How and When to Give Custom Awards
There is no doubt most companies are aware of the important role recognition and appreciation plays
in employee retention. Yet poorly managed employee awards are not unheard of. The worst offense:
giving out cookie-cutter awards not addressed to anyone specific, through an interoffice mail! It
feels like an afterthought (it probably is) and is insulting to the recipient.
A company award program must be designed carefully. Research shows letting employees know they're valued is a more important factor in happiness at work than a pay raise or time off. This may be surprising, but it’s human nature to find meaning in more than money, after a certain threshold in income.
Presenting your employees with a customized plaque award is a wonderful way to recognize and celebrate their efforts, talents, and loyalty.
When to Give an Award vs. Appreciation
As we mentioned above, employees thrive on appreciation and recognition, rather than material awards. Does that mean companies should forgo giving out awards altogether? Definitely not! A complete award program should hit a sweet spot between the tangible – medals, trophies, time off, cash – and the intangible – recognition in front of peers and staff.
Customized awards and plaques combine a bit of both: they serve as a tangible reminder to the employee that their contributions matter, and they can also be presented at a company meeting or event so that the employee feels publicly acknowledged and celebrated.
Making Custom Awards for Employees
For physical awards like medals and trophies, how should companies design them?
Personalized recognition is the #1 rule when it comes to corporate awards. Engravings of the recipient’s names are a given, as they let employees know the awards are truly meant for them. Also, people respond positively to their own names. Since awards are given not only for appreciation but also to communicate company goals and values, they should match the company branding. If a corporate culture is more whimsical, awards should be designed to follow suit, instead of relying on the traditional boxy shape.
FineAwards.com offers many shapes and materials for custom award trophies that can help companies personalize
milestones, anniversaries, and achievements. Custom crystal awards can be cut and polished, while
mixing in corporate identity.
When companies put a little bit more thought into designing custom awards, employees are likely to
have a second thought before shoving their awards into a drawer. They'll be a source of pride and
inspiration.
Focus on the Giving
How and when custom corporate awards are given is just as important as what to give. Giving awards
should be an event in itself. Many companies tack it onto their end of the year company party. This
might not always work when a host of awards has to be given to multiple employees.
Instead of postponing awards until the end of the year, each award should be anchored to a specific
occasion throughout the year. An anniversary award should be awarded on each recipient's actual
anniversary, or as close to it as possible. A milestone or achievement award should be given after
each big project is successful. At the end of the year, if companies want, they can recognize the
recipients again.
There are employees who don't like public fanfare and would rather be recognized privately. Companies should respect such employees, while still showing them appreciation for their contribution. Ultimately, customized awards are about the entire experience — both the award itself and the manner in which it is presented. This is what truly makes custom awards special and memorable.
How to Order Custom Awards
It's common knowledge that employee recognition programs and custom awards have uplifting influences on office morale. From kind gestures of gratitude to prizing staff with beautiful custom awards, employee appreciation can improve employer-staff rapport and invigorate the work environment. That's our business motto here at FineAwards.com, and is why we are committed to making it easy to design and order custom award plaques online.
For over 20 years, we've specialized in bringing companies top-grade custom awards for all manner of
companies at reasonable prices. We've designed one-of-a-kind custom plaques and awards for the
biggest names in sports, fashion, hospitality, culinary, and small businesses.
We design customized award pieces in crystal, glass, acrylic, and many other materials that can be
made into one-of-a-kind pieces just for your company. Some of our custom award pieces were designed
in the shape of company emblems, unique product items, and even architectural buildings, all with
precise detail in its personalization.
More so, we'll collaborate with you in designing your custom award pieces for maximum satisfaction
and to make the process easier for your busy schedule. If you're on a budget, we'll also work with
you to get the right price for your awards as well as offering free engravings and free
personalization setups.
If you wish to get started on your custom award designs, click the link below to get started.
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ORDERING YOUR CUSTOM AWARDS NOW!
Designing Custom Awards
We like to say that our most special business characteristic is company-client collaboration. This is a first-hand shopping experience that you won't easily find elsewhere. By using your award plaque design ideas, we're creating a unique experience for you and making your customized award pieces that much more special for your employees.
We don't want you to be limited to the stock award inventory we sell. That's why we encourage our clients to submit designs they've come up with. We'll use your ideas and build your unique custom awards and personalize them based on your input. This initial stage is to modify our services to your needs; to do this, we will need the following:
Step 1: Custom Award Sketches or Designs
Your vision, as we like to call it, details what you want the awards to look like, specific colors,
and personalized text and graphics you would like engraved onto the piece.
Step 2: Tell us Your Custom Award Budget
By having your budget limit in mind, we're able to present you with alternative awards that are just
as stunning as our most expensive items. The alternative that we'll present you will better suit
your needs, save you money and will leave your employees in awe!
Step 3: Establishing Your Quantity
This amount determines how many custom award pieces will be made and shipped to your event or
location.
Step 4: Understanding Your End Date
Finally, this date is the latest possible date to have your awards shipped to you before the start of
the event and have it in your hands. With this date, we'll speed up the production of your awards so
that there is plenty of time for you to prepare and no delay on our end.
After we have this information, our collaboration begins, and we can start making your custom award
pieces!
But our company-clients relationship won't end in the initial design process. We're hands-on during
the design process and your input will directly influence the final design of your awards. As we
start bringing your sketches and ideas to life, we'll send you a free order confirmation and art
proofs that you'll approve or make changes to. This step involves the client in the process of
designing their awards and having control over their development.
Final proofs take 24-48 hours from the time you send us your sketches or designs. After you've
approved your proofs, your items will ship in 5-7 business days. During this time, your awards will
be manufactured and shipped before your end-date.
Now, before we can start working together, you should know about the various materials we work with
and the different personalization options you have with your selection.
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DESIGNING YOUR CUSTOM AWARDS NOW!
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