Planning Your End Year Office Party: How To Make It More Meaningful For Your Staff

With the end of the year fast approaching, there are many companies that are preparing staff parties to congratulate their staff members for a job well done this year. If you run a business, it’s a good idea to consider doing this as well, since it’s one of the best ways to raise staff morale. However, there are many instances, where staff members feel like such parties are more of a bother rather than a good thing.

When the company end year party is not that exciting

There are many causes for this state of affairs. For one, if you don’t involve your staff members in the planning, you might end up making plans that are not very exciting to them. If you are only going to plan a party for your staff once in the whole year, it might be a good idea to let them make a few decisions on what to do. For instance, you could select a few staff members to form a committee to handle this. Other things that might make the party feel dull is not choosing a good environment to host it. Rather than hosting it in the office, you could opt to rent other facilities such as an outdoor hotel to give the event a more special feel.

How to make your staff members feel appreciated

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During such events, you might need to offer a few gifts and prizes for staff members who have shown exemplary performance over the year. This is also one other thing that can make the party feel dull. When you use gifts that feel too cliché, they might not resonate well with the person receiving them, and they might end up not feeling that appreciated. To avoid this, you might need to make an effort in selecting the prizes you are to hand out during the party.

For instance, you could opt to get them customized crystal gifts. These are very rare, which means that they tend to make one feel special. In addition to that, some of the companies that sell them allow customization. You can take advantage of this to make the gifts feel a bit more special to the person you are going to give them to. It’s also a good idea to also provide some cash in addition to the award.

The issue of expense

Most crystal awards and gifts look very expensive, especially if they are customized. However, this does not mean that they should necessarily cost you a lot of money. There are a number of companies that provide such items at low cost, even if you decide to have them heavily customized. You only need to place your order on time to avoid having to rush for them at the last minute. To keep the cost of the awards down, you could even buy them in bulk so as to benefit from bulk purchase discounts. Some companies can allow you to buy a large number of awards in different shapes and sizes and still benefit from this, so you won’t have to make the gifts feel generic by getting them in the same shape and size.

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Did You Know That There Are Several Types Of Crystal Awards And Trophies To Opt For?

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Those who look forward to getting trophies and awards often think of crystal and glass to be one and the same. Technically, glass materials such as trophies, plaques and other award forms are actually made of glass, lead crystal or optical crystal. Silica sand is used to make glass, figurines as well as other gift items. Below are some types of crystal awards:

Crystal clear glass

These are seen in several displays and awards or gift items. The glass that you see in this type of crystal award and trophy is of supreme quality and it can come as a true substitute of crystal. Some of these awards are manufactured with lead crystal. Some of the items that are manufactured with the lead crystal material include plaques and awards, glassware such as bowls, flutes and decanters among others.

Lead crystal

This contains higher amount of lead oxide which is softer compared to glass, thus making it easier to polish. For awards as well as other analogous displays, lead crystal can be etched on with some texts and images as one’s personal taste and requirements. However, one should practice caution when handling it because it can scratch especially when engraving.

Optical crystal

It is commonly used in optical instruments such as telescope lenses. It is characterized by high levels of clarity. Its sparkle makes it the most ideal material for crystal awards and trophies. Optical crystal is clearer than the lead crystal and is much harder too. It does not scratch easily and can be easily engraved when compared to glass.

Art glass

This belongs to a category of its own. It is not possible to see two trophies of this material at once. Usually, each piece is molded with the help of glass artist, bubbles and other elements that get easily trapped in this material. The product’s size, clarity, color and several other qualities are permanently unique. Below are some of the forms that crystal awards come in:

• Rectangular shaped crystal awards

They are the most commonly chosen kinds of gift items. They are easily placed in any sitting room setting as decorative pieces. If you want to etch a long some message on an award’s surface, then rectangular shaped crystal would be your best bet.

• Paperweights

This is yet another popular choice as they are three dimensional and come in different sizes and colors. You are likely to find something that has a personalized touch to it.

• Crystal vases and bowls

These are also popular and make functional crystal awards.

If you are planning to give crystal awards or trophies to business associates or employees, you ought to consider how it is going to represent your company. So, it pays to think about ways to customize the items such as their shape, engraving, style and color. And when choosing symbols for these awards, make sure that the symbol is relevant to your organization. At Crystalplus, we have all the skills to customize your crystal awards according to your needs. We also have a wide range of crystal awards in stock, meaning there is always something for everyone.

