The end of the year is the perfect time to recognize company achievements, benchmark goals and star performers. Trophies honoring high accomplishments are a popular and prestigious way of celebrating milestones.
They tend to elude a sense of prestige. You’re proud when you receive one, especially when you are awarded the trophy during an award ceremony.
As a department lead or HR manager, how do you choose the right trophy? With what seems like an endless amount of options it can get a little overwhelming. Have no fear, we’ve created a synopsis of each trophy type to help you decide what fits your company’s needs best.
Need help planning the perfect holiday party to present your awards at? We’ve got you covered! Download our holiday party planning checklist.
Types of Trophies
Crystal Trophies
Crystal (or Crystalline) trophies are the George Clooney’s of the trophy world. They are smooth, elegant, timeless, and a sight for sore eyes! They tend to be the most prestigious awards with their weight proving their worth.
A crystal trophy is suitable for any award ceremony, but due to its value, most likely used for an annual recognition program. Key company players that go above and beyond are the perfect recipients for this grand reward!
Glass Trophies
Like the look of crystal but don’t have the budget for it? Glass award trophies are a great alternative. They give a clean presentation and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Glass trophies allow you to add stylish flair to your recognition with color infusion and other artful elements.
Give a glass trophy for any award or honor – milestones and promotions are always great events to recognize!
Acrylic Trophies
Fun shapes and bright colors are just a start. With acrylic trophies the possibilities are practically endless. Acrylic is a transparent synthetic fiber that resembles glass, however it is lightweight and shatter-resistant, unlike glass.
Acrylic awards are great to give if you are looking for something a little less traditional (though classic designs can still be made from acrylic). They are perfect to give when giving out many trophies at once, as they tend to be a more cost-effective option.
Stone Trophies
Stone trophy awards are modern beauties. With materials like marble, agate, and concrete, they double as pieces of art, where they stand out among the rest of the trophies or office decor. They can easily be placed in any space and demand attention – like they deserve!
Giving a stone trophy is a great idea if your organization’s brand fits a modern style or if you just like the look of them. The sense of grandeur that comes with a stone award make it a great trophy option for any prestigious honor.
Metal Trophies
These trophies are all high-shine and heavy-weight! A metal trophy is a true classic award of achievement and appropriate for high honor occasions.
It might be a good idea to wear white gloves when gifting a metal trophy. These nickel finish beauties tend to show fingerprints, but don’t worry all our metal trophies come with a microfiber cloth to keep them shining!
Fun Fact: Did you know the Oscar Statuette is made of metal with 24-karat-gold plating? Learn more about the most famous award trophies here.
Wood Trophies
Our most popular wood trophies are a twist on the traditional plaque. They offer a character but can stand on their own – making them easy to display. Our wood trophies are typically made of cherry wood, giving a luxe feel and impressive presentation.
A wood trophy would be a great award when honoring a specific trait or quality, since ours come with a character story.
Jade Glass Trophies
Jade glass trophies are affordable elegance. They have a slight green hue to them making them uniquely beautiful. Perfect for giving on a budget! Though they’re lower in cost, their quality is not compromised.
Alternative Award Options
A trophy not the award for you? Give a certificate or plaque instead! Plaques are awards worth hanging and vary in size and material. Certificate awards are also worth displaying. Present a certificate for achievement for any milestone or success. We recommend gifting them a certificate frame to go with the certificate so they have something to display it in!
