RCMP challenge coin culture is about to change. Here is what you need to know.
Did you know that it is mandatory that RCMP Foundation licensees are used in the production of all merchandise –including challenge coins? Do you know what this means for you? Read on and find out:
- Who is the RCMP Foundation?
- Why is a license required?
- What is brand identity?
- Is this normal with other police departments?
- What is a licensed challenge coin producer?
- Can you work around this?
- Why challenge coins?
- How will this affect the coins you want to make?
- What does the production process look like?
Who is the RCMP Foundation?
The RCMP Foundation was founded in 1994 to manage the RCMP Brand. It is a self-funded organization that manages all aspects of the RCMP’s visual identity.
Companies like Sharkz Coins have a license agreement with The Foundation and pay a royalty for the use of the RCMP identity.
Over the past 25 years, the proceeds collected by The Foundation have allowed them to contribute over 10 million dollars to over 1,000 community initiatives in areas such as drug awareness, youth programs, crime prevention, victim services, and internet safety.
Why is a license required?
In order to protect the RCMP brand, The Foundation only allows companies that agree to their terms to produce RCMP products. As stated on their website:
“Any RCMP likeness, logo or images are protected intellectual property. No reproduction can be done unless a license is obtained through the RCMP Foundation.”
Our license agreement is your assurance that we are a real business and that your coins are produced ethically. It means we treat our employees well, we carry liability insurance, we are set-up to work directly with The Foundation to protect the RCMP’s intellectual property, and we have a mechanism in place to collect and pay royalties on the RCMP products we sell.
What is brand Identity?
The RCMP is an iconic Canadian brand recognized throughout the world. It is used for souvenirs and memorabilia that are sold to Canadians, tourists, and RCMP members. When the RCMP’s official logo or wordmark is on a product, that product screams “the RCMP supports this product!”. It is important the product be something that the RCMP does support.
Here are a few of the brand identity or intellectual property items that are owned by The Foundation and are protected by their license:
The RCMP crest
The red serge uniform and its likenesses
The horse and rider logo
The stylized MP
The letters RCMP and GRC
The words “Royal Canadian Mounted Police”
The words “North West Mounted Police”
…and more.
When you contact us to create an RCMP Challenge Coin, we’ll look after all these details for you.
Is this normal with other police departments?
Mostly no, but then most others exercise much tighter internal control over the use of their visual identity. We work with police departments all across Canada, and without exception (well the exception being the RCMP) they are very careful about their visual identity. That said, most departments either own their own visual identity or their municipality does. The RCMP, being such an iconic Canadian brand, has the Foundation to manage their visual identity for them.
What is a licensed RCMP challenge coin producer?
Sharkz Coins a licensed RCMP challenge coin producer. This means we are authorized to produce challenge coins bearing the RCMP visual identity. The Foundation trusts us, so you can too.
Our license is your assurance that we are a real business and that your coins are produced ethically. It means we treat our employees well and carry liability insurance. We’ll look after all the details and make the coin production process as easy as we can for you.
Can you deal with the RCMP Foundation yourself?
Sorry, no – you can’t… it’s not just about your art. The licensing process takes into account the production processes, the way the producers operate as a business, their insurance, and their ethics.
This is why the Foundation states on their website (in capital letters):
“IT IS MANDATORY THAT RCMP FOUNDATION LICENSEES ARE USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF ALL MERCHANDISE”
And yes, coins for personal or detachment use are considered merchandise.
Can you just use a non-licensed producer?
You might get away with it, but since your job is all about upholding the law, we hope you don’t.
There are basement operations that really have no idea about the factories that make their coins and there are unlicensed producers who don’t know or don’t care about the protection of the RCMP image that you uphold.
There are lots of American coin producers… did you know there are no RCMP licensed American coin producers? (as of April 2020)
So please choose carefully and select a licensed Canadian challenge coin producer like Sharkz Coins. You should feel good about keeping your money in the Canadian economy, and helping to support the RCMP Foundation’s community initiatives!
Why do RCMP challenge coins need to be licensed by The Foundation?
Even products like challenge coins, that are often internal only, will see the public light of day at some point. They may not be sold publicly when produced, but they will appear in collections that people post online, on eBay every now and then, and even in the estates of members when they pass. Protection of the brand is protection of the RCMP identity.
How will this affect the RCMP challenge coins you want to make?
Coins produced under license by Sharkz Coins will have the following traits:
- They will be high quality, great looking challenge coins.
- They will reflect the pride of service that represents your service to your community.
- All RCMP protected visual identity items will be used properly.
- They will represent the force in a good light.
- They will be approved by The Foundation.
- They will financially support community initiatives through The Foundation.
What does the production process look like?
We can only speak for ourselves, but your experience will proceed as follows:
- You get amazing, professional customer service along with an up-front all-in quote for your coins (production costs, brokerage/importing fees, royalties, and shipping… everything except for your local sales tax).
- Once you approve our quote, our professional graphic designers will work with you to create coin art.
- There are guidelines around what can and can’t be done with the RCMP visual identity. We’ll look after getting your coin approved by The Foundation.
- We’ll manage the production with our factories then deliver your coins and pay the royalties.
The process is pretty straightforward and we’ll make it easy for you.
What’s next?
Sharkz Coins is a licensed RCMP challenge coin producer. Our only goal is to create beautiful challenge coins that you’ll be proud of. We have done this for hundreds of happy customers since 2006.
Our professional customer service and graphic design team will make it easy for you to create a licensed RCMP challenge coin.
We invite you to join us on our social media channels too.