. The magnet sets will also appeal to adults. Magnets - calendars will decorate the environment; reminders and wishes will strengthen a warm family or friendly atmosphere. For corporate clients, you can develop a series of magnets - tasks.
3. Making magnets is unthinkable without a creative streak. Therefore, the designer and the artist are absolutely useful collaborators.
4. It is extremely profitable to create photomagnets. For a photo magnet with a picture of their child in a funny cartoon frame, parents are willing to pay 300–500 rubles. Despite the fact that the cost of such a thing is 8 - 10 rubles (if you use an acrylic blank and a personal professional camera). Parents know that they usually take group and individual photos in kindergartens. But photos on a magnet are rare. Meanwhile, parents will not only hang the photomagnet at home, but also give it as a gift to grandmothers, aunts and other interested individuals. This chance should not be missed. Talk to the heads of kindergartens in your city, offer cooperation for a percentage of sales.

Promotion with magnets from February 2022

Starting February 9, 2022, Magnit will launch a new promotion with magnets called “Play, Win, Give.” Participants will be able to win goods for 1 ruble. The game will last until March 8 this year. To be eligible to participate in the prize draw, you must meet the following conditions:

• buy goods worth from 500 rubles or from 1000 rubles.
• buy partner products.
• if you have a loyalty card, then you can participate in the application,
• if you don’t have a card, register a receipt via Whats app using the number

Conclusion

Making refrigerator magnets will become a stable source of good income if you approach the process creatively and gain many large clients ordering individual products. With a fairly modest initial investment, quick and stable profits are quite possible.

Does this business seem promising to you? Which magnets do you think will sell best? Write your opinion in the comments and don’t forget to rate the article.

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Author of the article Elena Simakina Lawyer

Finding a customer will be easy

Manufacturing magnets as a business has certain requirements. First of all, they relate to the sale of products. But finding customers who can purchase a wholesale batch of magnets is not very difficult. The entire complexity of this process lies in the need to predict this or that corporate event.

Magnets have always been popular at various exhibitions, as they are capable of carrying a certain logo. But even if there is no customer for a wholesale batch, you can always produce single products.