| joy and sharing go hand-in glove with world class | | | | Today's plates have an almost unlimited number of |
| quality."- Tom Peters. | | | | painted designs coating them. When the plate is |
| If this quote rings true to you and you are a person in | | | | engraved, the paint is removed and the underlying |
| a position to recognize others for a job well then read | | | | brass comes shining through. Another traditional plaque |
| on. There are few things that are as satisfying as | | | | variation is to add a clock face to the plaque. Thereby |
| recognizing the accomplishments of others and like | | | | adding value and usefulness to the award. Today's |
| many other tasks the job of recognition, although it | | | | plaques range in price from about $40 to $200 ea. plus |
| may sound easy, requires good preparation in order to | | | | the cost of engraving. Less expensive plaques that |
| done effectively. | | | | substitute faux materials for real wood and brass can |
| We might first begin with understanding what | | | | usually be found at a discount. |
| recognition is. The following list provides examples of | | | | •Acrylic - As if the number of plaque styles |
| different forms of recognition: | | | | available to choose from is not enough, an entirely new |
| • Public or private written comments via e-mail, | | | | type of award has been on the scene for a while |
| letter, certificate, etc. | | | | now. These are awards that are made from acrylic |
| • A trophy or plaque or other type of award. | | | | and formed into an almost unlimited array of shapes, |
| • Party thrown in the recipient's honor, or for an | | | | sizes and colors. These awards are also sometimes |
| entire group that has done a great job | | | | painted on one side and the design can be then seen |
| • A reserved parking space for a week | | | | from the other side. When acrylic is engraved, the |
| • Annual recognition breakfast saluting individual | | | | letters or art being engraved take on a frosted look. |
| and team accomplishments, eg training or certification, | | | | To the untrained eye, the appearance is the same as |
| project completions, process improvements, etc. | | | | etched glass. In fact, two awards of the same design |
| For the purposes of this article, we'll assume that a | | | | placed side by side, one made of crystal and the other |
| decision has been made to present an award to | | | | acrylic, are very difficult to tell apart until you pick each |
| individual or group of individuals for a job well done. | | | | one up - the crystal will be noticably heavier. The |
| Now you must find the item which will carry the | | | | addition of brass and or wood to the acrylic design |
| message that you will want added to convey the | | | | allows for even more variation. Unlike plaques which |
| appreciation of you, your company, or organization. | | | | are usually designed to hang on the wall, the acrylic |
| This probably sounds a little easier than it is, after all if | | | | award was designed with the modern cubical based |
| you were making a selection for yourself at least you | | | | work place in mind and are therefore ususally |
| know your own taste, but here you need to consider | | | | designed to sit on a table top. Acrylic awards typically |
| not only the recipient of the award, but the company | | | | range in price from $30 to $85 each plus the cost of |
| or organization that is providing it. Well here is the good | | | | engraving. |
| news, today more than ever, there exists a very wide | | | | •Crystal and Marble - Like their acrylic cousins, |
| range of awards for you to present, as well as for | | | | these awards are usually designed to sit on a table |
| every taste and budget. So where to begin? | | | | top, in this case for practical reasons - they are heavy! |
| Budget | | | | Awards made from crystal and marble are the media |
| Probably the best starting point is to decide how much | | | | called on most often when you want to communicate |
| you will have to spend on each award. This approach | | | | that the recipient has accomplished something extra |
| will allow you to narrow your focus as you try to | | | | special. One look at these awards and the feeling of |
| select from the many types of awards that are | | | | quality comes shining through. Most often crystal and |
| available. Keep in mind as you are shopping, that some | | | | marble awards are engraved via a sandblasting |
| awards are priced to include the message you will | | | | technique that literally carves your letters and logo |
| create and for others this will be an additional cost that | | | | deep into the surface, a difference you can see and |
| in some cases may exceed the cost of the award | | | | feel. Although the average price of these awards is a |
| itself. This will vary by award type and retailer, and | | | | little higher than other alternatives, there is a secret that |
| should be made clear by the retailer. If it's not, be sure | | | | may make them more affordable than you might think. |
| to ask before making your selection. | | | | In recent years, most manufacturers of these awards |
| Type of Award | | | | have removed the sandblasting setup charges that |
| Awards can take many forms, in fact just about any | | | | created a "barrier to entry". Additionally, most of these |
| gift imaginable can effectively turned into an "award", | | | | awards are priced to include the cost of the engraving. |
| but for purposes of this discussion we will focus on | | | | So be sure to look closely at your final engraved price |
| traditional awards. That means plaques, trophies, desk | | | | when shopping, you may find that these awards are |
| accessories, etc., that are designed specifically to allow | | | | more in touch with your budget than you would think. |
| the addition of a message that you create and the | | | | Crystal and Marble awards range widely in price, |
| awards retailer will add to the item. | | | | typically between $50 and $300 ea. including engraving. |
| •Plaques - In their most traditional form, a | | | | •Desk Clocks - These are awards that blurr |
| plaque consists of a rectangular shape piece of wood, | | | | the boundries between awards and gifts. A desk clock |
| ususally solid walnut, with a solid brass engraving plate | | | | award will involve a very attactive desk clock that has |
| attached to the front. The wood plaque will have | | | | been specially designed to hold a brass engraving |
| various types of edge profiles and the plate may have | | | | plate. Typically the engraving plate will be quite a bit |
| various types of decorative borders to add style and | | | | smaller than a traditional wood plaque would hold so as |
| variety. Usually a plaque will be available in several | | | | not to be so conspicuous. Wood, crystal, brass, and |
| different sizes ranging from 5" x 7" all the way up to | | | | aluminum are all popular materials in desk clock designs |
| 10" x 13" and larger. This is for a couple of reasons - to | | | | and often more than one of the above are used. |
| address various budgets and, to allow a visual way to | | | | Styles to suit all tastes are available - traditional, |
| communicate importance (bigger=better). | | | | comtemporary, masculine, feminine and more. Desk |
| As with most consumer products, the number of | | | | clocks usually range in price from $20 to $100. |
| designs and choices have become almost | | | | Selection |
| overwhelming in recent years. The most notable | | | | With so many choices you can see it should not be |
| development has been the popularity of "piano finish" | | | | hard to find an award that conveys the right |
| woods where the plaque is finish with multiple coats of | | | | combination of feeling, style, and accomplishment. |
| varnish that are then buffed to a high gloss shine. The | | | | When you have finished adding your personal |
| wood can be stained to a walnut or rosewood finish, | | | | message you will have created a one of a kind |
| or painted a gloss black. This type of plaque will create | | | | masterpiece that will treasured by the proud recipient |
| a contemporary look that has become very popular. | | | | for years to come. Watch for the next article from this |
| The brass engraving plates have not been forgotten | | | | same author with advice on how to create the right |
| when it comes to adding style and variations. | | | | message to be engraved in the near future. |