Clams to Cash: How to Make and Sell Giant Clam Shell ... - eXtension

Clams to Cash: How to Make and Sell Giant Clam Shell ProductsPage 29Shirt PinsDuring the years of operation of the MMDC Giant Clam Hatchery, the facility wasvisited by hundreds of local school children. We often thought it would be nice to give themeach a small souvenir clam shell to take home. When we tried this, very few kids expressedmuch interest in clam shells. Having grown up surrounded by giant clams, the kids foundthem too commonplace to regard with much appreciation.One day the thought occurred to us that the school children might be more interestedin giant clam shells that had first been crafted into some sort of novel jewelry. After trying afew ideas unsuccessfully, we began making colorful neon shirt pins (Figure 28) fromyearling T. derasa shells. These achieved the desired effect. After touring the MMDCfacility, the kids were more than eager to put the neon clam pins on their shirts or dresses andto wear them home. We hoped that this would perhaps stimulate some discussion with theirparents about where they had been on their school field trip that day and what exciting thingsthey had seen at the mariculture center. At least they took something tangible home.Sadly, the giant clam shirt pins were never much of a hit with adult tourists, evenwhen we jazzed them up with a nice display card. The shirt pins languished on the shopshelves and were far outsold by giant clam earrings and other items.Despite “bombing” commercially, the shirt pins achieved the noble purpose ofmaking hundreds of Palauan school kids happy for a few moments and, indirectly, helpingtheir parents learn something about giant clam mariculture. Who knows whether some ofthose kids may grow up to be future clam farmers? Occasionally, we still see giant clam shirtpins worn around Koror.Making the pins is simple. Use bleached T. derasa, T. crocea or T. maxima shellsabout 5 centimeters long. Spray paint both sides with neon spray paint from your localhardware store. When the paint is dry, use a hot glue gun to attach (Figure 29) a locking pinmechanism (which can be obtained for about 5 cents each from River Gems) to the back.That’s it. You won’t get rich making these, but you can sure make a lot of kids happy.June 1996