CrystalPlus.com- Personalized Awards & Gifts

If you ask anyone what do they think when they hear the word ‘trophies’, you might receive answers that describe images of chiseled statuettes, shiny silver bowls and giant brass cups. These are the most of the common thoughts that often come to mind. However, many of the aforementioned would not even be recognized as a trophy type at all if it were not for the popularity and prestige of the events for which they were awarded. If you are interested in learning more about a few of the trophies that are less traditional, you are in luck. Below are some of the types of non-traditional trophies that exist in the world:

Paris-Roubaix Cobblestone

At the end of what was considered as the most grueling and longest bicycle races that took place in Europe, the winner was presented with a cobblestone. Cobblestones are stones that can be commonly found in the pavement of early streets. The stone got its name from “cob” and was initially referred to any small-sized stones that were rounded by the natural flow of water. Smooth cobbles were then picked from stream beds and used to pave the first cobblestone streets.

Although the cobblestone does not share much aesthetic appeal on the outside, it was used to represent the arduous stretch of cobblestone that cyclists have to ensure in order to complete the race. The winner, apart from receiving the cobblestone trophy, was awarded an additional $39,000. This goes to say that trophies do not always have to be plated in 24K gold, or be shiny and sparkly.

Trophee Du Hassan II

This particular trophy was presented in a golf tournament known as The Hassan II Golf Trophy. The tournament was held in Morocco and hosted by Prince Moulay Rachid, his Royal Highness. Additionally, the tournament was named after the prince’s father, who served as King of Morocco. The king’s name was Hassan II. Before the tournament was moved to Agadir in 2011, it was previously held at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat. The tournament has been played since the early 1970s and has been a European Tour event since 2010. This is indeed a prestigious golf tournament and the winner receives a massive shiv that is bejeweled.

Green Master’s Jacket

At one of golf’s most prestigious tournaments, the Green Master’s Jacket is known by many as the top prize of the pristine event. Before it became an annual tradition, the history of the tournament dates back more than sixty decades ago. Every year when a new winner emerges, the previous champion from the tournament helps to put on the fairway-green coat. The new champions technically get to keep their new trophy or jacket, but the prize must be housed and only worn at the tournament’s host, which is the Augusta National Golf Club. The jacket surprisingly resembles something that can be found off the men’s rack from Macy’s.

Wrestling Belts

Since the birth of professional wrestling, champions have always been presented with elaborate belts that can be plated with gold as well as other precious metals on a broad leather strap. The metals, designs and even the colors used usually vary depending on the title being contested for. Belts like these are also awarded to professional boxers. Nowadays, championship belts have spread its wings to the world of mixed martial arts. Mixed Martial Arts or MMA for short, follows the boxing model of each sanctioning group and serves a promotion too. The belt is used to award its champion in each weight class. As observed in boxing, each promotion’s belts’ design is the same regardless of what weight class it is used in. The champion also gets to keep their belt even after losing a title.

The Venus Rosewater Dish

This is the grand trophy that is awarded to the champion of the Ladies’ Singles at the championships held in Wimbledon. The trophy is a traditional Rosewater dish that dates back to ancient England. They were used mostly after eating to capture rosewater poured over the hands of the diner. This particular dish resembles a splitting image of the goddess Venus. However, the winner does not get to retain the trophy to herself, but rather receives a three-quarter sized replica of the prize.

Trophies are great for keepsake and as a reminder of one’s battles and victory during a tournament. It serves as a physical reminder that all effort put in before the competition was not gone to waste, and one’s efforts is recognized and etched in the memories of the recipient.

If you are looking for original and unique ideas on trophies for your organization, talk to Crystal Plus today as we provide corporate award trophies at great prices. Our trophies are fully customizable and you can engrave individual names and messages on them too.

Customized plaques are one of the most popular methods to commemorate individuals or groups at special events. Whether the plaques are for an academic achievement, promotional event, corporate recognition or sports tournament, these acrylic or crystal awards make a statement and serve as lasting mementos that can be retained and cherished for years on end. One of the best things associated with plaques is that they are very easy to customized based on the interests of the recipient or the nature of the event. Here are some of the top tips you can use right away to personalize the perfect plaque for your next event.

