Awards 101

February 23, 2021 by ARN Leave a Comment

Art Glass Custom Trophies

Looking to take your custom trophies to the next level? If so, then you should consider one of our favorite materials for custom trophies which is art glass! At Tustin Awards, we offer an extensive line of art glass awards shown here which are readily available and can be personalized with your sentiments in 2-3 weeks.

*Nella Webster O’Grady with her award for Outstanding Philanthropist for National Philanthropy Day. Photograph by Emily J. Davis as featured in* *Orange Coast Magazine*

Or, if you are looking for totally custom art glass award, we often partner with local glass artisans to design one-of-a-kind awards your recipients will treasure for years to come! We also collaborate with clients who bring in commissioned art glass pieces and turn them into stunning awards. For example, in the photo above, we crafted an elegant ebony finish solid wood base and engraved metal plate for our customer’s custom art glass heart.

After 40+ years in the awards and recognition industry, we have become experts in designing and personalizing art glass custom trophies. Whether you are new to ordering awards or a seasoned recognition professional yourself, here are a few things to consider when using art glass for your next award:

Things to Know Before Ordering Art Glass Custom Trophies

No Two Are Alike

Art glass awards are a popular choice for their vibrant colors and individuality. Unlike most other recognition options, each art glass award is handmade and completely unique.

Given the inherent custom nature of art glass, it is common for custom trophies made from this material to have variations. Slight differences in height, color shades/placement, the appearance of bubbles inside the glass (some of which even appear on the surface), and shape are all characteristic of art glass awards and should not be considered defects.

Less Text is Best

Think “short and sweet” when creating the verbiage for your art glass custom trophies. Some art glass awards like our Blue Teardrop include a base for personalization. However, the engraving area on most of these bases is generally smaller than other award styles. Depending on the base style and engraving method, you might only have room for your logo, award title, recipient name, and year. By contrast, other art glass pieces have space for us to engrave directly into the art glass itself which looks gorgeous! However, these pieces often have subtle designs within the glass which makes small text difficult to read. Although have the option to add a color fill such as gold or silver to your engraving to improve legibility, we still recommend keeping your text brief.

Most importantly, engraving too much text on an art glass award detracts from the beauty of the piece. If you absolutely must include a lot of verbiage on your award but still desire a pop of color, let us help you find custom trophies which allow you to include both.

Exact Color Matching is Not Possible

If your marketing department walks around with a Pantone book in their back pocket to check for color consistency, then you might want to avoid art glass awards. We absolutely, positively guarantee that your art glass awards will not match your branding standards. But we can promise that art glass custom trophies will excite any recipient!

*Designed in collaboration with a local glass artisan, these art glass pieces were etched on-site and include a silver color fill for heightened beauty and legibility.*

Why Use Art Glass for Custom Trophies?

Art glass pieces are a fantastic choice for the person who has won a lot of awards already. The brilliant hues of art glass awards set them apart from a sea of more traditional desk awards and wall plaques ensuring your award will be proudly displayed in their home or office.

Additionally, art glass is especially popular among organizations that pursue creativity and innovation. And clients who have ordered art glass awards have come from Fortune 500 companies, premier academic institutions, and nationally known non-profits. With over 40 years of expertise in the awards and promotional product industry, we hope you will allow Tustin Awards to create the art glass custom trophies of your dreams!

February 12, 2021 by Tustin Awards Leave a Comment

Looking for a Plaque Award?

Lucite, plaque award, trophy, tombstone… Over the years, we have heard customers refer to awards by many different names. And if we’re honest, sometimes we aren’t exactly sure what a customer is looking for when they call or email us. But with a few simple questions, we quickly “break the code” and create incredible awards and gifts for every customer.

One common phrase our customers use when they contact Tustin Awards is “plaque award.” However, plaque award has a range of meanings depending on whom you ask. Here are a few different award styles people often select when they ask for a plaque award:

Wall Plaque

When someone asks for a plaque award, the first style which customers typically order is the wall plaque. Wall plaques are especially popular for people who don’t have a lot of desk or shelf space. They range in price from less than $50 for our budget-friendly Walnut Finish Plaque to hundreds of dollars for a completely custom plaque. Other popular wall plaque styles include our sleek Black Glass Plaque as well as our distinguished Polished Rosewood Plaque.

Perpetual Plaque

Another award style people also order when they ask for a plaque award is a perpetual plaque. Perpetual plaques include small individual plates that can be updated with winners’ names. They are popular for recognizing corporate achievements such as quarterly top sales winners, years of service milestones, and top customer service rep of the month. They are also popular among schools and non-profit organizations that wish to recognize gifts from donors. Two of our favorite perpetual plaques are our Walnut Perpetual Plaque and our Rosewood Perpetual Plaque. But if you are looking for something unique, we have other styles that can be completely customized.

Perpetual Plate or Metal Plate

Plaque awards can also sometimes mean a perpetual plate or metal plate. Perpetual plates are the small metal plates that are updated on the previously mentioned perpetual plaques. They are also commonly used on perpetual trophies for Fantasy Football and other tournament trophies. Alternatively, sometimes customers need a simple metal or plastic plate for other purposes like personalizing a jewelry box, labeling an electric box, and more. We can cut and engrave custom plates on-site, so let us know what you’re looking for!

