Tustin Awards

Specializing in Corporate Awards and Promotional Products Since 1978

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(877) 589-9989

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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 honoring Own It Now Realty

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.


Custom perpetual plaque recognizing donors at City of Irvine Animal Care Center

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.

Cast plaque award
Custom cast plaque at Tustin City Hall

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!

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Tips for Repurposing Your Trophy

A few times a month, we receive calls from customers asking about recycling old plaque or trophy parts. Unfortunately, we do not offer trophy recycling on-site, and we do not sell reused parts from awards. However, we have accumulated some fantastic ideas over the years for repurposing awards.

trophy

Here are some of our favorite suggestions for giving your old trophy new life:

Contact Local Schools & Non-Profits

If you are considering donating your used trophies or plaques, our biggest tip is to call or email organizations ahead of time to see if they are interested in used awards. The last thing we want to do is burden local schools and non-profits with onesthey cannot use. However, we have received calls from high schools and colleges looking for old trophies to use in musicals, plays, films, etc., so you might consider calling a few local schools and arts programs to see if they might be interested in them. In addition, some thrift stores may resell old trophies to support their causes.

Repurpose Your Trophy

One of our favorite ways to repurpose old awards is to use them as White Elephant gifts. To increase the desirability of your old trophy, we recommend removing the existing engraved plate and adding a new plate with some cheeky text. For example, we guarantee one for the “Hottest Staff Person” at your next company White Elephant gift exchange will be the present everyone fights over.

trophy

You might also consider painting your old trophy a new color to heighten the impact. For example, try spray painting it black for spooky and cost-effective Halloween trophies. You can even add cobwebs for flair, and we can update the existing plates with the year, category, etc. to tailor them especially for your event.

Try the Internet

Sites such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Offer Up, and Next Door are popular choices for selling used awards. However, the best site for your awards may depend on the type, quantity, and quality of trophies you have. Keep in mind, you will have better luck finding a new home for your old trophies if you offer them for free instead of trying to sell them.

  • trophy

Décor Ideas for Your Trophy

Vintage trophies instantly add distinction and character to any space. As a matter of fact, you will even see an antique one or two on display in our showroom! Here are a few ideas for incorporating trophies into your décor:

  • Add character while helping to contain common household items such as cooking utensils, makeup, paint brushes, remote controls, pens, and pencils.
    • Use individually or group together for added impact as table centerpieces, bookshelf accessories, office décor, etc.
    • Spray paint works wonders – painting in colors like teal, royal blue, pink, or gold will add instant flair to any room.
    • Vintage trophies make charming vessels for succulents and other plants, and you can even use them outdoors to add metallic accents in your garden.
    • Figures can be used as place card holders, Christmas tree ornaments, and more.

Since 1978, Tustin Awards has been creating exceptional awards, plaques, trophies, gifts, and promotional products. We combine industry leading expertise with family business values. We are proud to offer exceptional customer service, convenient shopping online or in-person, on-site engraving, and more to help you find the perfect award for your next event.

Thank you for shopping local at Tustin Awards, and we hope these ideas help you find a new home for your old trophy!

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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.

Employee Recognition Awards

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!

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How to Order Custom Trophies Online

Want to know our biggest tip to order custom trophies online?

Buy your awards from a company with a proven track record of excellent customer service and quality.

Since 1978, Tustin Awards has combined industry leading expertise and family business values. Whether large or small, we treat every order with the utmost care and professionalism. We have over 40 years of experience to provide you with incredible custom awards, gifts, lapel pins, promotional products and more to recognize the special people in your life. Visit our online storefront here to shop for your custom trophies online!

custom trophies online

Choose a company that pays attention to the details.

Whether purchasing your custom trophies online, in-person, or via email, you want to order from a company who will pay attention to every detail. As Jake Hill, the owner of Tustin Awards always says, “With engraving, you are either 100% right or 100% wrong.” If we find a word that is misspelled or notice that important information is missing such as the year or recipient name, we will take the time to call or email you to make sure your order is perfect.

Work with industry experts.

When you work with Tustin Awards, every single order is handled by a seasoned engraving professional. Few companies offer on-site laser engraving, full color digital printing, and sand etching, but when you order your custom trophies online with Tustin Awards, that is exactly what you will receive.

Support your local businesses.

At Tustin Awards, we offer USA made glass awards, acrylic awards, cast bronze plaques, challenge coins, medallions and more to support local industries. We also give back to local schools and non-profit organizations. When you shop at Tustin Awards, you invest in your community. And if you have the time, we recommend visiting our showroom conveniently located in Tustin so you can view our awards in-person.

custom trophies online

Find a company that will pick up the phone.

Have you tried calling Amazon lately? How did that work out for you? That’s what we thought… You would be surprised how many people call us with last minute changes. What if you need to add a last-minute award or catch a typo on your plaque? Most online companies do not have the flexibility or staff to accommodate these kinds of changes. At Tustin Awards, a knowledgeable customer service professional will answer every phone call to make sure you are taken care of.

Expect “above and beyond” service.

When you order your custom trophies online with Tustin Awards, will do everything possible to make sure you receive an award you will be proud to present.

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End of Year Awards Season Is Here!

It’s beginning to feel like End of Year Awards Season at Tustin Awards! And every day, we talk to clients who describe the tremendous dedication, innovation, and perseverance of their employees. With a new year on the horizon, now is a fantastic time to recognize those who have stepped up in big ways to support the continued success of your company.

