Trophies, medals, and plaques are excellent mementos to recognize achievements and accomplishments—whether that’s winning a competition or reaching one’s 10th year in a company. Because of this, business owners and organizations need to make sure to create the perfect award that recipients can proudly show off to others.
Trophy engravers receive tons of orders each day, creating opportunities for mistakes. To assist them and ensure a smooth sailing project, clients should ensure all assets are in order.
So before getting those trophies and plaques engraved, there are several things to consider to make sure they come out great.
6 To-Dos Trophy Engravers Will Thank You For
- Inquire about Custom Rates and Timelines
Trophies and plaques come in different shapes and sizes. There’s always one for every type of industry or award. But this also means engravers can offer different rates and turnaround times depending on the type of trophy.
Before placing an order, it’s important to clear this with the engraving company. Some trophies can take more time to work on than others. Meanwhile, other materials like a custom-made plinth band can cost more to engrave than regular ones.
- Be Specific About Your Order
There are several things the local engraver will ask their client, which include the following:
- The type of engraving. Different types include abrasive or deep etching, laser engraving, UV printing, and full color. Each one is used for different trophies and can vary in production time. Be sure to discuss each option with the engraver.
- The font type to use. Some of the most common fonts for trophies include Times New Roman, Helvetica Neue, and Freestyle Script. Before choosing one, clients can see sample trophies of how each font will look like when engraved.
- The plate, rim, and lettering colors. All colors should complement each other. For example, a gold plate with a black-colored rim and lettering look elegant together.
- Label All Trophies
Before sending them off to the local engraver, it’s best to label all cups and shields to avoid any mix-up. Sticking an easy-peel tape on the trophy will do, but it’s also best to consider tying a label on the cup handles. While it’s also convenient to place everything on a list, the engraver can easily lose it. They also may not even know which item is being referred to on the list.
- Double-Check the Text
The last thing you want is a typo on trophies and plaques that will be awarded to outstanding employees, leaders, winners, etc. To avoid this, make sure to get the text printed instead of handwritten. Some of the information that needs to be double-checked are as follows:
- The year the award is given
- Name of the awardee, especially long and unusual ones
- The name of the award
Misspellings can be a hassle to remove. Plus, it will be an additional cost to the company. Make sure to avoid having to return the trophies to resolve simple errors.
- Keep Trophies Well Wrapped
Trophies come in different shapes and sizes, from cups and bowls to stars, crystals, and other figures. This makes it more important to properly wrap trophies before sending them off to the engraver.
Before putting them inside a box, it’s best to enclose each one in Bubble Wrap or wrap them in old tea towels or newspapers. You don’t want to detach broken handles and plates later, which is another added cost.
- Clean Your Trophies
Annual trophies have accumulated dust throughout the year, and it would be a shame to send them off to the engraver as is. It’s best to spend some time wiping off dust and grime from these trophies so engravers can get started with their work right away.
4 Don’ts When Getting Trophies Engraved
- Stick Labels Anywhere
Labels can easily come off, so make sure to place them in easy to access areas. However, most engravers don’t prefer to have them directly over the area to be engraved as the adhesive can damage the plate or be hard to remove.
- Glue the Cup to the Base
Cup trophies are usually designed to be detachable to make them easy to engrave. This is also the same for metal plates on certain types of trophies. Customers don’t need to glue the cup to the base before delivering them to the engraver.
- Use Pewter Cups as Annual Trophies
Pewter isn’t an ideal type of trophy for annual awards as it’s extremely soft and malleable. It won’t be able to withstand the years as it can get easily crushed with an accidental slip. Use them only for one-time presentations instead of having them engraved every year.
- Place Rush Orders
Trophy engravers usually have more expensive rates for rush orders, so it’s best to place orders ahead for those on a tight budget. You also don’t want to rush the quality of work that’s put into these awards, especially if you’re talking about bulk orders. Most importantly, respect production times, and wait patiently until the trophies are ready for pick-up.
Get the Warmest Congratulations in Order!
Trophies remind us of our greatest achievements in life. This alone should encourage businesses and organizations to exert some time and effort in acquiring these tokens and getting them customized. With ample time and preparation, these trophies will easily put a smile on any awardee’s face.