Choose your materials wisely

Plaques can be constructed out of all types of materials, ranging from stone, wood as well as other metal types. But there are certainly other options to choose from nowadays and they include crystal, glass and acrylic. If you opt for plaques to be made out of crystal, you would be delighted to know that it provides opportunities for a prestige and classic award to be made. Oftentimes, crystal plaques are great to be displayed on one’s desk and enhance his or her corporate image. All in all, each material has their unique price point, feel and look. When it comes down to choosing materials, the possibilities on how you can customize your plaques are endless and there is something that suits everybody’s needs.

Yearly distinctions

If you organization or team presents plaques on an annual basis, consider redesigning such plaques so that the awards given out each year can be easily distinguished from the past. This works exceptionally well if you expect the same recipients year after year. If your company has grown tired of wooden plaques, try something that provides a see-through effect such as a crystal plaque. You can also choose to add colors to these modern materials to improve the overall aesthetic and appeal. Your employee will be more than delighted to know that they will be receiving something that they will feel proud of in years to come.

Include handwritten inscriptions and signatures

Imagine how much more special a plaque can become if it is presented with a handwritten message from the head of a department or the CEO him or herself. It is definitely one of the simplest and easiest ways to add something that is pack with a lot of impact. Utilizing special engraving equipment and technology, it is now possible to include handwritten messages on a plaque. Now you can add more meaning to a plaque, rather than just the recipient’s name.

Include a motivational quote

It is great to engrave a relevant quote on your employee’s plaque as it adds more meaning to it. For instance, you can inscribe something like: “Perseverance – the ability to overcome your tiredness through hard work and determination,” to an employee who have managed to meet a difficult sales target against all odds. You can also include a line stating that even gold can’t beat that one-and-only alloy called guts, to make that medal that the employee deserved.

Motivational and inspiring quotes are a few of the main reasons behind a person’s success. Including such quotes in an employee’s plaque allows him or her to take a look at it from time to time and improve their motivation, which assists them to take action and bring them closer to achieving their goals in the organization and etc.

Add a relevant logo

You can easily add more meaning to a plaque by adding your corporate logo to it. Aside from increasing the aesthetic appeal of the plaque, that logo can make it much more memorable and special for the recipient. It will also distinguish the plaque from other awards that reside in its vicinity. Other than adding the corporate logo, try to hire a designer to design another logo that is more specific to the employee’s successful project.

How to do the engraving on the plaque

Here are some more tips to help with the content of the plaque. To congratulate an employee for his or her achievement, you should engrave their names in large letters, and then followed by the message and the date. You can also choose to use tildes around the date. To show your appreciation for an employee who has worked for your company for many years, you can follow an appreciation plaque format.

For instance, you should engrave the name of the presenter at the bottom, engrave the recipient’s name and message above it, and decide whether to inscribe entire plaques with engraving or opt to use a small plate that bears the same information and attach it to the bottom of the plaque.

If you need extra ideas or want to seek inspiration on plaques, you can talk to our experts here at Crystal Plus. We design and make corporate crystal awards for both companies and individuals alike.

Many employers believe that employee morale consists of the following: employees’ satisfaction, emotional connection and attitude during the course of their employment with the company. However, some feel that monitoring morale should be based on employee productivity and retention.

This may proved to be counterproductive for some employees who have passion for their roles within their organization, but expectations and the daily struggles they face may make their job become increasingly unbearable. Furthermore, some employee’s commute to work as well as the known frustrations they might face at work may start a premature avalanche of emotions that adversely affect their work performance.

If you are an employer yourself, you do not need to fret as you can avert the aforementioned issues by giving your employees opportunities to open up through conversations, which can help improve employee morale and engagement. Below are some more tips you can use to boost your employees’ morale.

Communication is a two-way street

Constant idea sharing is much encouraged in a corporate setting. You should listen to what your employees have to say as they may share ideas that are great. However, ideas can only go so far if an employee does not have sufficient knowledge about business operations. You can implement management strategies that are open-book, supplying employees with the financial data or critical information along the way.