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Great Tips For The Corporate Gifting Practice

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During holiday seasons, many businesses consider giving gifts to their clients, employees, colleagues and referral sources among others. However, this is not simple as you may think. It is important that you think carefully before running to any mall to pick up a few items. You should note that some gift givers spend plenty of their time trying to find just the right gift. Here are tips to help you give something that will be appreciated as you drive a feeling of closeness to gift takers:

Check with the human resource before sending that gift

There is little risk in sending a Christmas card to someone but many companies have policies in place regarding employees’ receipt of gifts. Some even have restrictions to avoid the appearance of special favor or graft.

Be careful when giving gifts inside your company

It may seem a natural thing giving gifts to staff and colleagues, but sometimes, this can present noteworthy pitfalls. You don’t wan to endanger resentment by offering gifts to co-workers or even subordinates, while neglecting others. The best solution is to give everyone an identical item such as desk and wall plaques.

Give fewer, nicer gifts

It makes sense to be considerate about your business relationships so that you identify high priority recipients such as important clients. Give fewer and nicer items such as globe and sphere to fewer and more carefully considered recipients.

Save the branded items for roadshows

Of course there is always a place for promotional items such as coffee mugs and T-shirts, but not as a holiday gift. The main aim is to touch recipients emotionally as you demonstrate thought and caring. So, do not make them feel like you are in a marketing campaign. However, there are exceptions, especially if the item is special or simply useful like a desk office.

Avoid items like wine, cigars or spirits if you don’t know the recipient well

In fact, you ought to know someone well to give such items. You don’t want the gift items to be considered inappropriate by the recipient’s colleagues. If you know them well, you can go for items such as glass drink-ware and ornaments.

Avoid being personal or especially suggestive when giving out gifts.

Recall this is a business relationship, so it should reflect a sense of professionalism. Items such as lingerie and perfumes may not be appropriate in a business context. They could send wrong message to the recipients and their colleagues.

Go for something unique and personalized

It requires you to do a bit of research before giving gifts, keeping in mind that the best gifts are those the recipients want to receive. A good giver is one who gives what the recipients want.

These are just a few tips to help you set the ball rolling and ensure that actually, your gifts will be appreciated not only by the recipients, but also their colleagues. At Crystalplus, we can advise you on what gift will suit your recipients. We stock a wide range of corporate gifts and we can also personalize gift items according to your needs. Contact us anytime of the day, we will be happy to work with you.

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4 Most Weirdest and Bizarre Awards in the World

The world is full of weird things and it’s not a surprise that people are awarded for their weirdness. Call it lame or stupid; there is no doubt that some of them are very funny and somehow successfully mock people in a humorous way. However, some of these awards will also make you feel that going home empty handed is much better than being a dominator in one of the categories. Therefore, to fill your day with the quirkiness of this world, this post will run you through some of the weirdest and bizarre awards out there.
Darwin Award
You would think the name “Darwin” in the award means it’s probably an award for something scientific and worthwhile. However, it is way far from it. The award is actually for people who are so stupid that they are awarded for removing themselves from the gene pool through accidental death, hence doing a service to humanity. In 2011, a man from Brisbane, Australia was awarded for his accidental death by planking on the railings of a balcony. You would think that people are wise enough to understand that gravity will pull them back, but I guess some people are just plain dumb.
Golden Raspberry Award
The Golden Raspberry Award, also known as the Razzies, is a parody of the Oscar Awards for the worst movies of the year. The award was initially staged in a living room and eventually grew towards being well known in the entertainment industry. It has many categories ranging from Worst Actor to Picture to Rip-Off or Sequel, and so on. The 2011 Golden Raspberry Award saw 11 nominations for the movie Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, and it managed to sweep seven of the awards including Worst Picture, Worst Actress (obviously), and Worst Remake/Rip-Off or Sequel.
Stella Award
Have you ever wondered why people file outrageous and frivolous lawsuits? Well I don’t know, but there’s definitely an award for it. The Stella Award is named after Stella Liebeck, winner of $2.9 million from McDonalds over damages she filed after spilling hot coffee over herself. The Stella Award covers some of the most ludicrous lawsuits ever filed and it was presented between the year 2002 and 2007. The 2007 winner was Roy. L. Pearson Jr. from Washington DC, for the case he filed against a dry cleaner for losing a pair of jeans for $65,462, 500. That’s right! Instead, the poor chap had to pay damages to the dry cleaner as the judge obviously found the case to be a “vexatious litigation”.
Ernie Award
Awarded to individuals and companies for their sexist comments or actions, the Ernie Award is named after Ernie Ecob, former secretary of the Australian Workers Union, for his comment, “Women aren’t welcome in the shearing sheds. They’re only after the sex.” The award is an Australian award and has many categories including Gold Ernie and Silver Ernie for Industrial, Political, Media, and Judicial categories. The 2012 Gold Ernie was awarded to Alan Jones, a radio broadcaster at 2GB for his comment, “Women are destroying the joint, Christine Nixon in Melbourne, Clover Moore here, honestly there is no chaff bag big enough for these people.” You would think that being a broadcaster, heard by many people, he would be smart enough not to offend people.
They say normal is boring and that’s true in some ways. However, these awards show that some people really need to start using their brains.

