Before I get into this editorial, let me just say up front that this is one of the most self-serving, self-fulfilling pieces I have written to date. As a pin collector and a season pass holder to Hersheypark, the park introducing a pin trading program would benefit me and my collection immensely. I have no shame in admitting that up front. I also know that I’m not the only person who thinks Hersheypark could rivals programs found at park chains like Sea World and Busch Gardens. Using my platform, I’m going to speak for all of us pin collectors and traders out there who would like to see this become a reality. Not only am I asking Hersheypark to consider this, but I’ve also come up with some ideas that I believe would make their program a massive success.
A Wealth of Branding & History
No one can deny that the Hershey brand isn’t a treasure trove of possible pin content. I’m not just talking the park itself here, but the company as a whole. When you add in the candy brands, history, and the park, they have way more than enough to work with. As much as I focus on roller coasters and ride pins in my collection, I know the value of non-ride content as well. Some of the most highly sought after pins I see from the other parks have nothing to do with rides. They feature themes such as wildlife, calendars, park maps, and all kinds of other content. Hershey certainly won’t struggle for themes, but nevertheless, I have some idea that might be fruitful for them should they decide to go this route.
Candy Brands
The most obvious pins would be ones themed to the company’s different candy brands. These already exist and can be found in Hershey’s Chocolate World. You can find pins for Hershey Bars, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kat, Twizzlers, Jolly Ranchers, and so much more. When it comes to the company’s existing pins, this is by far their strongest selection, in my opinion. Strangely, however, in order to purchase these pins you must visit Chocolate World. They are not available in the park’s gift shops. Why? I’m not quite sure. I would like to see this change, especially with the addition of the Hersheypark Supply Co. store having more than enough space for a large pin stand.
Not only does the park offer countless candy-themed pins, they get creative with them as well. My favorites pins in Chocolate World are the ones featuring the candies in vintage packaging and advertising. People love retro items, myself included. Although the wrappers pre-date my birth, I still love them, as did Jason who bought a set of these pins back in July 2020.
History
Getting its start in 1894, The Hershey Company has made major strides in its century-plus of operation. I think that a pin series focused on a timeline of the company’s biggest milestones would make for an amazing collection. Start with the company’s founding and then introduce each pre-determined milestone pin at an announced date. Use photos or retro art on the pins, complete with the year the milestone took place. These milestones could include company expansions, the release of a new brand, the opening of Hersheypark, and so on. One just needs to go look at the timeline found at the Hershey Story Museum to see all they could pull from.
To really make this even more of a hit, offer a book or display that the milestone pins can be plugged into. Have allotted spaces for each pin that feature a blurb explaining that particular milestone. With enough pins, this could be a set that hobbyists collect for several years and trade with one another to complete their collections. Complete collections could also be sound at the conclusion.
The company has plenty of history here to draw from and could also release other pins that aren’t a part of the above series. A Milton Hershey pin collection comes to mind. Maybe model the design off his different statues, such as the one in the water fountain inside the park.
The Park & Rides
Just like Chocolate World, Hersheypark has its own pin offerings that you can only get inside the park. Now whether they’re available at all the shops, or even at the Hersheypark Supply Co. is another story. Let’s not focus on that here. This is aimed at the future and what could be.
What I want to see is an increase in the pin selection offered inside the park. At the Supply Company store, the park’s flagship gift shop that came with the Chocolatetown addition in 2020, you’ll find maybe five or six different pins. During a visit last month I saw pins for: Candymonium, Reese’s Cup Fusion, Hershey Triple Tower, a water park pin, a park logo pin, and I think one for Chocolatetown too. I might be wrong on that one. Either way, its sorely lacking. Even Chocolate World rivals the ride/event selection when it comes to pins offering them for the Chocolate Tour, 4D Theater, and Trolley Works.
What Hersheypark needs to do is release pins on a regular basis based on its most popular attractions. I can see pins themed to the Carrousel, Coal Cracker, Dry Gulch Railroad, Kissing Tower, and the Monorail being overly popular. With the popularity of these and other rides, you could release them over and over with different designs too. People will keep buying them.