Cast Plaque

The epitome of durability and distinction, the Cast Plaque is another award type people might order when they ask for a plaque award. Available in your choice of bronze or aluminum, cast plaques are custom made to order by a foundry. They are a popular choice for permanent recognition and are commonly used to identify historical monuments, honor donors at building dedications, and identification of city and government sites.

Desk Award

Lastly, customers have also used plaque awards when looking for a desk award (something that rests on a table or shelf). For budget-friendly desk award options, we usually recommend our acrylic awards because they have a high impact at a lower price point than other award styles. However, if you are looking for a desk award to honor an exceptional achievement (i.e. 1 Million in Sales, 25 Years of Service, etc.), then we recommend ordering a crystal award. Crystal awards are extremely impressive and worthy of outstanding accomplishments.

Looking for your next plaque award to recognize the high achievers in your life? At Tustin Awards, we have customer service professionals who are happy to help you find the perfect award or gift. Call, email, or visit our showroom to find your plaque award!

January 11, 2021 by Tustin Awards Leave a Comment

Trends in Employee Recognition Awards

Looking for the latest trends in employee recognition awards? You are in the right place!

Tustin Awards has the best employee recognition awards for your team.

Here are some trends we are seeing for 2021:

Recognize Everyday Heroes

Every day, we talk to customers who have been profoundly impacted by COVID-19. From medical to education, law enforcement, and small business, every industry has faced newfound challenges with tremendous bravery, dedication, and innovation. The ability of our clients to continually adapt and persevere inspires us to create employee recognition awards tailored to the achievements of their incredible team members. Click here for a few employee recognition awards ideas to show appreciation for the everyday heroes at your company.

Awards for the Home Office

As many continue working from home, the employee recognition awards we create often reflect this change in environment.

Since most in-person awards presentations have been cancelled for the next few months, a slightly smaller award in the 7” or 8” tall range is easier and cheaper to ship to individual recipients. Plus, people are also more likely to have space for a slightly smaller award. Options such as the Everest and Sophistiqué would be excellent choices because they are freestanding (no base required), are easy to ship, and have plenty of engraving area.

We are also seeing an increased popularity in personalized gift items. Giving your employees something like a high-quality journal, water bottle, tumbler, or even an embroidered item like a jacket with employee names on them has a much higher perceived value than a company logo alone. And giving employee recognition awards which people use daily will frequently remind them of your appreciation.

Full Color Digital Printing

Eye catching and always on-brand, the options for customizing your employee recognition awards with full color digital printing are endless! Whether you need 1 or 100 awards, we can use our full color digital printer to ensure your awards perfectly match your corporate branding standards.

Full color printing is an easy and cost-effective way to make a standard award style feel custom, and it is a popular choice to reflect different levels of employee achievement (i.e. different art colors depending on the years of service, sales achievement level, etc.)

All our acrylic and plaque employee recognition awards are available with full color printing. We also offer a selection of stunning crystal awards available with full color printing as well.

Art Glass

Another trend in employee recognition awards for 2021 is art glass. Like your employees, no two art glass awards are identical. Each art glass award is handmade and completely unique. With stunning colors ranging from deep blue and purple in our Elegance Award to the vibrant red in our Imperial Award, we love art glass awards. And if you are looking for a truly custom art glass award, we also partner with local art glass artisans to achieve the art glass award of your dreams.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our Tustin Awards page, and we look forward to creating beautiful employee recognition awards for you soon!

August 28, 2020 by Tustin Awards Leave a Comment

The Plaque – A Classic Recognition Choice

The plaque has been a staple in the incentive process for many years. Over time, plaques have transitioned from wall mounted mementos with an engraved metal plate, to include full-color printing and engraving. Our customer service experts at Tustin Awards are here to help you find the right style award for your deserving recipients.

Why Plaques Now

The importance of recognition and appreciation is paramount in keeping morale at a high level, especially in times of uncertainty. With many employees now working remotely, the demands on employees to balance family obligations while still excelling professionally have created unprecedented stress. This drive to persevere merits recognition and the plaque is a perfect choice for acknowledging these efforts.

Materials & Styles

Walnut is the traditional choice for the wall plaque. However, we have expanded our options to include materials such as polished rosewood and glass for a modern executive look. We also offer budget-friendly options such as our walnut finish plaque. This option has a thin walnut laminate over a pressboard plaque. Plaques can also include glass or acrylic “stand up” pieces when wall space is not available. These are highly effective at keeping your encouraging message at eye level. We also have a variety of options that can be made from marble, slate, granite, and Eco-friendly products.

Customization

Tustin Awards is your partner in designing the custom award of your dreams when you are looking for something “outside the box”. With innovative customer service professionals as well as on-site engraving and full-color printing, even after 40+ years, we still get excited to create something we have never seen before. Feel free to visit our custom award page for more information or call us for immediate service.