It pays to research wisely if you are looking for best crystal trophies and awards in your budget. Lots of quality provider are awaiting!

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3 Ways You Can Personalize Trophies And Recognition Awards

There is a wide range of awards, prizes and trophies which can be offered to valuable employees as a sign of gratitude for their hard work over the year. Offering such awards will also improve your image as a businessman as well because you show that you care for your employees and you are appreciating their work. Also, if you personalize these gifts too, the outcome will definitely be even more surprising!

This article is going to present you how you can modify different types of trophies and recognition awards that you find on the market today in order to make them more attractive, more beautiful and also unique!

1. Engrave your trophies and awards.

This is one of the most popular and impressive method of personalizing your trophies and awards. By simply adding the name of a particular employee as well as a few words of gratitude, the award will be much more valuable and it will have a positive effect on the employee. He will feel appreciated and he will continue to work hard for you in the future as well.

2. Offer sport trophies with customized features.

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Another category of trophies and awards consist of sport trophies. If you want to reward one of your athletes for an excellent performance then this is the right way to do it. Different types of awards feature the shape of a soccer ball or a golf ball. Similarly, you can get a trophy which features a basketball or a crystal cup. There are numerous types of sport awards which can be offered. In addition, they can be engraved as well.

3. Add photo frames.

Such types of awards are increasingly popular nowadays and they come at affordable prices too. Basically, you can get a small plaque which features the picture of the employee as well as a short message of gratitude which will be added next to it. These products come at different sizes and they are made from various types of materials such as crystal, glass, marble or even gold! Make sure that you use these awards and trophies in order to impress your employees and build stronger professional relationships as well.

There are many other types of recognition awards which can be found on the market but in order to offer a truly amazing gift, you need to find the trophies which match your case the best. For example, if you have an IT company, an award consisting of a digital clock enclosed in a crystal or glass case will definitely be breathtaking. Similarly, glass or crystal drinkware are more suitable for the employees of your restaurant as well. This is personalization at its best!

If you want help in finding the best types of recognition awards for your particular case then don’t hesitate to contact us. We have a large inventory of different types of trophies and awards and you will definitely find something suitable. Also, our experts can personalize your chosen awards according to your preferences and needs, so that the end result will exceed your expectations and amaze your employees.

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Offering Awards And Trophies Is A Great Way To Improve The Work Morale In Your Company

If you are working hard on a regular basis and the results are appreciated by others then you definitely feel proud and satisfied, right? Well, it is the same story with the employees of your company. From time to time, it is a good idea to say “thank you!” for their hard work in a very elegant and attractive manner. For example, offering trophies, prizes and awards is a great way to do this.

The current article is going to present you what positive impact this little gesture has. You can choose the awards and personalize them if you want. At the end of the year, you can offer them to your employees and strengthen your professional relationships. Here are more details.

It can boost morale and make your employee become loyal to you

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Especially if you have very valuable employees in your company and they are giving 100% every day, you definitely want to have them around for more years from now on. Well, this is not that easy if you don’t recognize their efforts and you don’t treat them with the upmost respect. Therefore, by offering recognition awards and prizes, your employees will know that their work is much appreciated and they are invited to do so in the future as well. As a result, your employees will feel much better, they will come to work with a positive attitude, they will gain more confidence in you and there is a small chance that they will leave your company and get a job somewhere else.

It creates a spirit of competition and team work at the same time

Recognition awards and prizes are usually offered to the most skilled and determined of your employees. If you do this on a regular basis, other employees will get the feel of what this actually means. As a result, they will strive more every day in order to provide quality work for you and hopefully receiving such awards. This is very convenient for your company because the work flow is boosted and your employees will always stay motivated as well. In addition, this will also help improving the relationships between employees and they will communicate better and work better together.

