What Is The Purpose of Awards?

Modern-day awards are tangible acknowledgement items that may come in several common forms, like trophies, medals, plaques, certificates and others.
They are given to either individuals, a specific group of people or an organization as an expressive symbol of recognition, achievement or reward.

Saying “Thank You” to people is a simple-yet-powerful way to brighten their mood, boost their morale and inspire them to continue giving their best.
Getting a personalized award not only delivers the profound message of appreciation and gratitude, but gives the recipient a tangible personal memento that can continue to motivate him for years to come.

High quality, well-designed awards are essentially impressive works of art that have the ability to inspire the recipient, enhance an important event and reinforce the corporate or organizational brand.

What Are They Given For?

Awards are being given to their recipients for a variety of different reasons.
Here are a few popular examples:

• Recognition: A general form to say ‘Thank You’ and express the organization’s gratitude, appreciation and honor.
• Victory: Trophies and medals are being awarded to the winners of contests and competitions.
• Excellence: To mark great performance or superb quality.
• Achievement: To celebrate an outstanding achievement.
• Bravery: To honor those who took action and demonstrated courage or showed valor, in civic life as well as in combat.
• Participation: To honor participation, contribution or membership in an important cause.

How Are They Used in Everyday Life?

Awards play a very meaningful role in the everyday life of many sectors in modern society.
Here are a few specific examples for fields in which they are being given:

Education
Given to recognize students’ educational excellence and outstanding academic success in the classroom, either generally or in a specific field of study, interest or expertise.
Other types of awards are given for educational achievement and acknowledge students who show meaningful growth, improvement and continued progress in their academic subjects.

Sports
Trophies, cups, plates and medals are a symbol of victory and championship.
They are awarded as a prize for winning competitions and tournaments in individual and team sports.

Employment
Thanking employees for a job well done is an integral part of many business organization’s overall HR strategy.
Employee recognition programs (like ’employee of the month / year’) reward hard work, excellence, loyalty or special workplace achievements.
It’s a great way to honor workers who go above and beyond and leave their unique mark on the overall business’ performance.

Retirement
Saluting and fairwelling a retiring longtime employee for his dedication and years of service is a respectful way to say goodbye.
It conveys deep sentiments of honor, gratitude and appreciation and it also expresses the significant value this individual brought to the company.

Memorial
Outdoor commemorative plaques can often be found in cemeteries, on garden and park benches or next to trees, in memory of a deceased loved one.
They offer a moving way to remember, cherish and pay tribute to beloved family relatives, close friends, pets or anyone who has touched our life.

Most Famous Awards

Many U.S. and international organizations give awards as a way to recognize contribution, innovation, excellence and achievement.
Here’s a short list of the most famous and prestigious prizes, medals and awards:

• The Nobel Prize (physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, economics and the promotion of peace.)
• Medal of Honor / The Purple Heart (Military)
• The Academy Awards / The Oscars (film)
• The Pulitzer Prize (journalism)
• The Golden Globes (film)
• The Grammys (music)
• The Emmys (TV)
• Tony Awards (Broadway theater)
• Miss USA (beauty pageant)
• Webby Awards (Internet)
• Michelin Stars (Culinary)
• Olympic Medal Winners (sports)

Target Audience: Who Uses It?

Award stores serve a diverse customer-base which includes:

• Businesses of all sizes
• Civic organizations
• Community centers
• Schools, colleges and universities
• Youth groups and clubs
• Sports teams and leagues
• Churches
• Charities and non-profits
• Municipalities
• Government agencies
• Private customers

What Do Trophy Shops Offer?

Custom award manufactures and suppliers offer a variety of products that can be fully personalized with the awardee name, logo and any type of text (message, blessings, dedications, etc).

Such items include:

• Trophies
• Medals
• Plaques
• Resin, Acrylic and Crystal Awards
• Cups
• Lapel Pins
• Certificates
• Championship Belts
• Championship Rings
• Figures & Sculptures
• Corporate awards
• Clock & Desk Accessories

Paying for Custom Awards with PayPal

Even though PayPal is one of the most popular payment methods on the internet, many award, trophy and plaque makers have not adopted it yet.
However, a fair number of players in this market do accept PayPal and hopefully, their number will increase with time.

Before Choosing: Features to Consider

In order to make sure that you receive optimal benefit from using this type of service, it is crucial to conduct proper research and verify that certain features that you need are actually being offered by the providers that you consider.
Doing so will help you decide which company is the best fit for your individual needs.

Such features may include:

• Payment via PayPal
• In-house product designers
• Exclusive award designs
• Free engraving
• Free art & logo setup
• Bulk sales