You must follow up by teaching them what the aforementioned means so their ideas in the future can influence the collective success of the company. Keep in mind to keep your employees well-informed and ensure that they know you are willing to hear their input as well as continue a discussion.

Be aware of the special events in your employee’s life

Employees’ weddings, birthdays, and their children’s accomplishments – if there is a reason to celebrate, you should go ahead and do it! Whether you choose to find a beautiful greeting card and let everyone sign on it or buy a round of coffee for employees in the morning shift, these are the little things that help show your appreciation and awareness for your employees. These ideas may sound corny at first, or even a little embarrassing, but it definitely helps put a smile on the faces of your employees.

Make the workplace more comfortable than it is

It is more than aesthetics when it comes to designing a comfortable work environment. One has to pay careful attention to the area’s design in order to boost overall employees’ happiness. Some of the basic things you will need are ergonomic desks and cushy chairs, but that’s not all. You will have to adjust something else such as your workplace’s lighting scheme.

For this, you can introduce fun and unorthodox desk lamps if you are unable to remove the glare from overhead fluorescents. You may also open the curtains to allow more natural light to enter. Maintain the office temperature at a level that’s comfortable for all. Lastly, ensure that all your technology is up to date and are capable of facilitating all jobs that need to be done.

Recognize the good work of employees with rewards

This would be one of the easiest things to take care of as you can present employee recognition awards during your company’s gala dinner. Many employees want to feel valued, and a personalized crystal award complements other things such as writing a thank you note or telling your employees that they have done a good job verbally.

You can organize parties when your companies meet monthly goals, but do so in a way that’s appropriate for your workplace or business environment. While you are showing that you value your employees’ work, do not single out only the superstars for the good things they have done. You should keep in mind to reward everyone for their achievements and reinforce teamwork.

Encourage more work breaks to be taken at the right time

Remind your employees that they are entitled to take necessary work breaks when the timing is right. You can suggest for them to take a short walk around the block and grab a cup of coffee along the way. Work tends to be done faster when an employee feels more refreshed after a much needed break. It can also impede unnecessary stress among your employees in the long run. If you face workaholics, you will need to make your breaks mandatory. Ensure that the pantry is well stocked with snacks and drinks. Taking a break in the pantry or lounge allows coworkers to mingle with each other over a much deserved break.

Conclusion

Start the journey of getting in tune with your employees to gauge their overall morale by engaging them in meaningful conversations. You may ask them about their strengths, struggles, as well as feedback on what can be improved within the organization. It is pertinent that you prevent any disengagement from your employees as it may rub off on other coworkers.

If you wish to show your appreciation towards your employees, you can choose from our wonderful selection of crystal and glass awards. Call us today to find out how you can personalize your awards.

Retirement is widely known as the point where someone has to stop their employment with a company completely. There are many reasons why someone chooses to retire, and old age is one of the most common reasons why someone does so. Currently, there is an increasing number of individuals who opt for semi-retirement and reduce their original working hours.

As your business ages one year after another, you may have a handful of employees who are preparing to retire. During this time, you may want to show how much you appreciate your colleagues or employees. However, do not fret if you are having trouble searching for that perfect retirement gift. Here are some of the top tips to pick the best retirement gifts for your colleagues.

Gather colleagues together for group gifts

You can start by asking around to see who can chip in. This will be more appropriate and significantly cut down on cost. You can view retirement gifts as joint gifts unless you share a close relationship with the retiree. Ensure that you get colleagues who shared the gift to sign a card that includes personal messages. Oftentimes, a heartfelt and well-written note can mean a lot to a person. You should still write something even though a preprinted card is chosen.

Let your creative juices flow

It is a great idea to come up with a gift that uses references to the things the retiree has sold, bought or created on the job. For instance, your colleagues and you can present an IT engineer with a clock that is constructed out of scrap computer parts, such as unused disks. With this battery-operated and shiny clock, the retiree can hang it in his or her home, allowing them to reminisce the good times during their working years.

