tustin awards

September 24, 2020 by Tustin Awards Leave a Comment

How Tustin Awards Came to Be

I’m Jake Hill, and my wife Mary and I own Tustin Awards. Let me tell you the story of how it all began…

So, where do we start? Do we go all the way back to the mid 1950’s or do we start when my parents (Carl and Ardelle) bought a tiny trophy shop in 1978? Yes, Tustin Awards was originally started in 1955 and located in Santa Ana. Eventually, one of the subsequent owners moved it to a small storefront on the corner of Newport Ave. and Irvine Blvd. in Tustin. And that is where it was when our family joined the ranks of engravers!

After two moves and a name change from Tustin Trophy and Engraving to Tustin Awards, we landed at our current location on Bell Ave. in Tustin. I’ve been asked many times what my first job was at Tustin Awards and my answer is always the same: taking out the trash (facts are facts).

Eventually, my parents taught my wife Mary and I how to engrave and assemble plaques and trophies. Eight years later in 1993, Mary and I bought the business from my parents and moved it to the Bell Ave. address. At that point, we had already branched out into the Ad Specialty market, and later expanded our capabilities with in-house digital printing.

Tustin Awards was fast becoming one of the largest awards dealers in Orange County and the United States, and we continued to grow until the great recession in 2008. After a couple of years, we started to grow once again. We have been fortunate to serve thousands of satisfied clients and customers, and we continue to expand our line with new products and services.

Since the COVID- 19 virus invaded our shores, Tustin Awards has pivoted by adding PPE products and we now ship more of our awards to recipients’ homes. Despite the new challenges we face, our production time remains unchanged, and we can still process rush orders in one or two days.

Since day one, Tustin Awards has engraved and assembled all awards in-house. This allows us to have strict quality control standards and remain at the top of our industry. Our client base comes from all across the United States and Canada, and over 85% of Tustin Awards sales are from repeat customers.

We have met some wonderful people along the way, and we sincerely appreciate the opportunity to recognize the true champions and heroes among us.

We never take for granted the trust our clients have in us, and we constantly strive to be better each day. It is this deeply held value which has inspired us to place multiple signs on the walls of Tustin Awards engraved with our motto:

“We are here to serve people and solve problems. That’s what we do.”

On behalf of the entire Tustin Awards staff, we look forward to serving you.

Thank you,

Jake Hill

President

Tustin Awards, Inc.

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.

How Tustin Awards Came to Be