Having been in the awards and engraving industry for over 40 years, we know that End of Year Awards Season may occur at different times depending on the company. For example, many customers combine their annual employee awards event with their company holiday party. Other clients wait until as late as March or April to ensure company data (i.e. sales figures, percentages, etc.) has been calculated before recognizing employee achievements from the prior year.

Whenever your End of Year Awards Season rolls around, here are a few things to consider:

  • Start Shopping Early
  • Create Excitement
  • Think About Delivery
  • Adding A Special Touch

Start Shopping Early

For the best selection and pricing, start your award search at least 3-4 weeks before your deadline. Standard production time for most orders during End of Year Awards Season is around 2-3 weeks after final proof approval (production times may vary depending on the award style, quantity, and number of engraving locations). However, we will do our best to meet any presentation deadline. For completely custom award styles or orders over 50 pieces, we recommend 5-6 weeks for design, production, and personalization.

Create Excitement

This year, many of our customers have shifted from in-person awards presentations to virtual ceremonies. Despite the change in format, most event and marketing departments still to send out formal invitations, company swag, gift baskets, party favors and more ahead of time to create excitement for the event. If you need help with any of these elements, call or email us for ideas! Or you can visit our promotional product page for inspiration.

Think About Delivery

To maintain the surprise of a virtual awards presentation, most customers have the awards arrive about a week after the presentation. We recommend allowing our shipping specialists to carefully pack and ship your awards to the individual recipients for added convenience and peace of mind (no one likes to receive a broken award).

Add A Special Touch

For a special touch, many clients provide personalized cards for us to insert into the individual award boxes. We can also include additional tokens of appreciation such as corporate branded journals, shirts, lapel pins and more. And we offer custom ribbon and gift box options to heighten the prestige of the award presentation. Adding these elements to your award presentation will amplify the significance of the awards and the appreciation the recipients feel when they receive them.

At Tustin Awards, we combine family business values with industry-leading expertise. We take great pride in creating high-quality awards and promotional products which bring joy to other people. And we look forward to collaborating with you on your End of Year Awards!

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How to Order a Custom Trophy

At Tustin Awards, even after 40+ years in business, we still get excited when someone chooses us to create a custom trophy.

From designing crystal showstoppers for elite corporate events to turning taxidermy farm animals into office gag gifts, we have seen and done a lot. Oh, the stories we could tell…. That said, we are genuinely honored and inspired each time a customer calls us for their awards, gifts, and promotional products.

Custom awards require a collaborative approach. Some clients walk in with a clear vision; they have vector drawings, Pantone colors, fonts and materials picked out, and they ask us to execute their meticulously crafted plan. But even when clients have every detail chosen, often design modifications need to be made to ensure readability, overcome manufacturing challenges, meet deadlines, etc. Alternatively, some clients call us knowing they want a custom trophy or plaque, but need help seeing what is possible or coming up with ideas to present to decision-makers. And others run into our showroom with their hair on fire and need something fabulous in a few hours.

custom trophy

Whether big or small, we approach each custom trophy with creativity, and we always keep our customer’s best interest in mind.

In serving you, we always ask ourselves questions like: Which options will maximize your budget? Where can we save time to ensure we meet your deadline? How can we make your award unforgettable?

Why Create A Custom Trophy?

  • One-of-a-Kind
  • Always “On Brand”
  • People Need Recognition

One-of-a-Kind – Extraordinary achievements merit extraordinary awards. Ordering a custom trophy will make a statement about the impact a person has on your organization and your appreciation for them. With our endless customization capabilities, we can design your award to include engraving, sand carving, full color printing, and 3-D subsurface etching. We can also incorporate materials such as crystal, glass, acrylic, bronze, stainless steel, and more!

Always “On Brand” – Although “stock” awards come in a variety of colors, materials, shapes, and sizes, few awards perfectly align with specific corporate branding standards. However, when you order a custom trophy or plaque, you can tailor every award detail to match your marketing guidelines. For added flair, we can incorporate event themes into the award and promotional product design as well. See our Custom Awards page for some of our customization options.

People Need Recognition – Now more than ever, a simple thank you means more than we imagine. Whether working in an office, medical setting, classroom, or even remotely, employees deserve recognition for their continued dedication and sacrifice. A custom trophy tells employees that their exceptional efforts are deeply valued. To read more about the heightened importance of employee recognition, click here!

As companies transition to virtual presentations and alternatives to traditional awards ceremonies, we are responding with innovation and creativity to the changing needs of our clients.

To meet the needs of our customers, we have expanded our services to include drop-shipping to individual customers, providing printed cards for a personal touch, and much more! Despite these changes, we remain resolute in our commitment to quality, customer service, creativity, and value.

And for clients looking to save time and money, we have thousands of “stock” awards, trophies, and plaques to choose from. With on-site engraving, sand etching, and full color printing, we can turn a standard award into a masterpiece. The Shop Awards page is a great place to start to see our standard award styles. And feel free to call or email us for more options of standard award shapes which can be customized!

The excitement we feel in creating something no one has ever seen before is only surpassed by the joy we receive in knowing our customers absolutely love the awards we create for them.

Have questions about ordering custom awards and plaques? For more information about minimum order quantities, personalization options, materials, and minimum order quantities, check out our Custom Awards page for these details and more.

Call Tustin Awards for the custom trophy of your dreams!