Consider the hobbies of the retiree

It is a good idea to purchase a gift that is closely related to a hobby that your retiring colleague or employee indulges in or has expressed interest in pursuing after retirement. If you notice a retiree owns Santa Clara pottery, you and other colleagues can pool money in to purchase him or her a piece of handmade pottery to add to their collection as a centerpiece. Gifts that are thoughtful include gadgets, show tickets and sports equipment; you can give such gifts to techies, music lovers and athletics respectively.

Sudden retirements that are not planned

Not all retirements happen as planned and may occur out of sudden. There are certain individuals who are more apprehensive about the idea of being away from the working world and fear they may no longer be of use. Retirements that are forced or unplanned become increasingly common due to business closures, buyouts and layoffs. Under such circumstances, you should steer clear away from saying condolences or congratulations. What you can do is to tell the retiree that you were honored to have had the chance of working and meeting with him or her. Consider their retirement as a life transition rather than an abrupt exit from the workforce.

Know that it’s ok to be sentimental

Did you know that the best retirement gifts can come in the form of remembrance letters that are written by hand, scrapbooks or even photo albums? Colleagues and bosses alike can give something to retirees that help recall positive memories of what he or she did in their professional stint with the company and it can be very meaningful. It is therapeutic for your retired colleague or employee when he or she looks through old company cohesion photos. Sometimes a retiree may feel a little sad that they are no longer working for a company that they had fostered a familial connection with. Hence, a photo book can make their transition to retired life a little easier.

Award retirees for their loyal and long service to the company

Another awesome way to show your appreciation to a retiree is to consider giving away employee service awards, which can be personalized and their details can be engraved on the crystal as well. This type of awards can be presented to employees who have worked in a company for at least five years and more than two decades of continuous service. Other employees who are aware of such awards are less likely to jump ship when a better opportunity arises. Such awards show that the company acknowledges employees for a job well done during the years of service they put their heart and soul into.

Gifting retirees with meaningful and physical mementos can help etch their contributions onto milestones that push the company towards success. Though the journey is not an easy one, all the effort and time put into one’s work are definitely worth it and done for a greater cause.

Call Crystal Plus today to find out more on how you can personalize your own company gifts, trophies and awards. It is always a good idea to gift your retirees with something nice!

In the era of the internet and online marketing, it seems foolhardy to invest in business promotional items such as mugs and caps. However, the only way you will come to this conclusion is if you don’t take in all the facts. It’s undeniable that using the internet is a very cheap and effective means of marketing particularly if you leverage on the new technologies such as popular social media sites.

However, the truth is that using traditional merchandise such as cups, caps and branded pens still has a place in helping you get the word out about a product or business. A recent survey showed that 52% of people had a positive impression about a company once they had received a promotional product from them. It also showed that up to 50% of people can use such products on a daily basis, particularly if it’s a product that can allow them to do this such as a mug or cup.

This essentially means that if you are looking for a way to maximize the effectiveness of your business, you simply can’t afford to neglect the importance of merchandise. There are many obvious and not so obvious mechanisms that are in play when determining this including:

Brand recognition

Using high quality merchandise is the best way to have your business or product recognized by the market. This is one quality of customer merchandise that many people take for granted, but which is actually very important. The key to ensuring that your promotional product will increase your brand recognition is by making sure that the nature of the business will be visible on it, and also ensuring that it’s a product that can be used on a day to day basis.

This is why mugs are the preferred promotional product for many; the fact that they are used very regularly means that they can act as your own mini billboards. When you distribute enough of them around, you can be sure that many people will get an idea of how your company works. Ultimately, this has the effect of making sure that your business is at the top of everyone’s mind.

It’s an alternative business card

Your promotional product can be used as an alternative business card, only that people will be more likely to pay more attention to it. This is especially so if it’s practical and well designed. A good example of this is if you are an IT expert. Rather than handing out business cards (which the client is likely to have many), you could opt to order a number of branded USB flash drives. You can then hand them out to each customer you work with. The good thing about this is that it’s not only practical, but also very effective as well. You will find that the customer will be more likely to pay attention to the information printed on the surface of the drive compared to what you might print on a business card.