Specialty Options

One common category is the perpetual plaque. These are made to recognize winners of sales contests, academic achievements, or donations to charitable causes. They have plates on them which can be updated regularly as new people achieve milestones. Perpetual designs can range from our traditional walnut perpetual plaque to custom donor walls that are 10 feet long!

Cast bronze or cast aluminum plaques also have a long history. If you have ever been to a sports hall of fame, you have seen them on the walls honoring player achievements (the Baseball Hall of Fame is one impressive example). Historical landmarks and statues often have a cast plaque explaining the significance of a historical event. They are also seen on the walls of schools and universities when rooms, halls, or buildings are named after donors or civic leaders. These plaques are also often used for grave markers in cemeteries all around the world. More information about our cast plaque options can be found here.

Tustin Awards – Your Orange County Plaque Source

Tustin Awards has the expertise to help you choose the best plaque for your team! With on-site engraving and assembly, we can guarantee your award will be of the highest quality and treasured award for years to come. Shop local at Tustin Awards!

By Jake Hill

August 21, 2020 by ARN Leave a Comment

Trophy Buying Tips from the Experts

New to buying trophies and not sure where to begin? Or maybe you are an experienced trophy purchasing professional and looking for some new ideas? At Tustin Awards, we have the expertise, customer service, and vast selection to make sure you find exactly what you need!

Trophy Buying Tips – Asking the Right Questions

Over the years, we have found that sometimes customers have different visions when looking for a trophy. We typically ask a few questions to help them narrow their search. With thousands of options to choose from, knowing the answers to these questions will expedite the buying process.

Is there a theme – i.e. fantasy football, retirement, star achiever?
When do you need to have the trophy ready?
What price range would you like the trophy to be in?
What trophy quantity do you need?
Is this trophy for one person, or will it be updated each year with new winner names?
Do you need to ship the trophy?

Our Expert Recommendations

An easy place to begin your search is at the trophy page on our website. Here, you will see a few of our most popular trophy options. Our Champion Cup is a classic choice that features a gold metal cup on a solid black marble base. For an elite event or achiever, we recommend the Renaissance Cup which features a premium metal cup on a rosewood base, and it is available in three sizes – the tallest is over 20 inches high.

If you are planning to order a trophy where you add names to it monthly, quarterly, or annually (also known as a perpetual trophy), it will save you time and money in the future if you let us know this information before you place your order. This will allow us to customize and ensure the item can accommodate the desired number of winner names for the future. And, if you run out of space to add names, we can always add a base so you can continue to enjoy for years to come.

Will You Need to Ship Your Purchase?

If you anticipate needing to ship the trophy in the future (this is common for fantasy football), this would also be helpful to tell us before you order. This will allow us to recommend options that will travel well. For example, we recommend avoiding trophy options with small plastic pieces or thin metal pieces that may break easily in shipping. In some cases, our customers have purchased special shipping cases to ensure their awards arrive safely.

Why Employee Recognition Matters Now and How We Can Help!

In these difficult times, employee recognition means more than we can imagine.

The pressure employees have faced in the last few months to stay productive and healthy is tremendous. The sacrifice and dedication employees continue to demonstrate in the face of newfound challenges merits a well-deserved employee recognition program.

Employees working from home must remain focused despite unanticipated distractions. Zoom meetings with a baby in tow or answering emails late into the night is the new norm. Employees continue to excel while caring for children and loved ones.

Employees going into the workplace face increased risk of exposure. Restaurants, salons, grocery stores, and retail store employees never thought they would be front-line workers. Yet they consistently put their needs aside to serve others and help create a sense of normalcy. They perfectly execute heightened sanitation protocols to keep customers and co-workers safe. They may also take the brunt of customer stress with limited business hours, social distancing practices, etc.

Now, more than ever, those serving as nurses, doctors, police officers, and firemen deserve more gratitude than we can possibly give. These people work tirelessly to keep us safe and healthy. They continue to show up every day for our benefit despite increased risk, and they are truly heroes.

The need for employee appreciation is stronger than ever. Unfortunately, galas, awards presentations, and social gatherings have been cancelled or postponed. Companies and non-profits which had previously spent months planning these employee recognition events now have to put them on hold. This is forcing organizations to get more creative with how they acknowledge employees for going above and beyond. And this is where Tustin Awards comes in….

Need something fabulous on a budget? We have tons of great ideas!

Are you planning a virtual employee recognition presentation but still want real awards or trophies? We have you covered!

Whether you prefer the convenience of shopping online or the ability to “touch and see” products in a brick and mortar showroom, we are here to help. With over 40 years in the awards and promotional product industry, we have the expertise to make sure your order is perfect every time. We also have the capability to ship your awards directly to recipients. This ensures they safely receive the praise they deserve.

Don’t forget to recognize these special individuals as well:
– Non-profit donors continuing to give in the face of uncertainty
– Teachers selflessly serving their students
– Newlyweds who opted for a more intimate ceremony than planned
– And many more!

We look forward to helping you recognize the people in your life!

Contact Tustin Awards today and let’s make your employees feel special!
E-mail Us! or call (877) 589-9989

Art Glass Custom Trophies

Looking for a Plaque Award?

Trends in Employee Recognition Awards