Customer: JHS Pedals
Website: JHSPedals.info
Youtube: YouTube.com/JHSpedals
JHS Pedals has built a loyal following in the guitar effects pedal industry by blending innovation with nostalgia. Known for their clean designs and faithful replicas of rare vintage circuits that push tonal boundaries, JHS also produces a range of compact utility pedals that add functionality to any rig.
Founded in 2007 by Joshua Heath Scott in Kansas City, MO, JHS began by selling modified pedals before moving into original designs in 2008. By 2013, they were looking for a simple, effective way to connect with fans and customers, that's when they found 1 inch round buttons by Pure Buttons!
The Origin of JHS Pedals Buttons
Since 2013, JHS has exclusively ordered 1" pin-back buttons from Pure Buttons. The choice wasn't random, it was born out of a need for something affordable, easy to distribute, and instantly recognizable. Many record labels and bands pick our 1" round buttons as their first band merch for these exact same reasons. Plus they fit nice on a guitar strap!
We spoke with Steve Offutt, general manager of JHS Pedals, about the company's success using our promotional buttons and how it all got started:
"I was in junior high and high school through most of the 1990s, and I was a regular at hardcore, emo, and post-hardcore shows around the DC and Baltimore area. Buttons were always part of merch tables and usually ended up on backpacks, car sun visors, jean jackets, etc. Although not a band, at JHS we've always had a strong connection to musicians, and free buttons have long been part of both our product experience and our customers' unboxing experience."
The earliest pin design was a bold red background with the original JHS logo (retired in 2019, see below). Today's version is a glossy black button with a white JHS Pedals logo. It's clean, modern, and instantly identifiable.
Why Our Buttons Work
Over the years, JHS Pedals has handed out hundreds of thousands of buttons. The appeal lies in their portability and personality... they end up on guitar straps, jackets, hats and gig bags, traveling wherever the music goes.
"Guitar is a hobby for 99.9% of guitarists, and hobbyists are typically very passionate about their gear and the brands they support. Buttons make a great memento. They're a small token of thanks to our customers, but they also carry displayable marketing value. Many guitarists pin them to their straps, soft cases, jackets, and more. It's a simple, lasting way for our brand to travel with them."
Distribution Strategy
Part of the success of JHS's pins comes from strategic distribution. They have historically appeared at major trade shows like NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants trade show in Las Vegas, seen in the photo by Mason Souza of zZounds above). They also include a logo button in the box of every pedal sold. Pedals are sold direct from the JHS Pedals website, as well as online or brick-and-mortar music store partners.
"Back in the early 2010s, we were a growing guitar pedal company and began exhibiting at the NAMM show - an international trade show for the musical instrument industry. It was our way to connect with a global audience and expand into regions we couldn't physically visit. As part of our NAMM display, we wanted massive bowls filled with thousands of 1" buttons for both visual impact and as free swag for guests.
Around the same time, we decided to include a free button in every product we sold. That tradition has stuck. While we've updated the design a few times, we've always included buttons since then. Honestly, we may have ordered close to a million buttons from Pure Buttons over the years! The 1" button in my view is the standard. It's cost effective and feels like the perfect size for people that do actually display or wear their buttons.
Although we haven't attended NAMM recently, we still use buttons at a variety of in-person events and trade shows. And of course, we continue to include them in our product boxes."
"...We may have ordered close to a million buttons from Pure Buttons over the years!"
A Partnership Built to Last
For well over a decade, JHS Pedals and Pure Buttons have worked together to make sure each button order is as high-quality and timely as the last.
"Pure Buttons has been great - from consistent quality, to reorder discounts, to the ease of the online panel. I've never felt the need to look elsewhere."
Looking for a trusted partner to elevate your marketing with memorable promotional products that reward and engage your customers? Pure Buttons is here to grow with you!