It is one of the best ways to get mass outreach

When you run a business, you might want to keep your budget tight. Doing this is often not as easy as you might imagine particularly when it comes to marketing. Using effective online or traditional marketing can sometimes cost a lot of money, and the results might not be visible for quite some time.

When used properly, promotional gifts can change this slightly. There are many companies that offer these products at very low prices, so you don’t need to spend as much as you would on other forms of marketing. You can also reduce the unit cost of each product by ordering in bulk. Once this is done, you can then distribute all the promotional products to a large number of people, thus achieving mass marketing.

The time frames involved

Suppose you hand out a number of mugs with your company logo on them. How long, on average, do you expect an individual to keep using the mug? Most of the time, this will turn out to be quite a long time, usually a few years. You can compare this to when you create a banner advert online, which will be visible to the individual for a maximum of a few minutes after they open a website. As you can see, using such merchandise puts your business in the faces of your potential customers for longer, particularly if you use items that can be used on a day to day basis.

In summary, the use of merchandise to market a product or service is something that you should definitely think about. On the surface, it might seem like an outdated way to do things, but in reality it’s very effective particularly if you make the right decisions regarding what approach to use.

One of the trickiest parts about starting a company or launching a new product is the initial phase of having to find a way to market that product or service. The fact that there are many markets that are now saturated means that even if you have a truly unique idea, you will need to be very creative to make it known to the general public or to your demographic.

The good thing is that if you have a great product and a great marketing plan, this will be the hardest part of the process. Once a few people know of the product or service, they are likely to then act as your marketing mechanism by having other people know about the product through various means including word of mouth.

One of the ways of achieving this is by ensuring that you use promotional products to get the word out. However, you need to be very smart in how you use them, otherwise you may end up spending a lot of money and see nothing of it. There are a number of principles you can live by to avoid this including:

Identify a target demographic before deciding on which marketing products to use

Suppose you are launching a new product, and want to create merchandise that you can then use to reach the people who will most likely buy it. The only way to ensure that this works is by first identifying the target demographic you will be working with, and then creating the promotional products for them. Of course, this usually means understanding what their needs are and then creating a product that can meet these needs.

A good example of this is if you are creating a product that will most likely be used by company executives. Most of such individuals are high net worth, and usually love the finer things in life. Choosing to use promotional products that look and feel cheap to try and promote your new business to them will not work, and may even encourage them to avoid it altogether. The best way to avoid this is by identifying the characteristics of the demographic, and then figuring out what type of product can appeal to them. In some cases, you might need to do a little market research to get more accurate information regarding this.

The issue of volume

When thinking of using business promotional gifts, you also have to consider the issue of volume. A classical mistake that most people will make is ordering too many of such gifts, thus spending more than they should on them. You should try to gauge how many of the gifts you will give out before you even have them made. This will depend on many things, including what criteria you will use to give the gifts out.

For instance, if you are going to hand them out to people in the streets, then you will definitely need a large number of gifts. However, if you are going to give them to only a select number of customers such as those who make a purchase above a certain threshold, you will need fewer of the gifts. To reduce the risk of wasting money, you could estimate how many of the gifts you will give out in a week, and then order a number commensurate to this. This way, you will never have too much of a surplus at any one time.

As a first time businessman, you might not know how to do this well. Rather than using guesswork, you should consider getting some help in making such estimations. One of the most effective ways of doing this is by consulting a company that produces the gifts, and asking them for help in making the estimation. You can also work with one of the many business management services out there to help you do this.

What do you want the gift to do for you?

If you are thinking of getting business promotional gifts that you can hand out to customers, you should also think about what kind of message you want to send out. This varies depending on the type of business you are running, as well as what point in time you are in. For instance, you might want to notify your customers that you now have an online presence. In such cases, you could get a gift that is designed to send out this message, such as mugs that have your web address on it.

In summary, if you are thinking of ordering business promotional items to either boost your business or new product, you should refrain from thinking that just any product will do. Remember that this is a form of marketing, and like in all other cases you will need to carefully craft a plan on how to make it successful while spending the least amount of money possible.