There are many types of awards and trophies to choose from

If you want to start such a campaign then you might be happy to know that there are multiple types of products to choose from. For example, you can go for vases and cups made from crystal or other beautiful materials, you can choose different types of glassware or plaques and so on. The possibilities are endless.

So, if you want to reward your employees for their labor then you know how to do it now. Make sure that you also contact us and we will help you with more tips and tricks as well. Our specialists can also offer you different types of products which can be offered as awards and prizes. Such products can be personalized and you should actually take advantage of this service in order to make your recognition awards truly unique.

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Top School Activities That Should Have Award Ceremonies In Place

As a school administrator, you must be in a position to steer the children in your care in the right direction. The decisions you make for their lives today will play a big role in inspiring tomorrow. It is equally important to ensure that the children in your school are all rounded. This means exposing them to activities that are not class related like sports. Every child has to be motivated to be more than just a student. To help you do this, you need to honor them.

Award ceremonies in school

Awarding children can have several positive effects over their lives. It has been proved to be a source of motivation for young people. Trophies are also a way to raise children’s self-esteem and encourage their personal development. Award ceremonies in school can be held for:

1. Sporting activities

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All work and no play makes student dull. Schoolchildren should be motivated to participate in sports. It is the best way to keep them healthy and rejuvenated. Whether it is in track events, football sports or gym activities, you need to be able to motivate your students by giving them trophies for good performance in sports championships. There are different trophies you can use to do so the prestigious empire bounty trophy from Crystal Plus that is ideal for boosting team spirit.

2. Performance reports

In school, performance is paramount. It is important to award children for doing well or improving in class every time. This motivates others to do the same. In addition, it encourages those performing well to defend their titles. Awarding students of their outstanding class work performance is a sure way of reminding students you recognize what they are doing and appreciate their effort. You can even award an entire class for their performance with an exceptional trophy like the champion trophy cup.

3. Teacher appreciation

If you want to keep your students happy, it is necessary to award the schools teachers as well. With Crystal Plus’s genuine walnut step edge wood plaque, you can give your teachers an award that they can have on their desks. This will motivate the teachers and show others just how good they are at their job.

4. Competition challenges

For students who would be willing to take part in challenges such as quizzes or science exhibitions, you should award them accordingly. Winners of inter-school championships should also be rewarded with trophies that speak volumes about the magnitude of the challenge like the lux championship bowl from Crystal Plus. The trophy can be passed on to the winning school annually depending on which school participates and wins the championship.

5. Co-curriculum activities

Another important factor to consider is to award students for participating in co-curriculum activities. This includes performing in activities like drama, glee clubs, school publications and other relevant fields. Awarding students for being exceptional members of these clubs is a sure way of stirring others interest to join as well. With the famous blue star goddess award, Crystal Plus now allows you to honor these vibrant students!

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Our Best Recommendations For Corporate Gifts This August

August is here and gifts are in order for this great season! In the corporate world, exchanging gifts is a sign of maintaining good relations among people. However, the gifts you select will speak volumes about you and your corporation.

It is very important to choose a gift that will go a long way in portraying a good image of both you and the organization you represent. Whether it is within the company or to people in your common social circle, we at Crystal Plus have what you need.

Why go with Crystal Plus?

When it comes to corporate gifts, we have mastered the art of creating classy and stylish gifts. Our crystal gifts have led us to become one of the biggest supplies in the world of personalized presents. Some of our gifts include items such as vases, clocks, photo frames, shaped glassware and other crystal ware pieces. Each is unique and exquisite since we believe in giving our clients only the best. This August month, some of the great corporate gifts we recommend include:

1. Whiskey Cup

From one managing director to another, the 10oz Diamox masquerade whiskey cups could be the perfect gift this season. It can be purchased in a six-piece set of uniquely designed glasses, which are perfect addition to your office. These cups are highly recommended since you can have them custom made for their intended owners. Messages on the cups come from our set of artwork or your creative ideas.

2. Gem Treasure Keychain

For a much more personalized gift, you can get a key chain. It is an affordable gift that sells for only $19. Depending on your order, you can get several key chains of the same nature with the exact same design engraved for you. Each keychain is strong and light weighing about 0.2lbs. It can also be customized to suit your specification when you buy it. On this gift, you can engrave anything from ‘I love you’ to ‘happy birthday’.