Why stop with current rides? How about releasing some vintage pins of beloved rides that are no longer at the park? Once again, this would also play on the company’s deep history. Parks such as Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW) have done this, releasing pins featuring based on Big Bad Wolf and Drachen Fire. I could see Hersheypark doing one for Roller Soaker, Giant Wheel, and Caynon River Rapids to name a few. With as far back as Hersheypark’s history goes, pins for long gone attractions like the original Wildcat roller coaster are also a possibility. I’m sure the park has images of the coaster somewhere in their archive.
Holiday & Special Events
Even parks without pin trading programs offer special event pins. Over the last few years, Six Flags Great Adventure (SFGAdv) has offered members special pins upon entry on pre-announced days. Hersheypark could easily do the same. Whether you offered them to season pass holders, or the first however many guests to arrive, it would be a draw to bring guests into the park.
Since Hersheypark holds Hersheypark in the Dark and Christmas Candylane, these would be perfect opportunities to offer limited edition event pins. The event logo with a year would be simple, but you could get much more creative than that. Last year Laff Trakk ran in complete darkness for Hersheypark in the Dark. A glow in the dark Laff Trakk pin would have been perfect. Or what about one of the new Hershey Kiss Fountain? If you want to get creative, you could sell several color variations or even one that lights up.
When I attended last year’s Candymonium King-Sized Pass Holder Preview event this topic was also on my mind. After your ride on Candymonium, limited edition ride photos were offered that read “first rider” on the border. Naturally, I thought it would have been awesome to have a pass holder edition pin either given to those who came or sold while supplies last. I have numerous first rider, pass holder, and membership pins in my collection from different parks.
The Little Things
When you look at pins released from Busch Gardens, Sea World, and Disney, each feature a specialized backing. Both Busch Gardens and Sea World pins feature black rubber logos. Disney, of course, uses the infamous Mickey head and ears symbol. To save Hershey the trouble, I’ve already determined that the Hershey Kiss would make for the perfect backing for their pin line. Sometimes the it’s the little things that complete the package. What could be better?
How & Where to Implement
I am of two minds on this. I think Hersheypark would be wise to offer all of their pins in all of their locations. You should be able to buy a Skyrush pin, for example, while at Chocolate World. I’m not fond of the fact that I can’t buy the park pins in Chocolate World or the Chocolate World pins in the park. Why not? I can buy Hershey Bears ice hockey team and some select ZooAmerica merch while inside the park. This confuses me. I say offer everything, everywhere… with an exception.
If the park wants to go the route of having a select few exclusive pins themed to different locations, then I say that makes sense to offer just those pins as exclusives at said location. For example, ZooAmerica could offer a line of wildlife pins that are only available in the zoo itself. Those and any other exclusives should be advertised as such, however, so people know where to go. It would also increase business to those places such as ZooAmerica, Chocolate World, the Hershey resorts, or Hershey Story Museum. I’m not sure if the museum is technically affiliated with the park, but I’m sure some kind of special pins could be created to benefit the museum as well.
For trading, you can set up a number of key locations throughout the park and surrounding locations. Rules would have to be in place, but those would be up to the park to decide. I say look at places like Busch Gardens as an example. Things seem to work out nicely with their system. You could also do something like Busch Gardens with the presidential pins, but put a Hershey spin on the concept. For those who do not know, visitors who locate the Busch Gardens park president within the park, are given presidential pins that change annually. Just one more angle to their wonderful program.
Fan Reception & Involvement
I have only been collecting pins for the last few years, but during that time I have seen how passionate the pin collecting and trading community can be. When I joined a few pin trading/collecting groups on Facebook over the course of 2020, I quickly realized just how passionate these park’s fanbases can be.
In the groups I belong to, I’ve seen people scoop up multiple copies of the same pin just so they can trade them. They don’t do it to hoard them, they know that some collectors can’t make it out to the parks, or might really want that particular pin. I have also seen people go as far as to order pins for other group members. It really is an involved community that loves the parks for which they collect. There is no doubt in my mind that Hersheypark has that same kind of fanbase. It would only mean more publicity and word of mouth advertising.
Final Thoughts
I could keep going and going on this topic, but I think I’ve stated a strong enough case as to why Hersheypark is the perfect candidate to introduce a pin trading program, or at least, step up their pin offerings at the park. Hersheypark seems very receptive to their fans and I hope this, along with other people’s support, shows them that there is a following for this. It seems like something natural for a park like Hersheypark with its deep history and branding. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and keep on buying whatever pins they decide to release. Before I go, however… Hershey, I really need a Skyrush pin. Love you! Thanks!
