Are you ready to order custom awards? Your friends at Quality Logo Products are here to help!
It’s easy for you to create that special moment. Just give out custom awards!
Whether you’re planning a ceremony at work, celebrating the end of a baseball season, or hosting a spelling bee, everyone will be happy to receive an award to cherish forever.
This guide will help you with customizing each award so it looks amazing. You’ll find design ideas, product options, and other helpful tips to ensure your personalized awards are winners!
Order custom awards for…
Work Achievements
It’s not always easy to stay in the zone every day. A customized award is the least you can do to show how much you appreciate your hardworking employees.
School Events
Students want to be recognized for their hard work. Your school can order awards for extracurriculars like science fairs and cheerleading competitions as well as for academic achievements like honor roll or dean’s list.
Graduations & Certifications
Diplomas are mailed after the ceremony, but your graduates are feeling proud right now! Give out custom certificate holders they can use to display their diplomas later.
Sports Games & Tournaments
Blood, sweat, and tears have been left on the court or field. Now it’s time to celebrate the end of the season! Give your athletes awards personalized with their names and jersey numbers.
Marathons
You just went the distance and deserve something for crossing the finish line! Marathon participants should go home with custom medals they can wear around their necks or hang on their walls at home.
Local Competitions
Does your town host a “Best Pie” contest at a local fair? Are you doing a pumpkin carving competition at your library? Treat the winners to a personalized award they can proudly bring home.
Major Competitions
The Hard Rock Café hosts an epic battle of the bands. The International is a huge video game competition with players from around the world. There is even a chess championship that airs on ESPN. Events like these can use customized awards!
Art Awards
Maybe you want to name the best artist at an annual show, or recognize an amazing short film at a movie festival. Give your chosen winners a personalized award featuring their name and their achievement.
Voted “Best” Awards
Congratulations, your restaurant was just named the best hamburger place in the city! Put your customized award in a spot where all your customers can see it.
Work Anniversaries
In the age of quiet quitting and horrible bosses, it’s amazing that anyone is willing to stay with the same company. Honor a special employee for their loyalty by giving them a personalized award after years of service.
Retirements
The average age for retirement is 61 according to U.S. News. Be ready for that milestone by customizing an award, and presenting it to the retiree on their last day on the job.
Custom Awards Design Tips
- 1Pick the type of award.
- 2Choose the material.
- 3Print or engrave your message.
- 4Present the awards in a meaningful way.
Tip 1. Pick the Type of Award
Do you need custom awards for an athletic event?
Do you need custom awards for a ceremony?
Do you need custom awards for your school?
Who is getting your awards? If it’s a bunch of kids, you don’t want glass, sharp edges, or anything heavy.
You also want to think about where you’re bringing the awards. For instance, ribbons or paper certificates may fly away at an outdoor event unless they’re framed or inside a gift box.
Tip 2. Choose the Material
Awards are built to last. The materials used to make the trophies or statues give them a bit of heft. In fact, awards can weigh up to 8.5 pounds.
Rest assured, you can also find custom awards made from lightweight materials like paper or plastic. These awards are easier to carry.
Here are all your options!
Crystal Awards
Do you want your personalized awards to sparkle in the light? Crystal awards are a fancy way to honor any achievement.
Glass Awards
Shatter expectations by handing out elegant glass awards. The text or image is etched on the front with a laser.
Wood Awards
Some people are so proud of their awards, they polish them on a regular basis. They’ll have their duster ready if you give them an award made from wood.
Plastic Awards
While this award may look like glass, it’s actually made from acrylic. This type of plastic is just as transparent as glass, but is significantly more lightweight.
Metal Awards
The last thing you want is for your new award to break. You won’t have that issue if you receive a metal plaque or trophy.
Paper Awards
Paper awards are very budget friendly. Just put the certificate in a custom picture frame, and you’re good to go!
In most youth sports leagues, the players are given plastic trophies to bring home at the end of the season. These statuettes have a marble base and appear to be made from real gold!
More expensive trophies are crafted from bronze or brass. You may see these awarded for employee recognition or to athletes in professional leagues.
Tip 3. Print or Engrave Your Message
Choose up to four of the following to decorate your personalized awards:
Printing Techniques
Screen Printed Awards
Screen printing is used to decorate many customized items. You’ll get 1 free imprint color to create your design.
Engraved Awards
Ink printing is great, but there’s the risk of the ink chipping off over time. This won’t happen if you get your design laser engraved on the awards.
Digitally Printed Awards
Digital printing is used to decorate the awards with a photo or colorful design. With this print process, you get unlimited free colors included in the cost.
Other Considerations When Buying Custom Awards
Size
The dimensions and weight will vary. Big trophies, glass tower awards, or wood plaques may be cumbersome. Go with smaller awards if you have a smaller crew.
Shape
Trophies and awards can look like just about anything, from people to rectangles to abstract pieces of art. Check out unique awards shaped like spheres, teardrops, cubes, stars, and diamonds!
Display
Set up a table either on stage or behind the curtain to hold all the awards. You can then either put the awards on top if you want them proudly displayed, or hide them underneath using a tablecloth with an open back.
Minimum
How many custom awards do you need? You can order just 1 for a special winner or place a wholesale order for as many as 250. Figure out the quantity you need before you order.
Price
Customized awards are anywhere from $15 to $200 each. Do you need a budget-friendly alternative? Try challenge coins that feel just as special as a pricey trophy.
Alyssa Mertes
Alyssa Mertes is an expert on branded swag. She's done it all, from uncovering the world's first custom tote bag to interviewing the designer who created AC/DC's logo. Her work has been featured on several podcasts and media websites.