3. Cocktail Cups

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Considerably one of the most exquisite gifts is the 10 oz cocktail glass. For that one person who is always hosting guest, the stylish glass with a classy design will make a superb gift as a house-warming present. They can be personalized with special artwork and messages on them. One of the things you can be sure of is that this $ 19 gift will be one of those memorable items that are kept for years.

4. Ornament gift packs

For a throw away price of just $22, you can now get one of our best gift packs. The star ornament and shot glass gift come together in one gift pack. They are made of strong molten glass and make great seasonal gifts. They are also dishwasher safe with absolutely no lead content.

5. Optical Crystal Straight Cube

Nothing says ‘thank you’ like our $59 paperweight cube. It is an optical cube with several benefits since it can hold text such as names, long messages or even a logo. This gift not only spells out elegance but also holds a high level of versatility because of its design.
Start shopping today, folks!

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What Makes Employee Recognition a Must for all Companies?

A successful business is not only about the unique business idea, or the way a businessman made it from rags to riches. It is a lot about the employees who work regularly to make the business reach its goals. Employees are the driving force behind the success of every business; you just need to direct them well. A smart leader will always know how to make his employees give their best and contribute to the overall growth of the company. We all want to be recognized by the world for what we do, employees too deserve to be recognized for the work they put in day after day. This recognition will be in the best interest of the company as well.

Appreciation

Employees work day in and day out for a company. It is very obvious that they want to be appreciated. All employees want their employers to take note of their efforts and appreciate them. Appreciation is an essential requirement of all individuals. However, all employees don’t put the same efforts into their work, but those who do deserve to be recognized.

Acceptance

An employee looks for acceptance. When an employee joins a new company, he/she has a lot of insecurities in their minds regarding the standards of the company. If an employee gets recognized by the company, he feels accepted by it. He feels a sense of belonging to the company; this feeling is of utmost importance as it will boost employee performance.

Motivation

It often happens that working on the same thing on a regular basis drains the motivation out of employees. This lack of motivation is very much evident in the output of each employee. This is the time when you need to refill them with the correct amount of motivation to put all their energy into their work all over again. Nothing else would work better than employee recognition in such a situation. Even a mere pat on the employees’ shoulder will be motivation enough for them to shrug off lethargy and boredom.

Relationship building

Employee recognition will help in building a strong relationship between the employee and the employer. Not all employees work for a salary and a comfortable environment alone. There are people who work with all their might and, at the same time, expect something more from their employers too. A good relationship will help both the employer and employees combine their efforts and take the company closer to its goals.

Attention

When employees know that the employer is observing their work regularly, they would not take the work casually. Their attention will stay focused on the quality of their work. Achieving this will be great on the part of the employers, as it is a known fact that we all work better under pressure. Focusing the attention of the employees towards their work is a very important factor behind the success of any company.

Employee recognition is one such event which is beneficial for both the employers and the employees. All companies must undertake such events to make their employees’ efforts count.

Employee recognition awards motivate employees to perform better. Click here to know more about such events to improve the efficiency of your employees.

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Customizing Crystal Awards and Trophies to Suit Your Organization

When planning to give crystal awards and trophies to employees or associates, one of the most important things to consider is how it represents your company. To this end, it pays to be mindful of ways to customize the award such as its shape, style, engraving, and accents like color or metal details.

With its enthralling brilliance and peerless luster, crystal is a popular material for awards and trophies. It serves as a tangible reminder to deserving employees and other recipients of the success they worked so hard to achieve. Also, unlike other precious materials, crystal is easier to personalize as it’s easy to tint it with a variety of colors.

When you choose from various designs for your crystal awards, make sure to choose a symbol that’s relevant to your organization. For instance, if your company values passion above all things, it may be best to choose a trophy shaped like a flame to symbolize it.

On the other hand, if your company operates in a building with a distinct design, you can ask the crystal manufacturer to make a replica of the building. Doing so will not only make the award more connected with your organization, but it can be like a keepsake the recipient can treasure for a long time.

If you decide to go with a completely unique design for your award, keep in mind that crystal can be tinted will all kinds of colors. But before you decide on what colors your award will sport, ask the manufacturer about what tints it offers.

Make sure to hand out a crystal award that is meaningful by making sure its design goes with your business or organization. This way, the recipients will feel that you have put much thought into it, making the award all the more valuable.

Leading manufacturers of crystal products like Crystal Plus can customize awards and trophies for your organization. Aside from offering trophies in various shapes and styles, free engraving, and a variety of accent options, the manufacturer can also create new crystal awards from original artworks. Learn more at CrystalPlus.com or call 888-779-8803.

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